The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-05-11
A Message from President Grant to
the National House Of Repre-
SentatiyeS.
WAsuISGTOS. NAV 4

WASHINGTON, May 4.
The President today sent the following
message to the House in reply to Representa-
tive Blackburn's resolution:
To tie House Of Representatives.: have given
very attentive consideration to the resolution of
the House Of Representatives, passed on the Sd
of April, requesting the President of the United
States to inform the House whether any Execu-
tive offices, acts duties, and, if any what, have
within specified period been performed at dis
tance fir m the seat of Government established
by law, etc. have never hesitated and shall not
hesitate, to communicate to Congress, and to
either branch thereof, all information which the
Constitution makes ii the duty of the Pres
ident 10 give, or which my Judgment may sug-
gest to me, or request from either House may in
dictate to me may be useful in the dis
charge of the appropriate duties contided to
them. fail, however, to find in the ConstItu-
tion OF the United States the authority given to
the House of Representatives Zone branch of
Congress in which is vested the legislative power
of the GovernmenD to require of the Executive,
an independent branch Of the Government, CO.
ordinate with the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives, an account Of his discharge of his ap-
propriate and purely executive offices, acts and
duties, either as to when, where or how per-
formed. What the House Of Representatives
may require as a right, in its demand upon the
Executive for information, is limited to what is
necessary for the proper discharge OF its powers
of legislation or OF Impeachment.
The inquiry in the resolution of the House as
to where the Executive acts, within the last sew
en- years have been performed, and at what dis
tance from any particular spot, or for how long
period at any one time. ETC. does not necessa-
rily belong to the province OF legislation. II does
not profess to be asked for that object If this
Information be sought through an inquiry of the
President as to his Executive acts in view or in
aid of the power of impeachment vested in the
House, il is asked in derogatlon Of an inherent
natural right recognized in this country by H.
stitution8l guarantee which protects every citi-
Zen-the President as well as the humblest in the
land from being made a witness against him
self
During the time that have had the honor to
occupy the position of President of this Govern
ment, it has been, and while continue to occu-
py that position il will continue to be, my earn
est endeavor TO recognize and to respect the sew
eral trusts and duties and powers of the co-ordi-
nate branches of the Government, not encroach-
ing upon them, nor allowing encroachment upon
the proper powers of the office which the people
of the United States have contded y me, Dut
aiming to preserve in their proper relations the
several powers and functions of each ofthe co-or-
dinate branches of the Government agreeably TO
the Constitution and in accordance with the sol
emn oath which have taken to preserve, protect
and offend that instrument. In maintenance
of the rights secured by the Constitution
to the Executive branch of the Government,
am compelled to decline any specific or detailed
answer TO the request of the House for lnlorma-
ton to any Executive offices, acts, or duties,
and, if any, what have beer performed at dis.
tance from the seat of Government established
by law, and for how long period at any one
time, and in what part of the United States" If,
however, the House Of Representatives desires to
know whether. during the period of upward Of
seven years during which have held the office of
President of the United States, have been alb
sent from the seat of Government. and whether
during that period have performed, Or have neg
leced to perform the duties of my office freely in
form the House that from the time OF my entrance
upon my Office have been in the habit as were
all of my predecessors, with the exception of one
who lived only one month after assuming the
duties CT his office, and one whose continued
presence in W W8shington was necessary from the
existence at the time of powerful rebellion, OF
lbsenting myself at times from the seat OF Gov
ernment, and that during such absences did not
neglect or forego the obligations or duties OF my
bfce, but continued to discharge all OF the
Executive offices, acta and duties which We're re-
1uired OF me as President OF the unlted
ktates. l am not a@are that failure occurred
n any one instance of my exercising TIE
functions aud powers Of my Office in every
,ase requiring their discharge, or OF my cxer-
Using ali the necessary executive acts in what
Over part of the United States may at the time
cave been. Fortunately, rapidity of travel and
4 mail communication, and the facility CT al
lost Instantaneous correspondence with officers
/ the seat Of Government which the telegraph
tfords to the President, in whatever section OF
tt Union he may be enables him in these days
tdmaintain constant and almost as quick In
tfcourse with the Departments at Washington
}may be maintained while he remains in the
Cpital.
tiie acts by the President of the United States
EXISTS and is devolved upon him wherever he
MY be within the United States during his term
of office, by the Constitution of the United
States. His civil powers no more limited or
capable of limitation as to the place where they
siall be exercised than are those which he might
b. required to discharge in his capacity OF Com
nander-in-C Chief of the Army and Navy, which
later powers it is evident he might be called up.
o. to exercise possibly without the limits Of
tie United States. Had the efforts OF those
recently in the rebellion against the Gov
eminent been successful in driving a
lac President of the United States from Wash
ingon, it is manifest that he must have dis
chaged his functions, both civil and military
elsewhere than in the place named by law as the
seatof Government. No act of Congress can
limi euspend or confne this Constitutional
duty am not aware of the existence of any act
of Cngress which assumes thus to limit or re-
stric the exercise Of the functions of the Execu-
tive. We're there such acts, should never
thees recognize the superior authority of
the Constitution, and should exercise the
powes required thereby of the President
The ,ct to which reference is made in the
resolution of the House relates to the establish
mentof a seat of Government, and the providing
of suitable buildings, and the removal thereto OF
the dices attached to the Government, etc. 1t
was lot understood at Its date, and by Gen.
Washington, to confne the Presidentn the dis
cEare of his duties and powers to actual pres,
ence It the seat of Government On the 3Oth of
Marcl. 1871, shortly after the passage OF the act
refered to, Gen. Washington Issued an Executive
proclamation, having reference to the subject OF
this 'ery act, from Georgetown, a place remote
fromP Philadelphia, which then was the seat of
Goyrnment where the act referred TO directed that
" "allofiicers attached to the seat Of Government