The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-05-10
Two Dollars a Year
SPECIAL. MESSAGE IRON THE
PRESIDENT.
He Stands Upon IEIs Rights and
Gives the AOmSe 81 Roland
for an oliver.
WAsHTNGToN. Nav 4. 1876.

WAsHNGToN, May A. 1876.
TO the House Of Representatives
| have given very attentive consideration
TO resolution of the House of Representa-
tives, passed on the 81 day of April, re
| questing the President of the United State,
! to inform the House whether any executive
offices, acts or duties. and if any. what
have within specified period, been per
! formed at distance from the seat of Gov
| eminent established by law, etc.
have never hesitated, and shall not hes
itate to communicate to Congress, and TO
either branch threeof, all the information
which the Constitution makes it the duty
of the President to give, or which nv
Judgment may suggest 70 me, or a request
from either House may indicate to me will
be useful in the discharge of the appropriate
duties conhded to them. | fail, however,
I" find in the Constitution of the United
States the authority given to the House of
Reprcsentatives-One branch of the Con-
gress in which is vested the legislative
power of governmental require Of the eX-
ecutive, an independent branch Of the Gov
eminent, coordinate with the Senate and
House of Representatives,, an account of his
discharge OF his appropriate and partly ex-
ecutlye offices, acts and duties, either as To
when, where, or how performed. What the
House of Representatives may require as
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 executive acts have
within the last seven years been performed.
and at what distance from any particular
spot, or for how long period at any one par
ticular time, etc, does not necessarily belong
N tho Of A
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 l. asked i'm derogation
OF an inherent natural right, recognized in
this country by constitutional guarantee.
which protects any citizen the President a
well as the humblest in the land from
being made to witness against himself
Extract in maintenance Of the right
Z The Constitution to the Executive
Branch of the Governments am com
PEELED to decline any specific or detailed
answer to the inquiry of the House for In
formation as TO any executive officers OF.
and duties, and il any what have been per
formed at u distance from the seat of Gov
crnment established by law, and for how
long Il period at any one time, and in what
part of the United States.
The President proceeds at length to his
right, and, underprohable cir
euhlStahces, rs duties, TO exercise his func-
tlonS eisew where than at the seat of Govern
ment.
Accompanying the message is a memo
randum Of absences of the Presidents of the
United States from the National Capital
during each of the several administrations,
and of public and executive acts performed
during the terms Of such absences