The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-05-08

message of response to the resolution
was "a most successful flank movement
on the question of Presidential ab-
senteeism. The Washington cofre-
spondent of the N. z. Times thus speaks
of the incidents attending the reading of
the Message. He says:
"rhe comments of the Democrats on the Mes
sage were amusing. One remarked First
iClymer made a great mistake in the Belknap
matter. then Cauifeld brought Davenport and
trouble upon the Democracy. next Springer
gave Morton a chance TO make terrible raid /;
| and now Blackburn has exposed us to this de-
served casiigation.' heagan, OF Texas. thtnks
the Message proper and dignitied reply to an
| improper inquiry and valuable as historical
paper Ex-Goyerner Thomas, OF Maryland,
] thinks the Democratic side deserves the rebuke
SO admirably administered for permitting the
inquiry to be made. The resolution is con-
| ceued to have been an inpudent and improper
| one, which both parties should have united to
suppiessY
We give below the Message in full, as
an important state paper OF great his
toric value:
THE MESSAGE.
To the House of Representatives:
have given very attentive considera-
tion to esrIution Of the House OF Rep
resentatives passed. on the 3D. day OF
April, requesting the President OF the
United States to inform the House
whether any executive offices, acts, Or
duties, and if any, what have within a
| specified period been performed att dis
lance from the seat of government es-
! tabllshed by law, sc. have never hes
itated, and shall not hesitate, to commu-
nicate to Congress and to either branch
l tk oil X of m vNlni inh ha
| Constitution makes it the duty oil the
President to give.or which my Judgment
may suggestive me, or a request from
either House may indicate to- me will be
| useful i'll the discharge of the appropri-
ate duties confiQed to them. iaii, how-
ever, to find in the Constitution OF the
United States the authority given to the
House OF Representatives,, one branch
| Of the Congress in which is vested the
| legis lative power of the Government, to
require of the Executive, an independ-
enJ branch of the Government, co-ordin-
Late with the Senate and House ofRepre-
sentaliyes, an account of his discourage
of his appropriate anu partly executive
offices, acts, and duties, either as to
when, where, or how pertormeu. Whal
the House of Repres entatives may re-
uuire as a right in its demand upon the
Executive for information is limited tt
what is necessary for the proper dis
charge OF its powers OF legislation or o
J impeachment.
The inquiry in the resolution of thu
House, as TO where executive acts have
within the last seven years been per
| formed, and at what distance from any
particular spot, or for how long periol
at any one time. does not necessarily
belong to the province of legislation; i
| IN ha nl fnr haf ph
object. II this information be sough
through an inquiry Of the President al
! to his executive acts in view or in aid o
the power of impeachment vested in thu
House. it is asked III derogatiOn of al
Inherent natural right, recognized il
this country by constitutional guaran
tee which protects every ciLizen, th,
President as well as the humblest IN tht
land, from being made witness agains
: himself. During the time that l have
had the honor to occupy the position o
President OF this Government it hai
been. and while l continue to oc
cupy that position IT. Will be, my earnes
epdeavor to recognize and respect the
several trusts anu duties and powers o.
the coordinate branches OF the Govern
mept, not encroaching upon them, no.
allowing encroachments upon the proper
poWers the authority which the people
OF the United States have confided tt
me. but aiming to preserve in theil
proper relations the several powers and
functions of each of the coordinate
branches of the Government, agreeable
to the Constitution and In accordance
with the solemn oath which have taken
to spreserve, protect and defsnG' tina
Instrument. In maintenance Of the
rights secured by the Constitution to the
4 Executive branch OF the Government,
lam compelled to decline any specific ol
detailed answer to the request OF tn,
House for information as TO 'sany exec
utiye offices, acts or duties, and if any
what have been performed ut q distance
from the seat OF Government established
by law, and for how long a period at an,
one time, and in what part Of the Unitet
|, States"
il. however, the House Of Representa-
tiyes desires to know whether during th
period OF upward OF seven years, durint
which have held the office OF Presiden
, | of the United States, have been absen
M trem M the seat Of Government an
whether during that period have pei
4 formed, Or have neglected to perforE
. any of the duties OF my office, / freely in
form the House that from the time Of m
entrance upon the. duties Of my ofic
U have been in the habit, as were all Q
: nv predecessors (with the exception Q
one, who lived only one month after as
> suming the duties OF his office, and On
, whose continued presence in Washing
D TON was necessary from the existence a
| the time OF powerful rebellion, Of al
senting myself at times from the seat o
Government, and tnat during such al
sences did not neglect or fOrego th
: obligations or the duties OF my Office, bu
: continued to discharge all OF the execu
tive offices, acts and duties whic
. were required of me as President of tn
United States. Applause from the RI
= publican side.] l am not aware that
failure occurred in any one instance Q
my exercising the functions and power
Of my office, in every case requirin
: their discharge, Or of my exercising a.
necessary executive acts in whateve
part of the United States l may at tn
Time have been. Fortunately the rapid
} ity OF travel and OF mail communicate
} and the facility of almost lnstanteou
: correspondence with officers at the sea
Of government which the telegraph al
fords to the President in Whatever sec
tion OF the Union he may be, enable hiI
in these days to maintain as constan
, | and almost as quick intercourse wit
: denartments at Washington. as NAV b