Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-05-10

1t will be perceived that the mes
sage is dated Washington, without
the usual prefix of Executive Man.
sion." Accompanying the message is
q memorandum of the 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 time of such absences.
This memorandum contains the fol-
lowing information, and much more
of the same general character, only
the most important acts recited i'm the
memorandum being selected for men
ton.
In this abstract President Washing
ton was frequently absent from the
Capitol. lie appears to have been
thus absent at least Isl days during
his term. In March, 1871, the seat of
government being then at Philadel-
phia, he issued proclamation dated
at Georgetown in reference to the
running of the boundary of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. He signed, at Mt.
Vernon, an official letter to the En-
peror of Morocco; and from the
same place issued the commission Of
Oliver WOlcott as Comptroller of the
Treasury, and proclamation respec-
ting the whisky insurrection in Phil
adelphia.
From Mt. Vernon Washington also
issued the proclamation of the treaty
of 1896 with Spain, and the executive
order of August A, 1892, relative to
duties on distilled spirits, When at
Georgetown he signed sundry COM
missions. He proposed to have Mr..
YrujO officially presented to him at
Mt. Vernon as Envoy-Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary from
Spain, and Mr.. Yrnjo went there for
that purpose but the ceremony of
presentation was prevented Dby an ac-
cident-the omission of the Minister
to bring his credentials.
President John Adams was absent
from the capital during his term of
four years, on various occasions, 1856
days. He discharged official duties
and performed the most solemn pub
lie acts at Quincy, Mass. in the same
manner as when at the seat of Gov
ernment. Several of them are recited,
and it is also specified that on the 2Sth
of September, 1907, he forwarded to
the Secretary of State commission
for Justice of the Supreme Court,
signed in blank at Quincy, with in
structions to fill in the name of John
Marshall, if he would accept. and if
not, that Of Bushrod Washington.
President Jefferson was absent from
the seat of government during his
two terms of Office, 796 days, or more
than one-fourth of the whole official
period. He signed and issued from
Monticello, among other things, IS
commissions.
President Madison was absent 637
days, and President Monroe 70S days,
independent of the year 1924, and two
months of 1925, for which no data is
found. The latter transacted public
business wherever he happened to be,
and sometimes while travelling.
President J. @. Adams was absent
during his single term 222 days. and
in his Memoirs, Vol. s, page Is, he
speaks Of his practice of leaving with
his chief clerk blank papers signed by
him to be used when necessary for
proelamations, remission of penalties
and commissions of consuls. He
speaks also of doing this same thing
in regard to patents and land grants.
President Jackson was absent from
the seat of government 502 days.
Among other important acts perform
ed by him when away, was his sign
ing at Boston, the famous order for
the removal Of deposits from State
Banks.
The memorandum at this point re-
fers to President Jackson's refusal.
in 1888, to furnish the Senate copy
of certain paper alleged to have
been read by him to the Cabinet, and
mentions that in January, 1887, he re-
fused to allow Committee of the
House of Representatives to make a
general investigation of the Executive
departments without specific charges.
on the ground amongst others, that
the use of official books and records
for such purpose would interfere
with the discharge ofpublic business.
Other Presidents were absent
from Washington and performed
numerous official duties when absent !:
Vanburen, 13l days; Tyler, 163 days !;
Polk, 81; Taylor, 81; Pierce, 57;-
Buchanan 81. No mention is made
OF the absence of PRESIDENTS Lincoln
and i OhnsOn