The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-05-11
4 MESSAGE from the President.

W &8E A1l21 ~ w. l
Representative BIackburn's resolutions
10 the House Of Representatives
have given very attentive consideration
to the resolution Of the House Of Representa-
tives, passed on the Sd 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 at q dis
lance from the seat of government estab-
lished by law, etc.
1 have never hesitated, and shall not hesi-
tate, TO communicate to Congress, and to
either branch thereof, all information which
the Constitution makes it the duty Of the
President to give, or which my judgment may
suggest to me, or arequestfrom either House
may indicate to me, will be useful in the dis
charge of the appropriate duties confdedto
them. l fail, however, to find the Consti-
tuition Of the United States the authority
given to the House of Representatives, one
branch of Congress, in which is vested the
legislative power of the government, to re-
quire of the Executive, an Independent
branch of the government, coordinate with
the Senate and House of Representatives, an
account of his discharge of his appropriate
and partly executive offices, acts, and duties,
either as to when, where, or how performed.
What the House of Representatives may re-
Qullt US llkub III us uculuuQ upon the EX-
ecutive 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 have within
the last seven years been performed, and at
what distance from any particular spot, or
for how long a period at any one time, etc.,
does not necessarily belong TO the province
of legislation. 1t does not profess to be
asked for that object. If this information
be sought through an inquiry of the Presi-
dent as to his executive acts, in view or in
aid of the power of impeachment vested in
the House, it is asked in ~derogation Of an
inherent natural right recognized in the,
which protects every citizen, the president
as well as the humblest in the land, from
being made a witness against himself.
During the time that | have had the honor
to occupy the position of President of this
government, it has been, and, while / con-
tinue to occupy that position, it will con-
tinue to be my earnest endeavor to recog-
nize and to respect the several trusts, and
duties, and powers of the separate branches
Of government, not encroaching upon them,
nor allowing Entertainments upon the proper
powers and Offices wich the people of the
United States have confided to me, but aim
ing to preserve in their proper relations the
general powers and functions of each CO.
ordinate branch of the government agree
ably to the Constitution, and in accordance
with the solemn oath which I have taken to
preserve, protect, and defend that instru.
ment. In maintenance of the rights secured
by the Constitution to the executive
branches Of the government, / am compelled
to decline any specific or detailed answer to
the request of the House for information as
to any executive Offices, acts or duties, and,
if any, what, have been performed at a dis
lance from the seat Of government estab-
lished by law, and for how long q period at
any one time, and in what part Of the United
States. If, however, the House of Repre-
sentatiyes desire to know whether, during
the period of upward of seven years, during
which l have held the Office of President Of
the United States, / have been absent from
the seat of government, and whether during
that period ] have performed, or have
neglected to perform, the duties of my
Office, | freely inform the House that
from the time of nv 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 as.
suming the duties of his office, and one
whose continued presence in Washington
was necessary from the existence at the
time of a powerful rebellion-of absentine
myself at times from the seat of government
and that during such absences / did moi
neglect or forego the obligations or duties Of
my office, but continued 10 discharge all Of
the executive Offices, acts and duties which
where required of me as President of the
United States. lApplause from the Repub
lican side.
l am not aware that a failure occurred in
any one instance of my exercising the func
tons and powers of my Office in every case
requiring their discharge, or my exercising
all the necessary executive acts in whatever
part of the United States / may at the tims
have been. Fortunately, the rapidly o.
travel and OF mail communications, and ths
facility of almost instantaneous CORES
pondence with the officers at the seat O
government, which the telegraph affordsst,
the President, in whatever section of tn,
Union he may be, enables him, in thes,
days, to maintain as constant and al
most as quick an intercourse with the de
partments at Washington as may be main
tanned while he remains in the Capital
The necessity of the performance of Execu
tive acts by the President of the Unitet
States exists and is devolved upon him
wherever he may be within the Unite,
States during his term Of office, by the Con
stitution of the United States. His civi
DoWCAb dlC NJ 4lUlC lilultcu, UT CdDdUlt Y
limitation, as to the place where they shal
be exercised than are those which he nigh
be required to discharge in his capacity o
Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy
which latter powers it is evident he Nigh
be called upon to exercise, possibly, eve
without the limits of the United State
Had the efforts of those recently in rebe
lion against the government been su,
cessful in driving the late President {
The United States from Washington, it
manifest that he must nave discharged hi
functions, both civil and military, elsewher
|. than in the place named by law as the ses
of government. No act of Congress ca
limit, suspend or confne his constitutions
duty. Fam not aware of the existence {
any act of Congress which assumes thus I
limit or restrict the exercise of the function
, of the Executive. We're there such acts,
+ should, nevertheless, recognize the superit
authority of the Constitution, and shoul
exercise the powers required thereby of Ii
: President The act to which references
! made in the resolution of the House, relat.
! to the establishment of a seat of govern
ment, and the providing of suitable bull,
, ings and the removal thereto of the ofic,
! attached to the government, etc. 1t was n,
understood at its date andby Gen. WashinI
|, ton to confne the President in the dischars
! Of his duties and powers to his actul
presence at the seat of government. On ii
I 30th of March, 1871, shortly after the passas
of the act referred to, Gen. Washington j
: sued an executive proclamation, havir
reference to the subject of this very act, fro
: Georgetown, a place remote from Phflade
, phia, which then was the seat Of COVER
: = ment, where the act referred to directs
!. that all officers attached to Il
. seat of government should, for IL
/ time, remain. That none of b
successors have entertained the id
! that their executive offices could be pc
! formed only at the seat Of government,
> evident by the hundreds upon hundreds
: such acts performed by my predecessors
! an unbroken line from Washington
: Lincoln. Amemorandum of a general n
: ! ture and character Of some Of which acts
] submitted herewith, and no question HI
4 been raised as to the validity of those act
: or to the right and propriety of the Executil
! to exercise the powers of his office in al
part OF the United States.
[Signed, US. GRAM
! WASHINGTON, May 4, 1876.
Public Debt Statement for April.
: Public debt six per cent. bonds--....... s9S4, $685.
Five per cent. nds.-.-..-.."... 7i0,O41. {
e Total coin 81 So, 041, 4