The Lake County star., 1876-05-18

a specified period, been performed at dis |
tance from the seat of government estab- |
lished by law, etc.
have never hesitated, and shall not hesi- /
tate, to communicate to Congress, and to
either branch thereof, all information which |
the Constitution makes 1t the duty Of the
President to give, or which my Judgment
may suggest to me, or request from either
House may indicate to me, will be useful In
the discharge Of the appropriate duties con.
fided to them. l fail, however, to find in the
Constitution OF the United States the author
ity given to the House Of Representatives
one branch of Congress, In which Is vested
the legislative power Of the government, to
require 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
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 impeach-
ment. 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 period at any one
time, ETC., does not necessarily belong TO the
to be asked for that object. II this infor.
nation be sought through an inquiry OF
the President as to his executive acts, in
view or in aid of the power of impeach.
ment vested in the House, it Is asked in
derogation of an inherent natural right
recognized in this country by Constitu-
tional guarantee, which protects every citi.
/ talv thn hum h loo
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 continue to occupy
that position, it will continue to be my
earnest endeavor to recognize and to re.
spect the several trusts, and duties, and
powers Of the separate branches OF
government, not encroaching upon them,
nor allowing encroachments upon the proper
powers and offices which 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
coordinate branch of the government agree
ably to the Constitution, and in accordance
with the solemn oath which l 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 az
to any executive Offices, acts or duties, and
if any, what, have been performed at dis
tance from the seat of government estab
lished by law, and for how long period al
any one time, and in what part of the United
States. If, however, the House of Repre-
sentatlves desires 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 neg
lected to perform, the duties of my Office
freely inform the House that from the time
of my entrance upon my Office, / have been
in the habit, as were all OF my pre-
decessors-with the exception of on,
who lived only one month after as
suming the duties of his office, and ont
whose continued presence in Washington
was necessary from the existence at the
time of a powerful rcbellon--of absentins
myself at times from the seat of government
and that during such absences l did no
neglect or foregO the obligations or duties O.
my office, but continued to discharge all o
the executive Offices, acts and duties which
were required of me as President of th'
United States. [Applause from the Repub
lican side.
am not aware that failure occurred il
any one instance of my exercising the func
tions and powers of my Office in every cas'
requiring their discharge, or my exercising
all the necessary executive acts in whateve
part of the United States l may at the tim'
have been. Fortunately, the rapidity o
travel and of mail communications, and tn
. facility of almost instantaneous CORES
pOndence with the officers at the seat OF gov
, ernment, which the telegraph affords to tn
President, in whatever section Of the Uni0i
he may be, enables him, in these days
to maintain as constant and a.
most as quick an intercourse with the de
partments at Washington as may be main
: tanned while he remains at the Capital. Tn
4 necessity of the performance of the Execu
4 tive acts by the President of the Unite
. States exists and devolve upon hin
a wherever he may be during his term q
|" office, by the Constitution of the Unite
. States. His civil powers are no more lin
= !, tied, or capable of limitation, rs to tn
: place where they shall be exercised than ar
" y those which he might be required to di
\ charge in his capacity of COmmander-iI
= = Chief of the Army and Navy, which latte
n powers it is evident he might be called upo
= to exercise, possibly, even without the lin
y its OF the United States. Had the eflor
;, of those recently in rebellion again
! the government been successful
. driving the late President of III
g United States from Washington, it
= manifest that he must have discharged il
n functions, both civil and military, elsewhe
- than in the place named by law as the Sc
, of government. No act Of Congress ca
?, limit, suspend, or cOnfne his constitution
!" duty. l am not aware OF the existence
.e any act of Congress which assumes thus
70 limit or restrict the exercise of the function
=, ~ of the Executive. Were there such acts,
70 should, nevertheless, recognize the superi
Il IA al,
w exercise the powers required thereby OF 81
President. The act to which reference
made i'm the resolution of the House, relat
to the establishment of a seat of governmeI
and the providing of suitable buildings al
u the removal thereto of the Offices attach
he to the government, etc. 1t was n
x understood at its date and by Gen. Washir
N ton to confine the President in the dischar
s- of his duties and powers to his actu
er 30th of March, 1871, shortly after the passa
ne of the act referred to, Gen. Washington
IN sued an executive proclamation, havi
ne reference to the subject of this very a
H. from Georgetown, place remote from Phi
"a delphia, which then was the seat of COVER
u ment, where the act referred to direct
IN that all officers attached to
he seat of government should, for I
n time, remain. That snone of
as successors have entertained the i'd
xt that their executive Offices could be p
OF formed only at the seat of government,
evident by the hundreds upon hundreds
mt such acts performed by my predecessors
nd an unbroken line from Washington to l.
,ir coin. memorandum of a general natr
On and character of some of which acts is 81
he mitted herewith, and no question has be
On raised as to the validity OF those acts. or
ms the right and proprety of the Executive
ID. exercise the powers of his Office in any p
V. of the United States.
rd [Signed,l U. 8. GRANT
,r- WASHINGTON, May A, 1875.
ee ----------------
Ia Opening Speeches OF the Exhibitit