The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-05-06

Accompanying Grants last message IS
memorandum OF absences OF the President
of the United States from the national
capital during each Of the several Admins
trations, and OF public and executive acts
performed during the time OF such alb
sences.~
This memorandum contains the following
information and much more OF the same
general character, only the most important
OF the acts recited in the memorandum being
selected for mention in this abstract:
ABSENCES OF PRESIDENT WASHINGTON.
President Washington was frequently
absent from the capital. He appeared to
have been thus absent at least 1S1 days du-
ring his term.
In March, 1871, the seat OF government
being then at Philadelphia, he issued pro-
clamation, dated at Georgetown, in refer
ence tC running the boundary for the Dis
trict OF Columbia.
He signed at Mount Vernon an official let
ter to the Emperor of Morocco, and from
the same place issued the commission OF
Oliver Wolcott as Controller OF the Treas
rlry, and the proclamation respecting the
whiskey insuErection in Pennsylvania.
Also, the proclamation OF the treaty of
1895 with Spain, and the Executive order OF
August 4, 1892, relative to the duties on
distilled spirits, &c.
When at Germantown lie signed Sundry
commissions. He proposed to have Mr..
Yruio officially presented to him at Mount
Vernon as Envoy Extraordinary and Min
lister Plenipotentiary from SPAIN Mr.. Yruio
went there for that purpose, but the cere-
mony OF presentation was prevented by an
accidental omission OF the ministerto bring
his credentials.
PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMS
was absent from the capital during his term
of four years, on various occasions, 3S5 days.
He discharged official duties and performed
the most solemn public acts at Quincy, Mass,
in the same manner as when at the seat OF
government. Several Of them are recited,
and it is also specified that on the 2Sth of
September, 1897, he forwarded to the Secre-
tary of State a commission for Justice Of
the Supreme Court, signed in blank at Quin-
cy, with instructions to fill in the name Of
John Marshall, il 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, 196 days, or more than one fourth Of
the whole official period. lie signed and is
sued from Monticello, among other things,
IS commissions.
PRESIDENT MADISON
was absent six hundred and thirty-seven
days, and President Monroe was absent
seven hundred and eight days, independent
OF the year 1924, and two months of 1926,
for which period no data was found. The
latter transacted public business wherever
he happened to be, and sometimes while
travelling.
PRESIDENT JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
was absent during his single term two hum
dred and twenty-five days; and in his me-
moirs volume yiii.,, page 75l speaks OF his
practice OF leaving with his chief clerk
blank papers signed by him, "to be used,
when necessary, for preclamations, remis-
sion OF penalties. and commissions OF con-
suls." He speaks also of doing this same
thing in regard to patents and Immigrants.
3s PRESIDENT JACKSON WAS ABSENT
from the seat OF Government five hundred
and two days. Among other important acts
performed by him, when away from Wash
ington, was his signing at Boston the ia
nous order for the removal of the. deposits
from the State Bank,
4 The memorandum at this point refers to
President Jaekson's refusal, in 1888, to fur