Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-05
MESSAGE of HE PkE<IBENr.
Right OF the Executive 60 ferferns
Omcfsl AcIs white Absent from the
Capital.

T. nc htISf ~ 10 ffffntIrsSs
20 n ~ OlCtion OF the House Of Representa-
lives, psSstd on the 81 dzv of April. re Cest-
irg tie President OF tie United States 10 In
form the House whether any executive
Offers. acts. or duties. aud II any, what, have
within specified period been performed st
distance from The seat Of government esiab-
have reveI Lesltaied. and shall not hesi-
. te 20 communicate TAI Congress and %
either branch thereof al the Information
which the Constitution makes IL the duty OF
the President To Give, or which my Judg-
nent may suggest 20 me, OF request from
ei'her House may indicate 10 me viii De
useful IN the discharge 81 the appropriate
duties conrded 10 them. I fail. however, %
nnd IN the Constitution OF the United states
The authority given the House OF Represen-
tatlNes zone branch of the Congress Ia which
is vested the Legislative power Of the govern
menO 10 require OF toe Executive. an inde-
pendent branch OF the government cO-ordi-
rate with the Senate and House OF Repre-
>entatives. an account OF his discharge al MS
aTl,ropf ate ard purely executives Offices
acts, and duties either as 10 when, where, or
BUw performed. what The House OF Repre-
sentstiNes msy require a. right IN It's
GsTIsi / upon the Executive Tor information
r. I'm a 10 what h necessary Tor the proper
discht OF Us powers of legislation or 81
Inc airy In the resolution or The House,
s. 20 y executive acts have. WI thtn the
wrst ois. lce from any particular spot. or
for how eripd AZ suy one tune, &C.
does no lec .arlly belong 10 the pro-
vince o. e. 3s'ion; 10 does not profess
informant ba sought through an in-
qUiry Of pTCsiceEt as TO his eNesu-
live acis view or m aid OF the power OF
impoachr ~ visited in the House. II Is askeI
IN GerCr on OF an Inherent natural right
reCOr cd I'm Tins country By cOnstitu-
o. guarantee which protects every clti-
.. the President A. well as the humhleSf IN
.ge land, from htiag made a witness against
himself
During the time that have hal the honor
10 OCcUpy tie position OF President OF this
government DO has baen. aud while continue
10 occupy that position IL will continue %
he, my earnest endeavor 20 recognize and To
respect the several trusts and duties and
powers OF the CO ordinate branches OF the
government, not encroachtng upon them nor
allowing encroachments upon the proper
powers OF the office which the people of the
United States have conn led IN me, but aim
ing To preserve 10 their proper relations the
several powers and functions OF each OF the
co ordinate brrnches OF the government
agreeably TO the constitution ana 10 accord
ance with the solemn oath which 1 have
taken To preserve. protect and defend" that
Instrument In maintenance OF the rights
secured by the constitution 20 the executive
branch OF the government. / am compelled
10 decline any specific or detailed answer N
The request OF the House for inform alton as
10 ''any executive Offices, acts or duties, aud
u any what, have been performed al a dis
lance nom the seat OF covers ment estab-
ltshed 10y law, and for how long periOd at
States"
II, however. the House OF Representatives
desires to know whether during the period of
upwards OF seven years during which nave
held The office of President of the United
States l have been absent from the seat OF
government, and whether during that period
i have performed or neglected % 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 predecessors, with the excep-
ton OF one who lived only Que month after
assuming the duties OF his Office, aud one
whose continued presence In Washington
was rendered necessary from the existence
at the time oi powerful rebellion OF alb
Sontingm myself at times from the seat OF gov
eminent, and That during such absence did
rot neglect or forego the obligations or the
duties OF my Office, but continued 10 dis.
charge all OF the executive offices, acts and
duties which were required Of me as Presi-
dent OF the United States. / am not aware
that a failure occurred IA any one instance o.
my exercising the functions and powers of
my Cfiice IN every sc requiring their dis
charge, or q my exercising all necessary
executive acts in whatever part OF the
United States may Al the lime have been.
Fortunately tue rapidity Of travel aud of
mail communication, and the facility OF
almost instantaneous correspondence with
the officers al the seat OF government, which
the telegraph affords 70 the President in
whatever section OF tue Union he may be,
enable him, ina these days, 10 maintain as
constant and almost as quick Intercourse
with the departments AZ Washington as may
be maintained while he remains IN the cap
itai.
TIE necessity Of the performance of execu-
tive acts 10y Inc Pre- sident OF the United
States exists, and is devOlved upon him
wherever he may be within the United states
during his term Of Office, 10y The constitution
Of the United States.
His civil powers are no more limited, or
capable OF Limitation, as 10 The place where
they shall be exercised, than are those which
he ~ ght be required TO discharge in his Ca
pacity OF Comma-cer- I'm chief OF the army
lass a.
he might be called upon 10 exercise, possibly,
even without the limits ofthe United States.
Had The Efforts OF those recently in rebellion
against the government been uccesSful In
driving late President ofLne United States
from Washington, IL is manifest that he
must have discharged his functions, both
civil and military, elsewhere than IN the
place NAMED BY Law as the seat OF govern
meut.
No act OF Congress can limit, suspend on
copfine this constitutional duty. / am not
aware of the existence of ANY act OF Con-
gress which assumes thus 10 limit or restrict
tie exercise OF the functions OF tine execu-
i've. Were there such acts should never
theless recognize the superior authority Of
The constitution, aud should exercise the
powers required thereby OF the President
The act 10 which reference is made I'm the
resolution Of the House relates 10 the estaO-
lShmept OF the seat OF government aud the
! providing OF suitable buildings, and the re-
moval theTetoof the offices attached 10 the
government, DC. IL was not understood Al
! It's date, and by General Washington, TO
confine the President in the discharge of his
duties and powers 10 actual presence at the
seat of government. On the 50th OF March,
lsgi, shortly AFTER the passage OF the act
referred 10, General Washington issued an
executive proclamation having reference To
the subject OF this very act, from George
town, a place remote from Philadelphia,
which then was the seat OF government,
where the act referred 10 directed that 'alI
offices attached 10 the seat Of gOyern.nenLH
should Tor the time remain.
that none OF his successors have enter
tanned the icea hat their executive ON ces
could be performed only al the seat of gov
ernnCut is ~ denCtd Oy the hundreds upon
Lundl eos OF sucn acts performed by my
predecessors. iu uubrOken line from Wash
ing ton 10 Lincoln. memorandum OF Jhe
general nature auI character OF some OF
which act rs transmitted herewith, aHd no
question has ever been raised rs 10 the
validity 81 iLese acts nr as 10 me right ant
p.opr.eiy 90 'l- Executive 70 exercise the
powers OF MS office an any part OF the United
STATES. Il. =. GRANT.
washington, May 2, l,,6.
ABSENTEFEsM Cv THE nECsTDENTs PRr-
DEtESsUAS.