The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-05-18

suSH Uu61uteb WIN open OOOf9 W0ltG
testimony is being taken was rejected-69 to 81.
bill was offered and referred, providing for the
coinage Of $4,000 coo silver coin additional to
Committee were Instructed to inquire into the
Management Of the New York Custom House.
The bill to carry into effect the provisions of the
t treaty with The Haw allan Islands was passed,ll6
TO III. Mr. Conger was appointed on the Select
Committee on Federal Ofices in Louisiana, in
place Of Mr.. Grape. excused. Adjourned. with
the understanding lei! that no business was to be
Precedent Grant Sends a Message to
the House.
WASHINGTON. Maya.
The President to-day sent the following
message to the House in reply to Represent
tative Blackburn's resolution.
To ne House Of Representatives: have given
the House of Representatives, passed on the Sd
Of April, "requesting the President of the United
States to inform the House whether any Execu-
within specified period Seen perfopmsd at dis
lance from the seat Of Government established by
law" etc. have never hesitated, and shall not
either branch thereof. all information which the
Constitution makes it the duty of the Presi-
dent to give, or which my Judgment may sug-
gese to me, or rea"es. from either House may in.
dictate to me may be useful in the discharge of
the appropriate duties confded to them. fail,
however, to ind in the Constitution of the United
states the authority given to the House Of Rep
resentativcs Zone branch Of Congress in which is
vested the Legislative power Of The Government)
to require Of the Executive, an Independent
branch S OF the Government, coordinate with the
count Of his discharge OF his appropriate and
purely Executive Offices, acts and duties either as
TO when, where, Or how performed. What the
in its demand upon the Executive for informa-
tion fs limited to what's necessary for the proper
discharge Of its powers of legislation or Of i'm.
The inquiry in the resolution Of the House as to
where the Z xecutive acts, within the last seven
years, have 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 province of legislation. 1t does not profess
to be asked for that object If this information
be sought through an inquiry of the President as
power OF impeachment vested in the House, 1t is
asked In derogation of an inherent natural right
recognized in this country BY constitutional
President a. well ae the hhmblest in the land
from being made witness against himself.
During the time that have had the honor to
ment, 1t has been, and while continue to occu-
py that position it will continue to be, my earnest
endeavor to recognize and to respect the several
branches Of the Government, not encroaching
upon them, nor allowing encroachments upon the
proper powers Of the office which the people of
ing to preserve In their proper relations the sew
eral powers and functions OF each OF the co-ordi-
nate branches Of the Government agreeably to the
oath which have taken TO preserve, protect
and defend that instrument. In maintenance
the the rights secured By tho Constitution
ment. / 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
a distance from the spAt NJ Government oStah h.
lished by law, and for how long period at any
one time, and in what part of the United States"
the OF de-
the office Of President Of the United states, have
been absent from the seat Of Government, and
OF have neelected to perform, the duties
that that. from the time Of my entrance
all Of my predecessors, with the exception of one
who lived only one month after assuming the
duties Of his office, and one whose continued
existence at the time of powerful rebellion, of
absenting myself at times from the seat of Gov
eminent, and that during such absences did not
office, but continued to discharge ali of the
Executive offices, acts and duties which were re-
CURED of ne as President of the United States.
in any one instance of my exercising the
functions and powers Of my office in every
case requiring their discharge, or of my exercis-
part Of the United States may at the time have
been. Fortunately, rapidly Of travel and of mail
communication, and the facility of almost in
stantaneous correspondence with officers at the
eeat Of Government which the telegraph affords
to the President, In whatever section of the
Union he may be, enable him in these days to
maintain a. constant and almost as quick inter
course with the Departments at Washington
Capital. .''' " '''''''" 40 '''~
The necessity Of the performance of Executive
and is devolved upon him wherever he may ibe
within the United States, during his term Of office,
by the Constitution ofthe United States. His civil
ton as to the place where they shall be exercised
than are those which he might be required TO dis
charge in his capacity Of Commander-in- Chief OF
dent he might be called upon to exercise possibly
even without the limits of the United States. Had
the efforts of those recently in rebellion against
late President of the United States from Wash
ington, it is manifest that he must have dis
charged his functions, both civil and military.
seat Of Government. No act Of Congress can
limit, suspend conflne this Constitutional duty.
am not aware of the existence Of any act Of Con-
exercise Of the functions of the Executive. Were
there such acts, L should nevertheless recognize
the superior authority Of the Constitution and
% tie
the resolution of the House relates to the
ment of . seat Of Government, and the providi ng
Of suitable buildings, and the removal thereto OF
the Offices attached to the Government, etc. It
was not understood at its date, and by Gen.
Washington, to confne the President in the dis
charge Of his duties and powers to actual pres
ence ut the eeat of Government On the 3Oth of
March, 1891, shortly after the passage of the act
referred to, Gen. Washington Issued an Execu-
tive proclamation, having reference to the
subject of this very act, from George
town, = place remote from Philadelphia,
which then was the seat of Government,
where the act referred to directed that
" all officers attached to the seat of Government
should for the time remain" That none Of his
successors have entertained the idea that their
Executive Offices could be performed only at the
seat of Government is evidenced by hundreds
upon hundreds of such acts performed by r1y
predecessors in an unbroken line from Washing
ton to Lincoln, memorandum Of the general ma
ture aud character of some Of which acts lie submit
ted herewith, and no question hae been raised as
to the validity Of those acts or to the right and
propriety of the Executive to exercise the powers
ef his Office in any part Of the United States.
Washing ton, May 4, 1876. - ~
1t will be perceived that the message Is
dated Washington, without the usual prefix
Of Executive Mansion"
Accompanying the message is memoran-
dunn of absences Of 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 ahsenceA