West-Jersey pioneer., 1877-01-11
GRANT ON THE SITUATION

IDENTIFY forget how many million dollars
worth Of public property there are in Wash
ington, and that it is the duty of the Presi.
dent to see that no harm comes to it. There
may be no occasion to anticipate disorder
there between now and the 4th of March, or
on that day; but in view of the popular ex-
element which has been manifested
throughout the country, and the possibility
of large gatherings of people in Washing
ton, the President would fall short of his
duty if he did not provide for any contin-
gency that might arise. it may be author
itatively announced that this has been one
of the motives at least which has caused
the President to order a few companies of
troops to Washington, and that he had done
I it without consultation with the President
of the Senate or with Republican members
of the Senate Compromise Committee. Fe
considers himself, so to speak, the trustee
of the people during his term of Office for
all the public properly, and will resort 80
any measures that may be necessary to de-
fend it from mutilation or destruction by
made, and from occupation or possession
by any but legal authorities.
The President says he does not know
what the President of the Senate or the
Republican members of TIE Senate Com
mittee on Counting the Electoral Vote
think about their constitutional powers in
the present crisis, except as their views
have been published; but ne has made up
his mind as to his own duty without help
from them. To use his own language:
"When all political power and responsibili-
ty vested in me by the suffrages of the peo-
pie shall have expired by constitutional
limitation, which will be on The 4th day of
March, shall be ready and willingly to sur
render this responsibility; but until then l
shall execute the office of President and
protect and defend the Constitution. 1t is
not my province to determine the question
of an election, but to execute tire laws.
Whoever is declared to be my constitution
al successor, to him will | surrender the
reins of Government. To me it is not Gov.
Hayes nor Gov. Tilden, but who is Presi-
dent and whoever is so declared will be
placed in possession of executive power.''
The President does not approve of the
political demonstrations made by the Dem
ocrats in various parts of the county,
He thinks the only effect of them will be to
unnecessarily infame the public mind, al
ready too much excited. He thinks it is
the duty of every patriot to do all he can TO
allay apprehension and to subdue parti-
san spirit. If any of the meetings have
been held for the purpose of fostering incip-
inent revolution, he does not thak they
will be countenanced by sensible reop,e,
and especially by those having an interest
in the great financial, business, and indus
trial enterprises of the country. If the
demonstrations were intended to overawe
those constitutionally instructed with the
solution of the important questions now
presented in connection with the Presiden.
tial election, they would fail.
President Grant has heard some talk.
which he suppose5 has the same inspiration
with the meetings referred TO, of inaugural
ing Gov. Tilden as President of the United
States, even if he should not be declared
constitutiolally elected. He says that an
Inauguration elsewhere than in Washington
will be without effect. His reasons are as
follows: Under the eighth section of the
first article of the Constitution, Congress is
to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases
whatsoever over district, not exceeding
ten miles square, as may by cession of par
tcular State and Territories and the accept
ance of Congress become the seat of govern
ment of the United States. By the act of
July 16, 1890, Congress accepted district
of ten miles square, and further provided
that on the first Monday in December, 1900,
the seat of Government of the United States
should be transferred to Washington, and
all officers attached to the seat of Govern
ment should accordingly be removed there
70 by their respective holders, and should
after that day cease to be exercised else
where. The amendatory act of 1891 and
all subsequent legislation, he said, had re-
cognized the District of Columbia and the
City of Washington as the permanent seat
of Government, which could not be chang
ed except upon the concurrent action of the
two houses of Congress. The President
said that the exercise of Executive func-
tions elsewhere than at Washington would
be strictly unconstitutional and without
force. In this connection the President re-
ferred to the resolution of the House of
Representatives last session. in which in
quiry was made as to the official acts per-
formed by him, and their nature, at places
other than the seat of Government The
President said that he had never performed
executive acts elsewhere than al Washing
ton; that in the first six years of his admin
istration, during the heated term, he had
made fortnightly visits to Washington,
when he transacted all official business re-
quiring his attention, and during the past
two years all records and Executive acts
were executed at Washington. The Presi-
dents authority, he said. exercised in ac-
cordance with law, is as supreme in the
District of Columbia as if it were a garri-
soned fortress, and any demonstrations or
warlike concentration of men threatening
the peace of the city or endangering the
security of the public property or treasure
of the Government could be summariy
dealt with. should the public safety demand,
by a declaration Of martial law. The Presi-
dent said that he could not think that any
political party would assume so grave re-
sponsibility as step which would neces-
state such an extreme exercise of Execu-
tive authority; for he believed that that
party would be condemned to lasting infamy
by the almost unanimous voice of the peo-
pie. The President said that lie yet felt
assured that the will of the people would
prevail, and had yet confidence in wiser
| counsels than threats and intimidation. -
Neao York Tribune.