Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-06-09


II has been noted that President
Creyv Of Erance, ia his letter TO Pres
ident Garfield addresses him as your
ExceIfency," and 50 do a great many
Americans. But this is incorrect, as
the President Of the United States has
no title. Not only is the constitution
silent on the subject out the question
was raised discussed and settled, so that
there is decision on the subject.
In 1889, on the 23d Of April, the Sen
ate adopted resolution for the appoint
ment Of committee ''to consider and
report what style or title it will be proper
TO annex to the Offices OF President and
Vice President Of the United States, If
any other than those given in the Con-
shtution." On the day following, the
House OF Representatives adopted a
similar resolution, and on the 9TH of
Nav tins committee reported that "it is
not proper to Snnex any style or title to
tie respective styles or titles Of the Of
ice expressed in the Constitution.
And this report was adopted by the
House.
On the 9Th Of May the Senate Com
mittee made similar report to that Of
the House Committee, but it was reject
ed. The proposition was then made /:
"Whether the President of the United
States shall be addressed as His Elk
cellency,'" and it was decided IN the
negative.
Afterward the following action was
had in the Senate "Ordered that Mr.
Lee, Mr.. Ellsworth, and Mr.. Johnson
be committee to confer with any Com
mittee TO be appointed by the House OF
Representatives on the difference Of
opinion now existing between The two
houses respecting the title OF the Presl-
dent OF the United States" The House
then appointed committee of five, OF
which Mr.. Madison was Chairman, TO
confer with the Senate Committee, and
after conference the Senate Commlcett
reported that they could not agree upon
iolnt report, but that in the opinion OF
the Senate Committee: at would be
proper to address the President as His
Highness, the President OF the United
States Of America and Protector OF our
Liberties This report was was not
adopted, though it was not rejected,
beng laid over. As an end to the mat
ter, the following was finally adopted
by The Senate:
"From a decent respect for the opin-
ION and practice Of civilized nations,
whether under monarchai or republic
can forms OF government, whose custom
it is TO annex titles of respectfully TO
the office Of their Chief Magistrate, and
that. on intercourse with foreign nations,
due respect tor the majesty Of The peo-
pie of the United States may not be haz-
arded by an appearance Of singularity,
the Senate have been induced 10 be Of
the opinion that it would be proper 70
annex . respectable title 70 The Office Of
President Of tue United States; but the
Senate, DESTROYS OF preserving harmony
with the House OF Representatives.
where the practice lately observed in
presenting an address to the President
was without the addition Of titles think
it proper Tor the present 20 act in con
Cormity with the practice Of the House
therefore, Resolved, that the present
address be To the President OF the
United States without addition Oil
title"
And so the matter stands to day, and
the American people can congratulate
themselves that they escaped The nAIc-
ton which the Senate Committee
wanted TO entail upon an unoHending
posterity. 1t IS very common IN wri-
ting to the President TO address him not
only as "His ExccHency," but to give
his full name. This is not the bushes,
style, at least. II in writing TO the
President on public business, you will
simply say Sir at the top and The
President at the bottom you will be
according to official etiquette.