The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-02
AN INTERESTING PUBLICATION.

There has recently been issued by the
Government Printing Office the first volume
of a work published by authority of Con-
gress. entitled, "A Compilation of the Mes
sages and Papers of the Presidents from
1859 to 1897" 1t is suggestive of the COM
parative newness of our government that
notwithstanding the vast amount of histor-
ical and official matter it has caused TO be
printed, the messages, proclamations and
other executive papers of the Presidents
have never been collected and published.
All of them are. of course. accessible.
though many are hidden away in official
or newspapers of the period,
but the work of bringing them all together
in consecutive and chronological order has
never been undertaken before. About two
years ago Congress passed a resolution
authorizing the work to be lone and plac-
ing it in competent hands. ard the first
volume is now issued. 1t contains the mes
sages, annual and special. the proclama-
TONS. vetoes and executive papers of
Washington. Adams. Jefferson and Mad
ison. covering the period from 17S9 to 1871.
1t is scarcely too much TO say that many
OF the papers contained in the volume are
really rescued from oblivion by the present
publication. Thus rescued and arranged
they make a valuable contribution TO the
public literature and history of the coun-
try. In addition to the executive messages
there are given the replies of each branch
of Congress to the annual messages OF
Presidents Washington and Adams, dur
ing the three terms of these two Presi-
dents, from 1859 10 1901. At that time it was
the custom for the President TO read his
annual messages TO Congress in person and
for the House of Representatives and the
Senate each separately TO adopt an address
in reply. to which the President In turn
sent a reply. thus ending the ceremony.
This rather p~erfunctory practice was dis
continued by jefferson. When Washington
delivered his first inaugural address, there
was no precedent TO guide him. and IL is
recorded that he was visibIy embarrassed.
The took place in New York. in
the presence of both houses of Congress
and many other distinguished persons.
Mr.. Maclay. of Pennsylvania. a member OF
the United States Senate. who was present
and heard the address, says:
This great man was agitated and en-
barrasSed more than ever he was by the
leveled cannon or pointed musxet. He
trembled. and several times could scarce
make out to read. though 1t must be sup
posed he had often read Ii before. / sim
cerely. for my part. wished all set cere-
mony in the hands of dancing masters. and
that this first of men had read of his ad-
dress in the plain manner. without ever
aking his eyes from the paper; for / feel
hurt that he was not first In everything.
The inaugural was delivered April 80, 1883.
The address OF the House in reply was
dated May 5. and that OF the Senate May Z,
washington's reply to the House was dated
May s. and that TO the Senate May IS.
These communications. as we'll as later
ones between the two houses of Congress
| and the President were an odd and inter-
| es;ing feature in the beginning of the gov
| eminent. All OF them are marked by the
patriotic tone. the earnest desire TO CO.
| operate for the public welfare and the free
dom from party spirit that characterized
the special acts OF hat period.
Among the many interesting papers con-
tanned in this volume aes easily found else
] where. Is President Madison's veto Of the