Under no circumstances will
I allow expenditures upon works not clearly national.
U.S. GRANT.
WASHINGTON, _August 14, 1876_.
_To the House of Representatives_:
In announcing, as I do, that I have attached my signature of official
approval to the "Act making appropriations for the consular and
diplomatic service of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1877,
and for other purposes," it is my duty to call attention to a provision
in the act directing that notice be sent to certain of the diplomatic
and consular officers of the Government "to close their offices."
In the literal sense of this direction it would be an invasion of the
constitutional prerogatives and duty of the Executive.
By the Constitution the President "shall have power, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds
of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint, ambassadors, other
public ministers, and consuls," etc.
It is within the power of Congress to grant or withhold appropriation
of money for the payment of salaries and expenses of the foreign
representatives of the Government.
In the early days of the Government a sum in gross was appropriated,
leaving it to the Executive to determine the grade of the officers and
the countries to which they should be sent.
Pages:
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771