It could not then
mean that it should be withdrawn from its station by any co-ordinate
authority.
With respect to papers, there is certainly a public and a private
side to our offices. To the former belong grants of land, patents for
inventions, certain commissions, proclamations, and other papers patent
in their nature. To the other belong mere executive proceedings. All
nations have found it necessary, that for the advantageous conduct of
their affairs, some of these proceedings, at least, should remain known
to their executive functionary only. He, of course, from the nature of
the case, must be the sole judge of which of them the public interests
will permit publication. Hence, under our constitution, in requests of
papers, from the legislative to the executive branch, an exception is
carefully expressed, as to those which he may deem the public welfare
may require not to be disclosed; as you will see in the enclosed
resolution of the House of Representatives, which produced the message
of January 22nd, respecting this case. The respect mutually due between
the constituted authorities, in their official intercourse, as well
as sincere dispositions to do for every one what is just, will always
insure from the executive, in exercising the duty of discrimination
confided to him, the same candor and integrity to which the nation has
in like manner trusted in the disposal of its judiciary authorities.
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