6648. PETITIONS, The Executive and.—[continued].
The Executive of the
Union is, by the Constitution, made the
channel of communication between foreign
powers and the United States. But citizens,
whether individually, or in bodies corporate,
or associated, have a right to apply directly
to any department of their government,
whether Legislative, Executive, or Judiciary,
the exercise of whose powers they have a
right to claim; and neither of these can regularly
offer its intervention in a case belonging
to the other. The communication and
recommendation by me to Congress of the
memorial you * * * enclose me, would
be an innovation, not authorized by the practice
of our government, and, therefore, the
less likely to add to its weight or effect.—
To James Sullivan. Washington ed. v, 203.
(W.
1807)
