5248. MINISTERS (Foreign), Appointment and grade.—[further continued].
After mature consideration
and consultation, I am of opinion that the
Constitution has made the President the sole
competent judge to what places circumstances
render it expedient that ambassadors, or other
public ministers, should be sent, and of what
grade they should be; and that it has ascribed
to the Senate no executive act but the single one
of giving or withholding their consent to the
person nominated. I think it my duty, therefore,
to protest, and do protest against the
validity of any resolutions of the Senate asserting
or implying any right in that House to exercise
any executive authority, but the single
one before mentioned.—
Paragraph for President's Message.
Ford ed., v, 415.
(1792)
