"To admit then a right in the House of Representatives to demand, and to have as a matter of course, all the Papers respecting a negotiation with a foreign power, would be to establish a dangerous precedent. It does not occur that the inspection of the papers asked for, can be relative to any purpose under the cognizance of the House of Representatives, except that of an impeachment, which the resolution has not expressed. I repeat, that I have no disposition to withhold any information which the duty of my station will permit, or the public good shall require to be disclosed: and in fact, all the Papers affecting the negotiation with Great Britain were laid before the Senate, when the Treaty itself was communicated for their consideration and advice. The course which the debate has taken, on the resolution of the House, leads to some observations on the mode of making treaties under the Constitution of the United States."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
George Washington, address to the House of Representatives (March 30, 1796); reported in John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington (1940), vol. 35, p. 3. Washington refused to provide papers relating to the Jay Treaty, since the assent of the House was unnecessary.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Separation_of_powers
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Separation of powers
12 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Separation of powers →
Related Quotes
"Democratic and aristocratic states are not in their own nature free. Political liberty is to be found only in moderat…"
"In all tyrannical governments the supreme magistracy, or the right both of making and of enforcing the laws, is veste…"
"In every government there are three sorts of power: the legislative; the executive in respect to things dependent on …"
"In order to lay a due foundation for that separate and distinct exercise of the different powers of government, which…"
"It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free Country should inspire caution in those entrusted wi…"
"It is obvious that the executive power could not proceed from the Parliament, made of two Houses and holding the legi…"
"One must give one power a ballast, so to speak, to put it in a position to resist another."
"The laws of Rome had wisely divided public power among a large number of magistracies, which supported, checked and t…"
"The doctrine of the separation of powers was adopted by the Convention of 1787, not to promote efficiency but to prec…"
"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or m…"