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: ee ee Gated January 32, 1843, said in part: And although information comes through a proper channel to an executive officer, it may often be of a charecter to forbid its being made public. The officer charged with a confidential inquiry, end who reports its result under the pledge of confidence which his appointment implies, ought not to be exposed individually to the resentment of those whose conduct may be impugned by the information he collects. The knowledge that such is to be the consequence will inevitably prevent the performances of duties of that character, and thus the Government will be deprived of an important means of in- vestigating the conduct of its agents. President Tyler also declined to comply with a resclution of the House of Representatives which called upon him and the heads of departments to furnish information regarding such members of the 26th end 27th Con- gresses as had applied for office in the executive branch. In 60 refusing, President Tyler stated: Applications for office are in their very nature confidential, and if the reesons assigned for such applications or the names of the applicants were ccommun- icated, not only wovld such implied confidence be wantonly violated, but, in addition, it is quite obvious that a mass of vague, incoherent, and personal matter would be made pub- lic at a vast consumption of time, money, and trouble with- out accomplishing or tending in any manner tc accomplish, as it appears to m, any useful object connected with a sound and constitutional administration cf the Government in any of its branches. In my judgment a compliance with the resolution which has been tranamitted to me would be a aurrender of duties and powers which the Constitution has conferred exclusively on the Executive, and therefore such compliance can not be wade by me nor by the heads of Departments by my direction. Thege are only a few cf the precedents to be found in the con- etitutional history of our Government; many more could be referred to. a a ee a en