PRESIDENT.

SIR: I have the honor to return herewith engrossed bill H.R. 1331,
entitled "An act for the relief of Joab Spencer and James R. Mead for
supplies furnished the Kansas tribe of Indians," and to state that
said bill was the subject of a report made to the Department by the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs on the 11th ultimo, with which he
submitted letters from Enoch Hoag, superintendent of Indian affairs,
and Mahlon Stubbs, Indian agent, representing that the justness and
correctness of the claim of Spencer & Mead had not been established, and
suggesting that further proceedings in the premises be deferred until a
thorough investigation of the facts and circumstances of the case could
be had.

The suggestion of the Indian agent received the concurrence of the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs and the approval of this Department, and
on the 17th ultimo the attention of Congress was invited to the subject
in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
the Secretary of the Interior. At the latter date the bill appears to
have been pending in the Senate, of which fact this Department at that
time was not informed.

On the 5th instant the engrossed bill (H.R. No. 1331) was received by
reference from the Executive Office, and forwarded to the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs for a further report on the subject, and on the 6th
instant that officer returned said bill to this Department with a letter
presenting his views in relation to the matter and suggesting that the
rights of the Indians and of Messrs. Spencer & Mead would be fully
protected by a modification of the bill authorizing the Secretary of the
Interior to pay such amount of their claim as might be found to be due.
The suggestion meets the approval of this Department.

Copies of the papers connected with this claim are herewith
submitted.[81] I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,

B.R. COWEN,

_Acting Secretary_.

[Footnote 81: Omitted.]

PROCLAMATIONS.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas certain turbulent and disorderly persons, pretending that
Elisha Baxter, the present executive of Arkansas, was not elected, have
combined together with force and arms to resist his authority as such
executive and other authorities of said State; and

Whereas said Elisha Baxter has been declared duly elected by the general
assembly of said State, as provided in