I herewith lay before the Senate, for its constitutional action thereon, a treaty concluded in this city on the 23d instant (ultimo) between the United States and the following tribes of Indians, viz: The Senecas, the confederated Senecas…

A letter of the Secretary of the Interior of the 26th instant (ultimo) and a copy of a letter of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs of the 25th instant (ultimo), explanatory of said treaty, are also herewith transmitted.

I herewith lay before the Senate, for its constitutional action thereon, a treaty concluded this day between the United States and the chiefs and headmen of the Kickapoo tribe of Indians.

I herewith lay before the Senate, for its constitutional action thereon, a treaty concluded in this city on the 15th instant (ultimo) between the United States and the Stockbridge and Munsee tribes of Indians.

I herewith lay before the Senate, for its constitutional action thereon, a treaty concluded on the 2d March, 1866, between the United States and the Shawnee tribe of Indians of Kansas.

A letter of the Secretary of the Interior of the 6th instant and a copy of a communication from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs of the 2d instant, explanatory of the said treaty, are also herewith transmitted.

The powers of departmental commanders are hereby delegated to the above-named district commanders.

To pronounce the supreme lawmaking power of an established state illegal is to say that law itself is unlawful.

All the information I have on the subject convinces me that the masses of the Southern people and those who control their public acts [...] are completely united in the effort to reorganize their society on the basis of peace and to…

I submit to Congress whether this measure is not in its whole character, scope, and object without precedent and without authority.

The power of removal was incident to that duty, and might often be requisite to fulfill it.

I know no other way in which they can be preserved and maintained except by a constant adherence to them through the various vicissitudes of national existence, with such adaptations as may become necessary, always to be effected, however…

The history of the world has been written in vain if it does not teach us that unrestrained authority can never be safely trusted in human hands.

While a just, proper, and watchful jealousy of executive power constantly prevails, as it ought ever to prevail, yet it is equally true that an efficient Executive is an indispensable security for tranquillity at home and peace, honor, and…

For these reasons I return the bill to the Senate, in which House it originated, for the further consideration of Congress which the Constitution prescribes.

The bill in this respect conflicts, in my judgment, with the Constitution of the United States.

It places at his free disposal all the lands and goods in his district, and he may distribute them without let or hindrance to whom he pleases.

Under these circumstances, as a depositary of the executive authority of the nation, I do not feel at liberty to unite with Congress in reversing it by giving my approval to the bill.