02/18/1887
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu...
"I do hereby designate and set apart Thursday, the 24th day of November next, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer."
"I request, therefore, that no further steps be taken in the matter except to examine and inventory these flags and adopt proper measures for their preservation."
"Any direction as to the final disposition of them should originate with Congress."
"the return of these flags is not authorized by existing law nor justified as an executive act"