12/05/1888
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."
"Any direction as to the final disposition of them should originate with Congress."
"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."
"the return of these flags is not authorized by existing law nor justified as an executive act"