A letter of this date from the Secretary of the Interior, transmitting said treaties, is herewith inclosed.

A treaty with the Arapahoe and Cheyenne tribes, dated October 28, 1867.

I herewith lay before the Senate, for its constitutional action thereon the following treaties, concluded at 'Medicine Lodge Creek,' Kansas, between the Indian tribes therein named and the United States, by their commissioners appointed by the act of Congress approved July 20. 1867, entitled 'An act to establish peace with certain hostile Indian tribes.'

A treaty with the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache tribes, concluded October 28, 1867.

I transmit herewith the report made by the commissioners appointed under the act of Congress approved on the 20th day of July, 1867.

I transmit a report from the Secretary of State, in answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of yesterday, making inquiry how many and what State legislatures have ratified the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States known as the fourteenth article.

As the amount of this valuation can not legally be drawn from the Treasury without authority from Congress, I recommend an appropriation for that purpose.

It is proposed to appoint a commissioner on the part of this Government to adjust, informally in this case, with a similar commissioner on the part of Spain, the question of damages, the commissioners to name an arbiter for points upon which they may disagree.

When the amount of the damages shall thus have been ascertained, application will be made to Congress for a further appropriation toward paying them.

In answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 18th instant, requesting information concerning alleged interference by Russian naval vessels with whaling vessels of the United States, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State and the papers referred to therein.

By direction of the President of the United States, the following orders are made: