GREAT AND LITTLE OSAGE INDIANS. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, IN ANSWER TO A resolution of the House of 13th instant, relative to the treaty concluded with the Great and Little Osage Indians. JUNE 15, 1868.—Referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs and ordered to be printed. To the House of Representatives: I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of the Interior, made in reply to the resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on the 13th instant. The treaty recently concluded with the Great and Little Osage Indians, to which the accompanying report refers, was submitted to the Senate prior to the receipt of the resolution of the House upon the subject. WASHINGTON, D. C., June 15, 1868. ANDREW JOHNSON. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTerior, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge, by reference from you, the receipt of a preamble and resolution, adopted by the House of Representatives on the 13th instant, in relation to a treaty recently concluded between the United States and the Great and Little Osage tribes of Indians. The resolution is as follows: Resolved, That the President is hereby requested to furnish to this house copies of all instructions, records, and correspondence, connected with the commission authorized to make the above-named treaty, and copies of all propositions made to said commission from railroad corporations or by individuals; and the President is requested to withhold said treaty from the Senate, or, if sent to the Senate, to withdraw the same, until a full investigation can be had and report made by the Committee on Indian Affairs of this house. On the 9th instant I had the honor to make to your Excellency a report, in response to preamble and resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on the 1st instant, upon the same subject. That report embraced copies of all "records and correspondence connected with the commission authorized to make the above-named treaty," and has been duly communicated to the House of Representatives, and is now in its possession. No instructions were given to the commissioners except such as were contained in their commission, which, in general terms, designated their duties. A copy of the commission was made a part of the report above referred to, and is now in the possession of the House. No "propositions made to said commission from railroad corporations or by individuals" have come to the knowledge or possession of this department. Prior to the passage of the preamble and resolution, the treaty had been laid before you by this department, with the request that you would communicate it to the Senate for its constitutional action thereon. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, The PRESIDENT. O. H. BROWNING, Secretary. A resolution of the House of the 13th ultimo, relative to the late treaty with the Great and Little Osage Indians. JULY 18, 1868.—Referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs and ordered to be printed. To the House of Representatives: In compliance with the resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on the 13th instant, requesting "copies of all instructions, records, and corre spondence connected with the commission authorized to negotiate the late treaty with the Great and Little Osage Indians, and copies of all propositions made to said commission from railroad corporations, or by individuals," I transmit the accompanying communications from the Secretary of the Interior, together with the papers to which they have reference. WASHINGTON, D. C. July 18, 1868. ANDREW JOHNSON. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, SIR: I am in receipt, by reference from you, of a resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on the 13th instant, requesting the President "to furnish to the House copies of all instructions, records, and correspondence connected with the commission authorized to negotiate the late treaty with the Great and Little Osage Indians, and copies of all propositions made to said commission from railroad corporations or by individuals." A similar resolution was referred by you to this department for report, on the 13th ultimo, and in conformity to the requirements thereof the department, on the 15th ultimo, reported to you full and complete copies of all the papers referred to in the said resolution, which were in its possession or under its control. Nothing additional upon the subjects referred to in the resolution having come into the possession of the department, the resolution of the 13th instant was referred by the department to the Indian bureau for answer. I now have the honor to lay before you copy of a letter from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, addressed to this department on yesterday, together |