ce to disregard or transcend the limits of the
Constitution.

U.S. GRANT.

[Footnote 119: See pp. 396-397.]

WASHINGTON, _January 23, 1877_.

_To the Senate of the United States_:

I transmit, in answer to a resolution of the Senate of the 16th instant,
a report of the Secretary of State, with its accompanying papers.[120]

U.S. GRANT.

[Footnote 120: Correspondence with diplomatic officers of the United
States in Turkey relative to atrocities and massacres by Turks in
Bulgaria.]

WASHINGTON, _January 25, 1877_.

_To the Senate of the United States_:

I transmit to the Senate, for consideration with a view to ratification,
a treaty between the United States and His Majesty the King of Spain, in
relation to the extradition of criminals, signed on the 5th of January,
1877.

U.S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 29, 1877_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

I have the honor to transmit herewith the proceedings of the commission
appointed to examine "the whole subject of reform and reorganization of
the Army of the United States," under the provisions of the act of
Congress approved July 24, 1876.

The commission report that so fully has their time been occupied by
other important duties that they are not at this time prepared to submit
a plan or make proper recommendations.

U.S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 29, 1877_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

I have the honor to transmit herewith reports and accompanying papers
received from the Secretaries of State and War, in answer to the
resolution of the House of Representatives of the 9th instant, relative
"to the imprisonment and detention by the Mexican authorities at
Matamoras of John Jay Smith, an American citizen, and also to the
wounding and robbing by Mexican soldiers at New Laredo of Dr. Samuel
Huggins, an American citizen."

U.S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 29, 1877_.

_To the Senate of the United States_:

I follow the example heretofore occasionally permitted of communicating
in this mode my approval of the "act to provide for and regulate the
counting of votes for President and Vice-President, and the decision of
questions arising thereon, for the term commencing March 4, A.D. 1877,"
because of my appreciation of the imminent peril to the institutions of
the country from which, in my judgment, the act affords a wise and
constitutional means of escape.

For the first time in