WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
_Washington, June --, 1887_.
Hon. ---- ----,
_Governor of ----_.
SIR: Referring to the letter from this office dated June --, 1887, on
the subject of the return to the respective States of the flags now in
the custody of the War Department, I am instructed by the Secretary of
War to inform you of the withdrawal of the offer made therein, as on a
more careful consideration of the legal points involved in the proposed
action the President of the United States is of the opinion that the
return of these flags is not authorized by existing law nor justified as
an executive act, and that any direction as to their final disposition
should originate with Congress.