[A similar message was sent to the Senate.]

WASHINGTON, January 11, 1878.

To the House of Representatives: 

In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 3d ultimo, requesting to be furnished with the correspondence between the Government of Venezuela and that of the United States had since the adjournment of the first session of the Forty-fourth Congress in relation to the Venezuela Mixed Claims Commission, I transmit the report of the Secretary of State, together with its accompanying documents.

R.B.  HAYES.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, January 14, 1878.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I have received the following resolution of the Senate: 

  IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
  December 11, 1877.

Resolved, That the President be respectfully requested to inform the Senate, with the view to the transaction of its executive business, whether in any of the instances of nominations hitherto sent to the Senate stated to be for appointment in place of officers removed such removals had been made at the time of sending such nominations to the Senate.

In reply I would respectfully inform the Senate that in the instances referred to removals had not been made at the time the nominations were sent to the Senate.  The form used for such nominations was one found to have been in existence and heretofore used in some of the Departments, and was intended to inform the Senate that if the nomination proposed were approved it would operate to remove an incumbent whose name was indicated.

R.B.  HAYES.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 17, 1878.

To the Senate of the United States: 

In response to the resolution of the Senate of the 13th November last calling for information concerning the cause, numbers engaged, number of lives lost, and probable cost of the late so-called Nez Perce War, I have the honor to submit the accompanying communication from the General of the Army and an extract from the annual report of that officer.  Upon the subject of the cost of the Nez Perce War, I submit reports from the Quartermaster-General and the Commissary-General of Subsistence.

R.B.  HAYES.

WASHINGTON, January 18, 1878.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit to the Senate, for its consideration with a view to ratification, a treaty of friendship and commerce between the United States and the Government of the Samoan Islands, signed on the 17th instant.

R.B.  HAYES.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 18, 1878.

To the Senate of the United States: 

In answer to the resolution of the Senate of December 6, 1877, I inclose a report made to me by the Attorney-General, the results of which seem to be correct, and which affords the information[8] requested.