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Show 52 by President Lincoln by October 3; this constituted the first step. However, it was not until May 5, 1864 that the Congress confirmed the President's action. Some writers have speculated on Lincoln's logic for making the commitment. The impression is sometimes given that he signed it as a favor to the Mormons. This is probably not so as there seemed to be no substantive issue in the signing. Lincoln acted similarly on other Indian matters taking at face value the recommendations of his Secretary of the Interior or his Commissioners of Indian Affairs. The chaotic character of federal administration added to the problems in spite of Lincoln's best intentions. The Congress was usually the place where the failures occurred. In a letter to the Commissioner dated December 30, 1862, Amos Reed, Clerk of the Indian Superintendency of Utah Territory clearly describes the problems: Washington, D.C ' December 30, 1862 \ Sir: I have come to this city by direction of Hon. James Duane Doty, superintendent of Indian affairs for Utah Territory, to represent to you the destitute condition of the Indians in his superintendency, and the urgent necessity of immediately placing additional funds at his disposal to enable him to provide the necessary funds and clothing for the Indians to keep them quiet this winter and coming spring. You are aware that Congress appropriated for that superintendency for the current fiscal year only five thousand dollars, while heretofore from forty to sixty thousand dollars per annum has been appropriated for the same purpose. This curtailment works peculiarly hard with the Indians of Utah-more so, probably, than with any other Indians in the country-from the fact that the great body of |