Sol #1247 — Seneca inquiry identified as S. Exec. Doc. No. 31 (vol. IV, p. 1)
Sol Archive #1247 settles the bibliographic identity of the 1848 Seneca sub-agent inquiry. The printed index to the Senate’s 1847–48 executive documents (bound in volume V; Wendell and Van Benthuysen) identifies the War Secretary’s transmittal — with the Indian Affairs Commissioner’s communication and the appointed investigator’s report — as Senate Executive Document No. 31, first session of the 30th Congress, volume IV, beginning at printed page 1.
Index anchors (govinfo Serial Set): alphabetical “Indians” entry keys Vol. 4, No. 31, Page 1 and describes a “Communication from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, with a report from the commissioner appointed to investigate the subject whether the Seneca” Indians sustained losses through a late U.S. sub-agent — a subject heading, not an affirmative finding of loss. A “War” entry and a document-number listing both repeat 4:31. Volume V’s title page covers Nos. 32–40, consistent with No. 31 in the preceding volume.
Independent cross-check: Senate Journal Jan 19 1848 (p. 120) records a War Secretary report “made agreeably to law” on “any losses sustained” by New York Senecas through a late sub-agent; Mar 29 (p. 244) orders that January 19 report referred to Indian Affairs and printed. The Proceedings and Debates Jan 19 phrasing (“made in compliance with a resolution of the Senate”) differs from the Journal’s “agreeably to law” — a discrepancy the index does not reconcile.
- Bibliographic identity (S. Exec. Doc. 31 / 4:31:1) ≠ inspection of No. 31’s text ≠ investigator name ≠ sub-agent identity ≠ quantified loss ≠ conclusions ≠ disposition ≠ payment.
- Index subject heading “whether the Seneca… sustained losses” ≠ affirmative finding of loss.
- #1247 index identity ≠ #1246 Senate presentation/referral ≠ #1245 Hall House amendment ≠ #1244 Stryker-named House notice.
- James Stryker still unnamed in the Senate chain through #1247.
- Journal “agreeably to law” ≠ Debates “resolution of the Senate” — not silently merged.
- #1241 deed gap / #1242 $75k & ≤$500 inquiry / #1243 Medill receipt remain distinct.
Still open: retrieve and read No. 31 in volume IV; match enclosures to Medill’s Nov 1847 receipt; test sub-agent identity against James Stryker; track any later legislative or payment trail. Live index: sol-archive-mysteries. Standing stays 379.