The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-23

THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES
AND RUSSIA RELATIVE 10 THE NORTH PA
CLFIC.
The present seems to be a favorable time for calling
Ala attention Of the American and Russian governments
- the fact that there is treaty existing between the
o mowers respecting the trade in the North Pacific
ocean.
ON the 18th of April 1924 convention between the
limited States and Russia signed in which the third
article tpuates that the Americans must not make set
suents north Of the parallel of $40 40, nor must the
Russians make settlements south of that line But IN
article fourth It says
ct is nevertheless understood that during term of
ton wears counting from the signature of this present
convention the ships of both powers, which belong to
their citizens subjects respectively, may reciprocay
Gouent without any hndrance whatever, the interior
as CULTS harbors and creeks upon the coast mentioned
in the preceding article for the purpose of fishing or
trading with the natives
A the expiration of the above named the Rus
ps refused to allow American vessels to trade the
ooccupiel parts north of $40 40 la 1886 the atten-
ton of our government called to the fact and
Observation-Disclosures at St Petesbrgh instructed to in
lure into the cause.
The Russian government replied that the treaty had
,prd and they claimed the right exclude vessels
from the interior waters OF their possessions the north
wt coast The only reason offered by Count Nesserode
the Russian minister of foreign affairs to successive
ministers Messrs wilkins and Dallas was that the
pewa of the fourth article would afford the Americans
an opportunity of furnishing the natives the coast
with fire arms, though he adueed no case in proof
The interesting correspondence of Messrs wilkins and
Dallas may be found in the message of President Van
Buren to Congress December B. 1888, and the accom-
panying documents
Since that time the whole subject has been allowed to
remain dormant The government, either not having It
4. l.ll H.
fact that 80 few American vessels trading in that
gon it was considered of but little moment, and the
trading parties themselves interested to keep as
many obstacles In the way of Others they could,
to secure all the trade to themselves
But since the discovery of California gold affairs have
materially changed in the Pacific and we have now a
large and an increasing class OF citizens ready to carry
large commercial enterprises in the northern waters
The Russian governors the different trading posts of
Sitka Kodiac Kamschatka Pctropaulowski, the AMOR
river &c. take advantage of there being no treaties to
impose such duties their caprice dictate and 1t is
this uncertain state affairs that prevents many of
citizens from cmbarking what would undoubtedly be
profitable commercial business.
The Russian government probably not cognzant
Of this state of affairs for their whole towards the
Americans has been of the most friendly nature In
Tngoborskis work entitled Eudes les Forces Pro-
ductiye de la Russe Thy NJ l.. dc Tengoborski, men,
Der of the Privy Council Of the Russian empire he re-
grets that the Americans have little trade with Rus
STA and says Eat present American bottoms form little
more than one per cent in number and three per cent
in tonnage of entrances and clearances, and the
United States flag but rare phenomenon in ports
and vet vessels with American cagoes can always reckon
on return freight 1t is he regretted that American
merchants and shipowne have hitherto neglected this
branch of business which might become valuable if the
New York and Boston houses had good agents in our
northern ports.
few months since the public journals announced
that the empire of Russia had issued order that tho
German language taught in the schools should be abolish
ed and in its stead the American English language
should be adopted for the purpose OF enabling the Rus
slams to cultivate commercial intercourse with the Amcri
cans and particularly in that part of the Russian empire
the Pacific
Sometime during the month of April 1851 the ''North
em Bee paper published in St Petersburgh, issued
project for building gigantic railroad from Nishi-Nov
gorod to kusk and thence along the AMOR river to
the Pacific ocean.
Such road the Bee thinks, would draw the Chi
nese trade of all Europe and America to Russia, and
would eectuay counterbaance the English operations
in the south of China and still later on the 18th OF thif
present month steam corvette, called the Manjoor,
built for the Russian government by Paul Curtis, esq
was launched from his shipyard at East Boston, Massa-
chusetts This steamer was built expressly to navigate
the river AMOR
Already quite trade has sprung up between San Fran
cisco and the Amoor river Our more northern ports OF
the Columbia river Shoa Water bay and the waters OF
Fucas straits and Puget sound offer remarkable induce
mens for our citizens to embark in trade with the
islands regions of the North Our people are
only deferred entering upon such enterprises
from the fact that they do not know to what extent
they will be allowed to trade by the Russian officials OF
how they carry snch trade without Infringing upon
Russian regulations.
The instances adduced above show friendly desire
the part of Russia to cultivate commercial relations with
our citizens in the Pacific and it is to be earnestly hoped
that our will give its attention to the matter
s.