The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-04-11
Acquisition of Russian Amerios.


II has been announced by telegl aph
that the President communicated 10 the
Senate, on Saturdays a treaty with Rus.
sia, by which the latter power cedes TO
the United States all her territories in
North America for seven million dol
lars.
| The N. Y. Herald, Of Sunday making
the announcement, SAYS: @
Although price is set upon the ter>
ritory thus surrendeted, it is in fact
merely nominal, The value of the fish.
cries and the fur trade alone to our en-
terprising people being vastly in excess
Of the sum agreed upon rs the purchase
money. The treaty is an evidence of
the close and friendly relations existing
between the two great powers, and
| eylnces the concurrence of the Russian
Government in the policy which denies
TO European monarchies the right to
build up Kingdoms and dominions on
the American continent.
With Russian America in our pos
session, it will need but the annexation
or absorption of British Columbi. aud
Nancourer's Island TO give us the whole
of the Pacific coast North of Mexico as
orr own and in one way or other this
result is certain to be accomplished. We
cannot consent that our territory on the
Pacific shall be broken between WASH
ingtou Territory and Russian America,
when the latter is fairly in our posses.
SION 1t will be well for England if she
is discreet enough to profit by the ex-
ample of Russia, and to withdraw grace.
fully from a continent where her institu-
lions are out Of place and where her in
trigucs can only bring trouble upon her
colonies and humiliation to her Go, ern.
ment at home.
The acquisition Of the new territory
is Of especial importance at the presen.
time, when the trade Of The United
States with China aid Japan is being
SO satisfactorily developed.
The Baltimore Sun comments as fol>
lows:
Tie whole area is about $50 900
square miles, but the strip along the
coast from the 54th 10 the 60lh degree
of latitude is only from twenty to sixty
miles broad, yet it cuts out perhaps
one half of the British territory of Co.
lumbia from the sea, the Russian line
extending some 400 miles, and ceasing
at Portland Inlet. The greater portion
Of the territory lies between the l42d
and l66th degree of longitude. and the
GO and list degree oflatilude. Portland
Inlet is in about the same parallel as
the most Noithwardly portion Of Cana
da. On the North, Russian America is
bounded by Behring's Slraights and the
Arctic Ocean. The population is now
estimated at about 10000, of which
some 10000 to $4,000 are Indians and
Esquimaux, the remainder being Rus
sian, Creoles, Kodiaks, &c. The prin-
cipal settlements is New Archangel, said
10 contain 1000 inhabitants, Oh the
island of Basanow or Sirka. The other
chief islands are Prince of Wales. Ko-
diak, Numvak and St. Lawrence, form
ing with numerous others, The Aleutian
Archipelago. There are also the set.
Elements of Michaelovski on Norton
Sound, Souwaotf on Kvichack River,
Fort st. Nicholas on Alaska River, ST.
George Factory on PriRlov Island, and
a factory on st. Paul Island. A great
portion of the country, however, may
be considered uninhabitable, but the
Southern and coast portions of il are
considered valuable for the fur trade
and fisheries. 1t will afford us COM
mercial advantages upon the Pacific,
and strategic position in naval sense, ,
which may be made available for many
purposes, 1t will also give us posses
sion Of a large extent Of country through
which the overland telegraph is car
ried.
If this treaty is ratified, as most pro-
badly it will be, the British authorities
will be sandwiched in British CoIum.
bia.. by the possessions of the United
States or the North and on the South
Of them. Hence the announcement cf
the negotiation of this treaty is said 10
have caused lively sensation in Wash
ington. What may be its ultimate eff.
tects on British power in the extreme
Northern region in question is an inter-
estiug subject for speculation. The
thought naturally suggests itself that it
may lead to further acquisitions there,
on the part ofthe United States, IN time, =,
through similar peaceful negotiations
with Great Britain-the interest and
convenience Of both parties mutually
working 70 that end. II is suggested
Russia cedes her American territory for
thessme reasons that induced Napoleon
To sell Louisiana. That is, having de-
signs in Europe, in the event of war,
she would probably lose this territory.
But, apart from that, the cession Of the