Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-06-05
The Dip oIna'fc History of the
lRussian-A AmericRn Rurchase.

The Dip orna,ic History of the
Russfen-American Purchase. IS,
Senator Sumner, in his speech in Execu-
tive Session of the Senate on the Rus
SIAN American purchase, which has just
been published, gives the following sum-
mary of the negotiations for the purchase.
After an allusion to the preliminary con-
fe1ences under, earlier administrations, he
says: ..
1t is within my ,knowle6 ge that the Rus
sian Government was sounded on the sub
ject during the administration of Mr.. Bu-
chanan. This was done through Mr.. Gwin,
at the time Senator of California, and Mr..
Appleton, Assistant Secretary of State.
For this purpose the former had more than
one interview with the Russian Minister
at Washington some time in December,
1863 in which, while protesting to speak
for the President unofficfally, he repre-
sehted d" that Russia. was too far off to
make the most of these possessions; and
that, as we are near, we can derive more from
them-'17q In reply to an inquiry OF the Rus,
sian Minister. Mr.. Gwin said that "the UNI
ted States could go as high as $4,000. 900,
for the purchase on which the former
made no comment Mr.. Appleton, on
another occasion, said to- the Minister that
q" the President thought that the acquisi-
ton would be very profitable to the States
on the Pacific that he was ready to follow
it up. but wished to know in advance if
Russia was ready to cede that If she were,
he would confer with the Cabinet and in
flpential members of Congress-" AL this
was unofficial; but it was promptly COM
municated to the Russian Government,
who seems to have taken it into careful
Consideration. Prince Gortsehakow, in a
dispatch which reached here In the sum-
mer Of 1860, said that "the offer was not
what might have been expected; but that
it merited mature reflection {; that the Min
lster of Finance was about to inquire into
the condition of these possessions, alter
which Russia would be in a condition to
Ireat.n The Prince added for himself that
q" he was by no means satisfied personally
that it would be for the interest of Russia
politically to ALLEVIATE these possessions;
thaJ-the only considerations which could
make the scales incline that way would be
the prospect of great financial advantages;
but that the sum of 100000 does not seem
in any way to represent the real value of
these possessions" and he concluded by
asking the Minister to tell Mr.. Appleton
and Senator Gwin that the sum offered was
not considered IAN equitable equivalent
The subject was submerged by the Presi-
Dental election, which was rapidly ap-
preaching, and then by the Rebellion.
In the winter of 1866 the Legislature of
Washington Territory memorialized the
President for new facilities in obtaining
fish, fur and ice in Russian America, with
port privileges, curing of fish, repairs,
bounties, and explorations and surveys of
the coast. This memorial was referred by
Secretary Seward to Baron Stoeckl.
Next, Senator Cole, of California, acting
in behalf of certain persons in the State,
sought to obtain from the Russian Govern
ment license or franchise for q new aud
American Company to gather furs in por-
tion OF its possessions, the charter of the
Russian-American Company, which had
uaderlet tn, the Hudson Bay Company all
its franchises on the mainland between 81
deg. 40 min. and Mount st. Elias, being
about to expire in June of this year.
Senator Cole finally addressed our Minis
ter at st. Petersburg, Mr.. Clay, who laid
the application before the Russian Govern
ment. The Russian-American Company
was at that time negotiating with the Hud-
son Bay Company tor a renewal of the
lease for another quarter OF century, and
the Russian Government having ceded
away its rights to the former for the same
| period, this arrangement had to be "got
off, before new one could be 6 got on.''
| This was difficult, -for-the -Cefnpany,s
management had not been satisfactory
Last. October Baron Stoeckl, the Russian
Minister, went home on leave of absence.
to any minor arrangement of the charac-
| ter proposed. -.. ys,,-r ...,f.-..,.... Z.
| AS Mr.. de Stoeckl was leaving in Febru-
ary to return to his post, the Arehdake
Constantine, the brother and chief adviser
of the Emperor, handed him map with the
lines OF our treaty marked upon it, and
told him that he, might treat for this
cession. The Minister arrived in Washing
ton early in March. A negotiation was
opened at once with our Government
Final instructions were. received by the
Atlantic cable from st. Petersburg, on the
Doth of March, and at 4-o'clock on the
morning of the Both of March, this i'm
portant treaty was signed by Mr.. Seward
Eon the part of the United States, and by
Mr.. de Stoeckl, on the part of Russia.
+ By treaties between Russia and Grea
Britain there are three different stipulation'
ION the part of Russia; ~ one opening seas
gulfs, and havens on the Russian coast tC
1 British subjects for fishing and trading
with the natives; t2) the second maxim.
Sitka free port, to British subjects; ant
81 the third making British rivers which
flow through the, Russian possessions for
Fever free to British navigation. The i'm
tportant question arises, Do the United
States succeed to these stipulations?
Il The first two are not thought to be sub
sisting now, but if they are, can be termina
ted by June II, 1867. The third is declared
to be forever" and subsists now, but is, il
TACT, no more than declaration of inJerna
ltional law as it has always been expounde e,
by the United States (Wheaton, Part III
chap. ~, and now recognized the Continen
OF Europe, as declared at Vienna with re
gard to the Rhine. % al