The Montana post., 1868-02-29
By the PreSidGntuf the United States
OfAmeriCa.
APROCLAMATION. A

OF america ana MS Majesty the Emperor of all
the husslas was concluded and signed by their
lespective plenipotentiaries at the city of
Washington, on the thirtieth day of March
last, which tieaty, being in the English and
lows: '-I1T
lesty the the Emperor of all the Russias, being
deslrous of strengthening, if possible, the good
understanding which exists between them,
have, for that purpose, appointed as their
Plenipotentiaries; the President of the Uni
| ted States, William HI. Seward, Secre-
tary of State; and His Majesty the Emperor
of all the Russias, the Privy Councillor Ed
ward de Stoeckl, his Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary to the United
States.
And the said Plenipotentiaries, having ex-
changed tltelr full powers, which were found
to be in due torn, have agreed upon aud sign
ed the following articles: EfT--rLJ
| ARTICLE 4.
His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias
agrees to cede to the United States, by this
convention, Immediately upon the exchange of
the notifications thereof, all the territory and
dominion now possessed by his said Majesty on
the continent of America and in the adjacent
islands, the same being contained within the
geographical limits herein set forth, to wit |:
! The eastern limit Is the line of demarcation
between the Russian and the British possess
ions In North America, rs established by the
of February 2S-l6, 1875, and described in Arti-
cles III and Nv of said convention, in the fol-
lowing terms
commencing from the southern-most point
of the island called Prince of Wales Island,
which point lies in the parallel of 81 degrees
40 minutes north latitude, and between the
l3lst and the 133d degree of west longitude,
meridian of Greeawich,) the said line
shall ascend to the north along the channel
called Portland channel, as far as the point of
the continent where it strikes the 56th degree
| of north latitude from this aforementioned
point, the line of demarcation shall follow
the summit of the mountains situated parallel
to the coast as far the point of intersection
of the 14lst degree of west longitude, (of the
same meridian y and finally. from the said
pointof intersection, the said meridian line of
the l4lst degree, in It's prolongation as far as
the Frozen ocean.
"IV. With reference to the line of demar-
cation laid down in the preceding article, it
IL understood
"lst That the island called Prince of Wales
Island shall belong wholly to Russia" (now,
. by this cession, to the United States.)
: " ID. That whenever the summit of the
mountains which extend in a direction para
llel to the coast from the Seth degree of noi th
f latitude TO the point of intersection of the
I 14lst degree of west longitude shall prove to
be at the distance of more than ten marine
a leagues from the ocean, the limit between the
British possessions and the line of coast which
! is TO belong to Russia as above mentioned
(that is to say, the limit to the possession,
ceded BY, this conyention) shall be formed by
line parallel to the winding of the coast
and which shall never exceed the distance o1
ten marine leagues therefrom."
The western limit within which the terri
e tories and dominion conveyed, and contained
= passes through point In Behring'S straits on
the parallel of sixty-fye degrees thirty min
e 1tes north latitude. at its intersection by
g the meridian which passes midway between
the islands of krusenstern, or Ignalook and
: | the island of Ratmanhof, or Noonarbook, and
: proceeds due north, without limitation, into
. the same Frozen ocean. The same western
limit, beginning at the same initial point
proceeds thence In course nenrly southwest
through Behring's straits aud Behring's sea
so as TO pass midway between the northwest
point of the Island of St. Lawrence and .th'
southeast point of Cape Choukotski, to TIN
meridian of one hundred and seventy-two west
longitude; thence. from the intersection o
that meridian, IN n south-westerly direction
; SO rs to pass midway between the island O
. : Attou and the Copper island of the Norman
= = dorski coupiet or group in the North Pacif
ocean, to the meridian of one hundre ant
' ninety-three degrees west longitude, so rs t
: include in the territory conveyed the Who'll
of the Aleutian islands east of that meridian.
ARTICLE II.
: In the cession of territory and dominioI
made by the preceding article include'
the night of property in all public lots an,
suuares, vacant lands, and all public build
ings, Notifications, barracks, and other edit
ces which are not private individual property
It Is, however, understood and agreed, that tn
q churches which have been built in the cede'
: territory by the Russian government, shall re
a main the property of such members OF tn
e Greek Oriental Church resident in the terri
, tory, as may choose to worship therein. An.
Ie govenment archives, papers, and document
. fof fhn afOre
J. said, which may be now existing there, vii
,e be left in the possession of the agent OF IN
United States; but an authenticated copy o
g such OF them as may be required, will be, a
Russian government, OF to such Russian off
GERS or subjects as they may apply for. ~ ~
ARTICLE III.
The inhabitants of the ceded territory, az
cording to their choice, reserving their naturs
allegiance may return to Russia within thre
years; but if they should prefer TO remain l
the ceded territory, they, with the exeePtlo
q of uncivilized native tribes, shall be admitte
to the enjoyment of all the rights, advantages
.. and immunities of citizens of the Unite
. States, and shall be maintained and protecte
- in the free enjoyment of their liberty, prope'
- ly, and religion. The uncivili1ed tribes wi
,, be subject to such laws and regulations as th
w United States may, from time TO time, adoI
II in regard to aboriginal tribes of that couf
try. .-a. - rs- -r
ig I..I" ARTICLE Nv. e.. I...-
a His Majesty the Emperor Of all the Russis
g shall appoint with convenient dispatch, 9
OF agent OF agents for the purpose of formal
o delivering to a similar agent or agents n
= pointed on behalf of the United States, Il
u territory, dominion, property, dependence
and appurtenances which are ceded rs abov
End for deing any other act which may
J necessary in regard thereto. But the cessio
with the right of immediate possession,
nevertheless TO be deemed complete and abs
tn lutte on the exchange of ratifcations, wit
out waiting for such formal delivery
ARTICLE ".
g Imme ediatsly after the exchange OF the raj
at fcations of this convention, any fortifc