New-York tribune., 1869-01-07
THE ST. THOMAS TREATY.

The documents in the ST. Thomas case are so
yolumnous that nothing like full abstract could be
made In single dispatch They all OF a confidential
character their have been recently in whole
or in part stated several persons aud Of their
principal points therefore be given. The correspond
ence began years ago this month, viz. in Janu
airy. 1865, during the Presidency OF Mr. Lincoln
AT that time Mr.. Seward indicated desire 10
purchase the islands eaying in substance that they
naval station. The Danish Minister was wholly disin.
ened toward sale, and so expressed himself but, at
Mr Stewards request transmitted the proposition 70 his
Government. In the course of the Spring came an an
that the kng OF Denmark had no wish 10 sell and
did not think proper to enterin the proposition IN
April occurred the death OF Mr. Lincoln and the
accession OF Mr. johnson 10 hi Office. and then IN
tho summer followed change III The nsh home Gov
ernment In the FAN " 1865 Mr. Seward renewed his sd
vances for purchase. The King o. Denmark was then
under influences, and our Government was ,norned
that the question Of sale was now question 81 ,e, 70
Cuba and St Thomas and after ms return secIsss -
Seward more anxious than ever To get possession OF
the Danish Islands Early IN the year lSeo e asAp s @
SPi'iSr o rSpOnssd nfsS that % this was not bis province
that If it did so at all it would he ont Of GOODWILL 10
the United States and that II r Seward wanted TO buy
Secretary paused, and for months nothing seems
10 have been done. In the summer OF 1890 Gen aasloa
leaving here Mr.. seward gave him letter formally
offering 100000 for three islands OF ST Thomas San
Denmark would not sell for this figure Meantime ihe
purchase had been rccom ommeaded otc'aIy Iy tne in'
dorsed by President Johnson and AZ least q
majority OF his Cabinet. MI Seward represented 20 the
Daish Minister that whatever d0no by the eNCeu.
tive head of Government would Of course be sane,
toned by the Senate. and that tie whole country would
approye the action Of the Senate ia Gatyiag The pur'
chase The fact that negotiations were going Oh Nat
generally kdown the newspapers casually cOmmenttd
upou Tie matter but of the influential ones toos
ground agalnt the purchase The Danish Miuster wa,
Therefore persuaded to believe that the people oi the
United States really wanted the Islands, and uitt
mately so reported 10 his Government. In the
Miuter OF 1866 Mr. seward again brought forward ths
question and finally offered S5O0000 for ST. Thomas and
San Juan the other Island beng held by French claims
This offer after good deal OF negotiation. accepted
conditional upon the vote OF the people OF the saud
Mfr Seward called this farce but the Danish Govern
men having IN view its relations 10 other European pow
ere srenuously refused 20 sell the islands unless the resi-
ted States and 10 THIS condition Mr Seward az ienk,n
assented originally proposed 90 take thelf Noo
after our rattle alton Of the treaty but the KING OF Deh
mark LAID such upOn tho point that was as'eu
to have tho voice OF the people heard at once Uui
accordingly sent 10 the islands Mr. sewerus aEens
thore and got enthusiastic state Oi eehg an
the people voted almost unanimously ior union WIZ
country. The treaty was submitted 10 'I'
Senate considerably more thah a year aasJ,tions ~
has been talked OF in the Foreign iseau,ons onn
Committee, hut has not been acted upon
In any way by tho Senate Gen. Raaslor. speaking 10.
him as for his Government, says nc VVhsi-
that Government IL In honor bound 10 ito
He says that his sovereign was persuaded mlo o %e
by Mr. Seward that his Government has ratlneu Wv
treaty that the people OF the islands have peeh icu
voting for uRion with the United states tat ~ ,;a
place Denmark in most embarrassing POssi.,Vvaa
II she To undo what has Deen uone' u n ~ ,he
contamination ot tho bargain There II re"soh ~ III
that some Senators take this view or the quesvl a
the whole subject is pretty 70 be debated III
before tho end of the session lpoe.o ''