Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-02-26
OUR RELATIONS WITH Russ,A.

until 8 pm.
OUR RELATIONS WITH RUssIA.
Tho PurchnsO of AinsER-Iow the
Payment of tho Purchase Nearly
Was Secured I'm COBgress-nussia
Applies for Intcrcst During the
Period tho Payment was sus-
pended-Tho Perkins Claim, and
the Attitude Of our Government
An Interesting pIeco OF Diplomatic
and Legislative History.
II was recently announced that tho En-
peror Of Russia, through his Minister at this |
capital, had applied for Interest In tho Alas
ka purchase during the period the payment
was suspended, thus calling for near quar-
ter OF million more money to complete |
payment for that interesting Territory. We |
have since learned that, both at the State
Department and by the chairman ofthe Com
mlttec on Foreign Affairs, Mr.. CatacaEy |
was notified that it would be well for the |
Emperor to cause proper adjustment to be |
made Of the Perkins claim on the Russian |
Government, which has been carefully eH-
amlned and pronounced valid by the United |
States Government, before more money Is |
asked to be Appropriated by Congress to 60
into the Golfers of the Imperial Government.
In order that our readers may understand
more accurately the real character Of the
claims Of Perkins heirs on Russia, and the
attitude Of our Government in relation to
these claims, which have now become some
what historic, we have concluded to give q
statement Of the claims rs derived from the
correspondence proper and dispatches en-
nlc In tho Department Of State. ...t, ii
1t appears that in 1885, OF time WHOM
Russia was being most Sorely pressed by tie
allied Powers, she needed arms and powder.
II Is shown by the proof that negotiations
were brought between Edward Stocckl, the
then Minister of Russia, and Perkins, and a
Cap;Gln octo Llienfoldt, which resulted IN
the purchase Of certain arms and Powdek-
That while Perkins fulfilled his part Of the
stipulation the Imperial Government failed
to do so, aud the result was that Perkins
preferred claim for s3sl ,23l against theIsus
sian Government. That the proofs and docu-
ments In support oftheSe clalmswere all taken
and filed In the State Departmental during the
year 1857 and 1858. Notice OF the taking Of
which proofs, and copies OF the dispositions
when taken, were in every Instance fur
nished to the Russian Minister, and an offer
madsats. rr-Jr-'l~ thA witness for hlA arass-e
Application was then made to our GoSern-
meut for Instructions 10 our Minister 10
Russia TO request payment OF these claims,
pending the consideration Of which II was
proposed on the port OF Perkins to refer the
= ~hoia nasa tn any dlSlnterested umplres 10
decide the whole question, which was re-
fused on the part OF the Imperial Minister.
Ia June, 1880, the Hon. Lewis Cas-, &c.,
Rotary Of State, after careful consideration,
sent instructions to our Minister to Russia
70 request payment OF the claims from the
Russian Government. This was done BY n
dispatch addressed to the Hon. John Applo-
Ton, the American Minister TO the Govern
ment OF the Emperor, In September, 1860.
In December following reply was given by |
the Imperial Mlnlstry, declining payment, |
onthe grounds that the powder contract was |
not 10 writing and the claim for the arms
had been adjusted by suit brought In New |
York against the Russian agent by Mr.. Per-
kIns. 100.
Mr.. Appleton sent this paper to the State
Department for further advice, at which
time there was a change Of administrator,
Mr.. Lincoln being President and Mr.. Seward |
Secretary OF State. Il therefore devolyed on |
Mr.. Seward 10 sustain or rscede from the
position assumed BY his predecessor, General
Cass.
In May, 1901, the matter was brought to
tho attention Of the Hon. William II, Sew |
ard, who aflerR full Investigation OF tho |
case, under date OF October 10, 1851, sent a |
very able dispatch to Mr.. Clay, our then
minister TO Russia, In which tho facts and |
law Of the case lie most ably stated, fully
sustaining the right Of Perkins 10 Indemnity,
directed Mr.. Clay TO renew the ,equest for |
the payment the claims. As this dispatch |
Is the authentic expression Of oplnion Of tho |
American Government, and exhibits the true |
character OF tho claims on Russia, and Is
besides an interesting exposition of the mode
of handling such questions, we give It In full,
so that the public may sec the grounds
npon which the United States Government
bases Its present action, II Is as follows
rS [Er IlT or M, SEWARD TO Mr.. CLAY.
lNOs 10 DEPARTMENT SrATWl Il
WAsHiN0ToS CITT, October 10, 1901,
Cdsstus NJ OiTV, esq, "a
SIN 10 Additioa 90 tue general instructions
pAFtment your attention IL espselaiIy directed
70 the case OF Benjamtn W. Perkins, who
makes demand for dAmhgea HgAinat the Rus
contract, one OF which was made nv Nj
Stoeekl the Minister Plenlpatentlary Of hia
IGssiy ne Emperor, TesldiHg near this Goy
quantity Of PowdeTj and tho other q oontFsot |
made BY one Captain LilienfelIt on Inc ian | I
iay OF January, nbJ, for thlrty-nVe thousand 4
tAnd OF arms. /,
The evidence and vouchers EuppoFtiug these
IAims are MED 10 duo form Ia this Depart | (
aent, and were Transcribed, printed Ia French | 4
nd English, and duplicate o0pIea saEt to yuuI | i
predecessor, one 10 be retained In the LcEa. "a
ioni and one TO be submitted to tho Imperial
government, according to Instruction. th0n Il
transmitted. by reference to these documents v
Vu Will be more accurately advised OF the o
'GIs anl eiIeumstances OF the demands. t
IN september last your pTedeCeasOr, Hon,
Ohm Appleton, submitiei 10 the Imperial
niel,lIy copy Of this pTinted record, and 70 /
embeT following BIr. T0iutoy, Adjunct Min i
ster OF Foreign Affairs, H0ut a FeApOnse to | .
NJ Appleton, which, together with his com 4
nunieaton, was transmitted to this Depart. d
nent for further advice,
The views submitted by Mr. Appleton Ia i
reaenting these claims 10 the Impnfi al GoV. /
rnment are fully approved by tina Depart. /
ient, but the grounds asbumedby Mr.. Toistoy
J his answer TO Mr.. Appleton are not deemed c
erits OF the claims OF Mr. Perkins, either ia n
pint Of fact OF legal and equitable effect. ii d
the ohest Of the present papcr to 50 far re G
Il ia oo1eluSidnS, which are eTFoneous, aud L
declare the Views OF this Government 10 the q
emiseu, aud waich you are hereby Instructed
make known TO the Imperial Government a
In directing your attention TO this Subjeet, Il
T. deemed proper % State that the practice CT
Ion to lnteFDoae IN uaftkFs al eontTant ma | u