The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-31

hacked nv the Democratic press and peo-
pc.
TIE congress gzve authority ard ordered
notice served UPON Great Britain anrcgat-
tug the s0srt oecupatiCn O. IRE disputed
region by citizens Of the two powers
+. British Diplomatic Corps.
TIE British rece6ed by proposing the
sstr parallel north latitude continuing TO
the ocean which had previously been sug-
gexred in 1s4a by John c. Calhoun. the
last Of the series o. secretaries OK state
un6er President TYLER. The president de-
clired 20 yield The willy Lord Ash5ur-
ton. who hed been on . special mission
and understood the sensihEIifies Of Areri-
car politics very aEroltly cizarned the
Democratic ''54-49 CT 6ght' Al one sweep
By ooseGEiously acknowledging the con-
guest Of Canada by the United States IN
event OF war. and the enormous prepon-
derance such an acquisition would give
20 the free states Of the North over the
South II the enactment OF laws in con-
gress. Canada was known 10 be more
bitter fn its hostility 10 the Institution
thar were the most radical Of the states
This settled any further controversy
The muEterfngs Of war with Mexico soon
diverted the martial spirit Of the people
TO other fields Of gore and glory.
A Startling Alternative From Russia.
In the course Of conversation upon the
growing trade OF Tire Pacific. ex-Secrstary
Walker somewhat startled the American
envoy by informing hsrn that the emperor.
Nicholas l., 70 his personal knowledge.
vas willing 70 cesIe his Russ American
possessions 10 the United States IL the
United States would close up its Pacific
coast possessions TO "A degrees 20 minutes.
l.
having been member OF the official fam
iIy Of the president, 10 whom the over
lures were made. gave the statement full
credence IN the mind Of the American dip
ionzt and added an Impetus % the efforts
which followed.
The ex-secregary conceded the reciprocal
feeling in the United States and the pos
saSdl3ty OF an alliance with Russia. wkAch
would have driven out the commerce OF
England and made the North Pacific an
American lake.
He admitted that The slave-hoiding In
tsreSt. In its fear of such a vast acGtsi-
sGtfon OF free soil, surrendered the welfare
Of the nation and not only thwarted Rus
sxa in her splendid Eastern policy, but let
England inEo the trade of great ocean.
Anfi-Brisish Policy Of Russia Active.
The spirit of war having closed its wings
for the time being, the vast possessions on
the western shores Of the North Pacafic
once more became subject OF diplomatic
consideration between the empire and the
republic.
During the administration OF James
Buchanan. OF Pennsylvania, the Russian
government went so far as 10 take the
Initiative y sounding Lewis Cass, then
secretary of state at Washington. through
William NJ. GwInn, a senator from Cali
fornia, and Mr.. John Appleton, Of Maine,
then assistant secretary Of state. and
upon the advent OF the IAncoin regime
American envoy az 81. Petersburg.
After several interviews with NJ de
Stoeckl at Washington in December 1885,
a price was suggested at Soee,oe
In 1850 Prince Gortchakoff informed
jeremiah s. Black, of Pennsylvania, then
secretary OF state. In a dispatch, that the
offer was not what might have been ex-
pected The presidential elections or that
year the secession of the slave states ana
the War of the Rebellion put an estoppel
upon further negotiations at that time.
The importance of an European cleo
tric telegraph independent Of English con-
troll. once more revived the subject OF
American ownership Of the Russian pos
sessions on the Western hemisphere.
british Intrigue.
II transpired as a fortunate coincidence
when the final agitation OF possession De-
gan in February. 1861. that the charter OF
the Russian company would expire the fol-
lowing June
As a complication, which threatened to
involve the negotiations 10 controversy
with Great Britain, the Russian company
had practically underlet 10 the English
Hudson Bay Company all It's franchises
on the mainland from "A degrees ~ min
utes TO Mount St. Elias.
The Russian government was not favor
able 10 renewing the charter to the Brit
ish Hudson Bay Company. such company
10 pay TO the Russian government per
cent. of its gross proceeds.
The American envoy al ST. Petersburg
advised the American secretary OF state
on February /. 1861, of the efforts OF the
Russian company to secure a renewal for
. or 80 years for the purpose Of subletting
10 the Hudson Bay Company. already en-
joying the monopoly Of the British pos
sessions in the vast region around Hud-
son bay.
In order TO meet this critical pass Of az
fairs Mr. Seward expedited his negotia-
tons SO as 20 head of so untoward a cui-
ulnation of his thus far successful ef-
forts In anticipation, however, OF this
contingency the American secretary. after
several informal conferences. convinced
the Russian envoy OF the Importance OF
personal visit, which was made, as We
have seen, 70 ST. Petersburg.
Diplomatic Counter.
Rv prompt and timely interview Of
Cornelius Cole. then a senator from Cali
fornia. one Of the promoters Of the Ameri-
car. company. with the Russian Envoy de
Stoeckl. and subsequent conference with
the American secretary OF state. the
counter movement began. The Caifor-
MIA senator was a man Of tall and COM
handing figure with q tine address, court
w methods and a sharp eye TO business
and sinIoynacy. He speedily wor the m
terest and favor Of the Russian envoy.
The American secretary went so far 8
10 instruct the American envoy at 81.
Petersburg 10 lay the subject Of the Rus
sian company and the adverse connivance
Of the Hudson bay managers az London,
before the Russian government
Through the success Of a shrewdly ma
nlpuIatei intrigue the Russian authori-
ties privately turned over the privileges
sahlet ~ the Observation-Disclosures COM
nanv 70 the English Hudson bay com
many 20 American hands. The ostensIble
reason for this clever move was 70 have
the natives Of that wild region friendly 70
the American interests In the exploration
and construction Of the proposed lire Of
telegraph and TO have the line IN Amert-
can hands in event Of war hy Russia or
TIE United states with Great Britain.
The English intrtEuers who worked
wonders IN 1874. but utterly failed IN 1857
made vigorous attempts 70 balE or frus-
trats The communication OF the treaty.
They also set adrfft q court intrigue a.
s. Petersburg alleging the opposition Of
every Russian sovereign from RuTic
Duke ~ Eeif down % Alexander II.
emperor % all the Russias. 70 the ces-
sion Or territory 20 Il foreign state. The
British influence with some satire. also
f,rn.sl-lt IN the nominal sun rnrefvaf frr