The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-07-29
ACQUISITION Of ALASKA
First Suggested by Its Wealthy
Fishing Grounds.
METALS NOT CONSIDERED
Apdrew johnson Memorialized by
the Territory OF Washington In
Behalf of the Fishermeu SHINING
Mark of the Diplomacy of Will
fam Ii. Seward.

The acquisition OF Alaska was largely
brought about by the Territor OF Washing
ton. In those days there were stories OF
gold and silver and copper In that cold
country. but they were not generally cred
tied, and the riches OF the country We're
thought to consist OF fish and furs.
The action OF Congress, President John
son and Secretary Of state Seward was
mainly induced by representations made
| by the legislature OF the Territory OF
Washington relative to the desirability
| OF acquiring Russian America. A me-
| mortal from the Territory OF Washington
was received by President johnson In feb-
ruary, 1866. 1t passed the Washington
house OF representatives January 10. 1856,
and passed the Washington COUNCIL three
| DAYS later. IL presented the reasons why
| Alaska should be a part OF the United
States. IL is as follows:
| ITO his Excellency, Andrew jackson,
President Of the United States;
your memoriaiists, the legislative as
semllly " Washington Territory, beg leave
10 show that abundance of Goldfish, hall
but aud salmon of excellent quality have
been found along the shores OF the Russian
possessions Your memorialists respectful
In request your excelIency TO obtain such
rights and nnyileges OF the government or
Russia as will enable our fishing vessels TO
visit the ports and harbors of its posses
siops, 70 the end that fuel, water and pro-
visions may be easily obtained thas our
sick and dsa tled fishermen may obtain
ga nitary- assistance. together with the
privilege Of curing fish and repairing yes
eeIs in ue,d of repair Your menEorialists
further request that the Treasury Depart
meut be Instructed 60 forw ard to the CO.
lector Of customs OF this Puget Sound dts
uict such fishing licenses, abstract jour
mails and log boo ks as will enab BILE our hardy
fishermen TO obtain the bounties now pro-
yided and paid to the fishermen of the
Atlantic States Your iaemorialists finally
pray your excellency TO employ such ships
as may be spared from the Pacific naval
feet in exploring and surveying the fish
ing banks known to navigat0rs To exist
along the Pacific coast. from the Cortez
bank 70 Bering Straits
This memorial was signed by Edward
Eldridge, speaker Of the house OF repre-
sentatives, and Harvey X. Hines, president
81 the council
The House OF Representatives OF the
United states, on the 18th OF December,
1865, adopted a resolution calling upon
the President for all correspondence and
information concerning Russian-America
President johnson called upon William II.
Seward. Secretary OF state, who sent to
Congress sevcnty-five official documents
bearing upon this question. The Secretary
~ TO- ho .Iafr
man Of tie Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations the following note:
Probably this treaty stands alone in
the history of diplomacy as an important
treaty. conoei we'd, initiated, prosecuted
and completed without being preceded or
attended by protocols or dispatches The
archives OF the State Department show a
continuous progress and growth OF friend
ship and cordially between the United
States and Russia, beginning with the
establishment of the Government. The
late civil wRr-which disturbed. IL 1t did
| not SbaIter IN pieces, the rela tons between
| the United States and most OF the European
states-was marked in its very Beginning
| by demonstrations of sympathy and solicit
| tude for the stability OF the Union on the
| par. OF Russia Care was taken on both
sides to anticipate and prevent the hap
pening OF any incident which might tend
| TO distress or enharrass the relations be-
tween the two countries. 1t was verbally
understood between the two governments
that the United States would be at liberty,
1 IL they sho1ld find it necessary, to carry
prizes into Russian ports. No Confederate
agent was ever received or encouraged or
entertained at st. Petersburg. Such diff.
calties as occasionally arose out OF COM
| plants by the citizens and subjects Of the
two countries were amicably adjusted by
| verbal explanations without being made
1 grounds tor complaint or reclamation In
| writing"
| Further on Secretary Seward says or
| the relations between the United States
and Russia:
THE visit of the Russian fleet to the
United States in the winter OF 1868 was
intended by the Emperor, and was &C
| ceptcd by the Unit ell States, as a lemon
strstion Of respect and goodwill, and re-
| suited in an increase of mutual regard
and sympathy. As early as 1851 the
executive governments of the two coun-
tCies came to an understa nding to act in
1 concert, with q view to the establishment
| of q connection between San Francisco
and st. Petersburg by an interoceanic
telegraph line across Boring Straits. At
a subsequent day, Congress sanction ed
and gave its cooperation to that policy"
OF the Washington memorial. Secretary
| Seward said:
| This memorial was receiv edin February,
1856, and was made an occasion in gen.
eral terms for communicating To Mr.. De
Stoecki Russian minister at Washington
city, the Importance OF some early and com
pTehendve arrangement between the two
| countries to prevent the growth Of diff
ficulties arising out of the fisheries in the