The Nome nugget., 1902-11-05
ftrange Story Concern ing Purchase of Alaska
FROM ThE RUSSIANS
A Reward to Russia for tue Offer of a Fleet, During the Mason.
 SIideil Incident.

The following letter from r. J. Cos ton, the well-knOwn Nome attorney, appeared in the New York Sun ol Oct. g. last. It is of such interest to Alas kans that TIE NUGGET republishes the full text, as well as letter from for mer friend of Mr. COstop, throwing some additional light upon the subject. The letter follows:
 "To the editor of the Sun:-There prevails legend in relation to the pur- chase of what is now known a5 the dis . trict of Alaska from Russia by the United States which it seems to me might be either disputed or verified, and know of no better way for either the one or the other than to refer 1t to The Sun, which shines for all regard less of latitude or longitude. To make the legend ineligible few historical facts must be related; and by preface will say that before came to Alaska, early in 1900, 1 heard the whole matter related in Washington, the national capital.
 ''The capture of Mason and Slidell is an historical fact: the demand of the English government for their immedi- ate release is also an historical fact. It is said that at the time of this de- mand, whether by accident or design is not stated, there was off Capes Charles and Henry Russian fleet of seven war vessels, l think, and, as soon as the commander of this alleged fleet heard the news of the demand of the English government, he caused word to be sent to President Lincoln that the fleet was at his disposal for the purpose of enabling him to resist the aforesaid de- mand. The student of history knows that it never became necessary to use force in resisting this demand. for the reason that Lincoln took the matter in his own hands. and if 1 remember right, against the wish of a majority of his cabinet, released Mason and Slldell, thus closing that incident, to use dip lOndllC IeFln.
 "Now, the legend is that some time after these incidents, and after Gen. Grant became president, it was deter mined to reward Russia for her timely aid, or, rather, her good offices, at that perilOus time, and to do so it was con cluded in diplomatic circles to reim- purse her for the expenses she would naturally have incurred in having and maintaining the fleet in close proximity to American waters. But it was deter mined that it would not be the correct thing, from a diplomatic point of view, for congress to make a direct appropri- ation for that purpose, for the reason especially favored nation, which in it. self might make diplomatic complica tions that, from policy, if for no stronger reason, should be avoided. So, in dip lomatic circles, it was found necessary to make some shift, and the one resort ed to was for Russia to offer to sell Alaska to the United States for the same price that would have reimbursed her for the cost of maintaining the fleet.
 ''That is the legend, and it goes on that so far as the senate (which we all know has secret session. was con- cerned, this was an easy matter, as the whole scheme could there be explained and no record would be made of it, or any publicity given to it (always bar ring leakases); ); and, actually. the mat ter went through that body without any trouble. But when it got to the house, where it was open for public dis cussion, it was shown very soon that there would be an overwhelming ma jority against passing the senate meas ure; and the ma jOrity was so pronounced and emphatic that President Grant was Finduced to request the house to go into secret, or executive session, for the pur- pose of receiving communication from the pre- sident. The legend goes on that such request had ever been made by a president of the United States to that body: that it was agreed that the re. quest should be granted, and the house accordingly did go into executive ses. sion, the president laid the whole mat ter before that body and the measure was pas sed without a dissenting voice. Hence our purchase of Alaska.
 "Now, can understand that possibly this might have been dOne; that is tha, such a.measure might have been put tarou.h the House in the way alleged Ican understand how, from diplo