The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1939-03-30
SEWARD DAY

Seventy two years ago yesterday this was Rus
sian America Seventy-two years ago today on March
30 1867 at O'Clock in the morning, through the
acumen of farsighted Secretary of State it became
q part of the United States.
The name Alaska had not come into general use
at that time the vast northern land being known
to Americans by variety of outlandish names-Wal-
russia American Siberia, Zero Island Polaria and
Icebersia-au meant to be descriptive of the bleak
place for which william Henry Seward had agreed
to pay the Gar the magnificent sum of $7,20O00O.
AS early as 1856 during the Crimean War, the
Emperor of Russia fearing that the English would
seize Russian America offered to sell the territory to
the United States The offer was declined. During
President Buchanans administration negotiations for
purchase were opened but called off by Russia after
an offer of IS 100000 had been made
1t was just 70 years ago last night that Seward,
Secretary of State in the Cabinet of President john
son. began his big deal which was finally closed after
some good trading at O'Clock the following morning.
The Secretary was at home that evening in his
residence in the national capital historians tell us,
playing game of whist. The deal for Russian Ameri-
ca had been pending for time. The Russian Min
ister Baron de Stoeckl announced at the Seward
home with important message.
81 have dispatch from my government by cable
he said THE Emperor gives his consent to the ces-
sion of Russian America. Tomorrow 1 will come to
the State Department and will enter upon treaty.
Seward revealed his qualities as great trader
why waltz" he asked Let US begin with the
treaty right now"
Through the hours of the night they dickered, the
Yankee trader and the Russian seller. The Russians
price was ten million and Seward counered with an
offer of five million The in-between offers and
counter proposals probably never will be known but
here were two good traders deal" they were
probably many and varied. Finally seven million
dollar figure reached, with reservation The
Russian Fur Company held some franchises and priv
ieges that would have to be bought Off Seward Of
fered 100000 for clear title; and the Alaska
purchase was made With approaching dawn of Sat
urday March 80 1867 the treaty signed and
Secretary Seward had bought something.
What a time he had convincing the United States
Senate which had to ratify the treaty that it was
something worth the price.
IAN nhospitable wretched and iod-forsaken re-
gon' the opposition called the vast country Seward
had bought. Less than two cents an acre was the
price but Senators argued it was too much Confir-
nation secured largely the result of mastery
address by Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts,
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Rela
tons, who summarized all that then known re-
gardng the territory The treaty ratified MAJ
26. Articles exchanged and the treaty pro
claimed by President Johnson June 90
Considerable difficulty experienced in obtain
ing the necessary appropriation to consummate TIN
purchase The appropriation bill however passet
on July a. A controversy which country was Il
meet the cable expenses incident the purchase thel
arose. Russia refused to pay her share and the bill
finally settled by the United States after the cabl
company had reduced the amount
The formal transfer of Alaska to the Unite
States took place Sitka, historic Capital of RUSSIAN
America, on october 18, 1867 The American flal
n.
down now reposes in the Alaska Historical Museum
here.
This is Stewards Day. Let's have closer look a
the man than most of us have ever taken before
A New Yorker he studied law but soon drifte
into politics. From the State Senate, to which h
elected when only 80 he went on to become Gov
ernor of New York. In that office he favored con
tnuance of works OF internal Improvement at publ
expense although bitterly criticized because the Stat
was going into debt result of the policy He at
tracted national attention for his liberal and human
governmental actions. One of the earliest politics
opponents of slavery he went on to the United State
Senate to fight it, The famous statement that the1
was IAN rrepressible conflict between opposing an
enduring forces, and it that the United State
and will, sooner later become either entire
a save-holdng nation entirely free-labour ma
t!on" was his and created great stir.
Seward might have been President AS recog
nized leader Of the new party his nomination by ii
Republicans in 1856 and in 1860 regarded Gel
tain; but in each instance he was put aside for az
ether. The heterogeneous elements of the part
could not be made to unite its No ! man. and
was considered less available than Fremont in 1856
and Lincoln in 1860 He became Lincoln's Secretal
of State and his firmest place in history
member of the Civil War Cabinet
Seward man full OF grand schemes, grand