Accept, sir, a renewed assurance of my highest consideration.
Mr. Edward de Stoeckl, &c., &c., &c.
Mr. McCulloch to Mr. Seward
Treasury
Department,
June 3, 1867.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose, for
your information, a copy of further instructions regarding trade
with Sitka, which it is proposed to forward by the next steamer
to San Francisco. I shall be pleased to receive your suggestions
upon it at an early day, as it is important that the
instructions should be perfected before Thursday next.
Captain W. A. Howard, of the revenue cutter service, will proceed
to San Francisco by the next steamer, and take charge of the
steam-cutter Lincoln, which is preparing fora voyage to Sitka
and the coast of the ceded territory, to gain information on
various subjects, as to suitable sites for custom-houses,
lights, beacons, and coaling stations, and, under guidance of
officers of the Coast Survey, and directions from the
Smithsonian, as to the contour of the coast, the location of
fishing grounds, and the resources of the country in minerals,
trees, plants, and animals.
In order to enable the expedition to accomplish the desired
results, and to avoid any possible interference with the Russian
authorities, it is thought best to request you to lay the matter
before the Russian minister and obtain from him a communication
to the Russian officers in the territory, sanctioning the
exploration. This, too, I should be glad to have by Thursday, if
practicable.
I am, sir, very respectfully,
H. McCULLOCH, Secretary of the
Treasury.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
[Untitled]
Treasury Department,
June,
1867.
Sir. On the 29th ultimo you were
instructed to “clear for Sitka,” under certified manifests
“countersigned by the Russian consul, domestic goods not
taxable, and other foreign and domestic on which all duties
and taxes have been paid, but no others, and no arms,
ammunition, or ardent spirits,” and to send by first vessel
“either Lieutenant Calvin L. Hooper, or Lieutenant George W.
Moore, to remain at Sitka until relieved, and superintend
discharge of cargoes.”
Previously, on the 22d and 25th of May, the Russian consul at
San Francisco was instructed
[Page 403]
on the subject by the Russian minister
here, also by telegraph. Copies of his telegrams are
enclosed herein, together with another from the Department
of State to Messrs. Conness and Holliday.
It will be your duty, accordingly, to permit merchandise of
the nature specified to be shipped to Sitka until further
orders, but to no other quarter of the Russian American
possessions. You will be expected to adhere most rigidly to
the rules laid down, both as to the character of the goods
cleared, and as to the observance of every formality. Since
the ceded territory is yet subject to the exclusive dominion
of Russia, and the concessions made by the Russian minister
in favor of the United States vessels, in anticipation of
the final transfer of jurisdiction, are defined within
precise limits, merchandise not coming within the exact
range of the instructions cannot be landed there. Of the
manifests, properly certified and countersigned, one will,
of course, be retained at the custom-house and one will
accompany the cargoes to be presented to the American agent
at Sitka, These will be certified and countersigned in such
manner that they cannot be altered or added to without
detection. It will be the duty of the agent at Sitka to see
that all cargoes are accompanied by the proper manifests
duly verified, and to superintend the unloading thereof in
person. He will see that no prohibited articles are landed,
and after indorsing the manifests presented to him, he will
preserve them to be compared, if necessary, with the
retained copy at the port of shipment.
Should any vessel arrive from a foreign port, he will advise
them that no portion of their cargoes can be landed until
after having been entered at some port of the United States,
and the duties paid, and in compliance with the regulations
herein laid down.
If it is attempted to land merchandise in violation of these
fules, he will advise the Russian commandant and request his
interposition, but he is not authorized to interfere
actively himself.
He will, of course, be expected to notify the department or
its officers of anything that may come to his knowledge
likely to operate injuriously to the
revenue.
Copies of this letter and its enclosures are transmitted to
be forwarded to the officer whom you have sent to Sitka,
under my telegram of the 29th ultimo.
Very vespectfully,
_______ _______, Secretary of the
Treasury.
The Collector of Customs, San Francisco, California.
