APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 289 



Sharers of a common glory iu a great act of eraancipatiou, they also 

 share together the opposition or autipatliy of other nations. Perhaps 

 this experience has not been without its effect iu bringing them together. 

 At all events, no coklness or unkiuduess has interfered at any time with 

 their good relations. 



The archives of the State Department show an uninterrupted cor- 

 diality between the two (lovernments dating far back iu our history. 

 More than once Kussia lias offered her good ottices between the United 

 States and Great liritaiu; once also she was a recognized arbitrator. 

 She offered her mediation to i)revent war iu ISll', aiul again by her media- 

 tion in 1815 brought about i)eace. Afterwards it was under her arbi- 

 tration that questions with (heat Britain arising- under the Treaty of 

 Ghent were amicably settled iu 1822. But it Avas during our recent 

 troubles that we felt more than ever her friendly sentiments, although 

 it is not improbable that the accident of position and of distance had 

 its influence in preserving' these undisturbed. The llebellion, which 

 tempted so many other Powers into its embrace, could not draw Kussia 

 from her habitual good- will. Iter solicitude for the Union was early 

 declared. She nuide no unjustifiable concession of oecaii. bclligereitcy, 

 with all its imnumities and powers, to rebels in arms against the Union. 

 She furnished no hosj)itality to rebel cruizers; nor was any rebel agent 

 ever received, eutertained, or encouraged at St. Petersburgh; while, on 

 the other hand, there was an understanding that the United States 

 should be at liberty to carry prizes iuto Eussian ports. So mitural and 

 easy were the relations between the two Governments that such (com- 

 plaints as incidentally arose on either side were amicably adjusted by 

 verbal explanations without any written controversy. 



Positive acts occurred to strengthen these relations. As early as 

 18(il the two Governments came to an agreement to act together for the 

 establishmentofaconnection between San Prancisco and St. Petersburgh 

 by an inferoceanictelegrai)h across Behriug Straits; and this agreement 

 was subsequently sanctioned by Congress. Meanwhile occurred the 

 visit of the Eussian fleet in the winter of 18C3, which was intended by 

 the Emperor and accepted by the United States as a friendly demon- 

 stration, ihis was followed by a communication of the Secretary of 

 State, dated 2(5th December, 1804, in the name of the President, invit- 

 ing the Archduke Constantine to visit the United States, in which it 

 was suggested that such a visit would be '-beneficial to us and by no 

 means unprofitable to Eussia," but forbearing "to specify reasons," and 

 assuring him that coming as a national guest he would receive a cordial 

 and most demonstrative welcome. Affairs in Eussia prevented the 

 acceptance of this invitation. Afterwards, in the sjjring of 1800, Con- 

 gress by solemn resolution declared the sympathies of the people of the 

 United States with the Enq)eror on his escape from the madness of an 

 assassin, and Mr. Fox, at the time Assistant Secretary of the Navy, was 

 appointed to take the Eesolntion of Congress to the Emperor, and, in 

 discharge of this trust, to declare the friendly sentiments of our country 

 for Eussia. He was conveyed to Cronstadt in the monitor "Miantono- 

 moh," the most formidable ship of our navy ; and thus this agent of war 

 became a messenger of peace. The monitor and the Minister were 

 received in Eussia with unbounded hospitality. 



In relatious such as I have described the cession of territory seems a 

 natural transaction entirely in harmony with the past. It remains to 

 hope that it may be a new link iu an amity which, without effort, has 

 overcome differences of institutions and interveniug sjjace on the globe. 



S. Ex. 177, pt. 1 19 



