CHAPTER III, 



THE DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT WITH REGARD 

 TO THE TERRITORY AND ITS PEOPLE. 



The measures which are now in force for the support of law 

 and order in the Territory- are entirely inadequate and costing 

 much more than a correct and efficient system would. The 

 case is a plain one, and the facts in regard to it are as follows: 



The Territory of Alaska was received from the hands of a 

 powerful fur-trading organization which held absolute sway 

 over the entire domain, even to the life and death of the peo- 

 ple, and which had governed the land despotically for more 

 than sixty years. It was fully ]>repared at any moment to 

 carry out its orders, and was supported by a small fleet of sail 

 and steam vessels, and a regularly-organized troop of employes 

 and retainers, over two thousand in number, i^laced here and 

 there throughout the country, the headquarters beiug at Sitka, 

 for political reasons. 



War and revenue-marine vessels, with duly-authorized officers 

 and agents, were sent to the principal stations, villages, aud 

 ports, where tliey ran up our flag and louily proclaimed the lact 

 to the people, or natives, that they were now free and independ- 

 ent ; that no person or parties had the power to control or di- 

 rect their trade in furs, or any other matter to which they might 

 turn their attention ; that crime of all description, theft, mur- 

 der, &c., would be jiromptly dealt with, and that the agents of 

 the iVmerican Government would visit them at irregular though 

 frequent intervals, or upon call, with these vessels fully prepared 

 to enforce and execute the law. This was done in 18G3 and 18G9. 

 This is all that has been done, and to-day, as matters are con- 

 ducted, the country is as far from control by our Government 

 as though it were a foreign laud, the agents of the Government, 

 both military and civil, being unable to exercise any effectual 

 supervision over the affairs of the Territory, or to enforce the 

 laws. 



The proprietj' of quartering troops in this Territory may be 

 seriously questioned ; for where any considerable body of na- 

 tives exist they will be found upon the seaboard and estuaries, 



3 AL 



