FUE-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. XLVII 



derstood and agreed, that the churches which have been built in the ceded 

 territory by the Eussian Government, shall remain the property of such 

 members of the Greek Oriental Church resident in the territory as may 

 choose to worship therein. Any Government archives, papers, and doc- 

 uments relative to the territory and dominion aforesaid, which may now 

 be existing there, will be left in the possession of the agent of the United 

 States ; but an authenticated copy of such of them as may be required, 

 will be, at all times, given by the United States to the Eussian Govern- 

 ment, or to such Eussian oflQcers or subjects as they may apply for. 



AiiT. III. The inhabitants of the ceded territory, according to their 

 clioice, reserving their natural allegiance, may return to Eussia within 

 three years ; but if they should prefer to remain in the ceded tecritory, 

 they, with the exception of uncivilized native tribes, shall be admitted to 

 the enjoymentof all the rights, advantages, and immunities of eitizensof 

 the United States, and shall be maintained and protected in the free en- 

 joyment of their liberty, property, and religion. The uncivilized tribes 

 will be subject to such laws and regulations as the United States may 

 from time to time ado])t in regard to aboriginal tribes of that country. 



Akt. IV. His Majesty, the Emperor of all the Eussias shall appoint, 

 with convenient despatch, an agent or agents for the purpose of form- 

 ally delivering to a similar agent or agents, appointed on behalf of the 

 United States, the territory, dominion, property, dependencies, and ap- 

 purtenances which are ceded as above, and for doing any other act 

 which may be necessary in regard thereto. But the cession, with the 

 right of immediate possession, is nevertheless to be deemed complete 

 and absolute on the exchange of ratifications, without waiting for such 

 formal delivery. 



Akt. V. Immediately after the exchange of the ratifications of this 

 convention, any fortifications or military posts which may be in the ceded 

 territory shall be delivered to the agent of the United States, and any 

 Eussian troops which may be in the territory shall be withdrawn as 

 soon as may be reasonably and conveniently practicable. 



Aet. VI. Inconsiderationof the cession aforesaid, the United States 

 agree to pay at the Treasury in Washington, within ten months after the 

 exchange of the ratifications of this convention, to the diplomatic repre- 

 sentative or other agent of His Majesty the Emperor of all the Eussias, 

 duly authorized to receive the same, seven million two hundred thou- 

 sand dollars in gold. The cession of territory and dominion herein made 

 is hereby declared to be free and unincumbered by any reservations, 

 privileges, franchises, grants, or possessions, by any associated com- 

 panies, whether corporate or incorporate, Eussian or any other, or by 

 any parties, except merely private individual property-holders; and the 

 cession h'ereby made conveys all the rights, franchises, and privileges 

 now belonging to Eussia in the said territory or dominion, and appur- 

 tenances thereto. 



Art. Yil. When this convention shall have been duly ratified by 

 the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent 

 of the Senate, on the one part, and, on the other, by His Majesty the 

 Emperor of all the Eussias, the ratifications shall be exchanged at 

 Washington within three months from the date hereof, or sooner if 

 possible. 



In faith whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed this 

 convention, and thereto affixed the seals of their arms. 



Done at Washington the tliirtieth day of March, in the year of our 

 Lord onethonsand eigbt hnndrcd and sixty-seven. 



William H. Sewaed. [l. s.] 

 Edouard De Stoeckl. [l. s.] 



