The Russian Government had initiated the matter, and desired to sell much more earnestly than the United States desired to buy.

There is little doubt that a like offer from any other European government would have been rejected.

The pressure of our financial troubles, the fact that gold was still at a high premium, suggested the absolute necessity of economy in every form in which it could be exercised; and in the general judgment of the people the last thing we needed was additional territory.

There was, however, a feeling of marked kindliness towards Russia; and this, no doubt, had great weight with Mr.Seward when he assented to the obvious wishes of that government.

But while there was no special difficulty in securing the ratification of the treaty by the Senate, a more serious question arose when the House was asked to appropriate the necessary amount to fulfill the obligation.