Mr. Ferriss. of New York. speaking on the same bill. moved to strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the following: That the President be authorized to bind the United States by treaty to pay the sum of $7.200.000 to any respectable European. Asiatic. or African power which will accept a cession of the Territory of Alaska. One statesman after another inveighed against the purchase of Alaska. and yet it has been a most renmrkably fortunate purchase. Instead of " Sewards folly " and " Sewards ice box." no greater domain than Alaska was ever acquired by honorable statesmanship.