The Press.
London, England, 1858-07-24 00:00:00

THE PRESS, JULY 24, 1858.

pressed policy of Lord Cauniug in the spirit of the
suggestion .

HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY.

Mr. ROEBUCK moved the following resolutions :
That the privileges of the Hudson's Bay Company,
about to expire, ought not to be renewed ; that the legal
validity of the exclusive rights claimed by the Hudson's
Bay Company, under their charter, ought at once to be
determined by process of law : and that so much of the
territory hitherto held by the Hudson's Bay Company as
may be needed for the purpose or colonization ought
without delay to be resumed by the Government of this
country.

He observed that the present state of the North
American continent was a matter of very great im•
portance to this country, and he urged the policy of
extending to the utmost colonization in the British
territorities on that continent. He brought no charge
against the Hudson's Bay Company; they had only
done what their interest as a company dictated ; but,
being a fur company, they were opposed to coloni-
zation, which would accelerate the destruction of the
fur-beating animals. Ho called upon the Govern-
ment to ascertain the legal rights of the Hudson's
Bay Company, and, whatever those rights might be,
they must, he said, be taken away, granting the
company compensation, and colonies planted from
the western shore of Lake Superior to the Rocky
Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, spreading the
civilization of England, which he pronounced the
greatest country in the world.
The motion was seconded by Lord BURY, who
gave a clear and an interesting description of the
vast territory claimed by the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany, part of which consisted, he said, of fine prairie
land, beautifully watered and very fertile, admirably
suited for colonization. After a copious and minute
investigation of the history of the company, he
reduced their claims to a licence of exclusive traffic,
which would expire next year, and the monopoly of
trade over Rupert's Land under their charter, to which
he suggested legal objections.

Mr. GLADSTONE, after bearing testimony to the
soundness of Mr. Roebuck's view, and to the
mastery of the subject displayed by Lord Bnry,
observed that, of the three resolutions, the second
was by far the most important. It wai beyond all
question, in his opinion, that a large part of the
territory of the Hudson's Bay Company was adapted
for colonization, and that the company were by their
very character inimical to it. Their charter gave
them the privilege of exclusive trade only with the
Indians, whereas they excluded all parties from
carrying on any trade ; and it was a question whether,
according to the true interpretation of the charter,
the lands intended to be given them were the shores
of the bay and of the lake and rivers in the imme-
diate neighbourhood of the bay. The company,
however, ought not to be harshly or severely dealt
with. If they were entitled to rights, the company
could not be deprived of them without full and
ample compensation ; but it might appear that,
although not valid in law, in point of equity there
were grounds for a liberal entertainment of their
claims. He felt, at the same time, that the British
public had rights in this matter ; but, upon the
whole, he suggested whether it would not be better
to leave the question now in the hands of her
Majesty's Goverment.

Mr. LABOUCTISAE observed that the question upon
which the policy of the Government should turn
was, after all those parts of the territory adapted
for colonization had been given up, what should be
the course pursued with regard to those immense
tracts which were totally unfit for colonization, but
where it was of the utmost importance to maintain
law and order. The question was one of a very
peculiar character. H 3 agreed that it was desirable
that the rights of the oompany should be ascertained ;
that the charter should be done away with, and a
licence substituted; but he protested against vast
tracts of country being thrown open indiscriminately
to all corners without provisions to preserve order
there. Upon the whole he concurred with Mr. Glad-
stone, that it would be batter to leave this matter to
the Government.

Sir E. B. Lrrrom stated his general views of the
question. He admitted that it was an important
object to extend civilization in the tetritory in ques-
tion, and that parts of it were of the character de-
scribed by Lord Bury ; but, on the other hand, large
portions of the region no civilized man could inhabit.
He then proceeded to explain in detail the intentions
of the Government on the expiration of the com-
pany's licence, and the difficulties which surrounded
the general question of their rights under the
charter. All he could say was, that the whole sub-
ject should be submitted to the careful consideration

of the law officers of the present Government ; and
he was bound to say that the company were far from
l'showing themselves stubborn or impracticable, and
next session he hoped to lay before Parliament a
scheme that would meet its approbation. Meanwhile
it was not intended to renew the company's licence
of exclusive trade over those parts vi the territory
which ware adapted for colonization.