The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-16
From ihe Boston Courier Of J.ns z.
MIR. CUsHING's SPEECH.
coLuMBIA RIvER--oREGoN TERRIroRY.


MIR. CUsHING's SPEECH.
COLUMBIA RIvER-oREGoN TERRITORY.
The people of this country, well as Their repre-
senatives 10 Congress are, We think, somewhat in
debted 10 Mr. Cushing OF Massachusetts for On elabo-
rate and intelligent exposition Of the state Of affairs
the western shore OF continent. This exposton
was given in speech, made in the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes, ~ support OF Resolution offered by Mr.
Gushing, that the Committee Of Foreign Relations be
instructed TO inquire into the expediency Of establishing
post on the river Columbia for the defence and
patton OF the territory of the United States waered by
said rser and also TO consider the expedency Of max
ing farther provision by law prevent the enedding
OF The officers subjects OF foreign powers with tho
Indians Of the United States.
The whole Of this speech. embracing mass Of
documentary evidence in support of Mr. Cuttings ar
gument, Is too long for republication in columns
The following extracts will show the grounds Of our
title 10 the Oregon Territory, and the nature OF the in
ermeddng by officers aud subjects of foreign powers
against which IT seems to be highly proper that de-
fence should be provided
Throughout the interior regions Of North
America, to the West and Northwest with its noble
rivers, continuous lakes extensive prairies and lofty
mountain ranges, the chief object Of commercial pursuit.
It IS iamiliariy known TO ALL is the fur OF the wild
animals with which the country ahounds; constituting
almost the sole marketable wealth of the numerous
tribes OF Indians scattered those parts OF the con-
nent While the French held Canada, down to 1863,
the trade with the lpdans aud the collection OF pees
IN the immense countries beyond the great lakes
carried on partly by the French Canadians themselves
aud partly by their Northern neighbors, the English
Hndsons Bay Company; all which invaluable trade on
the acquisition Of Canada, fell the hands Of Great
Britain. The Hndson's Ba, Company was no, long
without competitor IN the Northwest Company Of
Montreal, formed IN 1887 Their competition Of trade
induced deadly fcuds fatal their peace sn pros
peri,y while they distracted and corrupted the Indians
. +
Meanwhile the United States acquired the country
beyond the Rocky Mountains, by discovery. purchase
exploration, and the ormalty Of occupation Mr. Aslor
himself exchslvei, engaged in the fur trade southwest
Of the Lakes became fully Of the great value of
the Oregon country, aud the importance Of q line Of
trade to be carried the continent by ascending the
rver Missouri, and descending the Columbia to the
Pacific. and thence communicating directly with China
and IN the promotion at the lime Of his in
erests aud those OF the United States organized the
establishment Of Astoria. The Northwest Company
took the alarm They foresaw hat would be the effect
OF this enterprise, II successfully prosecuted They
despatched enissaries Of theirs the Columbia, Who
availing themselves Of the between Great Britain
aud the United States which followed in the year after
the foundation Of Astoria induced McDouga one of
the agents OF Mr. Aston, make fraudulent sale Of his
factory, furs, and other property, to the Northwest
Company and the sloop Of war Rscoon came aud took
lorna possession OF Astoria IN the of Great Bril-
tain, and changed the Of the post o ST. George
This formal possession, however, was act Of war;
and was annued have before stated, by tho resto
ration Of the post TO Mr. Provost and Commodore
Blddle in the Ontario, after the conclusion of peace.
But still the Northwest Company retained the ctual
possession OF the country, under the purchase from
McDougal; and, IN 1921, the Northwest Company aud
the Hudson's Bay Company, having compromised their
differences, were united the operations of the
sociaon being continued down 20 this time under the
charter of the Hadson's Bay Company.
The Hudsons Bay Company as now organized. pre-
sent TO the notice of the people Of the United States,
being IN Itself great foreign power most injurious and
hostile TO their rights and interests 1t is 10 America
what the East India Company lie to Asia. Dean Tucker
describes it Of the corrupt monopoes Of the reign
Of Charles H. Quicker on trade, .. 6S) And it is
natural enough that corporation, born Of corruption,
should subsist by usurpaon. Though chartered for
limited me which has long since expired. and though
never confirmed by Parliament (Chtly on Com vol |,
6I9 and so existing only corporation. by suffer-
ance, II claims more than imperial sway appurte-
nsnt to ihe gran. Of the trade Of Hudsons Bay,
mencing midway in the Northeastern Of the
tinent. reaching from Labrador down the shores
of Lake Superior, thence along the high lands which
divide the waters OF the Mississippi and Missouri from
Lake Winnipeg, andso sweeping around by the eastery
side Of the Rocky Mountains, the Slave Lake. and
back to the shores of the Atlantic. Bouchcues Brit.
Dom. vol tip, 80, CT sep This enormous territory,
indeed, encroaches directly the United States, for the
company undertook TO sell to the Earl Of Selkrk large
tract Of than 100000 square miles, the country of
the Red River and Lake Winnipeg, which is found
be cut off by boundary Not content with which,
the company has seated itself down the mistress
Of the great valley Of Columbia Yet its rights arc
lin tied the power which its establishments give it,
and the monopoly which usurps of the trade Of the
interior, ovcrbearng the competition Of private enter
prise
have English authority TO attest the general cha
rarter of the dominion exercised by these mercantile
sovereigns, the Hudson's Bay and Newcastle Compa-
MES There is a work published by servant Of the
Hudson's Bay Company. in ITO, who styles it " bane-
fol monopoly" who details what he plainly calls its ~
rdnny and its frauds, aud who saws the associates
shave undoubtedly forfeited every just prctcnson' to
continue a corporation by the i'll they have made
of this roys favor" (Umfrevile's Hud b Com D.
9S) And what tho Northwest Company has been we
learn from the friends OF the Hudson Bay Company
for (the aie) Lord Sekirk says that the wide range
of country occupied by their forts and trading posts
they established more despotic rule than could be
found to exist 10 any Asiari: Governmental
(Claims Of the Hudson BAY Company, page 80 y and
further advised that " the intercourse OF the
Northwest Company with the Indians. /. under the
semblance and disguise Of commerce, is an organised
system Of raPiae" And these the companies ue SUI
fer to remain in the intrusive occupation Of the Oregon
most njuriousy TO US
IF the United States would retain the independence
they have achieved they look well the CONNER.