Arkansas intelligencer., 1843-09-23

Pursuing their course westward, tho agents of the
company found, at length, their way over tho
Rocky Mountains, and descended the beautiful de-
cvites towards the Pacific, where they pursued
their trade at great profit In 1872 they took
possession Of Astoria, then occupied by the Amen
leans, raised the British flag at the mouthsof the
Columbia, broke up every trading establishment,
and drove all the Americans from Oregon.
4 The managers of this company, more wise than
the other, early enlisted in their service half
breeds from Canada. the fruits Of interma arriage
between the Fregch and lroquos. The French
have alwaysb been more successful than the Eng
Ilsh Or Ameaeaas in trading with the ndans.-
Their peculiar affabty of: hampers, and perhaps
tho more snowy ceremonies ftbeir religious wor.
ship, are far more attractive ana pleasing to the
untutored mind, than the plain, stern character
and naked devotion of the Saxon race. Besides,
by their intermarringes, they had both cohciiiafed
the favor OF the natives, and produced an athletic
and hardy class of men, who retained enough of
'he savage IN their features to recommend them
to the confidence of their half.brethren wherever
found.
Iney also understood both languages, and
hehce mace the best Interpreters and engages the
company could employ; and they proved suffi-
GENTLY honest to be entrusted with tho superinten
dence of the lesser duties of Observation-Disclosures
Possessed OF such superior means of success. the
Hudson Bay Company had just grounds for dread
ing so formidable rival.
England has ever been watchful of the welfa re-
OF her loyal colonists, especially when her own
advantage was concerned in the promotion Of her
commerce or the extension of her domain. Fore
seeing the vast Importance Of gaining strong po-
sition on the Pacific coast OF America, and DOS.
sessins superior knowledge of the value and i'm.
mense resources of the extensive and unoccupied
country west Of the Rocky Mountains, her minis
tiers succeeded in lulling the unwary Americans
into such disgraceful ndference,-an indiffer.
ence, we regret to say, which still rests like n
incubus, upon us,-that, by the Convention of the
2Oth of October, 1918, she secured. by treaty.
free trade in all the possessions belonging to the
United States lying west of the Rocky Mountains !
This privilege was to continue ten years-long
enough to get foothold. Near the expiration Of
this limitation, the sumo privileges were con,in.
ued indefinitely by the Convention of September
9th, 1871 either contracting party reserving to
itself the right to annu the same, by giving twelve
months notice. Let it be remembered. that Amer
lea relinqushed no right to the settlement or oc.
cuPancy or Oregon by either treaty. but onIy
guaranteed In1I line northwest coqsI oI America
west of the Stony Mountains, shall, together with
its harbors, bays, and creeks, and the navigation
of all rivers within the same, be free, and open,
to vessels, citizens, and subjects Of tho two pow
ers.' This is the relation at present existing be-
tween England and America in reference TO Or.
egon. a.
In 1921, the two rival companies had become
convinced that perpetual chickering's were of little
advantage to either, but that the good of both de-
manded coalition Accordingly, by the inter-
position Of the British Government, they merged
their interests, under the name of the origina!
company, and continue to act under its original
charter. BY an act of Parliament, passed about
the same time, additional powers were obtained,
hu Uh tbo riuht
over all It's establishments is conferred upon Tho
company. This is virtually making it a sove
reign state. Thus has Great Britain actually
established her jurisdiction over portion of the
United States, which, to-day, is exercised with
lhe utmost lmPunIty upon our citizens.
Nor Is this all for, except in name, England
has. through the medium of this company, es,a.
bshed military despotism, which has usurped
the whole control of our whole western frontier,
which is daily entrenching its power by the erec-
ton OF forts in every eligible position along the
banks of the Columbia, aud on Paget's Sound and
already training and arning, in times past, the
Indians for her service 80 that should she be mo.
Tested in her trespasscs, she ccnld turn upon de-
f=nceess Americans her savage no.des, AM enact
again the horrd cruelcs once perpetrated upon
our frontier settlements. Already are they train.
ing IN their military discipline, young Tecumsehs
and Black Hawks for future use, to devastale, with
! the tlre aud scalpng knife, the homes and lands
Of American ciIizens whose enterprise and patri-
olism shall lead them to settle in that splendid
country.
| These evils are not confined to the Columbia
valley. They exist, though in q limited degree
this side Of the Rocky Mountains, and arc pro-
ducing considerable uneasiness in our north. west.
ern frontier settlements. Troubles are continu.
ally occurring from tho aggressions there made by
the servants of the Hudson Bay Company. "Eng.
ish subjects carry, wherever they go, the boon Of
English laws" they say. and pleading loyalty to
their Queen. refuse to pay any regard tothe off,
i. GERS OF our Government claiming the right to bo
tried by the power which encourages them in their
depredatlons. Unless IN energetic attention is
turned that way by our Government, serious diff.
hcn,t'es may be appr ehended from this source.
$ ihe union of the two companies, and the addi.
'lonai powers obtained from Parliament, gave a
:. new impetus to their operations. Tney now wen,
70 work IN good earnest and on magnificent scale
e and employing the joint capital in the best ma n.
ner, determined to possess themselves, ut once, o
81 al me important positions, seaward and inland
which could be Of any service to their future op
70 eraions. Accordingly, with true sagacity, the,
Is hxed their principal factory west of the noun
Q, lains' at Vancouver tho north bank of the Co