The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-04-21

athletic and hardy class oil men, VINO re-
! tanned enough of the savage in their fea-
lures to recommend them to the confidence
Of their half-brethren wherever found.
| They also understood both languages,
and hence made the best Interpreters and
engages the company could employ and
they proved sufficiently honest TO be en-
trusted with the superintendence OF the
lesser duties of It's establishments. Pos
sessed of such superior means Of success,
the Hudson Bay Company had just
grounds for dreadng SO formidable rival.
England has ever been watchGul Of the
welfare Of her loyal colonists, especially
when her own advantage was concerned
ir the promotion of her commerce or the
extension of her domain. Foreseeing the
vast importance of gaining strong posi-
ton on the Pacific coast of America, and
possessing a superior knowledge of the
value and immense resources Of the en-
tensive and unoccupied country west OF
the Rocky Mountains, her ministers sue
ceeded in lulling the unwary Americans
into such a disgraceful indillerence-'an
indifference, we regret to say, which still
rests, like an incubus, upon us-that, by
the convention of October Goth, 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 for ten years
long enough TO secure good ioolhold.
Near the expiration of this limitation, the
privileges were continued indefinitely by
the Convention of September 9th, 1927,
either contracting party reserving to itself
the right 10 annul the same, by giving
twelve months" notice. Let it be re-
membered, that America relinquished no
right to the settlement or occupancy of
Oregon by either treaty, but only guaran-
tecd that "the northwest coast Of Ameri
ca, 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, citi-
zens, and subjects of the two powers"
This is the relation at present existing be.
tween England and America in reference
to Oregon.
In 1921, the two rival companies had
become convinced that perpetual bicker
ings were Of little advantage 10 either, but
that the good of both demanded coali-
ton. Accordingly, by the interposition
of the British government, they merged
their interests, under the name of the orr
ginal company, and continue to act under
its original charter. BY an act Of parlia-
ment, passed about the same time, addi-
lional powers were obtained, by which
the right to exercise ciUiL Jurisdiction
over all its establishments is conferred
upon the company. This is virtually
making it a sovereign state. Thus has
Great Britain actually established her ju-
risdiciion over portion of the United
States, which, to-day, is exercised with
the utmost IMMUNITY upon our citizens.
Nor is this all for, except in name,
England has, through the medium of this
company, established military despotism
which has usurped the complete control
Of our whole western frontier, with its
daily enlrenching its power by the cree
ton of forts in every eligible position
along the banks Of the Columbia, and on
Paget's Sound, and already training and
arming, as in times past, the Indians for
her service; so that, should she be mo-
Tested in her trespasses, she could turn
upon delenceless Americans her savage
hordes, and enact again the horrid cruel.
ties once perpetrated upon our frontier
settlements. Already are they training,
IN their military discipline, young Tc-
cumses and Black-Hawks for future use,
to devastate, with fire and scalping knife,
the homes and lands of Americas citizens
whose enterprise and patriotism shall lead
them to settle in that splendid country.
These evils are not confined to the CO.
lumbia valley. They exist, though in a
limited degree, this side Of the Rocky
Mountains, and are producing consdera-
BILE uneasiness in our northwestern set
dement's. Troubles are continually &C.
curing from the aggresslons there made
by the servants Of the Hudson Bay Com
pany. English subjects carry, wherever
they go, the boon of English laws" they
say, aud, pleading loyalty 10 their queen,
refuse to pay any regard to the officers of
our government, claiming the right to be
tried by the very power which encourages
them in their depredations. Unless an
energetic attention is turned that way by
our government, serious difficulties may
be apprehended from this source.