Arkansas intelligencer., 1843-09-23
From the Democratic Repie,c.
OREGON.
fContinupd.1

The HUDSON Bay (ompony.--In 1910, Charles
]. OF England, who was very generous to such of
his coortpers as most humored his worst vices.
md very profuse with gifts he thought of little
value, especially if they were in America, grant.
ED to Prince Rupert and Others charter under
kthe title f the "Adventures OF the Hudson bay
Il company. with the erclusire privilege of trading
with the natives 'on and about Hudson's Bay.
Lhe only advantage Government was to derive
from this company was the exploration of the
lnor'hern section OF the continent with a view to
Iind passage to the Pacific Ocean. How faith
FULLY they fulfilled their public trust may be
learned from the plain words of the London Quar-.
teriy Review, which run thus: "From the mo-
ment tins body Of Adventures was Instituted,
ne sparn q adventure died away; and the sue
Aceedink eaort was palsied by the baneful influ-
enee Of a monopoly, of which the discovery of a
northwest passage was deemed to be the FORE
runner of destruction" This is about the way
in which succeeding corporations. which are so
constituted as 10 profess to combine private inter-
ests ind the pabiic good, have been conducted.
, The directors of such bodies are apt to look so
sleadfastly at their own emolument. that they can
discover little that is worthy of attention beyond
the satisfaction of the stockholders-as the small
substance brought near the eye obscures. what
else IS in the distance, no matter how great or
good. A small drop is moro essential to selfish.
ness than an ocean to the public veal.
ror more than century, this company pos
sessed the undisputed trade of the vast region of
country extending from Labrador to Lake Supe-
rior, and thence to the Rocky Mountains, and
north ns far as civilized man ever wandered. BE.
ing independent of all control, We, Projected bv
the nag OF Greut Britain which shielded ito viIest
"es' conohued to increase, constantly, in wealth
una Po"er' tll 1t obtained complete supremacy
'ne ihoians IN that immense territory, which
"'os 70 'hls DAY. Most of the horrors Of saw.
ee warfare which Americans have h-a 70 on.
o1"'e' s'nce The declaration of lndepem]ence.
fave teen lnstg..ea.y {: ;ls COMPANY and its ri.
~. the "North.wesicrn Fur Company"
I "A The latter company was organized at Montre.
In the winter of 1884, and for a long time
8sPuted The exclusive rights of the former to all
ortn America. seeing its charter confined its
operations to ..Hudson Bay Self.interest, thus
stwakened, arose like lion from his lair, and pu,
j on 'its armor for mighty struggle. The two ri
walls cherished the bitterest jealousies. indulgec
the basest passions, and perpetrated the crosses
enormities. Each complained that the other ha.
aover.stepped its bounds, and purposey invade;
y privileges with which it had no right 10 meddle
Il Their traders hunters, and trappers, always me
4 as enemies, but never parted rs friends,-so tru
il is, that the narrow and selfish views and polio
Z of soulless corporations will deceive and corruE
their most distant dependents. Both companie
assumed to be alike independent, and, acting
the capacities Of sovereign stnteshey at length VII
tually declared war upon each other. and fougl
several disgracefuI battles. and committed II
most revolving enormties.
The principal attention of the North-we
Company was directed to the region south of Il
posts established by it's rival, and thence west
regions before unknown to the English. Il WI
10 this company the United States we're indebse