The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-24

at a certain point, whete commence "the exclusive
rights of the Hudson Bay Company" On the 9th
err hand, she answers yes by the act OF George ",
and whenever commerce or jurisdiction 10 TO he
transmitted into Oregon
However this may be, the British provinces,
commonly SO called, cannot, by any extension OF
eontiguity, carry the British title beyond the Rocky
nnuntains because the territory Of the Hudson Bay
Company interyenes over space OF twenty de-
grees OF longitude; and there only remains the
question whether the Hudson Bay Company can,
by extension Of conguity carry ats territory west TO
the shores Of the Pacific. And to this the negative
answer is complete. In the first place, the company
is not n naturaaed or colonial government. Such
nCturaliZed government might have intrinsic rights
of~idepttiifni and spontaneous political action rs
against other governments bat the company cannot
1t is not "power" to dispute Boundaries apd set
up competing territorial titles, us against the United
States IL is commercial corporation existing only
by charter; and il must be held to the limitations oil
that charter. In the East Indies such company
may go on by sui!erance to usurp kingdoms and
dominate over dsorganZed nations, and perform
other such acts, IN which It's own sovereign dares
not personally appear; but these things cannot be
permitted in America In the second place, looking
to the charter of the Hudson Bay Company, we find
the question, whether the territory of the company
can extend by contguity TO the coast of the Pacific
or even beyond the Rocky mountains at all, settled
so conclusvely as to leave not shadow of any such
British title in Oregon. What is the domain OF the
company THE lands on the coasts and confines Of
the seas, lakes, and rivers, within the Hudson
straits" Thus far may the company GO but no far
Their Seas, lakes, and rivers, within the Hudson
straits and their coasts and confines Ii ia stretching
this privilege quite enough, TO consider it MS enbra,
cling the whole of the great plain between Hudson
Bay and the Rocky mountains, including that slope
of IL, which incnes not towards Hudson Bay, but
towards the Arctic Sea; and fthe land on the shores
Of the Arctic Sea were worth having, we apprehend
4. L.
the copper-mne and of Mckenzie rivers, and able
10 maintain such charter against the company's
But to regard Puget's sound, on the Pacific side Of
America as u coast or sea within the Hudson
STRAITS, is so preposcrous, that the Edinburgh Re.
view cannot fail reflection 10 that its admit
teddy slight of title is less than evaDescen
that 1t is a vanished quantity. The company has q
grant Of the waters flowing into dependant on
Hudson Bay. The Rocky mountains constitute
on the west, the outer wall and eternal bar
rior Of all those waters. Clearly, Great
Britain could, if she had title herself establish
another empire company ON Pugets sound without
touching in the remoest degree the rights Of the
Hudson Bay Company Preparation to do this
indeed, has already been made. 1t would be nc
absurd to stretch India (orits company across
the ocean TO the west coast of America, than it is to
attempt TO extend the Hudson's Bay Tor its compa
n.y. across the continent to that same coast And
the consideration Of extension by contiguity
avas nothing unless ii be strong enough TO carry
the territory of the Hudson Bay Company to the
Pacific of course there is the end of the argu-
ment.
We have thus accomplished the assigned duty OF
laying before the readers of the Democratic Review
the parallel and the contrast of tie East India Com
pany in Asia, and the Hudson Bay Company in
Americas; and we have been glad to do this, because
it is important element of the great question
which now most Immediately concerns the United
States. And our government has, in this emer.
gency, a high and noble task before it, which, VIC
confidently assume, it will discharge with equal dig
nifty and spirit, come what may In the first place
it has to maintain the rights of the United States in
Oregon, TO the extent, whatever that is, which the
honor and interests ofthe country require. In the
second place, it has to preserve to the blessings
of peace, and to the country, if il be possible
(as we doubt not isl from the calamties Of war
with England especially, which would truly be a
fratrcidal war Finally, if (Which God forbid y
we should be driven into such war by Engand's
invading Amortization Tins only war come
our government has to organize and guide the cour-
age, and strength, and patriotism Of the people, in
that, wherein twill be CALAMITY supported by them
namely, the defence of the soil against foreign ag-
gresson, and the unfolding Of the good name Of the
United States