The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-12-15

very from OFeSOns
We have received, by the last mails from the
west, and also from the east some additional intel
gence from Oregon, relative to the settlers, which
is Of very interesting. character.
The affairs ofthe Oregon people are not exactly
derstood on this side Of the Rocky Mountains, and
the public, therefore, eagerly seek for fresh facts
The annexed are the latest accounts
From the St Louis Rcpor'er, Dec.
citizens of Oregon brought by Dr. White and to the
state Of affairs in Oregon territory as detailed to us by
estimate the wishes of people of Oregon
tain to which Of the two parties in that territory the in
be made for his preudices The influence Of the ud.
son Bay Company is by no means confined to British
subjects Its power in that territory is enormous, not
from the exercise of physical force but fom the uset
makes fits immense wealth. Emgrants depend for the
supply Of clothing powder iron and many other neces
the stores and trading establishments of tho Company.
Il has contrived to maintain monopoly of the trade of
the country and American emigrans sell their surplus
products that company and purchase Of its agents
the comforts and many of the Of life Those
literally while those who speak boldly in favor Of the
United States Government and its claims receive hut
little favor number Of persons, Americans by BIRTH
in order to be in favor with power and wealth. play
the hands OF the Hudson Bay Company. either directly
or indirectly Whilst most OF tn, American settlers
anxious that our Government should take exclusive
possession Of the territory there few who insist
upon the establishment Of independent government
Company in that territory, started and encouraged
for the purpose of sowing discussions amorg
that Of the snH rom this esIn
who have spoken in public there about the indispu.
table title Of our government to that territory and in p
position to the Hudson Bay Company have been warned
to be less bold in the expression OF their views if they
would escape from difficulty Accustomed to speak plain
ly of public AFFAIRS whilst this side of tho Rocky
mountains many Of the emigrants have become justly
indignant at the restraint thus imposed upon them at
the adverse influence brought to bear against them
re hel
there last year said to have become very unpopular
with the majority Of the American settlers II seems
convention, and adopted voluntary rules, or organic
laws for their government and that the Legislature.
parties exist-one insisting upon the observance
Of the organic laws, and the other advocating
the Legislature was one declaring that negro slavery
should not exist in the territory and that every negro
from the passage Of the law should receive stated
number Of lashes at the whipping post This law. OBJ
viousy unjust was subsequently repealed ana another
There are but few slaves there and they taken
there by their masters few years ago The evil now
is that none Of the laws enforced The only way of
obviating all difficulties is to extend the laws and urs
dicon OF the United States the tsrritery The Anne
rcan settlers desire generally that the laws of the Uni
ted States shall be there as their rights can be
rendered secure in other way. A full supply OF am
munition should be forwarded to the emgrans-for at
present they have to depend on the Hudson Bay Com.
pany for powder and ball. and procure only halfa
pound of each at q time.
From the Newburyport Herald Dec. 81
Our business now is with that part Of statement re-
garding townsmen who engaged in the Ore
gon trade. II is declared that vessel belonging
interests Of the British Hudsons Bay Company that the
captain absolutely refused to ship the flour OF Amer
vessels belonging here and engaged in the Sandwich
land trade have been ordered to receive freight from
American settlers. The merchants Of this town who
gagged in this Oregon enterprise went into without
expectation OF immediate profit but experiment to
open new avenue OF trade and benefit several young
in THAR
ed them SEEK several years ago. that then unknown
region At that time, the Hudson Bay Company had the
entire monopoly Of the traffic of the settlements 1t
found that the cargoes which out, could
be sold without establishing store and of the par
question in that country the vessel was employed in
transporting the produce Of the colony received in
change for supplies to the islands, for SALE The profit
realized this business has thus been small but if
the country remains at peace it now just begins to
mise returns Of course at this distance, it is i'm
possible for the merchants to know what acts of their
agents have given rise to this report but that is SIAN
derous thcy have no doubt. The Hudson Bay Company
have a vessel of their in which transport their
merchandise, and the Chenamus, which il the vessel
owned by Gushing and Johnson, has hereto been
glad of all the freight which she could Obtain has
frequently gone only partly laden, even when much Of
what was on board, was on owners account The two
and may have been unable to take all which offered
though OF this the owners have no knowledge.
In aTa to the 1nS article so N p9wa s Of
tiers Messrs Cushing and Johnson have ped
in this s1s and sent only the
think worth while to attempt to compete with the
Hndson's Bay Company in the sa Of this article The
actual distance to be sailed from New York to the mouth
Of the Columbia river by the way of Cape Horn, is
timated at 900 miles ship canal At Panama. be
through the lsthmus Darien, which is only 81
miles, would thousand miles than half
the distance reducing the voyage out and back to less
than the time required NJ make the passage out
The distance from New York to the mouth OF the Co.
lumbia river by land is about $500 miles The territory
which the British claim in Oregon north Of 40
is represented by those who best know it, bleak in
tospitabe and barren Astounding ia volcanic mountains
and glaciers It isnow valuable only for its furs. and
these through the indefagabe Efforts Of the Iudsons
Bay Company, rapidly diminishing. rho american
colony in the valley of the Walamette is said
Der about 5000 souls though this estimate is probably
overrated The climate is considered equabls and sau
brious and the soil Deep strong and fertile The crops
fail the water remarkably pure and the water
privileges abundant Should we extend pos
sessions North Oregon far the Bomanzof
mountains, the SEVENTEEN parall shall reach
that latitude whore the does not set in summer
Near the mountains in summer the appears to stand
still it did in the days of Joshua In June is %
degrees above the horizon at midnight" and the only
mode of knowing that is midnight is watching the
when it begins to ascend Fowls go to at p
NJ, and repose until the well up In winter it Is
Of course the reverse in the high latudes the is
not seen for six weeks.