Mobile register and journal., 1845-09-25


ceived from Oregon, report that great political ex-
element prevails in that territory, consequent upon
the eection of Governor of tho colony, and proba-
BILE collision between the emgraats and the Hudson
Bay company.
eth company says the letter, "for severa
years ~ has had government organized under the
act Of tn, English Parliament under which there is
:; resident Justice of the Peace at Fort Vancouver
aud AT several other stations. These Justices have
jurisdiction over all suits AMI contracts not exceed
| ing 1900, and over certain offences they may III
hict punishment. Suits for larger sMms and often
ccs OF higher grade, referred 10 the superior
courts of Canada and in criminal cases the accuse,
may be sen, there for trial The jurisdiction Of these
Justices, we believe, extends to all cases arising
between members of tile Hudson Bay comptny, o,
persons in their employ, and 10 cases arising be
tween the company and their employers, and per-
sons mt connected Wlfh them.
Hence the probability OF n collision heiweon the
Americans and the Company servants.
| We are forced To believe that there is mia
take in this, for if any act Of the English Parlia
ment had extended the Jurisdiction of it's law
over Oregon, it could scarcely have escaped TIN
attention Of our government. The act referred II
by the letter is that OF and 2 Geo. ". oh. &c -
The Edinburgh Review says;
That Act after reciling thai the animosities AM
| puds arising from The competition at the Hudson
| BAY and North West Companies had for MANY YEAR
past kept the interior of North America in IA STATE
of ontinued disturbance, enacts-that II shall bt
lawful for his Majesty to give license 10 any conpa
nv or persons ioI the exclusive privilege of trading
with the Indians IN any part of North America, no
being part of the territories Of the Hudson's Ba,
| Company, or OF any of his Maesy's provinces, Of
any lands territories belonging 10 the Unite,
States. The Act then gives civil jurisdiction Il
the Courts of Upper Canada every part o
Anne Iicii, not within the existing British colonies
and not subject 10 any civil government Of the Uai
ted STATES Ii enables his Majesty TO appoint with
! in these limits justices of the peace, and 10 give
them civil and penal jurisdiction, not extending il
civil suits beyond 1900, or in penal to dealt
or transportation. Cases beyond these limits ait
reserved for the Counts of Upper Canada
| In pursuance Of this Act, charter had been grant
ed TO the Hudsons Buy Company, for the ex clisv,
trading With the indians in all such parts of Norii
America 10 tl- nurihward TO the westward Of the
territories of the United Suites, shall not form
part of amy of the British provinces, of the terri
tories OF any European power The charter re
qBires the Company 10 provide for the execution o
civil and criminal processes their servants, anC
to irsme and submit the Crown rules foE conduct
| ing the trade, which may diminish prevent The
sale of spurious liquors to the Indians, and promote
| their mora! and religious improvement And il de
elan that nothing contained in 1t shall prevent hi
Majesty from establishing any colony within the ter
ritories in question, or from annexlng them TO any
existing colony.
| 1t will be observed hat the charter contains nc
claims authorisng the Comuany to form settlements
Not only have they power 10 grant lands, but the'
have no power even to hold them. Ths char
Ter gives as as agast all other subjects but
only agains them, the exclusive right Of trad
ing with the natives, according to regulations te
be approved BY the Crown; and 1t requires them Il
deliver up their servants to the jurisdiction o.
British tribunals. This is the whole amount of lht
privileges which il grants, and of the duties which
t>lmpOses They cannot acquire for themselves the
property, or Tor the Crown ths oyereignty, over
single acre.