Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-06-14
THE OREGON QUESTION.
NO. w.

Mr.. BIpDLE.
In your last paper it was mentioned
that John Jacob Aston, citizen of
the United States, in 1911, founded
the town Of Astoria at the mouth of
the Columbia river. Daring the last
war with Great Britain lin December
1879 Astoria was captured by the
British sloop Of war "Raccoon" Capt.
Blake. The English flag for the first
time floated on the shores OF the Co
lumbia. BY the peace treaty, known
as the treaty of Client, it was agreed
that all territory &c, taken by either
party from the other during the war,
should be restored. In pursuance OF
this agreement Astoria was restored in
ISIS. 1t may here be asked if Great
Britain had what she now claims, a
clear title to Oregon, is it likely that
the important post Of Astoria would
have been quietly surrendered to the
United States? 1t was further provi-
ed by the treaty of Client thai the
question OF title 10 the sovereignty of
the whole territory should be put oil
for ten years, with stipulation that
our citizens should in the meantime
enjoy an equal right of trade. The
matter stood thus until 1897, when by
another treaty, (the treaty OF London)
the question was indefinitely postpon-
ed under the srme conditions, and a
proviso that the joint occupancy should
be at on end on one years notice there
of being given by either party. Thus
matters now stand by treaty; but not
so in reality. The British flag is as
potent in Oregon, as though it was a
recognized provence of that empire
The Hudson Bay company,an instru-
ment of the Government, exercises
there both civil and military rule. The
British flag streams from the forts Of
the company in the valleys and noun
tains Of Oregon. In 1921 the Brit
ish Parliament passed an act extending
the laws Of Canada over the territory,
and made the officers and agents OF the
Hudson's Bay company the persons
to execute these laws. An American
citizen may now be ARRESTED by an Of
fcer of the Hudson's Bay company
judgment may be given against him by
British officers acting under British
laws, and he my be confined as pr's-
oncr in Their forts or sent TO the prisons
Of Canada. Eminent iurists have re-
garded this exercise of power on the
part of England as sufficient ground
for annuling the joint occupancy with
out giving the years notice required.
The Hudson's Bay company is not
only trading and commercial com
muni,y. They act as does the Eas,
India company--as the political agents
of the government. These compa-
MES are favoritc instruments OF Eng
land. They are encouraged TO push
forward her interests, the government
retaining to itself, in case Of their ra-
pacity being checked or taking q
wrong course. the right Of disavowing
their acts. BY means of their great
capital and adroitncss they broke down
the American Fur company, and re-
Gently they compelled The only Amer
lean trading post in the territory TO
sell out TO them. Mr.. Farnhain in
his travels through Oregon, states that
a Mr.. Wyeth, an cnterprising Yankee,
es tablished with great labor and ex-
pense post for trading with the lndl-
ans, Fort Hall. and Immediately the
Hudson's Bay company forced him TO
sell TO them. Thy undersUld him, and
paid higher prices for peItries until the
adventurous man found himself without
business. The IIudso IS Bay company
have now in Oregon territory the FOL
lowing trading posts: "Fort Voncou-
YER on the Columbia 90 lie from the
Pacific ocean; Fort George, formerly
Astoria near the mouth Of the river;
Fort NasquaIly on Pugets Sound; Fort
Langley at the outlet Of Fraziers river;
Fort Mclaughlin on the Mill Bank
Sound; Fort Simpson on Dundas Is
land; Frazier's Fort; Fort James. Nc
Leod's Fort; Fort Chilcoiin and Alex
der on Frszier's river ard its branch
es; Thompson's Fort on Thompson
river: Kootanta Fort on Flstbow river;
Forts Hall and BLOSSOMS on the saptln;
Forts Colyille and Oakansghan on the
upper Columbia; Fort Nez Perces or
WallawaIla; Fort Mckay at the mouth
of the Umpqua river; also, two mig
ratory trading establishments so or 60
A,s Co. E,,r,Ho1,,'s Dreaeoy,