The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-08-08

Forever to the HudsOn's
Bay Company, by the re-
cent Oregon Treaty!
Much has lately been said respecting the time
for which the right of navigating the Columbia
has been conceded to the Hudsons Bay Company.
Some contend that the privilege will expire in se-
venteen yeafs-on what authority, we are not adj
vised while others assert that Is without limita-
ton, and is secured to the Company, and those
British subjects who may trade with it, FOREVER.
The latter are right, for the simple reason that the
charter Of the Hudson's Bay Company provides
that shall exist forever as will appear from Pc
fusal Of the following paragraphs, furnished Us by
filling highly honorable post at Warrington
Extracts from the Charter granted to the Hud-
sons Bay Company. by Charles II, dated May the
I'd, 2 in the two-and.twenteth year of his reign,
being 1911. tasas
The third section provides that the persons
named. and such others as shall be admitted into
the said society, as shereafter expressed shall pc
one body corporate and polnique, in deed and IN
name, by the name Of The Governor and Com
pany Of adventurers Of England trading into Hud-
sons Bay, and them by the name Of The Governor
and Company of adventurers Of England trading
into Hudsons Bay, one body corporate and poll
tique in deed and in name, really and fully, FOR
EVER, for US, our heirs and successors, &C.
"SEc. IL And further we do by these presents
for u.s. our heirs and successors, make, create ana
constitute the said Governor and Company for the
time being, and their successors, the true and abb
soute lords and propretors OF the same territories
limits, and places, aforesaid, and Of all other the
premises, saving always the faith and allegiance
and dominion to u.s. heirs, and succ essors, for
the same; to have, hold. possess, and enjoy the
said territories, limits, and places, and all and sim
gular the premises hereby granted, as aforesaid,
with them and every Of their rights, members, ju-
risdictons, prerog tives. royalties, and appurte.
nances whatsoever, to them the said Governor and
Company and their successors FOREVER, to be
holden Of US, our heirs and successors, as OF our
manor of East Greenwich, in the County OF Kent,
in free and common socage, and not in capite, or
by knights service: Yielding and paying to US, our
heirs and successors, for the same, two Elks and
two Black Beavers, whensosyer, and as often as
we, our heirs, and successors, shall happen to en-
ter into the said countries territories, and regions,
hereby granted" sH ..
We are Of opinion that this concession to the
Hudsons Bay Company, will be found a point Of
more moment than is at present supposed, and that
It will increase in consequence with the lapse oi
wears. II is generally supposed that as the coun-
try fills up, this great company will be crowded on
OF it, because its pursuits are Incompatible with
civilization. This would be the case, were 1t i'm
nOSslDIt LOT tne COHupdny W tutu ieo otsShhou ~
any other branches OF business than those IN which
tits at present engaged; but there is wonderful
degree Of elasticity about these great corporations
andtheir ability to adapt them TO circumstancesto to
acduiremoney and power, IS without limit. The
Hudsoh's Bay Company was established, about two
hundred years ago, for the purpose, in the hrst In
stance, of discovering northwestern passage te
the Pacific. 1t has never accomplished that object
vet il now exists and is said to be most ourshinf
H. haaA
quite different from those for which it was incor
porated. What is to prevent 1t from going muci
further and becoming our rival-our successful
riyal-n the northern Pacific, destined at no dis
tant day to be the scene Of great commerce! W.
see in the East India Company, what few mer
can accomplish under the protection OF might.
nation; and there is nothing to prevent the Hud
sons Bay Company from playing, 50 far as circum
stances will admit, game similar IN spirit, how
ever il may differ in the details. Their force vii
be small in comparison with that of the Unite'
States it is true; but we must recollect that in In
earlier part of whatever disputes may arise, tn
parties will be simply the American settlers IN Or
egon and this British Company though thu
former will undoubtedly be the most numerous
the latter will have all those advantages which arr
possessed by small aristocracy, when contendin
with democracy so situated as not to allow IN
concentration of its powers on one OF those mign
" efforts of human energy, by which politica
organization of that character ever accompiishes
will. In the long run, to be sure. we should Ii
umph, because the whole force Of the United State
would be thrown into the conflict, with irresist
BILE weight; but why leave the question in such
state as bids fair to bring about great war, whe
the sacrifices made are sought to be excused solel
on the ground that they were offered up TO tn
spirit of the age, which Is supposed to be advers
to warl Certainly, if our territory and our mono
L.,,. haan a;van nm xve had n right to demand ths