The New York herald., 1846-04-19

abstract title; whilst we stand upon the British rights
of occupation, sanctioned by all the arguments IN
support of claim, and especially by the treaty OF
1870 with Spain. The settlements OF the Hudson's
Bay Company In the Oregon territory have been
made under right recognized by these conventions,
and the settlements, with all the rights accrung to
their founders will subsst after them. Dr. Twlss,
in his most Interesting and elaborate survey OF the
whole question, points out the passage of Vatte by
which such case must be determined. ST."
says that great authority, "two more nations at
the same time discover and take possession of an
island or any other desert land wlthCu an owner,
they ought to agree between themselves and make
an equitable partition but it they cannot agree,
each will have the right OF empire and domain In
the parts in which they first settled"
In this particular case, the effect OF occupation
and priority OF settlement as conferrig sovereignty
is more than usually decisive. For the right OF
fishing, landing for the purpose Of trade with the
natives, amd Of making set s.ements. having been
formally secured to Spain and to England by the
treaty OF $780, the setteme nts made In pursuance OF
that right by either power became absolute posses
sions OF the crown. Let us now ascertain from an
unquestionabe witness Mr.. Greenhow himself,
the champion Of the American claims, what the rea
tive importance OF these settlements is. He OBJ
serves that the difficulty OF the negotiation under
taken in 1925 had been materially increased since
1873
"By the great inequality which had been pro-
duced in the relative positions OF the two parties as
regards actual occupation. Alter the union OF the
two great North American Companies IN 1877, and
the establishment of civil and criminal jurisdiction
throughout their territories, the Hudsons Bay Com
pany became powerful body; its resources were no
longer wasted in disputes with rival association
its regulations were enforced; its operations were
conducted with security and efficiency; and en-
couragement was Afforded tor the extension OF Its
posts and communications by the assurance that the
" engaged in its support Many of these posts
fortified, and could be defended by their inmates
men Injured to dangers and hardshps of all kinds
against any attacks which might be apprehended;
lsl. Eo.~~ al ,k~~o
northwest of the United States, from Hudson's Bay
and Canada to the Pacific, particularly the portion
traversed by the Columbia and it's branches. was
occupied, in military sense, by British forces, al
though there was not single British SOLDIER strictly
speaking, within its limits.
"Jhe United States, on the other hand, possessed
no establishments and exercised no authority or
jurisdiction whatever beyond the Rocky Mountains;
and the number OF their citzens IN that whole terri
tory did not, probably, exceed two hundred"
Such is the American account Of the state Of the
district in 1876, when Mr. Gallatln proposed as
his s s x 2, s ,ss
y altered. Two or three thousand American emi-
grants have formed village on one OF the southern
tributaries OF the Columbia; but neither their means
~ m beyond y the valley Of the Willamette. They have
an undoubted right to form such settlements under
the convention; but they owe the means OF compile
ting their journey across the vast and rugged vii.
defness to the beray and hospitality Of the agents
Of the Hudson's Bay Company Captain Fremont,
who conducted the United States exploring expedi-
ton beyond the Rocky Mountains in 1913, atiests
the fact. On arriving at Fort Nez Perce, British
post situated at the confluence OF the River Wala-
walla and the Columbia, he observes that at this
point which is Just 1000 miles overland from the
western frontier OF the state OF Missouri, the emit
grants who arrive by the South Pass and from the
valley Of the Mississippi may embark on the broad
stream Of the west He himself and the heads OF
the emigrants there at the same time, were hospta-
bly, entertained by Mr.. Mack'nley, the commander
OF the post. At Fort Vancouver, Captain Fremont
was received with the greatest courtesy by Dr
M'Langhlan, the executive officer OF the Hudson's
Bay Company in the territory west OF the Rocky
Mountains, and the expedition was furnished with
all necessary supplies. He adds-
az found many American emigrants at the fort;
others had already crossed into their land OF promise
the Willamette Valley. Others were daily arrv-
ing, and all OF them had been furnished with shell
ter, so lar il could be afforded by the buildings
connected with the establishment Necessary cloth
ing and provisions (he latter 10 be afterwards re-
turned in kind from the produce Of their labor were
also furnished This friendly assistance was OF very
great value to the emlgrans, whose families were
otherwise exposed TO much suffering IN the
winter rains at the same time, they were In want
OF all the common necessaries of life. Those who
had driven their stock down the Columbia had
brought them safely in, and found for them ready
market and were already proposing TO return 70 tne
States in the spring for another supply"
We quote these facts, which are given on Ameri-
can official authority, because 1t il impossible 10
place the relative importance Of the British and Ame-
rcan settlements in the territory IN stronger con.
States had not been literally and humanely assisted
and protected by the British agents. they would pro-
badly have perished miserably on that bleak shore,
beyond the reach ot an human aid. But what Is the
return the nstgators of the American pie propose
to make Tor these offices OF humanity What effect
has this information officially presented to Congress,
upon the deliberations OF the Legslature1 II only
incites them to endeavor TO expe their benefactors
from the country, and to wrest from tne nuosons
Bay Company those very forts which have shelter
ed their own emigrants from the hardsniPs OF the
wilderness.
No appeals have been made to public opinion or
to Parliament by the Hudson's Bay Company, pro- |
baby because that body ieels sufficiently strong IN
vernment. But stronger case tor public interest
and support we have never known. great trading |
company enters upon the enjoyment OF certain |
rights secured by treaty between the crowns OF
Spain and England, with the full sanction Of royal
harters and acts OF Parliament; II occupies vast
region, where settlement was all that
was needed TO assert and establish indeteasible |
rights of dominion; it exercises those rights with
80 little jealousy, that even the emgrants from the
rival States are housed within Its walls and supplied
from its magazines. II has organized the sole sys-
TEN of regular communication and traffic that the
present state Of the northern parts Of America ad-
mi,s Of All this has been going on actively for the
last quarter OF century, and less actively ever
since 1890; when suddenly, by the mere will and
pleasure OF democratic community, whose near
est possessions are distant 1900 miles OF land ira
vel, this company and the power it represents are
to evacuate, surrender, and renounce |
their FORTS their posts, their settlements, the nav
CATION OF the rivers, the possession of the country,
aid 20 retire beyond the 5ith parallel OF latitude
Such cession Of territory would at once parsyzc
the who'll operations OF the company and the north
western coast. Yet such Is the extraordinary per-
version of public opinion In America this sub
iect that we are expected to abandon tltle sup
orf.d hv Of &
tltIe, which rests upon superior legal claims and
is backed by no occupation whatever!
As soon as notice Of the abrogafow of the treaty Of
1877 is given zoe trust that formaiities wW
deter the British Government from Informing the