Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-09-07
{ NUMBER q.
The HUDSON DAn COMPANY. and onEcos

The Montreal Head. speaking of the visit d
Washington lately made BY Sir. GroRen SMpsoa
and Mr.. FisLAYsos, thus remarks upon lis object
'fhis visit has, we believe. been altogether salts
factory and there is every reason hope It's object
will be shortly attained bet, our United States
contemporaries have published
counts o. the nature OF the nsgoiiaonsrep
them as leading 10 sale Of certain territory in Oregon
by the Hudson's Bay Company 10 the United States
and as these erroneous views nave been copied and
commented upon BY some our Canadian journals
we propose giving. from documents kindly furnished
TO US, concise statement oil the real matters and
interests involved which, as might have been taken
for granted, do not embrace any ransierencs OF terri
tory, but merely the abandonment BY the companies
in quessoa, and the purchase by the Un,ed States Of
certain possessory rights-farms. lands, and other
property held by them within the United States Ter
ritoy, as settled by the treaty Of 1896 BY that
~, IL msy be remembered, the United States Govern
tnent guaranty, respectively, TO the Hudson's Bay
and Puget Sound Companies, the possession of all
their forts, farms lands Hocks, herds and other prop
ery. on The north side Of the Columbia river and
ssuiho latitude 40 deg. And this, without any slip
ulaon as 10 the allegiance oftbe parties thus holding
extensive tracts Of land within the sovereignty Of the
United States
This clause in the treaty il viii a. once be seen. pla
ced the companies and the United States Government,
10 whom they owed no allegiance, in . very anony
nous position, and was, therefore. accompanied W
the following proviso, which. appears 10 u.s. should
have been absolute and not optional the part OF tie
sovereign Power 10 whom The Territory was coded
The proyiso to the effect that in case The situation
o these farms and lands should be considered by ihe
United States TO be OF public and political importance,
and the United States Government should ST. aifv Il
desire TO obtain possession OF the whole any part
hereof the property should be transferred the said
Government. at proper valuation 70 be agreed upon
between the parties.
Now, although those possessions comprise sotue os
The pcsl valuable portions Of the territory. hoth il
commercial and agricultural point Of view although
their retention in the hands Of foreign chartered coin
panes scarcely fail TO be disiasleluI (not usea
stronger erm) TO the american tsovefnfueat. and oh
though they already excited degree Of exlonsy
and Hlwil the part of the American citizens in the
Oregon Territory, which there is every reason fear
must be likely 10 become nyeteraic, and ulii.
maiely lead to serious difficulties between the Two
countries. the United States Government have mol
yet adopted any steps take advantage The provi-
in the treaty above mentioned, by which, aad By
which alone, all these threatened difficulties may te
avoided.
Under these circumstances the Hudson's Bay and
Puget Sound Companies have through ihe sBplisb
Foreign Secretary, thought i. advisable 10 take the in
itiaye in the matter by calling the attention OF the
United States Executive 10 The facts OF the ease, and
suggesting The wisdom and expediency oI ther pur-
chasing these anomalous rights upeu the basis of the
proviso, often alluded TO-. This them is the object
Of the negotiations mentioned by our Uniled States
contemporaries which we trust will be brought to an
amicable conclusion, and which, il will be seen. IN
volve transierenoe whatever OF any territorial rights
but merely The sale Of private properly situate II,
foreign territory. but belonging 10 British subjects