The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-09
Interesting European Intelligence.
Movements OF tho Hudson's Bay Comp my

W
OF his intention to move an address to the Crown,
with the object OF restrainlng the government from
giving Vapcouver's Island to the Hudson's Bay
Company. AS the information which the public
generally are likely to possess on this subject is By
no means proportoned to It's Importance, we con-
ceive that good service NAV be done by short
statement OF the main facts of the case.
Vancouver's Island is situated Ia the Pacific,
very nearly IN the same latitude as the British
Islands, and enjoys a climate very similar to our
own; but milder and more equable: 1t possesses
fertile soil, magnificent forests, and immense tracts
oil good coal Teaching to the waters edge on various
parts OF the coast. What makes the latter pecu-
LARRY valuable at this moment is, that an American
Company Is about to run line of steamers from the
Columbia river (amost within sight ofthe sland)
to Panama, and that this Company are at this mo
ane't contracting for their Goals England Another
project IS on foot for establishing steam communi-
cation between the west coast OF America and Chi
ma; IN short, an opening exists tor supplying exclu
sively from British possession, the whole Pacific
trade with the means of steam navigator. Above
all, Nancouver's Island possesses commands, all
he haibors on the western coast of North Ameri-
ca-for there is not one between San Francisco, in
Ca.nornia, and the straits of Juan de Fuca. For
all these reasons, 1t is highly important that q
body Of British colonists. prepared to turn these
natural advantages to account, and to maintain
our supremacy IN the Pacific, should be establish
ed IN this favored situation; and as the demand
tor coal offers the unusual inducement of an i'm
mediate exporttrade, Is not wonderful that there
should be persons IN this country ready and willing
to make the adventure if they could obtain the
support and encouragement of government But
the support and encouragement of government are
otherwise engaged. For spme reason ut which it
is impossible 10 guess, Lord Grey has determined
to dispose of Vancouver's Island in almost the on
ly way which makes its colonization impossible
by adding 1t TO the oyergrown territories of the
great company which monopozes the fur trade
We look upon this as condemnlng the island to
remain unpeopled for the next century
The Hudson's Bay Company is fur-trading
company, and nothing else; they have no ma
chinery tor coloniZation-no interest in, nor. we
laws and customs which prevail throughout their
COMMONS are inconsistent with the very exist
ence OF prosperous settement-nay, so entirely
has this been always understood, that in 1885,
when their trading license was renewed, Lord
Gleneig very wisely inserted clause to the effect
that, In case it should prove desirable, to found
and privileges should be abrogated in the district
SO coonlzed. We repeat, that it is not the in
terest OF the Hudson's Bay Company TO colo
nlze Vancouver's Island. Their whole system
IS founded on the exclusion of popuatlon--on
keeping their hunting grounds intact for their
beasts OF chase and their Indian hunters -
and this not only on account OF the export or far
trade but also of that in imports, manufactured
articles, OF which they have also by law COM
pete monopoly. While no private trader sell
so much as handkerchief to one of their servants
to an Indian, without their permission, they
charge hundred per cent on every article which
they import. Now, no colony could exist within
the jurisdiction OF such tariff as this, and free
colony in Vancouver's Island would so seriously
interfere with the operation OF that tariff, TO
render ITS continuance on the continent almost
impossible. Therefore. wr-e-+sth that the Hudson's
Bay Company will never colonze >Ssss=,ouvers Is
land. But, if such therintenton, there is
another reason why they should not be allowed to do
so at the present moment. 1t seems that memo
rial mas been sent home from the Red River set
tlement-the only settlement which has been FORM
ed by the company-to the effect that their govern
uIent is so bad and oppressive, as to make living
under il lntolerable, and that this memorial was
signed by almost every adult male In the settle
ment. We are told that Lord Grey desired Lord
Elgin to institute special inquiry into the matter,
but that this inquiry has, for some reason other,
not been made; and 1t does seem most extraor-
binary proceeding, IN the face OF such complaint,
and without any formal investigation into its
Truth, to make vast and most important addition
10 the company s observation-disclosures which.
we have shown, It is their interest not to colonze,
and winch experience has proved that they are
either unwilling or unable to coonize successfully.
On the Hudson's Bay Company, as fur traders
and general merchants, we say nothing; they have
carried on, with immense profit, against great diff
hculties, a, daring and praiseworthy enterprise.
But when they ask to forget that it is their in
terest to prevent the free competition OF free
colony with their monopoy-to forget that they
at the present moment upon their trial for gross
mismanagement of their own territories, and to
give up this island, the keystone of the coast,
with all its promising future, to their despoc sway
-then say, II is time for those in this country,
who take an interest in the extenton and prosperi-
ty of our colonies to bestir themselves, and to In
sst that this affair, upon which such vast Interests
depend shall not be made the subject of a transac
tion between minister and a commercial COM
pany in dark corner OF the Colonial office. We
have no wish unduly to PREJUDICE the merits OF this
question all we want is that something should
be known about it before 1t is too late to amend
1t and we must say that, pri,nd face, the case OF
the company Is bad one. Parliament has Just
had severe lesson to warn II against blind con-
fidence IN the Legislative powers of Lord Grey.
We have no wish to the melancholy farce OF
the New Zealand charter re-enacted In the case
OF Vancouver's Island and we cannot allow an
official punctilio, assumed by Lord John Russell
with great decorum for the occasion, to interfere
with the most essential of our constitutional pri
vlleges-the right of Parliament to express Its
opinion and exercise its influence matters
which concern the highest interests OF the
empire.
The Pope and the State of Italy.
The Pope has given the following answer, dated
the 10Th July to the address of the Council of Depu
tes:-
1--WE accept the expressions of gratitude addressed
to by the council and have received the
to the speech delivered in name, by the cardinal
expressly delegated by us to open the two councils de-
caring as s IN 50 prsscrbed Sx
fundamental statute II the Pontif puts up prayers,
bestows benediction and pardon is also his duty to
of better protecting and strengthening the public good,
he has called two councils to cooperate with him the
prnceprest has need Of all the liberty requisite for
preserving his action from being paralyzed, when the
Interests of religion and the state in question
This liberty he preserves intact long shall remain
intact they ought to remain the statute and the law
the council of ministers which We have granted.
become multiplied and great Ii Is necessary that
should be again made known to theword but for
cannot be q for attaining that end. Our name
blessed throughout the earth for the words Of
peace which first out Of our mouth 1t most
suredly will longer be so, If the language Of war
should issue from IL was therefore, a great
surprise to when learned that this question
submitted to the consideration Of the council In
tadicton public declarations and at the very
moment when had undertaken to negotiate for
peace Union between the princes, and good harmony
between the nations of the peninsula alone real
ize that happiness to which aspire. This need OF
concord such, that ought to embrace equally all
the princes of Italy, in order that from this paterna
embrace may spring that harmony which will bring