Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-16
vANCoUvER's ISLAND.
FROM THE BOSTON ATLAS OF ruEsDA,


This island it will be recollected forms the north
ern boundary Of the Oregon Territory on the shore
of the Pacific. 1t has attracted much notice since
the last treaty with Great Britain account of its
importance as a naval station, and recently an at
tempt has been made by the Hudson's Bay Com
pany to obtain grant of it from the British
for the purpose of making this island the headquar-
tiers Of the fur trade in that region. In the House
of Commons on the 10Th Of August debate arose
on this subject, which was carried soa great length
Some apprehensions appear to be entertainod that,
unless the island is speedily settled by British colo
niss, it will fall into the hands of the Americans
We copy few passages from this discussion:
Mr. CHnysrr called the attention of the House the pro-
posed grant Island the Hudsons Bay Compa
n.y. which he commended would be altogether peien Hav
ing reviewed the foundation and history of the Hudsons Bay
Company the honorable member proceeded contend that
their system entirely opposed to colonization, and that
therefore, would be in vain expect that the island would
be coonized when placed in their possession.
Mr. HAYES replied THAI the Hudson's Bay Company already
possessed ourshng settlements and Vancouves
Island this moment the island was not coonzed by
public body it not likely be coonzed at ALL inasmuch
the enterprise would be costly for private individuals.
The grant the company simply teroral the Gov
Of the colony would be perfectly free one by Gov
ernor and Assembly, in whose hands the making OF laws
would be- BY the plan adopted this great advantage
would be attained, that, whilst the hand you eab
shed free constitution for the general government Of the
colony, you established the colony under the auspices Of
great company having powerful the spot
and possessing, under the of George w the exclusive
right of trading with the natives There were many strong
for occupying the island and unless occupied by
British settlers and under British authority would be occu-
pied rreguary. There another important consideration
Vancouves Island possessed considerable Of coal of
very good quality, which it of the importance
should be worked speedily possible whether for the
interest of British the British settlers.
Mr. GLADSTONE said They not then celebrating
question Of a day, year. generation but matter
which involved the destiny Of noble island which,
future period OF the history Of the world, powerful
State might be found existng-an island which, though insg
nican at present in commercial point Of view might
day command very large proportion Of the trade Of the whole
archipelago Of the Pacific and the continent Of America He
believed the possession to be valuable one and
his conviction that the question respecting in
voved the last great opportunity which the Legislature might
have of founding new and powerful State from the descend
ants of the British people, II blessed with temperate
climate, not unlike and although the country
yet sufficiently well known enable to form
rect idea Of the general character Of the SOIL certain that
there were all events large districts Of il fertile any
that could be found in any other country in the world and
that those districts were ready for immediate II
tain moreover that there OF valuable mineral
under the surface In addition to all these great natural ad
vanage possession of hsrbors in such number and
Of such convenience that their exsence-aken in conuDc
ton with the fact that for many hundreds of miles to The south
there nothing in the nature OF habor except the mouth
Of the Columbia Iverendered probable that Vancouvers
Island would be future years the great enpot Of commerce
for North America aud the west Of Europe. They
going hand the island corporation which
once trading company and land company. II
elusive and monopozng company in the and tight
est Of the words He earessy asserted that there
instance record Of colony treated having succeeded
had failed in the great Indian empire. II matter
Of history that the English Government obliged TO de-
.,1f,kx
had been found eudcs the development the
of India, and deeply detrimental her general interest And
the thing had occurred in the Of the Dutch East
India Company The history Of the North American colonies
inculcated the lesson Virginia founded in the year
1907, under the Of trading company but the coonsts
and the company into collision, and in 1924 the
company died Massachusetts founded under the Of
the Plymouth Company in 1921, and the same thing
red In 1924 they fell out with the body in England and in
1928 the whole governing Of the company removed
to Massachusetts, and they ceased be trading company
There in which the evils Of monopoly had
oushed in such rank uxuance as in that Of the Hudson
Bay Company. With regard the muchpressed question
Of settlers il essential that the House and the
try should know what kind Of settlers were to be sent to Van
couvers Island the men that made the colony. What
could have been unpromising than the Of New
England, and yet what had been made Of by
possessing energy, ability, and the real stuff The right hon.
oabe gentleman then proceeded refer the moral charac
ter OF the Hudson Bay Company settlement No could
read the statements contained in Wkes's United States
Exploring Expedition without percevng that while that
author showed evident respect sympathy for the company
il impossible for him to conceal that the system pursued
by the company altogether opposed the growth Of
healthy moral character As the enormous dicuiesof
coonzng Vancouvers sand let rcoec that the Ameri
endeavorng TO establish regular communion
ton between Panama and the mouth Of the Columbia
be employed coal be used, and that coal
either from Great Britain enormous expense
Of course, must from Vancouvers Island He
destood that negotiations upon the subject bad been entered
into between Americans and the Hujsons Bay Company
but that they had been broken oon account the price required
by the company. Was he believe that nobody but the
Hudsons Bay Company-could alone dig the coal He
sorry TO saysoy, not account OF the effect but the
causethat rumor had reached him that considerable por
ton OF the people at the Red River had determined TO leave
that place altogether and TO the American
border 10 escape from the sway Of the Hudsons Bay Com
psny they would surrender the privileges Of living under the
British Crown What was that Crown to them They
knew nothing OF It's benignant influence; they knew
nothing OF the rights OF Engshmen they knew nothing Of
judicial security they knew nothing Of property except as
domneered over by the Hudsons Bay Company
Mr.. HuME said BY our absurd laws we have Lost The
whale fisheries in the Pacific but with vancouvers Island
might still be carried on TO great extent Sin g. simpson
says Three American whaling ships the straits Of
think likely advantageous branch Of business may be
formed Victoria by supplying the ships engaged in the
whale fishery with clothing marine stores, refreshments &C.
being much the fishing grounds than either California
the Sandwich islands the dangerous bar Of the Columbia
river incrdcng frequent with that quarter
Here, them clear that they were handing over to this
monopoizing company this rich territory, which nigh, be made
such a valuable settlement.
Lord Jouy RussrrY .a;d I beleye the conseoucnce NJ