The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-02

NORTH OREGoN-THE BRITISH VIOLATING THE
LAWS OF THE UNITED SrATEs.-The country north
Of the Columbia river and south Of 40 north lati-
tude, is designated as ''Eorth Oregon" II has
been organized under the Territorial government
Of Oregon, and has already population of several
thousand whites. Many are employees of the
British Hudson's Bay Company AT the late ses-
sion of Congress- measures were adopted for the
more efeetual enforcement of the laws of the United
States there. custom house was established at
Olympia, on Puget's Sounds, and ). Z. Moses,
Esq, of Ohio, was appointed collector.
Within few months past, two British vessels
the ship Albion and the schooner Cadborough-have
been seized in North Oregon, and brought to trial.
for violations Of the Acts Of Congress
The Albion was detected in cutting, for shipment
to England, valuable naval timber on the pu bic
lands. she sought to excuse herself on the ground
Of being EN- ployed for the Hudson's Bay Company,
and under the preence that the treaty of 1916 pro-
tected her. Her employers, it seems, were no. the
Hudsons Bay Company, but some timber specua-
tors, having contract TO furnish ship timber to
parties in England.
The schooner caught smuggling British mer-
chandise but she alleges ignorance of our revenue
laws and Of their being in force in that REGION and
that there no custom house or officer there.
Bo.h vessels, We learn, have been conde nned and
sold; but strong efforts are being made to get the
forfeitures RENTED. Our timber laws are, perhaps
in some respects, unwise laws and may be unwisey
administered; for they strictly enforced with
respect to our own citizens, in all cases, even for
cutting timber not worth cent to the United
States for naval purposes or any other purpose.
The rigidity with which these laws are enforced
against settlers in the States and Territories where
there are public lands, may be foolish; but while
this rigor is observed towards own citizens, we
presume the laws will not be relaxed as 70 British
subjects or other foreigners Especially while our
citizens arc required 10 observe them the Hud-
sons Bay Company should not be exempted from
their operation. Hereafter the British, whether in
the employ Of the Hudson's Bay Company, or indyi-
dual spectators, will not have any excuse for dis
regarding our laws in North Oregon, as we shall
have officers Of the revenue and marine and mill
tary force there to compel their Observance.
We have, from tie first, foreseen troubles, as thu
inevitable results Of Of the provisions of the
Oregon treaty. The British government ought not
in prudence and wisdom to have insisted on keeping
the country up to "a deg. 90 min including the
whole Of Vancouvcr's Island. To have avoided all
British should have yielded all the territory up to
the Russian line, including vsncouyer's leland.
without demur, and thanked Heaven they had got
rid oft i is ofno to Grsa. Britain, except to
annoy the United States. This il not the true
policy Of Great Britain. The withholding that
country from by the British, has soured the minds
Of many Of the people Of the United states, who be-
lieve we had the best right TO IL. While Yancou.
vcr Island i possessed by tho British il an eye
core TO the American people. The temptation to
smugge, and TO violate other laws, all along the
entire coast above the Columbia river, and on the
line q ~ deg in the interior and the facilities afford
ed by the treaty provision, giving to the British the
free navigation Of the Columbia river will induce
violations Of laws, and create namberless die
putes and difficulties. The British government
cannot derive benefit from holding on TO that
country The company Of Spectators, called the
Hudson's Bay Company, are the only parties that
will receive any advantages from such policy They
are n mischievous and selfish concern. Their rights,
under the treaty have not been, AZ yet, definitely
ascertained and settled by Judicial decision. and
some Of their claims, il reported are absurd and
prepos'erous. The British government should ex-
,inguish all the pretended rights Of that company,
and, for fair consideration, yield TO the United
states, at once, not only Vancouyers Island, but all
the country up to the Russian line, and sack east
to - deg wet longitude from Greenwich, and
thence due south, to tho present line the
papers for the transfer can be made out. Mr.. Web
stcr should attend to this and thus preserve peace
and harmony between the two countries, and add
another leaf TO the ohsplet Of his fame.
#
Iutow FfvEs ~ Bktut.-The British schooner swa
low thiryre Gsys from Bahia reports several d
yellow fever there "a the time n her sailing; but here
Ind been few deathz ~ The dsorss Among the latter
hov,,,r ,he ..cona officer a te whale ship James
Many e Ntw Esdttd