, 1854-10-28
Affairs at Van COuver's Island.

Affairs at Van COuver's Island.
We ever have, and shall ever esteem it
our province, feeble as it may be) to ex-
tend our aid and sympathy to any people
struggling for liberty, and striving to burst
asunder the chains of despotism, in what
soevsr part Of the globe oppression may
exist. Acting on this principle, we have
opened our columns, for the last few weeks,
to various letters and documents sent to US
for publication from Vancouyer's Island.
A careful peruSal of these, forces the con-
viction, that on that island exists a system
Of tyranny in miniature, complete in all its
ramifcations, which can be considered only
in its results, as second to the iron rule OF
the Car, or the doings of eastern despotS.
Forms of law are set at naught-trial
by iury-the bulwark of boaSted British
liberty, is perverted, or rather sUbrertcd-
the bench corrupted-honest magistrates
insulted and superceded-private character
assailed, and even pure-minded and zeal
GUS clergyman, who had courage to stand
up in defence of his oppressed fellow men,
is falsely accused of larceny and conspira-
cy, but acquitted by q jury, partly COM
posed Of even the servants Of Honorable
Hudson's Bay Company.
Our readers will verify these remarks by
examining the able letter Of "Vigilans," " on
the first page Of tO-day's paper. 1t is evi-
IDENTIFY the production Of man Of talent
bears The impress of truth, and eVinces a
thorough acquaintance with the interests
Of the Island, and the machinery of the
Company's Government.
The resolutions, too, passed at public
meeting Of the free inhabitants published
in this paper some time since) legally con-
vened, and orderly conducted-though
characterised by the Governor as sedtiouS
will tell their own tale. Connected with
these, we lately published an interesting
address Of the free people to the late Rev.
Mr.. Stains, expressing their high sense Of
his usefulness as q clergyman, and his inte-
gritty as man. On the principle of audi
akerGm pdyten, we this day publish coun-
ter address to the Governor, by the clerks,
factors and workmen of the company which
savors rankly of sycophancy, servility and
wilfnl and native ignorance.
And all the abuses to which the free set
tiers have alluded in their resolutions, and
which are 50 fully set forth in the address
Of ''vigilans," are perpetrated unblushing-
ly, In so-called colony of Great Britain!
the vaunted cradle of constitutional lib
erty. But colony she is not, only in name.
The spirit Of the traders, who rule the ISL
and, has ever been anti-colonial; they need
no population but supple clerks, ignorant
laborers--the "habitansD Of Lower Cana
De, savages and trapperS, whom they can
defraud at will.
1t is melancholy to reflect that an island,
possessing so many capabilities for main
tanning q prosperous and happy people,
should lie waste. The southern end is said
to be well adapted for agricultural pur'
suits, stock raising, &C., the soil is good,
the climate salubrious-possessed Of excel
lent harbors, and might be the most valu-
able section of the whole coast above Cal
ifornia. 1t might be made the focus Of
that trade which will flow into north-wes-
tern America. a ...4 .r,.
The chiefs Of the Company seem to be
ignorant Of the fact that ships will no Ion
ger circumnavigate the globe, in numbers
as heretofore, to convey merchandise from
point to another; that they will not take
goods around Cape Horn, on the way from
Canton to New York; that the oriental
trade of America, will, ere long, be pur-
sued through the Straits of San Juan de
Fuca, to the new world, in view of the
completion of the Northern Pacific Rail-
Road In its passage, It would soon en-
rich the people of VancOuyer's Island, If
people there were. Bnt who, ever, with
such prospect would live in bondage in
the interiml 1t is to be hoped that the
British Government will epen their eyes
to these facts, and let the island pass into
more intelligent hands for its future gov
ernment H.H 'l I-al
DUwAhsH BAY CoAL.-Col. RUcKEL