, 1854-08-26
m. HudsoRs Bay Company in Oregon and
''ll Washington Territories ".

We clip the following from the New
York Tribune Of May 81
tH aas WAsHINeToN, May, Is, 1854.
By the last mail from Oregon Governor
Stevens of Washiugton.Territ reached
the Atlantic side, and is now in Washing
ton City.
Inspector" the correspondent Of the
Courier and Enquirer, says his business
here is to make certain revelations respect
ing the Hudson Bay Company's aud Puget
Sound Agricultural Company's interests
and possessions in Washington and Oregon
Territories and that the object Of these
revelations is to induce the Government to
purchase said interests and possessions.
IA word or two on this subject These
British Companies just spoken of, have
since l848 been constantly endeavoring TO
sell their rights to the United States Gov
eminent In that year some Of the most
distinguished lawyers in the United States
as well as in England, gave their opinions
for pay, to these companies on the subject
Of their right under the treaty of 1876
Among them were Daniel Webster, Geo.
M. Bibb, John Van Bnren and whole
host Of others-all concurring in represent
ing the rights Of the company as being
dangerous to the peace aud quiet Of the
country in which they existed. !, ..
- These opinions availed the British COM
paaies nothing Within the last two yehrs
these companies have had no less than two
agents at Washington dickeriug for them
i was charged that o. C. Pratt, at that
time Judge in Oregon, left his post Of duty
and went to Washington, in pay Of the
company. The Senate, believing this
charge, refused TO confirm Pratt's reap
pointmeut by the present administration to
the same position of Judge in Oregon
He1id the companies no good.
They also sent one Uolbrook to Wash
ington some timeiin 1859, to negotiate for
themo This Holbrook had occupied an
Official position in Oregon, and the pliancy
Of his principles had recommended him to
The companies. He did them no good. In
1883, Chief Factor Ogden of the Hudson
Bay Company came to Washington on
the same business, but he effected nothing.
( SO you see at once the extreme anxiety of
these companies to make big sale to the
United States Government aud the as
sertim may very truthfully be made that
there is not man of any prominence in
the Territory, who would be likely to have
any influence at Washington, but has in
some way been approached by these COM
panies 10 use his influence to produce this
sale to the United States Government.
= Gov. Stevens repaired TO Washington
City at the almost unanimous recommends
ton Of our legislative assembly, in order to
urge his report before Congress, relative
TO the Northern Paci6c Railroad route,
traversed by himself and large party un-
der bis direetion--covering field Of ex-
ploration, in width of over 200 miles.
The rights Of the Hudson Bay and Pu-
get Sound Agricultural companies, so far
e these companies hare any are, we be-
lieve, by all parties, anxiously looked for
! ward 70, to be discontinued and expunged
from living existence at as early a day
~ practicable, but that Gov. Stevens has
tssn, or could be induced to become an
ageut-an alder or abettor for the extin-
guishment Of whatever title either Of these
companies possess, by the hope Of pecunia-
~ reward, is an absolute falsehood, which
those who know him viii not presume to
assert, and the falsity of which cannot be
made more plain by argument Governor
Stevens is a man, and viii SO show himself
IN the future history Of our Territory.
The imputations against Judge o. G.
Pratt, of Oregon, VIC believe also to be
unfounded-the charges against either Of
those gentlemen referred to being entirely
unsupported bv evidence.