, 1855-01-20
Governors Message

IN RELATION TO THE PossEssoRY RIGHTS OF
THE HuDsoN's BAY COMPANY, AND PUGET
SOUND AGRICULTURAL CO., IN ANSWER TO A
RESOLUTION OF ENQUIRY OF THE COUNCIL
OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
To THE Hon. SETH CATIIN, ...
President Of the Council ofwashington Territory;
SR:-In, answer to resolution Of the
Honorable Council, Of this date, request
ing the Governor to communicate to the
Council any Information he may have in
his possession, in regard to the manner in
which Congress arrived at the estimated
amount OF three hundred thousand dollars,
as the value of the legal claims and rights
of the Hu,lson's Bay and Puget Sound Ag-
ricultural Companies. If any estimate has
been made by the Governor, or any person
under bis direction, will his excellency
please to communicate the estimated value
Of each company, and the particular kind
Of property, and value Of the right Of
trade, and the right Of possession; and all
other separated estimates that may have
been made, aud whether report has been
made to Congress or any Of the Depart
ments, and Il the stock Of cattle and sheep
were included in the estimate" l have the
honor respectfully to state
Congress not having taken any action in
regard to the Hudson's Bay and Puget
Sound Agricultural Companies, I assume
that the resolution has reference to the
action OF the Senate, which, in an amend
ment to the Civil and Diplomatic Appro-
priation Bill, proposed to buy out the
claims Of these Companies and Of British
subjects; and for this purpose proposed the
appointment of Commissioner to examine
into aud adjudicate oil claims, and the ap-
preparation Of 100000. BY reference to
the published proceedings Of Congress, it
will appear that this proposition was in
ttoduced into the Senate by the Committee
on Finance, and on the recommendation Of
the Hon. WIN. L. Marcy, the Secretary Of
State. '
Areport was made by me, under the in
structions Of the Secretary of State, to the
State Department, as to the legal rights
and claims Of these Companies; and an
estimate was also made Of the value Of the
lands, farms, and property Of the Puget
Sound Agricultural Company, and the pos
sessory rights Of the Hudson's Bay Com
pany. The following grounds we're taken
IN reference to the Hudson's Bay Com
pany: lst-That their possessory rights
we're q mere naked right Of possession
2-That these rights simply gave then
a right to their buildings and enclosures
SdlThat these rights ceased with the ex
piration of their Charter, in. 1868. 4th-
That II gave them no right TO trade will
Indians. In reference to the Puget Sount
Agricultural Company, the following view
were presented: 1st-That the 4th articl
OF the treaty pledged the faith Of the Gov
eminent to confirm to them their farms
lands, aud other property. 2d-That the.
could simply claim and have confirmed t.
them, their buildings and enclosures, anc
the right Of wood and pasturage, in com
mon with settlers on unclaimed lands, whicl
right Of common could be set of by Gov
ernment. 3d-That when confirmed Il
their farms, lands, and other property
they held the property, thus confirmed, i
fee, In reference to both Companies,
was contended that they had set up tn
most extravagant pretensions, the effect {
which. II yielded to, would be not to tran
fer the sovereignty Of the country froi
Great British to the United States, br
from Great Britain to the Hudson's Ba
and Puget Sound Agricultural Companie
IN this report It was recommended this