, 1857-11-13

Canada.
One Of the resolutions passed at this
meeting declared that "the period has arri-
we'd when every part Of that vast portion
Of the American continent which is held by
the Hudson's Bay Corporation, should be
wholly enfranchised from the iron sway Of
that company, and thrown open to COM
mercial enterprise. traffic, and trade in as
free and unrestricted manner as any other
portion of the British dominions;" aud it
was recommended that vigorous steps should
at once be taken to secure an object so great
ly 10 be desired.
This subject, made especially important
by the feeling expressed with regard to it
by the Canadians, has occupied the atten-
ton of the home government. The London
papers of the 2lst inst, contained the re-
port of select committee Of the House of
Commons, appointed to consider it. 1t is
recommended that the Red River districts
and other important points in the territory
should be ceded to Canada, and that it will
be proper, as soon as possible, to terminate
the connection of the company with Van
couver's Island. This, however, seems to
be but half way measure, and one that
would hardly meet the views of the British
colonists in North America.
We may mention here, (reminded of the
fact by our cotemporary Of the New York
Journal of Commercs,) that a short time
ago, the Liverpool Financial Reform Asso-
citation issued pamphlet advocating the
abolition of the company's monopoly. In
this document it is stated that the number
of stockholders is now supposed to be IN
der $50, and that the nominal capital is
about 100000 The gross value of skins
imported varies from R2OO, 900 to e25O,
900. At the half yearly sale last April
the proceeds were a29O, 900. The compa-
ny sends out four or FIVE vessels every year,
the gross cargOes not exceeding e70, 900
to 600, 900 annually. Oflhis amount not
more than al5, 900 goes to the Indians
and it is estimated that the entire trade Of
the company does not exceed, at this mo
ment, excluding supplies to its own serv-
ants, ego, 900 annually tt lit.
The principal speaker at the Toronto
meeting spurns the idea of accepting the
proposition suggested by the committee Of
the House of Commons. He was for de-
nying the claims Of the company to bold
rule in those Territories at all, and then
went so far as to throw out the significant
intimation that, if the present policy were
pursued, "a free people treated in this man
ner will not long remain as they are. They
aciH seek projection under some other standard
than that which they have alwaysloved and
revered." And the Toronto Leader pub
fishes a letter from Capt, Kennedy, dated
Red River Colony, in June last, making
stroug complaints Of the course pursued by
the company; and, among other pretty plain
language, using the following:
"If the colonists fnd, that iu their pres
ent efforts to take constitutional step to
rid themselves of a deeply hated rule, they
are again to be defeated, they declare that
it will be with clear consciences that Mey
tOM take steps to lice under Tie form Of Coz
ernment thai GIey consider The nert best to that
under W6ich thsy haUe 50 long desired 10 erisi,
but an raini The expressions / use 10 con-
veying their feelings are not those Of my
own choosing, but those they have them
selves employed; so let them not be given
as coming from me, but from the colonists
American predictions being already pretty
strong here, the Government at home will
be wise to use their best endeayors towards
preventing the feeling Of the people from
being too greatly taxed, lest they should be
driven to declare for tho Americans To
this end the colonists are receiving every
possible encouragement, especially from
Minnesota"
The Leader, commenting on this letter,
also asserts that the prosperity Of the A.
mericans in the territory contiguous is TO-
menting discomfort among the colonists;
and it quotes from the remarks Of one Of
the Toronto meeting the statement, that
"at one place on the American frontier lots
are selling at the rate Of 81 900 a piece,
and no less than four cities are laid out be.
tween Red River and "Crow Wiug."-
Property susceptible of such improvement
the Leader thinks, cannot be reserved fol
the exclusive benefit Of few traders il
skins and pelts"
For the reflections incident to, and nat
urally arising out Of contemplation Of thi:
subject, we have not ourselves the space a!
this time. As the movement progresses
we shall doubtless have occasion to recur
70 tbeu aOain MAantime We commcnd