, 1857-11-13
Canada and the HudsOn's Bay Company

hO III VI ehS Gual vi NuC LluuoOu
Bay Company having almost expired, thert
is vigorous movement in progress in tht
Canadas in opposition to its renewal. Il
would seem that, while the bounds of civil
ization and improvement have been pushed
by our countrymen of the Northwest States
and Territories, this huge monopoly, so fal
from doing anything to develop the resour
ces of the vast domain over which it has Q
chartered sway, has pursued policy direct
ly the reverse; immigration and interna
Improvements have been discouraged, ant
the company, for its own purposes, has sed
ulously kept these possessions in state o.
rude and savage barbarism.
The contrast between this position Of af
fairs on the two sides Of the frontier has
had the effect Of exciting the movement tc
which we refer; and there seems to be de-
termination on the part of large party in
Canada to bring about different order oI
things. A public meeting was held, the
other day, in Toronto, whereat the Mayor
presided, and earnest speeches were made
by several members of the Provincial Par
lament and Others An attempt to defend
the Hudsons Bay Company and its policy
was put down with indignation, and one oil
the speakers (Mr. McDonnell) boldly
charged the Colonial Secretary (Mr. La,
bouchere) with being in favor of maintain
ing "an exclusive monopoly, for the benefit
Of few traders, whose doctrines and priu-
ciples are opposed to oil those theories
which the Government Of England has
sought, for years, to bring into action, in
every other part of the world" This pas
sage (Which we copy from the account Civ
en- of the meeting in the New York Jour
nal of Commerce) is significant, conveying,
as it does, the gravamen of the issue that
has arisen between the colonists and the
Home Government But before we advert
to yet more significant point that was
made by the same speaker, let us refresh
the memory Of the reader with some &C
count of the Hudson's Bay Company, and
the character of its ruleN
This great corporations territories com.
prise all British America lying north and
west of Canada, and extend over an area
of about two and q half millions square
miles. The Rocky Mountains divide them
into two grand physical sections; the east
eru, comparatively sterile, part of it abound
ing with reindeer and musk OK, and iuhab-
tied chiefly by Esquimaux, aud, farther in
land, better wooded, and producing fur
yielding animals in great abundance Buf-
falo and deer are found in other parts Of it.
The western section, lying west Of the
mountains, has more vigorous vegetation,
and moist and equablo climate. Fur
bearing animals, seal, aud Gsh abound in
this section. The white population of these
territories is estimated at 1000 or 5000
being chiefly the agents and employees Of
the company. The entire population, In
dians, hulfbrecds and whites, is estimated
at only $4,000.
Over this vast and valuable territory the
Hudson's Bay Company holds its chartered
and undisputed sway The proprietors
have been Of late years diminishing 10 mum.
Der, and the monopoly is now in the hands
of very few shareholders, representing a
stock Of 100000. Its affairs arc manag-
ed by q Governor, Deputy Governor, and
Committee, elected by the proprietors. =
The districts are each in the charge Of q
sub Governor, and he and bis ouncil have
power to judge all persons belonging to the
company, on that line under him, in oil
cases, civil or criminal, within his district
The business at the several stations, is So
perintended by officers, called factors, and
tho Indian trade Is carried on by chief ira
ders. The expenses Of the establishment
are paid out of the trade; and sales Of fur
and peltry are made at public auction, il
London, at the Hudson's Bay House, il
Feuchurch street, at stated periods.
At the important meeting in Toronto, t,
which we began by alluding, the company
was directly charged with making errone
Gus statements as to the climate and pro
ductiveness Of the territories in question
and it was averred that, contrary thereto
they abound in forests Of the faest timber
minerals Of the greatest value, and sol
fitted to produce inexhaustible supplies 0
food, possessing unparalleled facilities 70
inland navigation, and capable of beinl
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