Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-01-17
The Latter Days of the Hudson's Bay
Company's Monopoly.

numerous, the most intelligent, the most lnllu-
entail They have, moreover, The right side
of the argument, and, sooner or later, are
bound to succeed.
If the reader will look AT the map Of North
America, lie will see that Canada proper forms
minute portion of the British possessions Of
this continent. To the Northwest, the coun-
try, lying between 49 and So degrees north
latitude, and extending TO the Pacific Ocean,
falls under the dominion Of the Hudson S Bay
Company, through whose avarice it is efiec-
tually closed 10 cultivation and improvement.
The abolition of those exclusive privileges
originally granted in the Company's charter,
as far as they relate 10 this vast tract OF land,
is now agiaied with energy BY the Canadians,
and to accomplish their object, they ask The
Imperial Government 10 put an end 10 the mo
nopuly. The question involving, as il does.
The opening up Of new field for commerce
aud enterprise, along our own borders, concerns
ourselves as well as our Canadian neighbours.
There are many unanswerable reasons why
it is in the interest of Great Britain to yield in
this matter 10 the wishes Of her dependency
1t is truth too well known for contradiction
ptuplt ONtE NllOlh iHC AiubS"h o 10y
Company's jurisdiction extends, have no means
for the redress Of wrongs-tha, the unfortunate
Indians are maireaIed with impunity-that
settlers have no option but absolute Submission
10 the arbitrary sway Of an irresponsible power
These facts alone are sufficient vindlcation for
a strenuous effort 10 release The Territory from
its present tyrannical rulers. A century ago,
before the resources Of the Provinces were de-
veloped--betore Representative Government
existed, and before emigration and an increased
native population had given it the importance
it now possesscs-there might have been some
excuse for en,rusiing the Hudson's Day Com
pany with the preservation fpeacc over. an ex-
tensive aud unpeopled region. Bat circum-
stances have changed. Emigration is fast fill
ing up Canada, and her citizens are looking
westward for new fields Of enterprise. Al
present they turn 10 the Territories of the Uni
ted States, and utterly ignore their own. They
will not emigrate to the British Northwestern
Territory and voluntarily subject themselves TO
the despotism and caprice Of the Company that
controls it. What follows is matter of course
Ito be demonstrated with mathematical pre-
cision. The evil may not be felt now the
time has not arrived but ii must happen that
the British-A merican settlements, with no nte-
rior TO receive their surplus population, will be
checked abruptly in their natural growth, and
confined TO the narrow strip on the Lake shores,
their prosperity will receive fatal blow. On
the other hand what splendid future lies before
them Why, in the name of common sense,
should not the whole of the IIudsons Bay ter
ritory be placed at once under the jurisdiction
of the Province 10 which il rghifully belongs !!
II the British Government is sincere in its de-
sire TO promote the welfare of its North Amer
lean colonies, the entire country should be free
free without shadow of restriction-to
commerce and emigration. The pole, ~,''~''
~o~'A-.-ss~.. Any vtner course, has, long
since, been proved uns0und, runous, suicidal.
1t is now nearly two hundred years since a
Charter was granted TO the Hudson's Bay Com
pany 10 monopolize the trade Of this Northwest
territory AT the present day it claims the
same privileges. Several millions of arabic
acres are Tins reserved as a hunting ground for
the Company's use. A monopoly in any sense
is odous, but the one under consideration is
not only grossly unjust, but it is drag upon
the legitimate enterprise Of the Canadian peo-
pie and an insult 20 their loyalty. Prevented
from entering into competition for the trade of
vast portion Of their own country, they are
likewise unable TO settle there, or 10 develop
its resources. A policy so unwise, 10 speak
in no harsher terms, can only find a parallel
among the Japanese, or in Brazil, where the
Amazon is still closed TO commerce and navi-
cation.
II has generally been supposed that, from lis
northern situation, the great Northwestern
Territory is uninhabitable. But this is an err
ror. From recent scientific observations it has
been ascerlained that the climate is much mild
er than the climate of more Southern latitudes
on the Atlantic slopes, The country to which
the Canadians most urgently claim access. lies
between Lake Superior and the Rocky Noun
tains, running up to SIS degrees North lat, and
covering some four hundred thousand square
miles of land. Two-thrds are said 10 be prai-
rie, well-wa,ercd, and supplied with COAL
The country, in fact, holds out unexpected in
'dacemens to the settler. To the far North,
where colder climate precludes cultivation,
minerals are known to abound while to the
far West, comparatively easy passage across
the Rocky Mountains opens route TO The Pa
cifc. The profits which have hitherto accrued
to the Hudson's Bay Company from their ex-
elusive privileges have induced them always to
conceal The advantages that this vast Territory
offered TO the settler. But the people of Can
ada are now wide awake. They feel that they
are anjusily dealt with. A motion, we are
told, will be made in the approaching session
nf the Provincial Legislature 10 petition The
Home Government To abolish the monopoly, so
that all who choose may compete with the
Hudson's Bay Company in the Northwestern
trade. IL this movement is carried out SUCCESS
fully, we shall witness, within few years, a
new region opened up and Aourisbing trade
established. If the climate is all it is repre-
scented 10 be, emigration will follow as matter
OF course. We do not see how the opponents
of this monopoly can fail, if they agiiate the
question with proper energy and spirit. But
if they should fail, and, through the ignorance
OF British officials or by the Company's supe-
rior influence, the appeal to the Imperial Gov
ernmenl is disregarded, we may expect, at no
distant day to see the authority of the Hudson's
Bay Company defed within its own jarisdc-
ton. The people of Canada, judging from the