The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-10-11
vhs Huassn's nay Company.


RxYoR7 or PIE BRITISH PARLI sMDsfARY COMUrSu.
The select committee Of Parliament, appointed I,
consider the state Of those British possessions in
North America which are under the administration
Of the Hudsons Bay Company, have agreed to the
/. The near approach of the period when the IL
cense Of the exclusive trade, granted In 1888 for
twentyone years 70 the HndsQn's Bay Company
over that north western portion Of British America
which goes by the name OF the Indian Territory,
must expire, would alone make IL necessary that the
condition of the whole of the vast regions which are
under the administration Of the company should be
stances which, in the opinion of your committee,
would have rendered such course the duty of the
Parliament and the government OF this country.
2. Among these your committee would especially
low subjects that the means of extension and regu-
lar settlement should be afforded to them over por
ton Of this territory, the necessity of providing
suitably for the administration of the affairs of Van
couver's Island, and the present condition Of the
settlement which has been formed on the Red river.
3. Your committee have received much valuable
evidence on these and other subjects connected with
the inquiry which has been entrusted to them, and
especially have had the advantage Of hearing the
statements Of Chief Justice Dreper, who was com
missloDed by the government Of Canada to watch
this inquiry. In addition TO this your committee
have received the evidence taken before committee
Of the Legislative Assembly appointed to investigate
the subject, containing much valuable information
in reference to the interests and feelings of that in
portant colony, which are entitled to the greatest
weight on this occasion.
4. Your committee have also had the opinion of
the law officers of the Crown communicated TO them
various points connected with the charter of the
Hudson's Bay Company.
5. The territory over which the company now ex-
ercise rights is of three descriptions
FirsLIhe land held by charter, or Rupert's
Land.
Seccnd-The land held by license, or the Indian
territory,
Third-yancouver's Island.
6. For the nature of the tenure by which these
countries seyerally connected with the company
your committee would refer TO the evidence they
have received and the documents appended To their
report.
T. Among the various objects of imperial policy
which it is important to attain your committee
consider that it is essential to meet the just and
reasonable wishes of Canad9 to be enabled to annex
to her territory such portion Of the land il her
neighborbood as may be available to her for the
purposes Of settlement, with which lands she is
willing to open and maintain communi cations, and
for which she will provide the means of local admi
nistration Your committee apprehend that the dis
tricts the Red river and Saskatchewan are amcng
those likely TO be desired for early occupation 1t is
of great importance that the peace and good order
of those districts should be eiectually secured Your
committee trust that there will be no difficulty in
efecting arrangements, as between her Majesty's
government and the Hudson's Bay Company, by
which these districts may be coded to Canada on
equitable principles; and within the districts thus
annexed to her, the authority Of the Hudsons Bay
Company would Of course entirely cease.
s. Your committee think il best to content them
selves with indicating the outlines of such scheme
leaving it to her Majestys government 70 consider
its details more maturely before the act of Para-
ment is prepared which will probably be necessary
to carry it into effect.
O. In case, however, Canada should not be willing
at very early period to undertake the government
of the Red River district, it may be proper to con
slider whether some temporary provision for its i'd
ministration may not be advisable.
10. YOur committee are Of OpfnlOn that IL will be
proper TO terminate the connection of the Hudsons
Bay Company With Vancouvers Island as soon as IL
can be conveniently done, as the best means OF IA
voriDg the deveopement OF the great natural al
vaDtagcs of that important colony. Means should
also be provided for the ultimate extension of the
colony any position of the adjoining continent,
TO the west of the Rocky Mountains, on which per-
mauent settlement may be found practicable.
IL. AS TO those extensive regions. whether in Ru-
pert's Land or in the Indian Territory, in which,
FOR the present at least, there can be no prospect
European for the purpose of colonization tue
opinion at which your committee have arrived Is
mainly founded on ethe following considerations
lst. The great importance 70 the more peoped por-
tiohs of British North America that law and order
shsuld, as far as possible, be maintained in these
territories. I'd The fatal effects which they believe
would infabiy result TO the Indian population from
system Of open competition in the fur trade and the
consequent introduction Of spirits in far greater de-
gree than 10 the case AZ present; and 3D. che prob
ability Of the indiscriminae destruction of the more
valuable fur-bearing ANIMALS IN the course Of q few
years.
u For these reasons your committee are Of opn-
ION that whatever may be the validity or other wise
OF the rights claimed BY the Hudsons Bay Company,
under the charter, IT Is desirable that they should
continue ~ enjoy the privileges Of exclusive trade
which they now po sess except 80 far those priv
leges are limited by the foregoing recommendations.
Is. Your committee have now specified The prin
cipal objects which they think IL would be desirable
TO attain how far the chartered rights claimed by
the Hudscns Bay Company may prove an obstacle
TO their at 'anment they are not able, with any
tainty, TO say II this difficulty is TO be solved by
anicaole adustne nt such course will be best pro
NOTED by tbes government, after commune alton
with the con pany, as well as with the government.
Of Canads, rather than by detailed Suggestions
emsnating from this committee.
Ia. Your committee cannot doubt but that, when
such grave inter- sts at stake all the parties
cerned will approach the 81 beet in spirit OF
Citation and justice and they, therefore indulge
confident hope that the government viii be enabled
in the next session Of Parliament, TO present DILL
which shall lay the foundation Of an equitable and
satisfactory arrangement, In the event, which we
consider probable, Of legislation Icing found
saIy for that purpose.