The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-03-06

On the occasion OF the late debate on the
renewal Of the charter Of the Hudson's Bay
Company by the British Parliament, Mr.. Roe
buck, an influential member, native Of Canada,
and for many years the agent of the Province in
England, took occasion to remark that it was
very desirable to take such steps a. would be
most likely to raise up, on the territory Of the
Hudson's Bay Company, nation which could
prove counterpoise to the exorbitant and dan
gerous power of the United States
We beg to inform Mr.. Roebuck and all who
heard him that we have not the least objection
to any number Of counterposes Of the kind he
proposes We suspect privately that the design
to establish "nation" on the territory Of the
Hudsons Bay Company will not be carried into
effect within any startlingly brief period Of time.
There is good deal of ice in that country, like
wise of snow, and frost; they have months
summer some years, some years they have two;
there are several places-quite large places,
several acres in extent-where potatoes can be
grown if they are put in on the right
day, and whipped out in the nick Of
time. There is good deal Of rain,
too in that country; the rivers and lakes
are apt to overflow in the spring, and wash
away such odds and ends as houses and hay
stacks Seven times il our memory serves us,
has every vestige of the Red River settlement
been swept away by the flood; but for the pro-
fuse aid it has received from England and Scot
land it would have been abandoned long since.
The barren character of the soil is Of less conse
quence, as there is no market for anything it
might produce: the people won't mind the failure
of their grain crops because if they succeeded,
they could not do any thing with the harvest,
and the rats would eat it in the end. But for
tour or five months of the year it is hardly posi-
BILE to get out of ones house, this must be
drawback to national enterprise and prosperity.
If, Notwithstanding these trifing obstacles, Mr..
Roebuck can still realize the Earl of Selkirk's
dream, and rear nation on the territory Of the
Hudson's Bay, we can only say for our part that
We shall be glad to see it. 1t cannot hurt the
United States; and, during the thaws, we may
drive good business with its people. We have
learnt on this continent what they are learning in
Europe, namely that one nation cannot prosper
without beneftting its neighbors: Mr.. Roebuck's
byperborean empire would be a clear gain to us.
AS to the other question-that pending between
the people OF Canada on the one side and
the Hudson's Bay Company on the other
the former opposing the renewal of the
latter's charter-it seems beyond doubt that
the Canadians will carry their point. The Had
sons Bay Company is the last survivor of the
old trading companies which once held all this
continent in their grasp; and which, with the
mean selfshness of mercantile spirit did their
best TO Iuin it. Political events in England, and
the progress Of population here broke up most Of
the companies before they had had time to do
much mischief; few survived, to die out igno-
miniously, often atoning for past wrongs by
submission to spoliation the Hudson's Bay
Company survives. For years it has been highly
profitable, and admirably managed. Though its
chief Office is in London, it is mainly owned by
Scotchmen the rule Of the service is that after
given number of years work every employee or
factor becomes partner in the company thus
at the present time most Of the stock is held by
old company's servants, who have paid for it out
of their salaries This concern owns terri
United States
The factors Of the company and the chief, Sir
George Simpson, are generally accused Of in
human cruelty TO the Indians and halfbreeds
residing within the territory. No doubt the
government Of John Company is no Roi Janedm
in the forest and the wilderness law is laxly
administered, and q bullet is often the only
penalty which can be safely decreed and inflicted.
But this is the minor question. The more i'm
portant one relates to the dominion of and juris-
diction over the vast extent of country lying be-
tween Canada and the Polar Archipelago. This
the Canadians claim as a necessary part of their
territory and as essential to their safety. 1t seems
difficult TO contest the Canadian position. II can
not be pretended that the Hudson's Bay people
have made any good use Of the country cou6ded
to them; for il is now az desert or more desert
than it was two hundred years ago; and notwith-
standing the bishops and clergy that have been
imported from time to time from England and
Scotland, the only real religion in the country is
the Roman Catholic they have in fact done no
thing but make money out of IL, without single
apparent thought for the ultimate benefit either
of the country or Of the people. If anything
can be done with tract 50 apparently blghted
by Heaven, the Cana dians, who have no interests
hey ond this continent, are much more likely to
find il out and do 1t than these Scotch merchants.
We therefore presume that they will carry their
point and that in year or two Canada will ex-
tend to Lancaster Sound, II the Canadians like,
and that the Hudsons Bay Company will be
among the things of the past.
A NEW SOUTHERN ORGAN AT RIcHNoND.--Mr.
Pryor, late Of the Richmond Enquirer, has