, 1858-06-18

The discovery Of gold in the British Pos
sessions on Fraser's River, region hereto
fore only occupied by the employees Of the
Hudson's Bay Company, has brought the
public mind to the inquiry as to what are
the actual rights Of the said Company, par
ticuIarly on those points wherein the interests
Of the miner are likely to conflict with those
Of the Company. The rights of the Com.
rany are nowhere clearly defined. Whatever
rights they have are vested in three grants
given at various periods, and for various pur
poses, by the Crown Of England.
The first is the Royal Charter Of Charles
H., granted in 1870 to Prince Rupert and
others, who originated the Company, giving
TO them the sole trade and commerce "
forever Of all that region lying about Hud
sons Bay called Ruperi's Land. The boun-
daries Of this grant are not distinctly defined,
and, there being some doubts as to their rights
west Of the Rocky Mountains, they obtain
"a mother grant
The secoud Is the Royal License Of George
w., given in 1891 to the Hudson's Bay Co.
and agents Of the Northwest Company to
the exclusive trade with the Indians in the
British Possessions lying west of the Rocky
Mountains for twenty-one years. The Hud
sons Bay Co. united with the Northwest Co,
and new License was granted to the Hud.
lon's Bay Co, solely, on the SOth of AIsy,
1883, BY Queen Victoria, to the exclusive
trade with Indians in the said region, for 2l
years. The old License of George ". was
surrendered upon the granting of the new
one, which therefore expires on the sOth Of
Nay, 1859. At the time these grants were
given, citizens Of the United States, BY con-
veniicn Of The two powers. were also per
miiled 70 trade with the same Indians. The
ezplraiIon Of this convention probably took
place At The making Of the treaty Of 1916,
establishing the boundary.
We are Of the opinion that colonization
nnt1ke place in the aforesaid territory, for
mining Or other purposes, except trading with
he Indians. 70 which the Company have the
exclusive right until the s0th Of May next.
iAAsf has tins. unless the License Is renewed,
it viii Be open 10 colonization for any pur.
lpole by British subjects. What the restric-
tioas arc with regard 10 Foreigners we do not
q present fosl ourselves sufficiently informed
l0ay but 10 doubt the same rules and
Regulations win be established by the Crown
., exist in Australia.
he third grant was given to tho Company
N lol6 for The purpose Of colonizing Van
couvur's Island, and relates to that object
alone.
We shall endeavor to obtain further and
more definite information with regard to their
right. IN order 70 lay it before our readers.
n TIE meantime We cannot encourage that
feeling Of prejudice that has existed, and
which seems 70 be gaining ground. With cur
people against the Company. That the Com
pl9y must strike every go-ahead American
as be'pg exceedingly old fogyish, Il clear, for
hey aTo no doubt much hampered by the
crQumlocution Oiliee; yet there can be no
question but that they have certain rights, and
fha1 Il l. our duty to inform ourselves Of
rhat lhoss rights are, and endeavOr not to
violuto them. Il certainly il exceedingly
unjust for ns to condemn them because We
do not have that freedom in the mines that
h1s been experienced in California, 50 long
e lhose restrictions are part Of their rights,
and IN aocofdanea with law. We must grant
lhi Company the right to look out for their
own inlefesis Butwe hearmany statements
Against lhe Company, which our people swal-
low gleedly, that we feel assured cannot be
true. fog he reason that Il cannot be to the
Company interest for them to do some Of
he ihlng ue have heard mentioned. We
40 IN hror of good feeling and proper
afp1ld'aliun Of alch oihfr5' rights. and due
rlipcrl a. ihsmma. The Engliah and Amer.
lem ought % Be able to agree above any
olhsr people, because they speak the same
Language and ,nn understand each other.
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