The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-29

connected narrative of the progress of gold dis
covery in the Northwest As early as the middle
of April, 1856, Governor DOUGLAS hastens to COM
municate, for the information of her Majesty's
Government, discovery of much importance
letter had been received from Mr.. ANGUS McDoN-
AID, residing at Fort Colville one of the Hudsons
Bay Trading Posts which stated that gold had
been found in considerable quantities on the Upper
Columbia, and that the daily earnings of the
miners ranged from ten to eighty dollars for each
man. Governor DOUGLAS closes his letter to the
Colonial Secretary by asking whether it would be
expedent to raise from the Colville mines
by taxing all persons engaged in gold digging. To
this Mr. LABoUcHERE replies that any attempt to
exact license fees would prove abortivc, and
that as her Majestys government do not at present
look for revenue from that distant quarter of the
British dominions, so neither are they prepared to
incur any expense on account of IT. but 1t IS lett
to the discretion of Governor DOUGLAS to deter
mine the best ofpreserving order in the event
of any considerable increase of population flock
ing into the new gold district. On the 29th of
October, Governor DOUGLAS reports to the Secre-
Nry that he has heard nothing more from his
correspondent concerning tne,CoNlHe Hin's, put
he had ascertaned through others that the number
of persons engaged in gold digging was very linn
ited in consequence of the threatening attitude
of the native tribes, who, being hostile to the
Americans, had uniformly opposed the entrance
of American citizens into their country The
persons, therefore, at that time engaged in the
search for gold were chiefly of British origin and
retired servants of the Hudson's Bay Company,
who, being connected by old acquaintance and ties
of friendship with the natives, were permitted to
pursue their occupation without being molested.
1t is reported he adds, that gold is found in cou-
siderable quantities, and that several persons have
accumulated large by their labor and traffic.
He notices, also, the fact, that successful expert
ments had been made in washing gold from the
tributary streams of Frazer's river and expresses
sanguine hopes that future researches will develop
stores of wealth, perhaps equal to the gold fields
of California. Nine months later Governor
DOUGLAS again writes to Mr.. LABoUcHERE COM
municatng the substance of advices which he had
received from the interior of the Continent, North
of the 49th parallel of latitude, corroborating the
former accounts from that quarter respecting the
auriferous character of certain districts of the
country on the right bank of the Columbia river
and of the extensive table land which divides it
from Frazer's river. He remarks, however, that
the reports vary so much respecting the produc-
tiveness of those gold fields that it would be
premature for him to express decided opinion
upon the subject. 1t was certain that gold had
been found, and that two hundred ounces of gold
dust had been received at Vancouver; but it was
Al o+oI lal h.,
inconsiderable that the question of the ultimate
value of the placers could not be determined until
further researches were made. But new element OF
difficulty in exploring the gold country has evinced
itself The native Indian tribes of Thompson's
river had taken 'the high handed, though probably
not unucise course we quote the exact words Of
Governor DoUGLAs-"of expelling all the parties Of
gold diggers, composed chiefly of persons from
the American territory, who had forced entry
into their territory" On the goth of December,
1851 Governor DOUGLAS reports the receipt of three
hundred ounces of gold at Fort Victoria from the
Coateau mnes-Frazer river and its tributaries-the
principal portion of which had been derived from
the labors of the Indians, and he accounts for the
smallness of the product when compared with the
reported richness of the placers by stating that the
natives were almost destitute of tools for moving
the soil, and of washing implements for separating
the gold from its earthly matrx and that they have
therefore to pick it out with knives to use their
fingers for that purpose. He notes. moreover, that
the population of the United States territories of
Washington and Oregon were so greatly excited
by the intelligence received from the Couteau mines,
that there was every probability that in the spring
in considerable numbers, in which case difficulties
with the natives would be of frequent occurrence,
and that unless measures of prevention were taken
the country would soon become a scene of lawless
misrule He therefore suggests the appointment
of an officer invested with authority to protect the
natives from violence and generally so far as pos
sibe, TO maintain the peace of the country. IN
der cover of the above letter he eDcoses the colonial
Secretary copy of a proclamation issued by him
e1acting from every miner entering the gold re-
gion license fee of two dollars month. On the
9Th of April 1858, he informs Mr.. LABoUcHERE
that the entire receipts of gold dust at Fort Veto
ria up to that period amounted only to eight hun
dred ounces; that the digging had been carried on
throughout the winter almost exclusively by the
Indians, who had discovered the most productive
placers, and who were so strongly opposed to the
mining operations of the whites that they even OBJ
structed their old acquaintance the retired servants
of the Hudson's Bay Company in their attempts to
explore the country, and in every instance wherein
the latter had succeeded in removing the surface
earth and excavatng to the depth of the aurifer-
Gus stratum they quietly hustled them away
and then proceeded to reap the fruits of
their labors. Cup to the present time, how
ever' he remarks-''the country continues quiet,
but simply, l believe, because the whites have
not attempted to resist the impositions of the
natives" In his latest published dispatch, dated
May 9Th, he states that the Coutedu gold mines
were attracting more than ever the attention of
the people OF Washington and Oregon territories,
and that the exaggerated accounts of the mineral
wealth of the new gold districts was producing
also an intense excitement in California Boats,
canoes and every species of small craft were pour
ing continually their cargoes of human beings into
Frazers river, and already many accidents had
occurred at the rapids Of the river "a great num-
"ber of canoes having been dashed to pieces and
"their cargoes swept away by the impetuous
"stream, while Of the Inflated Adventures who
accompanied them many have been swept into
eternity; the Others, nothing daunted By the specta-
'cle Of ruin, and 6uoysd up By the hope of anass-
ing aOeah, still pressed onoard tooards the coveted
'goal Of their most ardent aeishes." He closes by
confessing that, with the limited means at his
command, he utterly unable to resist the mighty
nhux OF adventurers although he enterains serious
lears mat If the country be thrown open to
indiscriminate immigration the interests of
the Empire may suffer from the introduction
OF foreign population, whose sympathies NAV be
decidedly ant-British." In response to the doubts
ana appreiienslons expressed by Governor DouGLAs
SIR y. buLwER Ly1Tos replies, under date of july
lst that lit is no part of the policy Of Her