Smyrna times., 1858-07-22
The Northwest Coast.

The L. ). Gazette says, events are now con
curing, in an extraordinary manner, 10 favor
the settlement Of the northwest coast of thi.
continent, both in our own and in British terri
tory. Gold is all powerful as motive power
and that which favorable climate, a favorable
soil, and crownlng and princely position for
the founding ct a great commercial community,
could not heretofore do, gold on Frazer river
will accomplish within less than year. The
favorable and equable side of the American con.
tInent has been the last to receive emigration
from the enlightened races, by some strange or.
derlng of events; and much of Oregon and
Washington territory, with all of New Gale.
donIa and Vancouver's island, still lie in almost
prmeval solitude, or did SO lie until the events
of month or two past.
The climate of that side of the continent is
the great decisive point of value. The gold
now opening may waste, and it might have been
that the climate would render agricultural set
Elements impossible, but on the contrary this
gold discovery will invite a large population to
country of extraordinary agricultural ca apaci.
ty IN many parts Much of it is rough in sur.
face, and has a variable soil, but it is a repro
duction of New England surface in the climate
of Old Eng land. Much of it also is far richer
in soil than New England and the small grains,
fruits, and grasses grow with extraordinary sue
cess. The equable temperatures of the south
of England prevail over the whole area west of
the Rocky mountains, aud on The coast at Fra
zer's river particularly. Vancouvers Island
has climate unsurpassed in the world and on
the principle of putting natures rich gifts TO
somebody's use instead of allowing them to 90
to waste in a wilderness, it would be pardona-
bic to take that island from the Hudson's Bay
company withOu: asking permission. Indeed,
we could re-annex it, since all the world knows
that our title was " clear and indisputabe" I'D
to the line OF "a degrees, 40 minutes, only
few years ago.
This may seem like casting horoscope too
soon for the Frazer river country, but the whole !
of the country and coasts of that vicinity has
extraordinary natural capacity entirely apart
from The gold. There will doubtless be a strup-
gle for territorial liberty, and contests with the
Indians far more severe than those encountered
in California but after various fortune for
half a dozen years, great State or States
will be founded, and a great basis for civilized
nations will be laid. Ii is unfortunate that we
did not retain the space below 81 deg 40 min !
We have an aptitude for spontaneous growth |
and colonization which the British have not,
and perhaps there may be collisions between |
the old Californians and the servants of the
Hudson's Bay company. A true Californian
gold hunter cares nothing for territorial lines,
aud less than nothing for personal order TO
stop doing or going as he may choose. The
delegation of those gone northward from San
Francisco already numbers many thousands
and they have gone for gold with a spirit not to
be batii=d 1t is probable that the authorities
there, whether of the company or the British
government proper, will take sensible view of
the case, and not contest possession with the |
miners, whoever they may be. The advantaget I
TO the British government Of the speedy colo
nization of the island of Vancouver, and the
district called New Caledonia, would be i'm.
mense, since it would at once establish great
State there as an appcndage of England, by
which the Pacific may be controlled. The
country is now certain to be settled, and GER
tain to be immensely valuable. To make the
value sure to enure to the English distinctive
ly, the most liberal course with the incoming
colonists must be taken from the outset and
such, judging from the recent experience of
Canada and Australia, we have reason to hope
may be the ne Of proceeding there.