New-York daily tribune., 1858-04-07
CANADA.
eon.aonss... = Tss N. y. TnbuDe.

Canadian and Imperial Gcvert Deuts, Oh toe suo-
teet ef re Hudson's Bay Company and mo 'eli-
torres in Their possession, has recently oee' 20
before the Legi,la.ure Of ths Province. 70 oroef
70 render the hole mater ih.ebsioIet to ;ho'e VINO
have no prey,ous knosleJsc on the saoJec'' ~ "'sy
ke veil 10 state th.. he Company CLAIMS % o'''- ~
T.. s;mne under charter granted oy Char'es ~
.H the ,oup.ry Known ss Rnperss Laid, eA's"uos
...,,,.ra "a the Labrador coast, having ior i's
-.,h. 10. -. the IN certain northern 10 indary u
60. .,,endiup north ino uknOw1 icy regions,
Oas"os ,s, ae,nc the Hudson's Bay, and having the
M;s.;,snpi for its western bound Newt Ca'edonia,
~.nA,acing the whole of the British territory lying
h~4we-n the Rocky Mountains and the PacIhc, IL,
-sh yancouyer's Isla1d, held by the Company
.,Aer n lease which nsures them cXcl'si'e rlght
of trading with the Indians til May, lSJ9. lbe
limit between the chartered territory and that he'd
by lease is uncertain owing 10 The description gwen
in the Quebec Act Of 17i4, naming only the Mlsss-
sippi az the western boundary OF CANADA. be-
tween the source Of that river aud the southern
boundary of Rupert's Land, there ~ space to
which no definite boundary was gwen. Az the time
of the proyif of the Quebec Act, it was thought
that the Mississippi extended as far north as Ru-
pert's Land and the Imperial Legislature failed to
saw that line drawn due north from the source of
the Mississippi ahouId form that part OF the
boundary.
The approaching expiration Of the Company
license OF trade over NewCalrd0nia set them on
the alert 10 look out for renewal ot their exclusive
privilege; and as early December, lo56, they
asked from the Imperial Government an uncon-
ditioDal renewal Of the license. Although there IL
reason 10 believe that Mr.. Laboucbere, the late
Colonial Secretary, owing to bis friendship for
or fear of Mr.. ElIce, Of the principal aud most
active members of the Company, would have been
glad TO grant the request at once, he felt that the
subject was Of too much importance 10 be dis
proved Of without reference - Parliament. A
Committee Of the House of Commons was, there
fore, appointed TO investigate the subject aud be-
fore the last regular session broke up they reported
along with the evidence, certain recommendations
ON the subject. On the strength of these recon-
mendations and without appealing to Parliament,
Mr. Labouchere appears to have felt himself Justl-
fed in undertaking TO treat With the Company on
the several points that had been raised Last
January he undertook, through Mr.. Mcrvale,
10 reply to the Cowpany's application OF De-
eember 1876 for renewal of their exclusive
license Of trade. Excepting Vanooyer's Island
which IL to be erected into a Crown colony
Mr.. Iabouchere consents TO renew the License
on the condition - condition embodied IN
the present hcense-that the Government should be
Mt liberty 10 form any portion OF the territory INTO
new colonies whenever it shall think proper; the
term to be for 81 years. With pect to the Red
River and Saskatchewan Districts Mr.. LabOuchere
proposed that in case Canada should wish 10 occupy
them, the Company should be compensated for the
surrender they would be required to makes the
amount of the compensation 10 be determined by
commission of three persons representing respect
lively Canada, England and the Company. The
condition on which Canada should be allowed to
make this annexation, as Mr.. Lsbouchere calls it
though many persons claim that it's already our own
terrtory-is that she shall mske Il road TO the
territory and lay out townships for settlement.
Not only does Mr. Labouchere, BY this act under
faE thn catfl mt of he Tod N
the Rcd River and Saskatchewan districts without
consulting Pariament-he decides in favor of the
Company and against Canada. 1t is pretty certain
that this Province will not consent to pay any por
ton Of the compensation which commission might
award and for this reason it is not likely that she
will incur the obligation which the appointment of
Commissioner would imply. The proposal to re-
new the exclusive license to trade ia Aew-Cale-
dOnia for so long period as twenty-one years, Is
generally regarded in this Province as utterly un-
iustifable, and if it be carried OUT, 1t VIII give
great dissatisfaction. The whole question will be
Iefore Parliament during the present session,
and il il not Improbable that strong
address 10 the Queen will be adopted,
setting forth views little in accordance with the pro-
posals of the late Colonial Secretary. | need not
say that the Company fastened to declare their ac-
ceptance of Mr.. Labouchere's proposals. On one
point only did they seek to impose condition. Mr..
Labouchere had proposed that the Crown should
be at liberty to grant licenses for fishing or mining
purposes in any portions of Rupert's Land to which
the Company offer to consent on condition that the
principle of compensation he admitted, as in the case
Of the Red River and Saskatchewan districts. The
correspondence does not contain Mr. Laboucheres
reply; but there is doubt that it would be favor
able to the Company Whether the Derby Cabl-
net will be bound by the action of the late Govern
ment is question. In question involving private
rights or interests, they will find themselves IN
very embarrassing situation, If they wish 10 repu-
diate what Mr.. Labouchere has done or proposed
TO do. The Company possess great infueace in
England, but il is of Whg complexion, and their
position will be weakened by the change of Govern
ment which has recently taken place there.
There is still another question of great i'm.
portance treated in this correspondence: the
question of bringing the validity of the Company's
charter before II legal tribunal. The Imperial Gov
ernment of 1850 expressed the opinion that this
ought TO be done; but that of Lord Palmerston
declined to move in the matter Sir Richard Bethel
kte Attorney General declared that he would pre-
fer 70 resign rather than be party to questioning
the validity of the COmpanys charter. The
grounds on which he based his refusal u sct were
The long time which the Company have enjoyed
their privileges and the circumstance of the charter
having been, at various times, incidentally rec0g
nized by the Imperial Parliament-as, for instance,
in the act declaring that the northern boundary of
Canada should be the southern Limit of the HudsOns
Bay Company's territory. The truth is, however,
that the Company have not hsd undsputed or un-
disturbed possession of Rupers Land since the date
Of their charter. The Northwest Company set
them at defiance for years, and carried regular
trade, as another Company had done before.
The Company not only claim TO be the absolute
owners in fee simple OF the whole OF Rupert
Iand-theN claim n ey yclusiVe rioht Of trading and