Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-09-15
Charter of the Hudson Bay Company
 Debate in Parliannen&

WltHOut Interest.
 Mr. Roebuck said: The present state of the North American continent was matter of great interest to England. That continent was diyid- ed among three possessors. The southern and most important portion belonged to the United States ot America which ran up to where they met the dominion of England. which stretched from the Atlantic t" the Pacific. England pos sessed the larger part of the continent. and pro- ceeded northward until it reached upon it's wes- tern frontier the territory belonging to Russia. We heretofore had planted colonies in the southern division that he had named We had planted thirteen colonies in that country; those colonies had declared their independence. and had since increased to the number of thirtv-fve or thlrty-siX free States. We had created a power there which, if something were not done by England as a counterpoise to the United States of America, would overshadow not only England but the earth. He believed that in the northern part of the continent we had the means of establishing the counterpoise which he sought II E gland would carry out sys- temaiic plan of colonization upon that portion of the continent which now belonged to her. she would enable the world to resist what he be- lleved woul otherwise be the predominate power of the Anglo Saxon race now established in the United States It was on this ground that he solicited the attention of the House to the few words which he wished to address to them. The English possessed portion of the American continent, stretching from the Allan. tic to the Pacific north of the great lakes.- Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Bruns- wick, Lower a Upper Canada were colonies when the English became possessed of the country, and since that time they had not ad- ded to the territory one acre of land in the way of colonization. In the mean time the Ameri- cans had increased from thirteen to thrtv-six independent States, and from three million population to nearly thirty million, while the English had remained idle; and though they had seen the Americans become one of the greatest nations, they notwithstanding that they had the means, had effected nothing as a coun- terpOise to the Americans. He wished to see this state of things ended
 He meant to bring no charge against the Hudson's Bay company. They had done what by theIr nature, as a company, they were caled on to do; but he asked the House to consider the circumstances under which the company acted. It was fur company, and a fur con- pany by Its very nature was opposed to coloni- zation. Where wild animals congregated. there man could not live; and the introduction of man as colonist drove away the fur bearing animals and put an end to all fur compauies.- The Hudson's Bay company, following up their own interest, had maintained the territory in its widest state, and had kept out coonzaton.- In this state of things he appealed to the House ot Commons, and said they had the means in their hands to advance civilization over ap un- cultivated territory, and to carry there all the arts and happiness and all the improvement in manners, laws, and religion which attended civilization, making the territory what it was intended to be, happy home for many mil lions of people
 He thought it proper that the rights of the company under their charter should be ascer. taned, so that the whole of the land should be converted to the purposes of civilization, and the dominion of England be carried from the Atlantic to the Pacific
 Taking the western side of Lake Superior to the hocky Mountains, they would cut the new colony which the right honorable secretary for the colonies proposed to establish. and he be-
 lieved plans had been lad before the right hon. orable baronet for carrging railway comple ely across the continent, so that direct communi- cation would be established between England | and Vancouver's Island, by way of Hiifax- This was magnificent scheme He believed the right honorable secretary for the colonies was ambitious of renown: indee1 he had alrea- dv given the world pledges of that ambition: and he would tell the right honorable baronet 1 that the man who carried out this scheme would have achieved greater things than even he (Sr. B. Lvtton) had done for literature, and his name would be handed down to posterity as a great colonial minister. The accom- plishment of such scheme would unite E gland with Nanconver's Island and with China, and they would be enabled widely to extend the cviliza- ton of England. When he referred to the l civilization of England, he wished it to be com
 pared with the civilization of America. and he would boldly assert that the civilization of England was greater than that of America.
 Lord Bury, in speech for which he was highly complimented bv Mr. Gladstone. showed 1 that large portion of the territory no v claim
 ed by the Hudson Bay company was in the oc- cupancv of France at the time the charter was granted by Charles II, so that the King could not have given them countrv which was the | property of another State Much had been said about the colonizing tendencie, of the HndSon's Bay company, but he would invite the House to consider what was the fact There was an astronomical bouudlry south of which was to he 'ound A teeming population while north Of l that lipe the country was in respect of popuia- tion perfect desert. Every year the ponula- ton of the United States advanced nortbward and very soon would overstep the boundary which mark ed the commencement of British territory. When that happened the hard | headed American farmer wnnd not stop to in | qure whether he was on British or American so l. but he would miss the protection of Ame
 ri"an laws and would demand to be placed un der their safeguard iIe believed that there was far more danger of difficulty arising from that source than from any Central American question. In conclusion he would ouote the words ofa Canadian legislator, one who occupi- ed prominent position in that country. who declared "this was the very madness of mono poly. Surely the Hudson's Bay company could not expect by their effete ard stupid charter fo shut mp forever the route to the great westpr | MT. Gladstone: I am sure I only express | the unanimous feeling of the House when say that have listented with great interest to this discussion as far as it has gone. Here is a large | portion of the surface of the earth with regard ! to the character of which we have been svs- tematicalv kept in darkness-for those who had information to give have also had an inter- est directly opposed to their imparting it. am at liberty to say so because refer only to pub- lie documents, and as an illustration of the truth of what have said need only direct attention to the interesting and important work of Gov erpor Simpson, who gives glowing descrip- ton of the agricultural capabilities and fitness | for colonization of considerable portions of the | territories of the Hudson's Bay company. Last year my right honorable friend, the then secre- tary of state for the colonies, moved for, and the House granted. a committee 10 inquire into the affairs of the Hudson's Bay company. Be- fore that committee questions were raised ser ously involving all their rights. Governor Simpson was examined before it, and the hon. orable and learned member for Sheffield and other honorable gentlemen questioned him upon the agricultural and colonzing cabilties of the territory of the company. An entire change had come over the spirit of his dream He represented that these territories were bound by frost an l banked in fog, and that woe would betide any unfortunate individuals who might, by reckless spirit of adventure, be SD far divert ed from the path of prudence as to endeavor to settle in those parts. And when some member of the committee with nconvenient curiosity