The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-03
THE HUDsoN's BAY COMPANY AND THE

PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Some interesting facts were disclosed in a minis
terial statement made to the House of Lords on the
l4th ulmO respecting the views of the British
Government relative to their North American pos.
sessions stretching from Canada across the continent
The whole territory has been till recently under the
government of the HudSon's Bay COMPANY that
part oft lying east of the Rocky Mountains in viz
tue of charter granted by Charles the Second,
which is still operative; and the portion to the west
OF the Rocky Mountains, under an exclusive license
to trade, which, after continuing for fortv-twO
years, expired on ii LIST of May last. This monop-
oily OF the Indian trade the Government de-
clines 10 renew, because it would tend to prevent
colonization. While the climate, and in many dis
trlcts fruitful and well watered soil invite to col
onization, the Iludson's Bay Company are directly
interested to discourage immigration, because Of
Its tendency to eXpel the animals from which they
derive supplies of furs.
rapid colonization, induced by the gold discoy-
cries in British Columbia has already set in towards
that region. 1t is proposed to extend to it the pro-
lection and privileges of Government by selecting
the most respectable and competent of the settlers
to act as magistrates for the settlement of disputes
and the administration of the law in civil and ordi-
nary cases. and also to exact due observance of such
rules as her Majesty may be advised to establish for
regulating the trade with the Indians and protect
ing that supplemented race from the cunning and
rapacIty OF the whites. Since the cessation of the
exclusive rights of the Hudsons Bay Company pri-
Vate traders have possessed the power to carry
trace on their own account, and provision must be
made to prevent them from taking advantage of
their freedom from those responsibilities which at
ttached to the Company by the conditions of its
license.
good deal was said few months ago about the
engineering operations in progress between Cana
da and the Pacific; and the British Government
was supposed to have in contemplation the project
OF building of encouraging by subsidies the con-
structlon of railroad to traverse that region. In
the debate in the House of Lords the Duke of New
castle stated that the Government fully recognized
the great Importance of establishing communica-
ton between Canada and Vancouver's Island.
"He was aware that a scheme had been brought
forward for constructing a railroad across the con-
tnent. He must say that he did not look upon
such scheme as being at all visionary one; he
did not think that as yet any plan had been pro
duced OF such character ought to be taken up.
lie was aware OF minor scheme to carry posts
across the continent by means of the lakes and
along the lines ALREADY Indicated; and he would be
most anxious to give every encouragement to
any scheme that likely to effect such an object
lie dld not contemplate at present any extension of
the postal subsidies, however, and could not say
that 1t was the intention of the Government to take
up any scheme yet proposed for extending commu-
nlcatlon across the North American continent At
the same time he thought this a matter of great
national Importance, and therefore it would be his
duty to give 1t every attention in his power"
The Secretary of the Colonies further stated that
the Government was negotiating with the Hudson's
Bay Company in reference to their charter. The
charter Is claimed to vest proprietary, or quasi
proprietary rights in the territory which it covers;
ana the pending negotiation is supposed to be di-
rected to procure the surrender of those rights and
the extinguishment of the charter.-Bufalo Courier