Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/307

 RKCOLLKCTIONS OF AN OLD PIONKKR. 297 John McLouirhlin and James Douglas to the citizens of Oregon in March. lS4f>. they say, among other things: The Hudson's Bay Company made their settlement at Fort Vane* -iiver under the authority of a license from the British government, in confi rniity with the provisions of the treaty between (Jr. at Britain and the United States of America, which Drives them the right of occupying as much land as they require for the operation of their business. On the faith of that treaty they have made a settlement on the north bank of the Columbia River, they have opened roads and made other improvements at a great outlay of capital; they have held unmolested possession of their improvements for many years, unquestioned by the public officers of either government, who have since the existence of their settlement repeatedly visited it ; they have carried on business with manifest advantage to the country; they have given the protection of their influence over the native tribes to every person who required it without distinction of nation or party; and they have afforded every assistance in their power toward developing the resources of the country, and promoting the industry of its inhabit-* ants. . . . Permit ns to assure you, gentlemen, that it is our earnest wish to maintain a irood understanding and to live on friendly terms with every person in the country. We entertain the highest respect for the provisional organixation ; and knowing the '_ r iv;it i_ r ood it has effected, as well as the evil it has pre- vented, we wish it every success, and hope, as we desire, to continue to live in the exercise and interchange of good offices with the framers of that useful institution. This address was inclosed with the following letter to the exeentiv mmittee of Oregon: VANCOVEB, March 18, 1845. ( ieiitlenien : I am sorry to inform you that Mr. Williamson is surveying a piece of land occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company, alongside of this establishment, with a view of taking it as a claim ; and. as he is an American citizen, I feel bound, as a matter of courtesy, to make the same known to you, trusting that you will feel justified in taking measures to have him removed from the Hudson's Bay Company's premises, in order that the unanimity now happily subsisting between the American citi/ens and British subjects residing in this country may not be disturbed or interrupted. I Iwg to inclose you a