But The Honorable John
Ross, Then President Of The Grand Trunk Railway Of Canada, Who Was The
First Witness Examined, Said, "It Is Complained That The Hudson's Bay
Company Occupy That Territory And Prevent The Extension Of Settlement
And Civilization In That Part Of The Continent Of America.
I do not
think they ought to be permitted to do that; but I think it would be a
very great calamity if their control and power in that part of America
were entirely to cease.
My reason for forming that opinion is this:
during all the time that I have been able to observe their proceedings
there, there has been peace within the whole territory. The operations
of the Company seem to have been carried on, at all events, in such a
way as to prevent the Indian tribes within their borders from molesting
the Canadian frontier; while, on the other hand, those who have turned
their attention to that quarter of the world must have seen that, from
Oregon to Florida, for these last thirty years or more, there has been
a constant Indian war going on between the natives of American
territory, on the one side, and the Indian tribes on the other. Now, I
fear very much that if the occupation of the Hudson's Bay Company, in
what is called the Hudson's Bay territory, were to cease, our fate in
Canada might be just as it is with Americans in the border settlements
of their territory."
Mr. Ross advocated a railway to the Pacific, and he showed good
practical reasons for it.
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