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Will'am McDougall, the intended Lieu- tenant Governor of the North- West territory, but likewise by many well-meaning persons in the Province of Ontario, Avho, in ignorance of facts, have allowed their natural feelings of irritation at several atrocious acts committed by the insur- gents to bias their judgment with regard to the policy of t!'«^ Dominion Govf rnment. It is our intention to lay before our readers a narrative of the circumstances which led to the insurrection, and of the difficulties with which the (Tovcrn- ment had to contend, and we shall (piote largely from authentic public documents, the most important being the " Correspondence relative to the recent disturbances in the Red River settlement, presented to both Houses vas communicated in the following despatch : Downing Street, 18th ]\Iay, 1870. Sir, — I have t'c honor to .'icknoY.'ledj;c llic receipt of your despatches Nos. > and 87, of the 2r)th and 2!)th April last, enclosing docuniCL. ; connected with t\vi recent disturbances in the lied llivcr territory. I am glad to learn tliat the proceedings adopted against the Kev. jMr. llitchot and 3Ir. ^^cott v/erc promptly disposed of and had not been renewed ; and I take this opportunity of expressing the satisfaction with which 1 have learned from your telegram of the ord inst., that the Canadian Government and the delegates have come to an understandiu-j: as to the terms on which the scttlemcats on the lied llivcr should be admitted into the Dominion. In giving an account of what has passed to the House of Lords, I had nnich pleasure in acknowledging publicly the singular judgment, decision, and conciliation with which your Government has acted since this unfortunate outbreak. I have, kc, Granville, Right Hon. Sir John Young, Bart., G.C.B., G.C.M.G. AVhilc such is the deliberate judgment of one wdio had peculiar opportunities of forming a correct opinion, and who ■was at first dissatisfied with the course taken by the Canadian Government in withholding the payment of the purchase money, Mr. ]\IcDougall and his partizans have persistently denounced the Government for not adoj)ting a policy which would have deprived Canada of Imperial countenance and support, and which would most assuredly have brought about a war between Canada and the Red River settlers, in which the latter would have had the aid of any number of sympathisers from the United States of America. AVhatever mvAit have M •.* i ■m ■ 'h been the final result of such a war, its imme.''iatc consequences would have been the expenditure of an enormous sum of money, the sacrifice of many lives, and the temporary ruin of the territory now known as the Provhice of Manitoba. Tt is not the least singular feature in this controversy, Avliich, it may be observed, is still gcmgon both in Ontario and in Manitoba, that the advocates of a coercive as opposed to a conciliatory policy desire to reap all the licncfits obtained, owing to the success of that policy which they have never ceased to con- demn. It will be recollected that the ministers were denoun- ced in the most unmeasured terms for conferring with the delegates appointed by a council freely elected by the people of all classes in the lied River settlements. Their duty, it was contended, Avas to put down the rebels, to avenge the wrongs (and grievous wrongs tbe ministers have always admitted them to be) suffered by those of the settlers who were always loyal to Canada, and to hold no intercourse whatever cither with the insurgents themselves or with those who were known to have influence over them. The request made to Bishop Tache, then at Rome, to return to his diocese and to afford his valuable aid in restoring peace Avas loudly con- demned as a concession to traitors and murderers, and the Bishop himself Avas by many held responsible for acts of Avhich he could have had no knoAvledgc Avhatever, and the per- petration of Avhich had caused him the deepest grief. No one Avho reads the Parliamentary papers carefully can arrive at any other conclusion than that, if Mr. jMcDougall's policy had been adopted, Her Majesty's Imperial Government Avould have given neither moral nor material support to Canada on 6 tlio occasion ; General Lindsay would not have been sent out, and Colonel Wolsoley ^vould not liave been allowed to command the ex[)editi(m. As llishop Taeli^ would not have been summoned from Home, and as the people of the lied River settlements would not have 1)een invited to send dele- gates to Ottawa, Ptitd would have maintained his ascendancy, until conquered hy Canada, and would have sought aid from all quarters where he could obtain it. A diflcrent policy has been successfully pursued, the territory has l)een organized into a Province, an excellent governor has been sent to it, who'?e policy will be to restore harmony, and to administer equal justice to all. That Governor Archibald will have difficulties to contend with is already manifest. It is to be feared that one consequence of the sympathy extended throughout Canada to those who were compelled to immigrate from Red River during the ascendancy of Riel will be to stimulate the desire for vengeance on all who supported the Provisional Government. We do not specially refer here to the shooting of the unfortunate Scott. In that case repa- ration is impossible, and vengeance may be efpially so. But there arc many who have suffered grievous wrong and to whom, no doubt, reparation is due. It is much to bo feared that if the restoration of a legally constituted government be attended by violent party strife between the supporters of Dr. Schultz and the French half- breeds. Governor Archibald's efforts to restore harmony may be frustrated, for a time at least, and he may find great difficulty in obtaining justice for men who will be looked on as disturbers of the peace of the settlement. The refusal of t Dr. Schultz to concur in a loyal atlilrcss to the now Gover- nor, which had obtained the sanctionof the Bishop of Rupert's Land and of Archdeacon McLean, and his determination to adopt one of a party character, is calculated to excite alarm. We, however, rely with groat confidence on the jn-u- dence and tact of Governor Archibald, and we earnestly hope that on calm reflection, and on attaining a better kno^vledge of facts, the Canadian public will acknowledge the correctness of Earl Granville's deliberate opinion of the conduct of their Government, in dealing with difficulties, the most serious of which were the consequences of jNIr. IMcDougall's imprudence. Our chief object at present is to review the proceedings at Red River during the last year. As early as the month of July Mr. jNIcDougall gave instructions to Colonel Dennis to proceed without any delay to Fort Garry, for the purpose of selecting the most suitable localities for a survey of townships for immediate settlement. He was directed to confer and advise with Mr. Snow, " es- pecially as to the character of the country about Oak Point and its adaptability for immediate settlement ;" and it was added, " you will proceed with such surveying operations at Oak Point and the vicinity of Red River as may appear to you to be necessary in any event." On the 21st August, Colonel Dennis addressed a letter to Mr, McDougall, suggesting a general system of surveys, and furnishing the following impor- tant information : I find that a consiJorable dcuree of irritation exists among the native population in view of surveys and settlements being made without the Indian title having been first extinguished. You will, no doubt, have become aware that the half-breed t^ 8 i i ly lately, in a public mocMnc?, called tho Coinpiiny here to account in tlio 111 alter of tliu monoy paid for tin; traiisfor to Canada. Whatovor may have boon the views of the Govcrniiiont ns to the character of the title to bo conveyed by the deed of transfer, whether the expense may or may not be fairly eharLi,oable to tho Company, I am satisfied that the Government will, in the first place, have to undertake and elleot the extinction of the Indian title. This question must be reuarded as of the very greatest impor- tance. In connection therewith, I would reiterate to you my convic- tion, as expressed while at Ottawa, that no time should be lost. The necessity for prompt action is more apparent to me now tlian it seemed even then. Supposing the transfer from the Company to have been com- plete, it is possible that the object may bo carried out yet, this fall. There can be no question as to tiic prejutlicial effects in retard- ing the settlement of the country, should tho half-breeds and Indians assume a position of hostility to any extent whatever, towards the incoming settlers, or towards the Government. The dillieulties of the poj^itiou may be much enhanced by giving the discontented parties the winter to brood over, and to concert measures in opposition to the views of the Government. In the meantime, the French half-breeds, who constitute about one-fourth or ono-Iifth (say 3,000 souls), of the settlement, are likely to prove a turbulent element. This class have gone so far as to threaten violence should surveys be attempted to be made. I shall call to-day on tho dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church, and explaining the object which the Government wish at present to carry out, request that they will in turn explain the matter to their people. Again, on the 28th August, Colonel Dennis wrote : — I have again to remark the uneasy feeling which exists in the half-breeds and Indian element with regard to what they conceive to be premature action taken by the Government in proceeding to 9 flVoet n snrv(7 '^'' ^'"''' l>'i"^^f^. without havinj* firi^t oxtlniruished tlio Indiiiu titlo, jumI I bou' p(MHii>si(>n to roiteratc tlio cutiviotion oxpH'Ssc'l on :i {oniior occasion, that this imist bo tlio tii'st ((Uca tiuii ol'importancu dealt with by tlio (fovorniiiont. I have, of course, taken every opportunity to n.ssiirn thiscK'mcnt as to the intention of the Cloveninirnt, to deal honorably and fairly in tlh' niittvr in rp'ostion, and shall ,u;o on f|iiietly with my work. Should, li(»wi!V(;i', this fcolinL' bo likely to result in any opposi- tion of a character likely to prejudico a settlonient fraught with importance to the imujediiitc future of this country, I shall at onco cease operations, and await your further ord'jrs. AVith this most important information in his pos>'ossion, Mr. McDou.^all made tlio following report to the Privy Council, withholdin:^ alto;^other the very alarming information com- municated to him by Colonel Dennis : (No. 5,403.) Ottawa, Scptombcr 22iid, 18(59. ]Me.M()RAN1>um. — The undersifi'ncd has tho honor to su})mit: That, on tho lOth July last, a letter of instructions was sent to Lieut-C'Ol. T)onnis, P.L.S., direetim; him to proceed to tho lied lliver, for the purpose of seloctinj;' the most suitable localities for tho survey of townships for innuodiato settlement. That iMr. Dennis, after consultin' 3Ieridian. 3. Tho townships to consist of G4 squares of 800 acres each ; 10 mt l! and to contain, in addition, 40 acres, or five per cent, in area in each section as an allowance for public higliways. 4. The Townships or. the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, where the same have had ranges of farm lots laid out by the Company, to be surveyed ; the broken sections butting against the rear limits of such ranges, so as to leave the same intact as independent grants. Accompanying which is a map on Mercator's projections, illustrat- ing the proposed division, and a plan of a township, showing the proposed method of subdivision. The undersigned now begs to recommend that the above system of surveys and subdivision by Col. Dennis, P.L.S., for the North- Western territories, may be adopted and approved, llespectfully submitted, (Signed,) "W. McDoiJOALL, Minister of Public "Works. The council having approved of Mr. McDougall's recom- mendation, Colonel Dennis was instructed to proceed with his surveys, by the followmg letter, which contains no allusion whatever to his warnings : (No. 5,470.) Ottawa, October 4th, 1869. Sir, — I have the honor to inform you that the Government, upon thc recommendation of the Minister of Public Works, has approved of the system proposed by you in your Report dat:d thc 28th August last, for the survey and sub-division of townships in the North-West territories. You are, therefore, authorized to proceed with the surveys on the plan proposed. I have the honor to be, iSir, Your obedient servant, F. iJRAUN," Secretary. J. Stoughton Dennis, P.L.S., lied River Settlement. Colonel Dennis, in pursuance of his original instructions to proceed with surveying operations at Oak Point, commenced 1 m \f 4 11 here imits lilts. 5Li'at- tlic orth- f vES 7* • i % 'm by projecting; a meridian line from a point in the boundary 10 miles Avest of Pembina to the Assiniboine River, and then instructed ]Mr. Webb, " to run the base hnc between town- shi})S and 7, easterly from the meridian over, to locate a townshi]) at Oak Point/' This base line was immediately in the settlement of the French half-breeds, who, as Colonel Dennis had reported, had threatened violence. Mr. Hart, avIio was cn,^aged on another survey in the vicinity of Portage Prairie, encountered no obstruction whatever, and had any other place in the territory been selected for Mr. Webb's operations, he would have had no trouble. The course taken by Colonel Dennis, according to his instructions, was the most imprudent that could have been adopted. It can only be ascribed to infatuation. The consequences Avill soon appear. The transfer of the territory by the Hudson's Bay Com- pany had been fixed for the first December. Mr. McDou- gaU's letter of instructions was dated 28th September, and he was informed that no time should be lost in making jrcliminary arrangements, and that he should proceed with all convenient speed to Fort Garry, with a view to make the necessary arrangements on the spot. IMr. McDougall arrived at Pembina on the oOth October. lie liad been preceded by the lion. Mr. Howe, who arrived at Winnipeg on the 0th October, and after a short visit, during which he prudently avoided mixing him- self up in any of the party disputes Avhich he regretted to ■find prevailing, returned via St. Paul, meeting Mr. McDougall on the load half a day's journey south of Georgetown. The date of ]\Ir. Howe's departure is not given, but it must have been about the 18th October, Great efforts have been made to compro- 12 miso Mr. IIowc, who has been represented by ^Ir. McDougall as having sympathised with the disaffected, and as having concealed from him information which it woukl have been important for him to have been possessed of. On a reference to despatches and dates, it will appear that Mr. llowe mnsfc be com})lctely exonerated from all blame. That gentleman was wholly ignorant of tho affiiirs at Red River until his visit about the middle of October, the object of which was to make himself acquainted wilh a settlement for the future admini=;tration of which he, as Secretary of State for the Provinces, was to be specially responsible. It appears from a despatch of Governor McTavish to the Hudson Bay Com- pany, dated 2nd November, 18(30, that " there has been, dur- *'' ing the autumn, considerable agit ationamong the Canadian " half-breed population regarding the Government to be estab- " lishcd here. They seem to have been fully, if not correctly, " informed of how the Government was to be composed, and " they seemed to think their interests would be overlooked and " their religion interfered with." It likcAvise appears from Colonel Dennis' " Memorandum of Facts and Circumstances," that on the 4th October, several days before ]Mr. Howe's arrival, a surveying party was despatched to the country on the south side of the Assiniboine, which was inhabited by the French. This surveying party were stopped in their opera- tions by some 18 French half-breeds " headed by a man named Louis Riel." This was the commencement of the unfor- tunate events which occurred with fearful rapidity. One cannot but lament that the surveyor, before commencing operations, had not secured the consent of the people 1 1 1 )n nail aving been rcnce must Ionian s visit was to future or the •3 iVom J Com- 11, (lur- Luadian estab- n'cctly, c(l, and kcd and rs from :ances »> IIo\ye's antry on :1 by the ir opera- ' a man be unfor- y. One imencing ? people ;$■ ,1' M 18 of the settlement, ^vho were well known to be alarmed as to the intentions of tlie Canadian Government. Colonel Dennis thus states whrt took place : " lie *' (Mr. Webb), was ordered by tlu leader of the j'arty " at once to desist from further running t ;e line, and, " in i'act, notified that he must leave the country on the south " side of the Assiniboine, which country the party claimed as " the pro})erty of the French half-breeds, and -svliich tliey " Avould not allow to be surveyed by the Canadian Govern _ " meiit.'' The next step was an appeal by Colonel Dennis to Dr. Cowan, the chief magistrate in the settlement. Colo- nel Dennis expressed an opinion that it was questionable whe- ther '' it wT»uld be politic to take harsh measures with the oftendors in this case.'' Unfortunately, the " offenders "were masters of the situation. Tlie magistrates sent for Kiel, " ])ut *' failed either to extract from him any rational excuse for their " proceeding (beyond the assertion that the Canadian Govern- " ment had no right to make surveys in the territory without " the ex}trcss permission of the people in the settlement), or ^' any promise that their opposition would be ■withdrawn." After failing with Kiel, application -was made to Father k^upe- rior Ijcstanc, the Vicar General of the diocese. Tliis gentle- man gave as a reason for declining to interfere that " an iilea " possessed the half-breeds, that the Company was in colhi.-jion *' Avith tlie Canadian Government, and that if they gut the idea that the church was also in sympathy Avitli that Govern- " ment, the clergy- -would lose their influence over the people '^ in a religious [loint of view." Tlie priests have been fear- fully abused by Mr. McDougall, but it seems evident from a I 1 14 Father Lestanc's statement, thatpuMic opinion was too strong to be controlled hy the priests, and that if thoj had opposed it, they would have lost their own influence. Some, no doubt, wore active supporters of the movement, while others looked on without interfering. Up to the 20th October, the dispute seems to have turned entirely on the rpiestion whether the survey was to be proceeded with. Colonel Dennis had been com})olIed, in consc(|uencc of a note from Dr. Cowan, dated 15th October, announcing the entire failure of his endeavors to get the half-breeds to consent to the survey, to withdraw Mr. "\V(ibb from the south side of the river, where he never should have been sent. Flushed witli their success, the half- breeds met on the 20th at Bruce's house, where Riel was con- spicuous as a leader, and it was then decided to prevent at all hazards Mr. jMcDougall entering the settlement. By this time Mr. Ilowe had left the territory. Mr. McDougall, in his despatch of olst October, thus describes his interview with Mr. Howe : " As the weather was stormy we had only a " very short interview, lie stated that the people of lied " Biver settlement were well dis})osed towards the Canadian " Government, but from some circumstances, of Avhich ho " would advise me hy letter from Fort Abercrombie, the '* feelings of a certain section of the population had been *' excited, and that delicate handling would be necessary '' to allay them, lie did not state, and apparently did not ^' anticipate, that there was any danger of an armed insur. " rection before my arrival at Fort Garry." It may be observed here that Colonel Dennis had much better means of information than Mr. Howe, but tne latter gentleman wrote I 15 Drong loscd oubt, )okcd sputc 1- the been dated savors lulraw never e lialf- as con- sent at By this -all, in terview I only a of Red anadian licli be ibie, the ad been Dcessary did not 3d insur- may be means of an wrote ! his opinions very fully to "My. McDougall in the following letter which he read in the House of Commons : Private. St. Paul, Oct. 31st, 18G9. My deaf McDofgall. — I G:ot horc yesterday at noon, and go east to-morrow morning. I was sorry not to have had an hour's chat with you, but what I had to say lies so obviously on the sur- face that your own judgment will guide you correctly, even if it bo unsaid. I found a great deal of misapprehension and prejudice afloat, and did my best to dissipate it. '•• ''• * * -^ It would be a great mistake to patronize a little clique of persons at war with the more influential elements of society. These are sufficiently mixed and heterogeneous to require delicate handling, but they must form the basis of any successful Government ; and if dealt with firmly, courteou, 'y and justly, I have no doubt can be organized and utilized, till the foundation is widened by immigration. I hope that McTavish,whois much esteemed, will take a seat in the Council, and give you cordial support. The half-breeds arc a peculiar people, like our fishermen and lumbermen, but they do a large amount of the rough work of the country, which nobody else can do so well. I hope the priests will counsel them wisely, and that you may be able to draw in some of their leaders to co-operate in the business of Government.'* With the English population there will be no dif- ficulty, if wo except two or three American traders, who arc annexationists. '^ The Indian ((uestion was not presented to mc in any form, as I saw none of their chiefs, but they repudiate the idea of being sold by the Company, and some form of treaty or arrangement may be necessary. Anything will be better than an Indian war at that distance from the centre. I have a keen insic-ht into the difficulties before you, and will do my best to make your mission a success. Believe me, yours truly, JosErn IIowE. It would appear that the Hudson's Bay Company had frequently had to contend with difficulties such as it was at first 1« ■I I imagined the Riel insurrection would be. Governor McT.avish, Avritin;^ to Colonel Dennis on the 25th October, says: " Matters, *' from information that has reached me, look serious, but it " is very difhcult, judging of aflairs of this kind hero, and somo- " times Avlicn the case looks bad the Avhole thing subsides. I " have seen too many difficulties here got over quietly to despair '* until the Avorst has taken place, but I must allow there are *' incidents in the present case that have "'ot been in former " troubles." Now, the foregoing letter was written several days after Mr. Howe's departure, and after the meeting at Bruce's on the 20th, of which ]Mr. Howe never heard, when it was first resolved to prevent Mr. McDougall at all hazards entering the settlement. It has never been even suggested that ]Mr. llowe could have had any motive for deceiving Mr. McDougall, and it is clear that no information that could then have been given, would have been of the slightest use to him. A day or two after meeting Mr. Howe, Mr. McDougall met ]Mr. Sanf)rd, of Hamilton, who put into his hands despatches from Colonel Dennis and otliers, giving him full particulars of all that -^vas going on, so that even upon the assum])tion that ]Mr. Huwc had ])ecn reticent, he could not have suffered from it. Before dismissinir the subject of the attacks on Mr. Howe, Avhich have created pr:!Judicc in the minds of those unacquainted with facts, we shall give his own most satisfactory reply, and which is as follows : Ottawa, lltli December, ISGO. The Hon. W. McDougull, C.B., Pembina. Sir, — I notice in the reports of several persons, made to you and forwarded to tliis office, relcrences to expressions said to have been used by mo in conversatious with inhabitants of the Hudson's Bay m •J- 17 o^Yn -^i 1 ''fr territory, and I think it proper tliiit you slionlJ bo antliorized to contradict all such statements, so far as the inference can be drawn from them, that any thin^^ said by me at Winnipeg', or anywhere else, gave countenance or sanction to breaclies of the law and order or to resistance to the peaceable establishment of the authority of the Dominion in the territory, under the sanction of Imperial Lcuislation. Durint; my visit to the Red River I never saw Riel, Bruce, Father Ritchot, or any persons said to be leaders of the insurrec- tionary movement, but 1 conv(;r.-cil Irci-ly with all classes and orders of poojtle, from Governor McTavi>li downwards, and to them all hold the same language — That the samr constitution as the other Provinces possessed would ultimattdy be conferred upon the country ; that in the provisioiud arrangements to be made, the fi^el. ing and interests of the lesident population would be considered — that leading men enjoying their confidence, would be at once taken into the Government, and that the young men, without distinction of blood, Avould be drawn into the public service as they were fitted by educaiiou to fill places of trust and emolument. I have, c^c, Joseph Howe, Secretary of iState for the Provinces. There cannot bo a doul)t that ]Mr. Howe's statevnent is correct, and it is significant that Colonel Dennis' fi^'st ''Memorandum of Facts and Circumstances" contains no allusion to any report disparaging to Mr. Ilowe, or of his name having l)een used to excite disaffection. Further, Colonel Dennis himself remarks, " Under these circumstances, «' not Avishing to identily my'^ielf with any one of the three " parties into ^vhich die people of the village are evidently " divided, and ^vho have no sym}»atliy Avitli each other, so- ^' cially or politically, I called in the counsel of two Canadian " gentlemen, Messrs. Sanfovd and Turner, of ILimilton, who " had accomjianied JMr. llowe on his visit, and, remaining 18 " boliiii'l tliat ^cntl(Mrian, were still in the settlement." It was for pur.suin;^ the very jiolicy thus deseribed as his own, by (Jolonel Deiinin, tliat Mr. Howe was so much abused. Ifc would not identiiy liiuiHelt' with tliose who claimed to be the Canjulian party. We have n(nv to consider what policy ou;^ht to have been ado[)ted u. der the circumstances described, what poli'jy the Canadian (lovernment really did adopt, and what was Mr. McDou;^airs conduct in, as all must admit, very tryin;^ circumstances. The original cause of the excitement was clearly an a{)prehensiou on the part of the French half- breeds that the Canadian (jiovernment contemplated interfer- ing with their i>roperty and their religion. It is impossible to read (iovernor McTavish's reports without being convinced that such apprehensions really existed, and that they led to tlie movement to resist the entrance of Mr. McDougall. The Hudson r.av authorities were considered to be in collusion with the Canadian Covei-nmont, and the \icar General declared that if the clergy were to try to remove the existing prejudice they likewise ^^ould lose the coniidence of the people. iSurely, under such circumstances, the obvious course was to employ persons lurnished with authentic information of the intentions of the (iuvernmcnt, and likely to be trusted by the insur- gents, although the armed lorce Avas almost exclusively raisi'd from the French halt-breeds. There is an important statouient by Major T. Wallace, of Whitby, Ontario, which forms an enclosure to Mr. McDougall's despatch of -5th ^Jovembor, which shows tliat great discontent prevailed among others. Major ^\ allace's sympathies were entirely ■\\ith Mr. McDougall, and he had good opportunities of ascer- 19 taining the stato of opinion at a very critical period of tho insurrection. This paper was in Mr. McDougaU's possession when he took the fatal step of issuing his proclamation and commission to Colonel Dennis. Mr. Tait said, *' You may tail', *' but in that Convention we sit opposite to those who have " been born and brought up among us, ate with us, slept with " us, hunted with us, traded with us, and are of our own *' flesh and blood. Gentlemen, said he, L for one cannot fight " them. I will not imbrne my hands in their blood." Mr. Lorrman, another delegate, said, " We have met them, " treated them kindly, and by continuing to do so may " win them over, but it will take time." Dr. Schultz gave as his opinion that the Canadians should have warning if troops were sent, that they might leave the settlement ; " he thinks on the first sign of troops coming in the Canadians will be murdered." Mr. Snow is said to coincide with Dr. Schultz in every particular. Major Wallace, like many others, was of opinion that the movement could have been easily put down by the Hudson's Bay Government, if vigorous measures had been adopted at first. Governor McTavish, was no doubt, in very bad health at the time, and perhaps incapable of vigorous effort, but he seems to have acted in concert with the Council of Assiniboine on all occasions. IMeetings of Council Avcrc held on the 2r)th and SOth October, at both of which Superintendent Black iircsided, and at both of which the Bishop of I(u{)ert's Land, Dr. Cowan, Dr. Bird, Mr. Frazer, and Mr. Sutherland were present. Mr. McTav'ish's letter of oOth October was submitted to and approved by the Council on that day. An extract from this 20 wu>.y i;/)f,'/r»;int. |i;U<;r will r;onv<;y t.o our rr-fi'lors the delile- i;lU ;i.ii yon to _\.>ur n-sidenee in the settlement by a i('nnd:il>oiil juad, \\liieli wi^ild keep you entirely clear iVoni tl;e lo id-, ou \N lueli the maleon d'nts are known to have taken up their po- li lous. 'IMu- .M-eoihl is, that o(" making a pnblie call upon the \vhole K'\ .1 [ciiu'ii ol (he .-eti'u Ku lit lo ti.iu out in the cause ed' order, :iiid to ilu- iinm''v'r ol", > i_\ 'AOO unarmed able bodied men. it' >ue'^ a lou-." eould bi> mu'-tere I, pro.'i^.'d to Pembina and escort v mil' (he sv'ii'ieuieiit bv the u-.ih respvct to tlie tiist et" tbo>e eeur^es. it is iu my eeui'eu, to tl le :;r,ive o'eiec :ieu. th. even it u wore to issue III yeuv sale iv.uv.u ivuun\.;st us, i: weu'.d ebvL0U5.lv iuvolve a v iruuu 21 acknowlc(lj»mcnt of tlic ascendancy of those lawless ponplo, and would have a direct toiulcMiey to inspire tlieni with fresh eoura^o in the prosecution of their desi,^iis; and besides, I am Mtroni^^ly of opinion that, under present circumstances, your personal safety could not be sutHeiently provided for by the attendance of so small a body of men us that proposed — a body lari;n enough to provoke a collision, but probably far from strong enough to meet it. The second is one which all along the local authorities have been pondering, but one which, as in somewhat similar emergencies on i'ormer occasions, they have hitherto shrunk from adnjiting, partly from a misgiving as to the extent and the spirit of the respotise to such a call as that proposed, and partly also, but prin- cipally, from an api)rehension of preeipitaiing a collision between different sections of the people, which might plunge not only the settlement, but the wlu)le territory, into nW the disasters of a war of races and religions — a war, in whicli the legitimate ol)ject for which it had been begtm would probably soon be lost sight of, and passion and prejudice alone animate the minds of those engaged in it. To the Council and myself it appears that, under present circumstances, the third proposal is the only one that cau bo regarded as prudent or practicable ; and it is therefore our opinion that you should remain at Pembina and await the issue of conciliatory negotiations, in the hope of procuring a peaceable dispersion of the malcontents. I have only to add that, although this letter proceeds o>tensibly from myself, it embodies the views of the Council of Assiniboino, and that at a meeting of the Council to-day, held for the express purpo, '% it was unanimously adopted as the communication whicli I should immediately make you. Earnestly hoping that ere long some peaceable solution of all these dlffieultiefi may be arrived at. The letter from which the above extract is taken was read to Colonel Dennis, who was then at Fort Garry. Mr. IMcDougall had in the meantime written very urgent letters to Governor McTavish, complaining of the inaction of the 22 (ii,-/i r»i'»r, ♦.'» wlii'tli It I'lfi;.' f'ply w.'n rrifi'lr; on tlio 0th Xovem- 1*1 I Iroiii wlii«li w«' i'li;ill ifi-ikc noun: t-xlnicU: Willi fi}' iii| Id ili;ii |..ui ii\ ymi |iili \eiiiM III riiiiir, iiii'lil pt'iive r,il,:l to (lie pe.H;i! aixl pt'oS- |iiill\ III lln W Imle iniiiil I y, ,'iiii| lli:ilv<> ,'||| M(,v(>|'lini(Mlt iui])i)ssiblc. Il II liiii|iii" IliiMiilile tli:il llir |iresi't'Vllt iiMi III' tlie puhlic pOilCU is III! |Mrii ml iliiiy "I evi'iy I'nvfiiminil ; hut wJiiK' in ordiiKtry nniim .'(iiit'i'ii il iiii",lil be rr;i,Mtii:ible enoiliih to I'Mst Upon us the rNiliine ii"i|niii'iibilil V 111' |>r«st r\ in;- llie pui»lit' poiici', it lu;iy, |i.ilii|i , III llif lime lime, :i(lmil ol' doubt wbotbiT souu' (.Ic^roe of leipKM iImIiI \ did not lA-^o ^e^l upon i>llu'rv in m i';isi> o\' si> exoop- li.-n il il eli,ii;»eler as ibi.^, ;i c.i-e in wliieb ni>t uuMvly a wliole ivmnliN 1 (i.m-reired, bu( .iKi> in .i I'lTtaiu sim\so, ;i whole jH'ople, oi , >\b.ie ,ii liM.si the j>eluu';d v'omlitiou oC ihc peopU' utuloruoes r.ueb :» ",ie,il oli,ini;e . .ind il uiiy uioi-eover be a (juestioti whotlior, en the {' o t ol' tl\v' iV'U'Muen, tlu' pieliiuiuavv arraiv^otuoiits for VMiie.luene\ tl\ it eh m:\v< b iw pvoi'eeded upoi\ suoh a just and hivmm ite ippiv'>'ut\»'n et' []w evM\duiou i^t" t!;e eouutry, and the pv'x'u'n u l'ee!u\',-. au>l h ib'.ts ot" its pev>p',e. as, eu -ueh an ocoasioa, » e. vuv.\i,ibK\ ir'uv»t absv'Uitel\ esseut';il ; aud whether the (.vinpli- e»(uMi b\ wUub \>v" av\' uvnv sumnindex*. may not. to a gn-at vAtvMit bv> v'wui^'. to that eiivuuistauvv. l^e.r. at a time '.ike this, whv-n It »s tele that all euv euerv;ies ou;;{\t to Iv din.v:t\i to the ^s\\N»b'ie ivuu»>,t! v»t'{!>e elvtae'es that epjwse the pea\.vab:e iuaaja- v>"*';u»u v»;" \\nvv o'^evuweMt. \: weuld Iv our .■>t' r*.a<.v herv to i:o \\\io U;e vv.svviwAni v^i" sue!', ivre.ts as rv".,i:e to the iv>r»?asi*fi",iiv of ihvvvv eo^AV-e.eu r.s the uitrwUie'.ier. e'" thv «ew erier of :hin^ ; A\^l I shi'v thervfoiv v'WNwl '..^ e.ea' with luatters e:" a '^.-^re jrw- V •«-i txU thv sV veu .,ts' i'::er. % :uv ertnioa is N- ^. ,<.n ;>\" « \vr^\v*,* ".s ..ie y »«. ?^- »i'i w • v.cir r f^ f 88 rptiininln^ for nny Icnjrtli of time nt IVinhlnn, nnd foclinfj tlio iin|intlati ihut nny Ik; uttacluMl to any rxpicssimi fVoni nic on that point, I Inivo tak<'n r ire tn test my own ideas very closely by the opinions of the ('ouncil. In coniplianee with your wislies. let mc siiy, as the stib^tanee of onr opinion on this point, tliut wt; percvfive there is as little ch inco as ever of these poopli; icccdiiiL^ (Voin opposition to your eoininj:; into the settlement ; th;it the ; ttenipt niii:lit be produetive of the most disastrous eonscfjuciKics, and that while you remain at ]*embina, the; efTcict, so far as the settlement is concerned, is likely t(» be the p(^rpctuation, and possibly even the a^^L;ravation of this state of '>ii;';ill li;i.'i iih .-iiitjiority wliatcvor to sook 'I''- f"'l •/! .1(1'/ j,<:(;-,'(iif'. 111 I,)!'; tcrrifofv ;.'0V';fri';fl by ^Ir. .Vl'-'l ;i vir-li. 'I'l/r (.'/licy iVi :-.\.i-iiU'/\y v(:<:<)\ii\ii(;tii\(:t\ hy Govcr- ii'ii All 'j'.i.vi ;li iiii'l III'. ''.,ui,(|| \v;, i picci.-i'ly ill iic'coriliince Willi ilidi lie I i.|i 'I ciii l.y !)ic ( '.inadiaii <«()v<'riiiri(;iit lunn' beforo ''"■ " ' '-'I'l "I Mr Mi'l >uii '_;iir;i (lc,i|»;i,l,(;li('s — it wJis ;i policy <'l p' iii-r,. II. vva„M (l.lrriiiiind lo .send Ml'. Ddiiiild Sinitli, a I""" 'I"'' "lli'*''l" I'l' lln- I IiuImoii'h |;;iy ( 'olulHUiy, AvllO WaS lit riiird liLrly |o Iii|\>' Hill ili'llCr with ihi' ClMployCOS of that < '"iu|. ,111V, iihd uiih lh(^ Miiidish and Sfolch halt-hiveds, and I'dllin 'I'hil.iiidl and ( 'nlonfl I >(' SaiaiuMTV, who wore chai'^'cd ^^''l> ihf t<\|'laiialn>ii.i of (JHMiv'w.s ot llu> (lOVcM'iinu'iit to the I'ViMuh liall hii't't';!. I lad ihis poHrv had auyihin^'like fair play, rtiili.ir»i>iri>i r\t'ii(.i luii.l h'ad us to th^' I'ouviftion that it would \iA\o I'.'vu riiin\'lv siu\-v'sstul. riiUu-tuuatclv Mr. MeOou'-'all, NNho'H^ti'ohn,'-, wv'iT naiurallv \ofv dooplv irritatodbv the events * » I. * * whu'li sNoiv^ vlailv Iuoul'Ju te las know ledi:;e, aiul uru;ed bv the I'a-iSi eouus^'Ss ot Cauaduins lu t'le ter'^'iierv, wlio were not pe.ssossod ot (he uev'essai'v luteruui'iiou Co enable tliem to iiiive Imu somul aa\u-e, eoiuuu([ed the uual mistake of issuing a preeiauumou deehuui.; :\\c transter of Kupert's Land to (.'aiukla, and as.suunu^ the authericv of Lieutenant Governor. >\h,icK did uot le.;aHv beloir^ Co luui, and purrorcinj; to extiu- gui.sh [he poweis beion.ouj; Co the le^al i,ioveruor, Mr- >[e'L'av- ush Vu ev^ual'iv tacal evi'or wa.-^ uic; .;ivin^ a eomiuisi5ion,ou the saiue da^\ , u* Colonel l Viuus, empowering him to atcaek, arrest, dksarm and d'.sj.\use armed men discorbiug the publie peaee^ 25 and to assault, fire upon, break into houses in wliieli tliese armed men were to he found. IMr. MoDougall has not. to this day, offered any exphanation of eonduet which was manifestly calculated to produce, and wliich actually did produce, such calamitous results. But for the issue of tlie proclamation and commission not a drop of blood woiild have 1)een slied, not an individual would have been imprisoned, and incalcu- lable evils would have been averted from tlie Province of Manitoba. Althou<^h there was nothing in Mr. McDougall's first letter, dated 31st October, to lead to the supposition that there was any danger of his assumhig the government prema- turely, yet, in Mr. Howe's despatch of 10th November, acknowledging its receipt, he warned Mr. McDougall as fol- lows : — As matters stand, jou can claim or assort no authority in the Hudson's Bay territory, until the Queen's Proclamation, annexing the country to Canada, roaches you through this office. It will pro- bably be issued on 2nd December, and will be forwarded by a safe hand as soon as received. You had better inform Governor McTavish that you are only proceeding to Fort Garry on the assumed consent of the Company and its officers, and having stated the facts, await bis answer. If he either declines to admit you, or is powerless to give you safe conduct, stay where you arc till further advised. Id due time, no doubt, when all peaceful means have been exhausted, sliould it be necessary, the powers of the Crown will be exerted, and the authority of this Goverinnent maintaiiuid. In the meantime, let me hear from you by every mail, and ini'orm me by what safe means we can comnmnicate with the least possible delay. Again, on the 20th November, after receiving a few days' later intelligence from Mr. McDougall, in despatches dated oth and 7th November, Mr. Howe wrote as follows : — 26 Office of the Secretary of State for the Provinces, Ottawa, November 29th, 18G9. TUn I [on. Wllllnni Mc Don gall, C.B., Prmbina. Kocoivoy Mr. ^m — X had the honor to receive on Friday your jjcccmiiur. despatches of the 5th and 7th Noveniber,the former, dated iVom Pembina, and the Litter from Larose's farm. Jl]if2;lit enclosures, iiicludini; your correspondence with Governor McTavish, and the reports made to you by Colonel Dennis and .Mr. Proveneher, also came s.ife to hand. These papers were at once laid before His Excellency the Gover- nor General and Council, and were anxiously considered by the Privy Council. The crisis was grave as it was unexpected and might, if dealt witli rashly and unwisely, lead to a civil if not a national war, the end of which no man could foresee. It was the first duty of the Government to acquaint Her Majesty's Ministers with the facts reported, and a cable message was sent at once by the Governor General to theSccretary of State for the Colonies, and copies of all the papers have been forwarded by the mail for Kngland, which left Ottawa this morning. Tlie insurrection you describe is not merely an expression of dislike to the Government of the Dominion, but an open violation of Imperial Leiiislation and defiance to the authority of the Crown. All the negotiations for the transfer of this country had proceeded with the sauctiim of Her Majesty's Government, and the purchase money had been raised under an Imperial Guarantee. It was assumed, on both sides, that the Queen's right of Sovereignty was indisiuitable, and that Her power to protect Her subjects, even in that distant part of Her Dominions, would be asserted with fi^rm- ness and decision. It therefore appeared to the Privy Council unwise to com])licate matters by any hasty action, until the policy of the Queen's Government was known. The Governor General is still in telegraphic communication with the Secretary of State, and I may be able, before closing this des- patch, to convey to you. with some degree of clearness and accu- rae>, the views of Her Majesty's Government. 27 In the meantime I have it in command to express to you the anxious desire of the Governor General in Council, that all collision with the insur^^ents may be avoided, and that no violation of the neutrality laws of tlie United States shall give a pretext for the interference of their Government. This will be handed to you by a special mcssenrrer, who, as he speaks French fluently and is a gentleman of some experience, may be of some service. You will for the present remain at Pembina, cheered by the con- viction which animates us here, that Her ^Injesty's Government will duly estimate the gravity of the facts reported, and take such steps as will, while carefully providing for the good government of the North- West, maintain the authority and vindicate the honor of the Crown . It is difficult to comprehend IMr. McDoiigall's motives in tak- ing the step which he did. In his letter to Mr. McTavish, dated the 2nd November, a day or two after his arrival, he states : — " As you are aware, the transfer of the territory and the " powers of Government entrusted to you is to take effect on *' a day to be named in Her Majesty's Royal Proclamation. *' Until tliat day arrives (which I am informed will be about " the 1st December next,) you are the legal ruler of the " country and responsible for the preservation of the public " peace. My commission authorizes and commands me to *^ assume and exercise the powers of government from and ^' after that day. I am instructed to proceed in the mean- " time to the territory and report on certain subjects and " make preparations for the new state of things." In his despatch, dated 7th November, to Governor McTavish, he says : — " I shall remain here until I hear officially of the " transfer of authority, and shall then be guided by circum. *' stances as to what I shall say and do." Again, in a post- 28 script to liin dcspntch of loth November, to the Secretary of Stiito, Mr. McUougall observes: — ''The recommendation *' that I should issue a proclamation at once is not made for " tho first time ; hut I have uuitbrmly replied that, until the *' traus[(.'r of tin; territory lias taken place, and I am notified " ol' tho fact, I shall not assume any of the responsibiUties " of ()!o"ernmcnt. Messrs. Richards and Provcncher concur " with me in this policy." Again : — " I expected to hear by *' tliis time that the transfer liad been agreed to and the " Jmperial order in Council passed. If I do not receive *' notice of this order in a few days I shall be much embar- " rassed in my plans, and the leaders of the insurrection will " be emboldened and strengthened. They understand per- " i'eclly that I have no legal authority to act or to command " obedience until the Queen's proclamation is issued." It seems inconceivable that the individual who deliberately wrote the foregoing declarations, i)roving that he clearly comprehended the elK'ct of his commission, should have, a few days afterwards, conunitted the fatal error of issuing an illegal proclamation. How could Mr. i\Icl)ougall have expected to hear at Pem- bina on the 14th November, that the Imperial order in Coun- cil had been passed? The date fixed for the payment of the money to the Company and the concurrent transfer to the Crown was fixed for 1st December ; but Mr. McDougall was well aware that al'ier the transfer to the Crown a future day for tlie transference to Canada would have to be fixed by an order ol" the Queen in Council ; and oven if the Canadian Government had j^aid over the money on the 1st December, as contemplated Avhen Mr. McDougall left Ottawa, the pro- clamation would have beenillciial. 29 The truth Is IMr. McDongall's couduct is Avholly indefon- siblc, and he seems to have felt that it was so, and tliat ho had no otiier means of extricating liimsclf than by a denunciation of the French Canadian priests, and an appeal to the religious prejudices of the peo[)le of Uniu "^ at a time when they ^Yerc justly exasperated by the violent pro- ceedings of Riel. "We shall insert here the letters of the Bishop of Rupert's Land, whose loyalty is not ojien to doubt, and who had con- curred in the advice given Mr. McDougall by the Governor and Council of Assiniboine. Archdeacon McLean was of the same opinion as the Bishop. Colonel Dennis. Bisiior's Court, December Gth, 1SG9, DE^^R Colonel DeNiNis, — I grieve to say that the state of things is assuming daily a graver aspect. I am greatly disappointed at the manifestations of loyalty, and a determination to suj-port the Government of Mr. JMcDuugall, on the part of the J{lnglish popu- lation. Instead of a breaking down of the force of the insurgents, I feel certain, from my observations at Fori Garry to-day, tmd from information from Mr. McTavish and others, I can fully rely on, that over GOO men arc now in arms, and they are wrll armed. I see no reason to depend on want ir courage or determination on the part of these men. In addition to this stromr exhibition of force, there is a belief, apparently on good autliority, of a deter- mination to avenge loss of life, if they are attacked, by house to house massacreing, or at any rate by individual assassination. I feel, thereibrc, that success in an attack with such forces as you can bring together, with nothing of the common action the insurgents have, is very problematical, and tliat the warfare is ikely to be such, that a victory will only be less fatal to the settle- ment, uud the interest of Cuuudiun Goverumcut, than a defeat. in 30 Yoa must not suppose that this comes from one who is timorous ; ihou<2;h I never yaid it before, I went to the first nieetinjj; of the Council of Assinihuine, prej)ared to reconiniend a forcible puttinpj down of the insurrection, and when you came in, I lioped that the exhibition of force would be sufficient ; but the force of the insur- gents has only <;rown with opposition, and is now, I believe, quite a match for all that can be brought together against them. I Wduld earnestly advise, therefore, the giving up of any idea of attacking the French position at Fort Garry at present, and also any idea of seizing by stealth on any rebel. Put away such coun- sel for a time, at least. I feel that the result to be aiitici_)atcd would be very disastrous. I see everything to be gained by delay, at any rate there would be some opportunity, perhaps, of bringing about some direct communication between Governor 3IcDougall and tilt! disaffected people. I think you should, on every account bring that about ; further, it would bo well not to act, till you ascertain clearly the mind of the Canadian jMinistry and people on the way of settling this affair; and I think something is due to the people from Governor iMcDougall. I, for one, am at this moment perfectly ignorant of any detail of the character or policy of his Government. Personally, I do not care for this — I am not only fervently loyal to the (^ueen, but I have unquestioning confidence in the management of Canada. I know all will be right, still there is not less a great want — a very conciliatory attitude is what is wanted from (iovornor JMcDougall,and a plain setting forth of how the Government is to be conducted, meeting, as far as possible, any of the wishes expressed by the disaffected persons, and, perhaps, referring others t: Jaiiada, but promising a generous cousideration of the whole grievances. This may not be altogether palatabl', but the crisis is a grave one for Canada, and much wisdom is needed. I would not so write, did I nt)t ti'cl c/itain that if the present numbers of insurgents keep up, an :itt,,ek is not feasible, and did I not also feel that some attempt should be made by those having authority and knowletJge to enter into explanations with them before making any attack. 'i ho late Government of Assiniboine could not do this, for it had no informutiou — all that could be done was to counsel loyal 31 , obedience; but at this time BOiuething more is called for than that. With kindest regards, I am, &c., 11. Rupert's Land. ["0."] Bisrioi-'s Court, Decc.nber 7th, 18G9. Dear Colonel Dennis,— There is a report that you tliiiik of coming up at once with the force you have. I do not suppose that this is the case ; but I am sure any effort at present is hopeless. They now hold about GO prisoners, and they are more than GOO in number, and elated. You must be (juiet ; probably the lives of the prisonersmay depend on this— the truth is, I am afraid nothing can be done by you— only evil is now to be apprehended from action. I am very sincerely, Sec, K, Hupert's Land. Dear Colonel Dennis,— I most fully concur in a" the Bishop says. J. McLean, Archdeacon. But Mr. McDougall is censurable not only for actin<^ illegally, with the full knowledge that he was doing so, but for having acted in a matter of grave importance without ■waiting for instructions, which he must have well known he would have received within a very few days. Mr. McDougall's despatch of 31st October was received at Ot- tawa on the 19ch November, and was answered the same day. That answer might have been exi)ected at Pembina about the 8th of December; but Mr. Howe's despatch of 10th iNovember actually reached Mr. McDougall on or before the 6th December, o?i which day its receipt was acknowledged. A single week's delay in adopting a policy of the gravest 82 character, nothing short of a declaration of war, -vvouUl have been snflicient to have enabled Mr. MeOougall to learn the views of the Canadian Government, and to avoid the com- mission of an illegal act. If tlie conseiinence of Mr. Mc- Dougall's error had not been so disastrous it would be amus- ing to read the following extract from his despatch, of (Jth December, to Mr. llowc : 1 DoticG the remark in your despiitch that I can " claim or assert nu authority in the HudsDn's Bay territory, until the Queen's rruclumation reaches me through this (your) otiicc." If I had so read my Commission and the Acts of Parliament, the Ecbel Government would have boon formally inauti;urated during tlie interrouiium wliich must have occurred between the 1st December (which the Kebuls as well as the Hudson's Bay Com- pany's agents knew and believed to be the date of the transfer), and the time when your messentrer could reach me. He, proba- bly, would have met me at St. Cloud or St. Paul, if I had lived to get so tar, with no disposition or power to return without an army at my back. Yuu can judge from the tone of the American news- papers, and the action of the Legislature of Minnesota at its last Session, (extract '• 2 1)") to say nothing of the Fenians, who have their emissaries here and at Fort Garry, what facilities would be given lor the transportation of a Canadian force in such an event as that stated. JMy conviction is, that we would have had to tiuht at a much later date, and at a great disadvantage, a very diiferent enemy from that which now aielts away belbre a Proclamation, and a " Conservator of the Peace." I shall await tlio arrival of your messenger, before taking the oaths of office, or performing any but necessary acts for the protec- tion «»1' lile and jirojier^y. I must trust that the same necessity will be my justitication, if I have connuitted an error, in assuming that the transfer oi' the territory to the Dominion, did actually take ])lace on the 1st December, and that my commission came into force at the same time. 88 When l^.ir. McDougall wrote the above, ho was under the tleUision that his prnchinmtion had been a complete success. It is, perhaps, fortunate for him under the circumstances that this was a mere dehision. Colonel Dennis, at a much later period, on learning that the proclamation and his own com- mission were mere waste | uper, declared, no doubt most truly and conscientiously, that hi.i feeling " changed at once to one " of heartfelt thankfulness that my procced'ngs had not been " the cause (even to the extent of a dron) of bloodshed amon^^ " the people." Disastrous as were the consequences of Mr. McDougall's fatal errors of judgment, it is, on the whole, a sub- ject of congratulation that they were no worse. It is however lamentable to reflect that Mr. McDougall, who has incurred so weighty an amount of responsibility himself, should make not the slightest allowance for the grave errors of others. We are no apologists for the crimes of Kiel, which we are per- suaded were looked on with as much abhorrence by the Canadian Ministers and by their supporters as by Mr. Mc- Dougall himself, but we are bound to maintain that he who authorized a resort to warlike proceedings in the Red River settlement in defiance of the solemn warnings of the legal Governor and his Council is the last who ought to complain of the illegal proceedings of others. It is time to submit to our readers the deliberate opinion of Earl Granville on Mr. McDougall's conduct. Previous, however, to doing so, we shall copy the despatch of Mr. Howe, dated 24th December, 1869 in answer to Mr. McDougall's despatch of 2nd December, transmitting copies of his illegal proclamation and equally illegal commission to Colonel Dennis : S4 Department op Secretart of State for the Protinobs, Ottawa, 24tli December, 18G9. To the Hon. Wm. McDougall, C.B., Pembina. Sir, — Your despatch, dated Pembina, 2nd December, and ita enclosures A and B, reached this oflfico on the 18tli instant, and were promptly laid before the Governor General in Council. As it would appear from these documents that you have used the Queen's name without her authority — attributed to Ilor Majesty acts which she has not yet performed — and organized an armed force within the territory of the Hudson':; Bay Company, without warrant or instructions, I am commanded to assuro you that the grave occurrences which you report have occasioned hero great anxiety. The exertion of military force against the misguided people now in arms, even if under the sanction of law, was not to be hastily risked, considering the fearful consequences which might ensue, were the Indians, many of them but recently in contact Avith the white inhabitants of the ncigliboring States, drawn into the conflict. But as the organization and use of such a force by you vvas, under the circHmstanccs, entirely illegal, the Governor General and Council cannot disguise from you the weight of responsibility you have incurred. Acting on the belief that the country would be quietly trans- ferred, with the general assent of the inhabitants, all the prepara- tory arrangements were made, as you were aware, in anticipation that, on or about the 1st December, the territory would be eur- jcndered by the Company to the Queen, and that thereupon, Her Majesty would issue Her Proclamation, Jixing a day for the Union of the country with Canada. The Proclamation, when officially communicated to you, would enable you, under the Commission and authority given in antici- pation of that event, to enter legally, upon the appointed day, oa the discharge of your official duties as Governor of the North West. I In th« GommissioQ issued on the 28th September, you were 35 (( empowered to enter upon the duties of Government, only " on, from, and after the day to be named" in the Queen'a Proolama. tion ; and in the instructions handed to you with the Commission you are directed to proceed to Fort Garry, and " bo ready to assume the Government of the territories on their actual trans- fer to Canada." That you clearly understood this limitation of authority was hoped from your letter from Pombina, of the 7th November addressed to Governor McTiwish, and communicated to this De- partment, in which you say " I shall remain here until I hear oflBcially of the transfer of authority, and shall then be guided by circumstances as to what I shall say and do," and because, in your letter of the 14th November, addressed to this Department, you thus refer to some injudicious proposal made by your friends : " the recommendation that I should issue a Proclamation, is not made for the first time, but I have uniformly replied that until tht transfer of the territory has taken place, and I am notified of the fact, I shall not assume any of the responsibilities of Government." The peaceful surrender of the country was assumed throughout the negotiations, and this Government never claimed or pretended to exarcise any authority within the North- West, until invested with the Sovereignty by the terms of the Queen's Proclamation. The transfer of the Territories would, no doubt, have been pro- claimed on or about the 1st December, had not your report of the 31st October, and the documents which accompanied it, changed the whole position of affairs, and thrown upon this Government grave responsibilities of a very novel character. In those papers you represented that serious obstruction had been opposed to your entrance into the country, that a large number of persona were opposed to the establishment of the authority of the Dominion, that a Provisional Government had been formed, and the roads barricaded and guarded. That some of the Catholic clergy were openly abetting these movements, and that the officers of the Hud- sou's Bay Company, if not aiding the revolutionists, were unable to control them. Your despatch was recaived here on the 19 th November, and on the 26th those of the 5th and 17th came to hand, from whick 30 it appeared tliat the insurrectionary ninvcnient had still continued without cheek, and that the Iludson's IJay officers were powerless, and that you had been driven out of the country. The facts disclosed in these despatches entirely changed the basis upon which the nct^'otiations, in perfect good faith nn the part of the Dominion, had, up to that time, been conducted with the Hudson's Bay Company, an would be an armed resistance by the inhabitants to the transfer was, it is to be presumed, unexpected by all parties ; it certainly was so by the Canadian Government. In this regard, the Company cannot be acquitted of all blame. They had an old and fully organized Government in the country, to which the people appeared to render ready obedience. Their Governor was advised by a Council, in which some of the leading residents had seats. They had every means of information as to the state of feeling existing in the country. ' They knew, or ought to bjkve known, the light in which the proposed negotiations were Tiewed by the people under their rule. 42 If they Tfcre aware of the feeling of discontent, they ought frankly to haye stated it to the Imperial and Canadian Governments. If they were ignorant of the discontent, the reBponBibility of such wilful blindnesB on the part of their oflficers must rest upon them. For more than a year tliese negotiations have been actively pro- ceeded with, and it was the duty of the Company to have pre" pared the people under its rule for the change — to have explained the precautions taken to protect the interests of the inhabitants, and to have removed any misapprehensions that may have existed among thorn. It appe;irs that no steps of any kind, in that direction, were taken. The people have been led to .suppose that they have been sold to Canada, with an utter disregard of their rights and posi- tion. When Governor McT." i.sh visited Canada in June last, he was in communication with Canadian Government, and he never intimated that he had ev i a suspicion of discontent existing, nor did he make any suggestions as to the best mode of effecting the proposed change, with the assent of the inhabitanis. Lord Granville states that " Throughout these negotiations, it has never been hinted that the Company is to be bound to hand over its territory in a state of tranquillity. Rather its inability to secure that tranquillity, and the dangers resulting from that inability to the neighboring colony, is taken for granted as a reason why its responsibilities should be adopted by Canada." Now the obvious reason why no express stipulation to that effect was made was, that it was assumed, by all parties, that the Com- pany had both the right and the power to hand over the territory. It was in a state of tranquillity, and no suggestion was made of the possibility of such tranquillity being disturbed. Canada did not allege, nor did the Company admit, any inability on the part of the latter to secure the tranquillity of the country in its present condition. It is true that Canada had pointed out that in the future, with the • Population of the United States rapidly pressing forward towards the boundurits of the North-West territory, such pressure would * soon overflow into British Territory, and that the Company would^ I, r V 43 in Buch case, be unable to govern or control the large »nd alien population which might then take possession of the fertile country along the frontier. But this state of things has not yet ariicn, and the reslstanc« comes not from any strangers or new comers, but from those born and brought up under the Government of the Company, and who have hitherto yielded it a willing allegiance. These statements are not made as a matter of complaint against the Company, but, simply as a justification of the course taken by the Canadian Government, which is observed upon in the despatch. That course has been governed pololy by a desire to carry out the transfer under the arrangement in the quietest and best manner possible ; and in a way that will not leave behind it any cause for discontent or disquiet in the future. The resistance of these misguided people is evidently not against the Sovereignty of Her Majesty or the Government of the Ilud" son Bay Company, but to the assumption of the Government by Canada. They profess themselves satisfied to remain as they are, and that if the present system of Government were allowed to con- tinue, they would at once disperse to their homes. It is obvious then that the wisest course to pursue is, for the present, to continue the authority of the Company, which the insurgents affect to respect, while steps are being taken to remove the misapprehensions which exist, and to reconcile the people to the change. Any hasty attempt by the Canadian Government to force their rule upon the insurgents would probably result in armed resistance and bloodshed. Every other course should be tried before resort is had to force. If life were once lost in an encounter between a Canadian force and the inhabitants, the seeds of hostility to Canada and C ladian rule would be sown, and might create an ineradi- cable hatred to the union of the countries, and thus mar the future prosperity of British America. If any thing like hostilities should commence, the temptation to the wild Indian Tribes, and to the restless adventurers who abound in the United States, (many of them with military experience 44 gained in the late civil war,) to juin the insurgents would be almost irresistible. Already it is said that the Feniaii Organization look upon this rising as another means of exhibiting their hatred to England. No cne can foi }sce the end of the complications that might thus be occasioned, n( t only as between Canada and the North-West, but between the iJnited States and Ensfland. From a sincere conviction of the gravity of the situation, and not from any desire to .Ci)udiate or postpone the performance of any of their engagements, the Canadian Government have urged a temporary delay of the transfer. This is not a question of money — it may be one of peace or war. It is one in which the present and future prosperity of the British possessions in North America is involved, which prosperity, hasty action might permanently prejudice. Even were the £300,000 paid over, +he impolicy of putting an end to the only constituted authority existing in the country and compelling Canada to assert her title by force would remain. It is better to have the semblance of a Government in the country than none at all. While tlie issue of the Proclamation would put an end to the Government of the Hudson Bay Com- pany, it would not substitute Government by Canada therefor. Such a Government is physically impossible until the armed resist- ance is ended, and thus a state of anarchy and confusion would ensue, and a legal status might be given to any Government de- facto, formed by the inhabitants for the protection of their lives and property. On a review of the whole circumstances, the Committee would recommend that Your Excellency should urge upon Her Majesty's Government the expediency of allowing matters to remain as they are until quiet is restored, or, in case of failure of all effort to do so, the time should have arrived when it is possible to enter the country in force, and compel obedience to Her Majesty's Procla- mation and authority. As by the terms of the late Act, the surrender to the Queen must be followed, within a month, by Her Majesty's Order in C/Ounoil, admitting Rupert's Land into the Dominion of Canada, 45 the proper course seems to be that tlie .surrender itself should be postponed, and that the purchase money should remain on deposit mciin while. The Committee would also request Your Excellency to a sure Lord Granville, that the Government here have taken, and are taking, active measures to bring about a happier state of affairs. They have sent oa a missio'', ui' peace to the French half-breeds now in arms, the very Reverend Mr. Tliibault, Yicar General (who has labored as a clergyman among them for thirty-nine years) accompanied by Colonel De Salaberry, a gentleman well acquainted with the country, and with the manners and feelings of the inhabitants. These gentlemen arc fully informed of the bene- ficent intentions of the Canadian Government, and can disabuse the minds of the people of the misreprescuuiLions made by design- inijr forei fijuri(l(;il ;^ri(;vario()S, nwl thit sho Irm instructcl me to Ir ;ir and C'>risi(l(jr .'iny c iinpI.iitiU that rii;iy bo ruiJj, or (L'sircs that may bo oxpniSHu'i to mo us (iovarnov G incral. At the same time sho has chur;^()(l mo to oX(iroi.so all tho p )\vcrs ami authority with which she has ortlrust(!(l m(; in tho support of order, and the .suppression of unlawl'ul dislurhanccH. IJy I lor .Majesty's authority I do tlieroforo assure you. that on the union with (Janadii all your civil and relii^ious rights and privi. |rg(!S will be rospcet(!(l, your properties secured to you, and that your country will bo t^ovcrao 1, as in tho past, unJcr British laws, and in the spirit of British justice. I do, I'urthii- under her authority, entreat and command those ol'you who are still assembled and banded together in defiance of aw, peaceably to disperse and return to your lioines, under the ,j»enalties of the law in case of disobedience. And [ do lastly inform you, that in case of your immediate and poaeeable obedience and dispersion, [ shall order that no legal pro- C(!i'ding be taken against any parties implicated in these unfor tunato breaches of the law. (jiven und(!r my Hand and Seal at Arras at Ottawa, this Sixth day of December, in the your of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-nine, and in tlio Thirty-third year of Her Majesty's lieign. [SEAL.] By Command, H. L. Lanoevin, Stcntarij of State. Jonu Young. 40 On tlio receipt of the Mimite o[' (^miic'il <»!' Iiiili D.m'.miv bcr, Earl (iranville, on 8tli .January, n'|>li(Ml as follows : — *' I o))3erve with f^reat satisfaetion, the anxiety niaiiilVsliMl " by the Canadian Government to avoid any eolli.sion \\'i\\\ the " insurgents in tlie Red lliver Hettlcnifiit, and to cxliausl, all " means of explanation and eonciliatiou lid'on' liavinj; " recourse to force. I entirely a;i;n;(! wilJi your luiuiMtcrs " that bloodshed mi.L^ht lead to the imomL dcploi-ahlo eonso- *^' ((uenccs and should not be risked cxccspt unilcr tlin'» Bar Company. Meantime, wlnle all the efforts ol" tiiose specially responsible for the conduct of uffairs were dij'ougall'rt raishnebs beeamu known. Colonel Dennis lost no time in acting orj his eom- iiiission 10 levy trovp:i to attack the iniiurgentb under KieJ, 50 s > although, Tmr<»rtnTirit('ly,hc was precisely in the same position as hi.s oiipont'iits, having no lawful authority to resort to force. Tlio conse(iuenco of this movement was tlie capture and imprisonment of a numher of loyalists, which again produced feeling's of such indignation among their friends that a Ixxly assemhled under Major lioidtun with the view of effecting a rescue of the prisojiers. This was at a time when tliere were reasonable hopes of a satisHictory solution of the controversy. A more calamitous occurrence could hardly have taken place than the mock trial, conviction and shooting of the unfor- tmiate Scott. The one person who has benefited by thi3 disaster is Mr. McDoiigall. How little Riel could have ima- gined when perpetrating tliis atrocious act that ho was serving the cause of his bitterest enemy, and irreparably injuring hlur self ! Up to that time there had been no blood shed deliber- ately, and Mr. McDougall most certainly would have incurred great public condemnation for the errors which had led to the imjn'isonmcnt of those who took up arms at his instiga- tion. The death of the nnfortunato Scott aroused a feeling of indignation in Ontario which lias nut yet subsided, and which turned the current of feeling in favor of Mr. McDougall. It is far from our intention to say one word in extenuation of Ricl ; but we submit with confidence to the judgment of an enlightened public tliut the occurrence of such a crime, atrocious though it was, could not have justified the Govern- ment in abandoning tiieir efforts to restore law and order to the Red River territory. The views of Her Majesty's Im- perial Government and of the Hudson's Bay Company were in exact accordance with those of the Dominion Government. 51 On tlu) 4th April, tlio followin.i^ cnhb. tolo^^rain waa (lesiiatchcd to Earl (iranvillo by Sir John Voiini^'; "Smith *' canu' hero on Saturday from Fort (Jarry with had ni'W.s. A '* Canadian cailod Scott was hy Kid's orders tried I»y Court " Martial and shot with the view, it is supposed, of compro- *' niisin.ir Kiel's followers before Taehe had arrived. They say * the dele;;ates are comings but it is (|uite clear Kiel will *' yield to nothin<,' but force. Things now look, I think, very " bad." This indeed wasdisastrous intelligence to the Canadian Government. While usin,L; every eftbrt for peace, the Dominion Government was not innnindful that force mi,ij;ht have to be resorted to. In answer to their demand for Imperial c -o[)er- ation, the following telegram, dated oth March, had been sent to Sir John Yoiuig by Earl Granville : '• Her Majesty's " Government will give proposed military assistance provided " reasonable terms are granted lied Kiver settlers, and pro- " vided your (iovcrpment enaolc Her Majesty's Government '' to proclaim the transfer of the territory simultaneously " with the movement of the force." On the 9th of March Sir John Young sent the folLjwing telegram to Earl Granville : " How soon is Lindsay coming out ? The " force ought to start for the Red River about the :20th " to 2r)th April. 100 boats are in a forward state of prepara- *' tion, and carts for transport ; [)rovisions hav(j been ordered for 1000 men for months, packed in small parcels so as to bo easily carried over the portages." This was replied to on 11th March : " General Lindsay hopes to start on tho 24th instant, and to reach Montreal about 7th April." Mean time new comphcations had arisen. The condition of Imperial 3 aid (Icpcntlccl on r<^asonal)]c terms bcinj^ granted to the settlers. On the 25th Fchniary Earl Granville telegraphed : " Ilnd son's Lay Company are anxious ahout the nogotiotions " at Ottawa with the delegates from Red River. The settle- " ment would prohahly he facilitated if Noii' cote were with " you with full powers entrusted him by Company. If so, what " would tjo best time for his arrival." At the time of the receipt of this telegram no news had been received of the departure of the delegates, and on 17th jMnrch Earl Granville again telegraphed : " Let me know by telegram "when you " know delegates have started from Fort Gariy." On the 18th, Sir John Young replied : " Received your telegram of yesterday; no news froin Reel River yet of delegates starting.'' At last, on the Ttli April, Sir John Young tclcgmphed : " Last of the delegates is expected at St. Paul's on Thursday " the 14th ; the others arrived there to-day and mny reach " Ottawa on Saturday, the IHli." Pending the arrival of the dclef^atcs negotiations were proceeding. Lord Granville had on 9th April sent the following despatch : *' Let me kncnv as soon " as you can, by telegram, result of negotiations with Red " River delegates, and immediately whether our conditions as " to time of transfer and apportionment of cost of troops arc *^ accepted by your Government." To this Sir John Young replied on 11th : " Canadian Government will accept the " transfer at once, provided the movement of troops 11; " determined on, and will also pay any reasonable proportion " of cost of expedition say three-fourths. AVe expect delegates " to-day." It may here be convenient to notice that in a despatch from 53 Enrl Orniivillc, dated 2^m'(] :Mnrc]u lie hud pointed out that thouqh tlie pei-iod for despatcliing troops to Red River was approacliing, he Avr>« embarrassed hy tlie want of exphcit infor- mation, and as misappreliensions miiijit exist or differences arise, and as tlie discussion of the cpiestions could not ho conducted hy telegram, he had availed himself of the services of Pir Clinton IMurdoch, tlien proceeding on a special mission to Washington, and who had hastened his departure, so as to accompany General Lindf^ay to Canadn. Sir Clinton Murdoch was unreservedly in possession of tlie views of Her ^Majesty's Government in relation to the Red River settlement, and it was after a negotiation between the Governor General, General Lindsay and Sir Clinton Murdoch, and some of the Canadian ministers, that Sir John Young's telegram of 11th April was despatched. The arrest of two <';f the delegates seems to have led to now difficulty. On the 18th April, Earl Granville telegraphed : " Was " arrest of delei.iates authorized hv Canadian Government ? Send full information by telcirram." To this Sir John Youuf'' replied on the 19th: "Arrest of the delegates was not author- " ized by "Dominion Government. A brother of Scott, the man who was shot, gave information on oath agiinst two of the three delegates, as accessories ])efore the fact." Further information on this arrest was given in Sir John Young's despatch of the 21st of April. lie says: " Nothing could "well have been more untoward than this turn of affairs. Iii " addition to the feelings to which it may give rise within the " limits of the Dominion, it cannot fail to arouse anger, and '^ possibly the desire for retaliatory measures, in the minds of I n S '■i 54 " Riel and his follo^vors "svhcn the news reaches Fort Garry *' It lias prevented me seeing the delegates and delayed the " opening of negotiations." To return to the negotiations regarding the troo])S : on the 23rd of April, Earl Granville sent to Sir Jolin Young the following ultiraatura as to Imperial co-operation. On the following conditions troops may advance : 1. Rose to be authorized to pay .£300,000 at once, and Her ^Majesty's Government to be at liberty to make transfer before the end of June. 2. Her Majesty's Government to pay expense of British troops only, not exceeding 260, and Canadian Government the rest, sending at least 500 trained men. 3. Canadian Government to accept decision of Her Majesty's Government on all points of the Settlers Bill of Rights. 4. Military arrangements to be to the satisfaction of Gen . Lindsay. The foregoing despatch does not appear to have been answered, but on the 28th of A])ril, Sir John Young sent the following telegram : " Lindsay, Murdoch, and I, think it «' hardly safe to send less than 890 of Her Majesty's troops. If " the exiiedition goes it will be necessary to garrison two forts " on the route. My ministers agree to this and still engage " chat three-quarters of the whole cost of the expedition shall " be paid by Canada. Lindsay has telegra[)hed to same effect '' to Hors' Guards." To this J^arl Granville replied on the 80th : " Your telegraphic ])rojiosal is accepted by Her " Majesty's Governmeut, provided Canadian Government 55 -'accepts in other respects mine of 23r(l, .liit'liou<^lit toliave ^' been answered." By this time tlie negotiations with the delegates had been bronght almost to a close. It does not appear from the printed pa})ers that the Canadian Govern- ment agreed to accept the decision of Her Majesty's Covern- ment on all points of the Settlers Bill of Rights, which stipu- lation in the ultnnatum might have led to grave comi-lication. However, on the ord May, Sir John Young was able to send the following telegram. " Negotiations with delegates closed " satisfactorily ; a province named Manitoba erected, con- ^' taining 11,000 square miles; Lieut. Governor appointed *' by Canada, representative institutions, &c., &c., &c." The whole of this telegram need not be given as we shall lay the Act in extetiso before our readers. CAP. Til An Act to amend and continue the Act 32 and 3:3 Victoria chapter 3 ; and to establish and provide for the Government of the Province of Manitoba. lAsseufcd to VHk May, 1870.] 'VX'^nEREAS it is probable that Her Majesty The (iuerth-\Vestern Territoiy) to the meridian of ninetj'-nine degrees of west longitude. — thence due north along the said meridian of ninety-nine degrees west longitude, to the intersection of the same with the parallel of ilfty degrees and thirty minutes north latitude. — thence due cast along the said parallel of lifty degrees and thirty minutes north latitude to its intersection with the be fore-mentioned meridian of nmety-six degrees west longitude, — thence due south along ^he said meridian of ninety-six degrees wcjt longitude to the place of beginning. 2. < )n, from and after the said day on which the Order of the Queen in Coimcil sliall take ell'ect as aforesaid, the provisions of the r)riti>h North America Act, 1807, shall, except those jiarts thereof whii h are in terms m.ade. or, by reasonable intendnunt, miy be held to be specially applicable to, or only to affect one or more, Init not tlie whole of the Provinces now composing the Pominion. and except so far as the same may be varied by this Act. b(> applicable to the Province of Manitoba, in the same way, and to the like extent as they .'ipp^v to the several Provinces of Canada, and as if the Province of Manitoba had been one of the I'rovinces originally united by the said Act. 57 It. Tho saul Province slnll ho rojM'Osentod in tlie Sonfite of Canada by two Momliors. until it sliall liavo, aocoily for any Electoral Division, who is qualified as follows, tint is to say, if lie is : — 1. Of the full age of twentyono years, and not sulycct to any legal inciipacity : 2. A suliject of Her Majesty by birth or naturalization : 3. And a buna Jhlr hoiisehoKU'r within the Electoral Division, at the date ol" the Writ of Election for the same, and has been a honafde householder for one year next before the said date ; or, 4. If, lieing of the full age of twenty-one years, and not subject to any legal incapacity, and a subj'i>ct of Her Majesty by birth or naturalization, he was, at any time within twelvemonths prior to the passing of this Act, and (though in the interim temporarily absent) is at the time of such election nhonnjide householder, and was resident within the Electoral Division at the date of the Writ of Election for the same : But this fourth sul)-section shall apply only to tl>e first election to be held under this Act for Members to serve in the Legislative Assembly aforesaid. 18. For the First election of Members to serve in the Legislative Assembly, and until the Legislature of the Province otherwise pro- vides, the Lieutenant-Governor shall c-use writs to be issued, by such person, in such form, and addressed to such Returning Offi- cers as he thinks tit: and for such first election, and until the Le- gislature of the Province olhi'rwise provides, the Lieutenaut-(iover- nor shall, by Proclamation, prescribe and declare the oaths to be taken by voters, the powers and duties of Keturning and Deputy Returning Officers, the proceedings to be observed at such election, and the period during whieh such election may be continued, and such other provisions in respect to such first election as he may think fit. 19. Every Legislative Assembly shall continue for four years from the date of the ''Cturn of the wi-its for returning the same (subject nevertheless to being -sooner dissolved by the Lieutenant- Governor), and no l-inger; and the first Session thereof shall be called at such time as the Lieutenant-Governor shall api)oint. 20. There shall be a Session of the Legislature once at least in every year, so that twelve months shall not intervene between the last sitting of the Legislature in one Session and its first sit- ting in the next Session. GO 21. The following provisions oFtlin British North Amorica Act, 1807, respecting tho House of Commons of Canada, shall extend and api>ly to the Legislative Assembly, that is to say : — Provisions relating to the election of a Speaker, originally, and on vacancies, — the duties of the Speaker. — the al)senpo of the Speaker and the nindo of voting, as if those pi'ovisions w<'re here re-onacted and made api)licable in terms to the Legislative Assembly. 23. In and ^or the Province, the said Legislature may exclu- sively make Laws in relation to Education, subject and according to the following provisions : — (1.) Nothing in any such Law shall prejudicially afTect any right or pi'ivilege with respect to Denominational Schools which any class of persons have by Law or practice in the I'rovince at tho Union : (2.) An appeal shall lie to the Crovernor 'reneral in Council from any Actor decision of the Legislature of tho Province, or of any Provincial Authoiity, atfecting any right or privilege of the Pro- testant or Roman Catholic minority of the Queen's subjects in relation to Education : (3.) In case any such Provincial Law, as from time to time seems to the Governor General in Council requisite for the due execution of tho provisions of this section, is not made, or in case any deci- sion of the Governor General in Council on any ajipeal under this section is not duly executed by the proper Provincial Authority in that behalf, then, and in every such case, and as far only as the circumstances of each case rec^uire, the Parliament of Canada may make remedial Laws for the due execution of the provisions of this section, and of any decision of the Governor (ieneral in Council under this section. 311. Either the English or the French language may be used by any person in the debates of the Houses of the Legislature, and both those languages shall be used in the respective Records and Journals of those Houses ; and either of those languages may be used V)y any person, or in any Pleading or Process, in or issuing from any Court of Canada established under the British North America Act, 1SG7, or in or from all or any of the Courts of the Province. The Acts of the Legislature shall be printed and published in both those languages. 4 (>1 |y Id Id |e !3 I. Inasmuoh ns tlio Provinco is not in doltt. tho snid ridvince shall lie ("iititli'd to be paid, uiiil to receive from tli(» (ioviTumont of ('niiiula, l)y hidf-yi'iuly payments in advance, interest at tho rate of five per centum ptn- annum on tlie sum of four luuKh'cd and seventy-two thousand and ninety (h)llars. 25. Tho sum of thirty tliousaiid dollai-s sliall bo paid yearly by Canada to tho Pi'oviuee, for the supi>ort ol" its (Jovei-nment and Lo;;islature, and an annual grant, in aid of the said i'roviuci', shall be made, e(]ual tt> eighty cents per hea«l of tlu' i)opulMti()n, esti- mated at seventeen thousand souls; and such grant of eighty cents per head shall bo augmented in [)roportion to the incicase of population, as may be shown by the census that shall Im taken thereof in tho year one thousand eight hundred and eighty one, and by each subseijuent decennial census, until its population nmoiuds to four Inmdn-d thousand souls, at which amount such grant shall remain tluMoaiter, and such sumshall b(i in full settle- ment of all future demands on Canada, and shall be paid half- yearly, in advanc(i to the said I'rovinco. S<>. Canada will assume and defray tho charges for the follow- ing services :— 1. Salary of the Lieutenant-Covernor. 2. Salaiies and allowances of the Judges of tho Supe"ior and District and County Courts. 3. Ch.u-ges in respect of the Department of the Customs. 4. Postal Department. 5. Protection of Fisheries. 6. Militia. 7. Geological Survey. 8. The Penitentiai-y. 0. And such further charges as may be incident to, and connect- ed with the services which, by the British North Ameiiea Act l'^67. appeitain to the (leneral Government,' and as are or may be allowed to the other Provinces. 27. The Customs duties now liy Law chargeable in Kuport'a Land, .-hall be continued without increase for the jx'iiod of three years from and after tho passing of tliis Act, and thf pro- ceeds of such duties shall form part of the CVjnsolidated Jievenuo Fund of Canada. f I 62 UH. tSnoh prnvisiotiHi of tho Customs Laws of Cmada (other than Buch MM i»r('.sciil)o tht rate of iluti-'H p.iyiihle) us may ho from titiu3 to tiiiu' i)ly to tho i'lovinco of Manitolja, shall be ai)j>licable '.hereto, and in forco tluMoin accoiclingly. Ut>. Sni;li provisions of the \/,[W\ of Canada rospootin^ tho Inland Kivonuo, ini'luding thoso lixing tho amount of chitios, as may bo from time to timo dcclaroil by the (ivivornor Oonoral in Council ai>pUc;ibi«' to tho said Province, shall apply thereto, and be in forco thoroin accordingly. !S0. -Ml uiigrantoci or waste lands in theProvinoe shall bo, from ami al'tor tho date of tho said transl'er, vested in the Crown, and administered by the Government of Canada for tlu^ 2)urposes of tho Dominion, suliject to, and exceiit and so far as tho same may be aflbclod by, the conditions and stipulations contained in the agree- ment tor tho surrender of lluiJCM'fs Land by tlio Jludson'a I'ay Company to Her Majesty. Hi. And whereas, it is expedient, towards the extinguishment of lilt' lny tho owner, be contirmod by grant from the Crown* :!. All grants of estates less than freeliold in land made by the IIad.>uu ^> Bay Company up to the eighth day of March aforesaid, 63 Bhall, if roquirtsl by tlio owner, bo convertocl into an csitato lU freoli.)lral in coun- cil, to make all such provisions for asoertaniing anen returned by his former constitu- eucy of Coldiester to t,h(! J)omiiiiuu Parliament. Mr. Archibald is spO'i.en of in ull (pu'.rtcrs as a man of abiuty and sound calm judg- ment and I trust his selection may prove a fortunate one. Colonel Wulsclev, who is to command the expedition, leaves Toronto with 6Q Her M;ijosty's troupn on the 20tii instant, and tlicy jro on as f|uickly as possible to Fort Willhmi, at tlic hcucl of Like Superior. I tele^ra;ilicd liini y','.sten];iy to send me, for your Lordship's in- form. ition, a short statjuient of hi-i probable movements. He replied as follows: — " There are 200 of the lir,>t batttalion of volunteers and the j;unboat llescue at the S.iult ; all the rei^ular troops will be at Fort William on the 2(Jtli 3Iay. A foit will be formed there and ibrtitied. It is hopi:d that all the volunieers and stores will liave re-.fched Vtn-i WiUiai;i by the 10th June. Fxpect to reach Fort G.irry with entire face about 1st Aii^u>t, and to leave with reiinlars bet\Yeen 2(Hh and 25th An_i:ust, so as to reach Toronto by If-t October.'' I also send u copy of the orders lie has issued. A temporary diltieulty oc>.urred in consequence of the stoppa;i;e by the x\merican authorities of the steamer " Chicoru" at the Sault Ste. Marie Canal, which runs through American territory, connecting' Lake Huron with Lake Superior. She had no warlike stores, whatever on botird, tlic Canadian Government havimr from the very first decided not to attempt the sending of any such Ktore-s much k;ss of troops tluon;j,!i the canal. At the rcjuest of my minister-, therelbre, I addressed a representation to Her Majesty's minister at Washington, and 1 am happy to be able to report that the United States government has very prom])tly sent instruc. tions to allow the ''Chicora" and vessels of the same class to pass through the can d. I havj placed the s rvices of ideutenant- Colonel ^McNeill, V.C., my military secretary, at the disposal of General Linds;iy, for the expedition. He will report fully to me as occasion offers along the route, and 1 shall forward his reports to your lordship for your information. I beg to f(jrward certain reso- hitions, passed at a public meeting at Sarnia, in Ontario, which have been sent to mc ibr the purpo.-^e, «s resolution 3 states, that "this meeting believes it expresses the enlightened public opinion "of Canada, in calling upon nur Government to use its influence '' with the Imperial authorities, with the view to the offer of a reward 'for the capture and arraignment, at the bar of justice, of lliel and ''his associates in the work of murder." 1 am, &c., John Young. The Karl Granville, K.G. i r 67 It may not be inconsistont with our object to (llscuss tlio late procec lings at the Iv.mI Uivcr. So far, the polit^y of the Canadian Government has bcHni comnletelv succcssfal, but it has been so i)eca ise i*" his 1)jea avowoUv and con-ist^ntlv, and notwithstanding tlu -rMoiiny cast upon its authors, a policy of conciliation towards the niisiruidedmen, who, laboring under a complete delusion with regard to the intentions of the Gov- ernment, took up arms in October of la-^t year. We have proved by documentary evidence tliat had a dillorent policy been adopted the Canadian Government would not have had the cordial support and co-operation of t!ic Iin';>erial G)vora- ment. Even thou2:li their views were substantiallv alike, slight difterences arose between tlic two governments during the negotiations on minor points, eacli contending for the interests of those whom it specially ro[>rescute'l. It will hardly be maintained now tliat it would have been wi^^e in the Canadian Government to have paid over the purchase money on the 1st December, and to hav;^ accepted the responsibility of taking over in mid-winter an inacce?sii)le territory, with the certaintv that uiider such circumstances it w nuld have been occupied in early spring by filibu=iters avid syin^vxtiii/,.M's ?tron'^-cnou'j:h toliave resisted, at least tcniporarilv, anv iWcQ that the Canadiaii Government, unsupported l)y Imperial prestige, could have sent against them. Looking at tlie (pies- tionfrom an Imperial or from a Hudson's Bny Coin[)any point of view, vy-e can readily understand tlie annoyance caused by the prompt action of tlu^ Canadian Government at the latter end of Xoveni'ver, when they dirorfod thit the parciiasc money siiould not be raid over without furliier orders, Those who are familiar witli colonial politics, and especially with the treatment of New Zealand, cannot doubt tliat hail the money been paid Canada would not have received the slightest assistance either in men, money, or countenance, from the Imperial Government. Fortunately, the policy of the Impe- cs in rial aiid Dominion Governments towards the people of the Red River settlements was precisely the same. It has heen denounced hy Mv. ^McDouvall and his ahettors, hut it has been completely successful, and those who denounced it are reduced to tlie single complaint that they want revenge for what all admit to have heen a horrihle crime, and that they have not been ahle to obtain it. AVc shall advert very briclly to the false and mischievous rumors of an intention on the part of tlie Canadian Govern- ment to recommend an amne.rity which were circulated for several weeks. Notwithstanding the explicit denial of the truth of these rumors, they were reiterated in some of the leading public journals. Colonel Wolscley, it was affirmed, had the amnesty in his pocket, but as tluit 2;allant officer has already returned to Canada without liaving published it, the falsehood of that statement lins already been established. In conclusion, we sub;nit that but f)rMr. MclJougall's neglect of Colonel Dennis' warning to defer tiie surveys until the I idians unl hair-breeds had been conciliated there would have been no insurrection ; that ?dr. ?>IcDougall not only deliberately assumed the functions of Lieutenant-Governor without authority, and notwithstanding h's own declara- ti(m that lie couid not do so ; but that he wantonly in defiance of the advice of the legal Governor and his council, and of tiie Bishop and the most Influential Pro- testant genrl'^meu in tlie territory, i«sued an illeiral com- mission to Colonel Dennis, and instructed him to call the population to arms ; that he took tliat course at a time when he well knew tliat, in a very few days, he v/ould learn the views of the Dominion Government as to the course to be taken in an emergency tiiat was not foreseen when he received instructions for his guidance; that his fac- tious conduct since his return to Canada has rendered it absolutely necessary to expose the lamentable errors of judg- is 69 mont wliich he lias committed. His endeavors to revive reli- l^mis animosities, which of late years had been materially softened down, though temporarily successfid, will, when the truth comes to be known, injure himself much more than those agamst whom his poisoned arrows have been aimed. His talents may possibly secure his re-admittance to the ranks of the Opposition, but those who study the history of the Red River insurrection will place little reliance on his jud-mient