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T» to Tt P< of fil Oil bi th si( ot fir sic or Th shi Til wt IVIa difi enl be] rigl req me This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checke8 and the J Govern in January, uary 1 had the the Right Hon«< ,ince Lord Lisgar, M Oeneral of Ca- |.t|ifc&'Sn|il|ri<'Mfoji: . Fc ^ ^^t T3l5r ■-•» %. 1 U '^< Ki' a' I, amio raawHTffo illPl;^?«i rfts ^ ■^*-»x-m^*^ f ,v t 1 t I a c r L i hi. 0^ THE NORTH WEST DIFFICULTY. ■ K -s Bishop Tache on the Amnesty Question, As appeared in The Times on the GJi, 1th and Sth April, 1874. The word amnesty, in speaking of the Hed River insurrection, has already given rise to such an amount of prejudice, and excited such recrimination tbax it is rather a dslicate subject to enter upon, I shall nevertheless undertake to bring it before the public for the information of upright minds. My desire would have been to avoid taking an ostensible part in the debate of the ques- tion, this explains my silence since lour years. Time, instead of bringing a solution to the difficulty, has merely increased it ; things have gone so far that I feel it my duty to interrupt the protracted silence. To insults and abuse lavished on me personally, insinuations are now added, questioning my sincerity and good faith . The former I have easily treated, with silent contempt, on the latter, 1 cannot consent to accept even a suspicion. Had my advices or suggestions be^n taken into cocsideration, the transfer of the Northwest to Canada would have taken place without either trouble or resistance, and it would not have been necessary to caII for my intervention. After having failed in my etlbrta to induce the competent authorities to act in such a way as to prevent all complications, the same efforts proved successful in bringing a peaceable and satisfactory solution of the difficulties apprehended and foretold. The promise of amnesty has been one of the means employed to secure the h^ppy result. My d>'.ty towards those who relied on my word is now to make known what quarantees I gave them, and my duty to- wards myself is to make known on wJiat grounds I make such a promise, and on what grounds I conti- nue to believe and to assert that amnesty has not only been offered, but haB, in fact, been virtually granted. In my et^timation amnesty has long since ceased to be an open question ; public good faith being engaged and na- tional honor at stake. I find the proof of my assertion in authentic documents and writings, in of- ficial and semi-official promises and acts, and I invoke for its support the irresist- ible lopic of facts. The following pages are not an appeal to passions nor even to teelings. I merely place myself as historian, and leave to sen sible men to deduce the practical conse- quences of what I advance. Hence I write in a cool spirit, carefully avoiding anything of a nature to create prejudice or increase excitement. Confidential or secret communications being considered by me as sacred, I need nnt say that I will not betray them. Without running the risk of being indis- creet, I have sufficient proof that the am'* nestj is no longer an cpen question, neither for the Imperial nor the Federal author- ities, and still less for those in power in the Frovince of Manitoba. Tho Imperial Authorities and the Amnesty Invited. Invited by the Canadian Govern ment I left Rome in January, 1870, and on the 10th February I had the honor to be introduced to the Eight Honn orable Sir John Young, since Lord Lisgar, and at that time Governor General of Ca* nac!a. V'' tiit Excellency not only afrorded me a courteous reception, but bestowed marks or unequivocal contidence. lie acquaintx ed me with his own views and those of the Imperial Government relative to the Red River dithculties. W^ Ue affirming the forco of the law and the determination of the British Cabinet to maintain its supre* macy in the Northwest territory, the (iov- ernor General admitted that faults had been committed through Canadian agency at Red River ; that precisely on that ac^ oouni, the insurgents were entitled to the o'«maucy of Our Gracious Sovereign, anil that the past would be easily overlooked, provided they would accept the decision of Uer Majesty as to the fact and the con- dition* of their entry into the Confedera- tion. His Excellency expressed the desire that, on my arrival at Fort Garry, I would endeavor to inspire contidence to the diB» satisfied parties, not only by giving them assurance that they would be submitted to no annoyance for the past ; but, more- oyer» if they would bring their complaints to him, as the immediate representative of Uer Majesty, they would be kindly and generously treated. On the eve of my departure from Ot>t tawa, Hia Excellency honored me with the following letter : Ottawa, Feb. 16, 1870. «» My Dear Lord Bishop : " I am anxious to exprdss to you. before you set nut, the ri jep sense of obligation which I feel is due to you for giving up your residence at Rome, leaving the great and interesting affairs in which you were engaged there, and undertaking at this inclement season the lon^ voyge across the Atlantic, and long journey across this con- tinent for the purpose of rendering service to Her Majesty's Government, and engag- ing in a mission in the cause of peaoe and oiviliaation. « Lord Qranville was anxious to avail of your valuable asHistance from the out- set, and 1 am heartily glad that you have have proved willing to atl'ord it so prompt- ly and generously. " You are fully in possession of the views of my Government, and the Impe>" rial Government, as I informed you, is earnest in the desire to see the Noi tbwest Territory united to the Dominion ou equi- table conditions. "I need not attempt to furnish you with any mstructions for your guidance beyond those contained in the telegraphic message sent me by Lord Granville on the part of the British Cabinet, in the procla- mation which I drew up in accordance with that message, and in the letters which I addressed to Governor MoTavisb, your Vicar General, and Mr. Hmith. •< In this last note, ' All who have com-* plaints to make ' or wish to express, are called upon to address themselves to me, as Uer Majesty's representative, and you may state with the utmost confidence that the Imperial Government has no intention of acting otherwise than in perfect good faith towards the inhabitants of the North- west. The "leople may rely that respect and aiteni. ja will be extended to the difx ferent religious persuasions ; that title to every description of property will be carex fully guarded, and that all the franchises which have subsisted, or which the people may prove themselves qualified to exer- cise, shall bo duly continued and liberally conferred. " In declaring the desire and determi. mination of Uer Majesty's Cabinet, you may safely use the terms of the ancient formula. < Right ahall be done in all cases.' '' " I wish you. my Lord Dean Bishop, a safe journey and suecess in your benevo- lent mission. " Believe me, with all respect, "Faithfully Yours, "Signed) JohnYocno." The above letter, coming from the re« presentative of our gracious Sovereign confirms the opinion already rerbally exn pressed, and is strengthened by the assu- rance that Lord Granville vras " anxious to avail of my assistance." The same let- ter pointed out, for my guidance, the mes- sage sent by the Imperial Government, Uis Excellency's Proclamation of the 6th of December, 1869, as well as letters he had written to gentlemen already ofBoially employed for the pacification of the peo . pie of Red River. These documents naturally inspire the « utmost contidence ; " moreover, having been confided to me without either restric- tion or condition they had their meaning, not only for the day they were handed to me, but they should retail., the same weight until I was enabled to communi- cate them to those they concerned. Had the events previous to my arrival at Fort Garry, altered the dispositions ex- pressed in the same documents, the aui> thorities who had entrusted them to me, were bound in justice to warn me of the change of their intentions, in order to re- deem their word and mine before the peo- ple to whom I had to convey this message of "peace and conciliation." Now, more than four years have elapsed since these events have ocourred, and no« thing baa oome to'my knowledge, lending to contradict the word given by Uer Msjeity'* Aepreaentative speaking otU>i cially and ■olemnly in a proclamation drawn up in accordance with the meBsage received directly from the Colonial office, Downing street. 1. Gltmce over the documents referred to, at least in as much as they denote clem- ency and deiine the manner of treating the insurgents. The first to wbicn my atten* tion was called is the following telegram sent by Lord Granville to Sir John Young, dated the 25th November, 1869 : *' The Queen has learned with re|i jects loyalty in those settliements, and must ascribe their opposition to a change plain* ly for their advantage, to misrepresenta- tion or misr.nderstajQding. She relies upon your Government for taking every oare to explain where there is a misunderstand, log, and to ascertain the watats, and con. ciliate the good will of all the settlers of the Bed River. But at the same time, she authorizes you to tell them that she views with displeasure and sorrow their lawless and unreasonable proceedings, and that she expects that if they have any wish to express or complaints to make, they vnll address themselves to the Governor of the I>oiainion of Canada, of which in a few . days they will form a part. •< The Queen relies upon her representa- tive bemg always ready on the one hand to give redress to well foundel grievances, and on the other, to repress with the au- thority with which she has entrusted him any unlawful disturbance " It Is obvious that Uer Majesty's Goverox ment desires in the first place that " every oare b« taken to explain where there is a misunderstanding and conciliate the good will of the settlers of Red River." All this denotes benevolence ; it is more than the pardon of past offences. It is the offer to meet the wishes of the mal-oon tents. His Lordship goei so far as to say : <' If they have any wish to express or complaints to make, they will addresf themjelves to the Gtorernor of the Dominion of Can- Still greater stress is given to the ex- pression of this favorable disposition in another message of Lord Granville, not- withstanding the knowledge that the in- surrectional movement has assumed great- er proportions, that arrests had been m^de^ that priioners were kept at Fort Garry, and that the insurgents mastered the position. In this emergency the noble Lord, Minister tor the Colonies, does not hesitate to say on the 8th of Jan- uary, 1870 :— "I observe with great satis* faction the anxiety manifested by the Canadian Government to avoid any colli* sion with the insurgents in the Red River settlement, and to exhaust all means of explanation and conciliation before having recourse to force . ' . This language, that of a member of the British Cabinet, it would astonish else> where than in England, but it does not belong to Canadians to complain of the views of the Mother Land, especially when the Minister for the Colonies, cleat ly affirms that the Cabinet of Ottawa had given oc- casion to (the) 'outburst' His despatch of the 3()tb November, 1869, reads as fol- lows : "The Canadian Government in anticipa- tion of the transfer, now agreed on by all parties, undertook certain operations in respect of land, subject in the first instance to a faint protest from the com- pany, and directed the future Lieutenant Governor to enter the territory. The re- sult unfortunately, has not met the ex-* pectationa of the Colonial Government." " Mr. McDougall was met, it appears, by armed resistance, and the disturbances caused by bis presence seem to have resulted in the plunder of the (Company's stores and the occupation of Fort Garry by the insurgent portion of the population. " But the Canadian Government having by this measure given an occasion to an outburst of violence in a territory, which they have engaged to take over, now api pear to claim the right of postponing in- definitely the completion of their en- gagements to the Company, and of imposing on Her Majesty's Government the responsibility of putting down the resistence which has thus arisen." This assertion aireaay tending to lessen the responsibility of the dissatisfied parties is still more strongly expressed in the following from Earl Granville to the Ritzht Honourable ^'ir .lobn Young, dated 26th January, 1870. .<< I much more seriously regret the proclamation put forth by Mr. McDougall, and the commission issued by him to Colonel Dennis. 1'he praclamation recited that Her Majesty has transferred Rupert's Land to Canada, which has not been done ; assumes the authority of Lieutenant Gov- ernor, which did not legally belong to him, and purported to extinguish the powers belonging to Mr. McTavish, who is in fact the only legal Governor of the territory, 6 A •ubscquent ootumiuion empowered Colonel Dennis tu arm thoge ndhering to him, to attack, arrest, r being substituted for it, and the diacovory that the statements made in the procla^ mation are unfounded in fact, munt de- tract from the weight of any Bubse< der the authority of the Dominion ; but they have certainly enhanced the respon- sibility of the Canadian Government." The above deipatches, although not making mention of amnesty in favor of the insurgents, denote that they have a cer- tain right to it, as they charge the Cana- dian Uovernment and its agents with luity, illegal and criminal acts ; the ex* tinotion of the powers cf Quvernor Mc Tavish, and the distrust that such acts should inspire. I was made acquainted with tlie said despatches in order to duly value the teu- dencies of the Imperial Government, and thereby be better enabled to restore ron- fidenoe to the people of Ked Kiver, ami determine their acceptance of the pro. posed change without fear for the past or uneasiness for the future. 2nd. The Governor General after having satisfied me as to the intention of the British Cabinet, drew my attention to his own proclamation of the 6th December, 1869. The following is an exact copy of the document given to me by command of His Excellency. . " PROLLAHATION. ' V. E. " By His Excellency the Right Honor- able Sir Jobn Youijet, Baronet, a member of Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, Knight Grand Crofs of Most Honorable .Order of the Baih, Knight of the Most Distinguiehed Order of St. Mi- chael and 8t. George, Governor General of Canada. * To all and every the loyal subject of fler Meg'esty the Queen, and to all to whom these Presents shill come, Gbebtimo : * The Queen has charged rae, aa her representative, to inform you that certain misguided persons in her settle^ monts on the Ued River, have bandoJ themselves tog>Hbor to oppose by force the entry into her Northwestern Territor- ies of the otlioer selected to administer, in her name, the (Jovemment, when the Territories are united to the Dominion of Canada, under the authority of the late Act of the Parliament of the United King- dom ; ami that those parties have also for<« cibly, and with violence, prevented others of her loyal suijccts from ingress into the country. ' Her Majesty (ieols assured that she may rely uv>on the loyalty of her subjects in the Northwest, and believes those men who have thus illegiilly joined together have done HO from some misrepresentation. ' The Queen is convinced that in sanci tioiiing the Union of the Northwest Terri* tories with Canada, she ia promoting the best interests of the residents, and at the same time strengthening and consolida.* ting her North American possesnions as part of the British Empire. You may judge then of the sorrow and displeasure with which the Queen views the unreas- onable and lawless proceedings which bave occurred. " Her Majesty commands me to state to you, that she will always be ready through mo. as hnr representative, to redress all well founiied grievances, and any com> {ilaints t.hut may be made, or desires that may be expressed to me as Governor Gen- eral. At the same time she has charged me to exorcise all powers and authority with which she has instructed me in the support of order, and the suppression of unlawful disturbances, " By Her Mnjesty's authority I do there- fore assure you that on the union with Canada, all your civil and religious rights and privileges will be respected, your pro-> perties secured to you, and that your country will be governed, as in the past, under British laws, and in the spirit of British justice. '•I do, further under her authority, entrust and command those of you who are still assembled and banded together, in defence of law, peaceably to disperse and return to your homes, under the penalties of the law in case of disobedi- ence, *» And, 1 do lastly inform you, that in case of your immediate and peaceable obedience and dispersion, I sh^ll order that no legal proceedings be taken against any parties implies ted in these unfortunate breaches of the law. '• Given under my hand and Seal at Arm • at Ottawa, this sixth day of December, in the year of Our Ijord one thousand eight hunniuff, and in the thirty* Bocondyearot Her Mnj«-iity'B reign. << By command, «' (Sigm ■), .JouN VoiK». : : " (Signed). : HlAL. : " H. L. 1 ANOKVIN, ; ; " Secretary of Slate. '' Among other tbingn, thin pioclamation contains two parugrnphH, the one inviting the 'disBatisfieii parlies to '-addreBa them' HelveB" to 11 is Excellency, the other prom> ising, in case of submiHsion, " to give or« (lera tbiit no legal proceedings will be talten ngalnst any " of them. Furnidhrd with these documents, which 1 know to be genuine, brought forth with the utmoBt good faith, and neceesarily im plying their etiect, being tbe echo of Eoy- al tidingfi, I immediately set oi Notwithstanding all poseible dilligence, the difficulty of the route, and the ab4 sence of any speedy mode of conveyance through the plains, prevented my reach- ing St Boniface before the 'Jlh &latch, five days after the execution oi Thomas Soott. It was only after my arrival that 1 ascer'< tained all the danger of the situation. 1 studied it to the best of my judgment. I conferred with the persons mentioned in the Governor General's letter, and togeth^. er we came to a perfect understanding as to the gravity of events and the meaus of averting misfortunes incomparably greater than those that bad already hapn pened. Circumstances did not seem to dictate a different course of action than that sug< gested in £ngland and advised anew by the Governor General, as the first remen dies to evil. I produced His Excellency's proclama- tion, inviting a delegation and promising an amnesty. I assured the insurgents and their leaders that their just reclamations would be listened to, and I shewed them the signature of the representative of our Gracious Sovereign, promising to give order that no legal protieedings would " be taken against any " of them. As foretold by Lord Granville the false proclamation issued by Hon. W. McDou- gall had the effect to " detract from the weight of any subsequent proclamations." I came forth as guaranty of the genuineness of the one that had been handed to me, and affirmed upon my honor that it would be fulfy executed ; and, that all, without distinction would be benefitted by the promise made to them. In a word, guided by my verbal and written instructions, and considering myself as the Governor General himself had said <• fully in posieu'ion of the views of the representative of Her Majesty, I transmit. ted tte pledge of amnesty cnttuited to me. Havel dene wrcng V Huve I fiustrated the expectations of the representative of our beloved Sovereign ? Have 1 made a rash and indiscreet proaiie? No. Since after my explanations the honourable Se- cretarv of State wrote to me on the iJTlh May, 1870, as follow :— •' My lour,— I am commanded by His Excellency the (Governor General to express bis sympathy in yiur anxieties and his warm acknowledgments of your exertion in the cauie of peace and modc> ration." I have besides, other direct and official proofs that 1 was not mistaken in believing that the events that had occurred while 1 was on the way between Ottawa and Fort Garry had not modified the views of the 1 mperial Government. Ihe desire to open negotiations with the delegates was fully realized. The dele- gates were not only listened t(^ but were received officially; meanwhile, bringing forth as condition sine (jua nor. the 19th clause of their instructions requiring a full and complete amnesty. It is true that on their arrival at Ottawa, two of the three delegates were arrested, but this merely turned to prove that the sad event of the 4th of March bad not changed the i)Olioy of the Imperial Gotx ernment, as it clearly appears in the fol- lowing despatches interchanged between Sari Granville and Sir John \oung. On the nth March, Lord Granville had sent the following telegraphic message : <' Let me know by telegram when yoM know delegates have i-tarted from Fort Garry." On the 4th of April, the following tele- gram was sent by Sir John Young: "Smith came here on Saturday from Fort Garry with bad news. A Canadian called Scott— was by Riel's orders tried by court martial and shot, with the view it is sup- posed of compromising Riel's followers before Tache had arrived. They say the delegates are coming, but it is quite dear Riel will yield to nothing but force. Things now look, I think very bad." On the 7th April Sir John Young again, " Last of the delegates is expected at St. Paul on Thursday, the I4th, the oihers arrived there to*day, and may reach Otta- wa on Saturday, tbo filb," Not withstanding "the bad news and ap- prehensions expressed by Sir John Young in his despatch of the 4th April, on the r Otb of ib« uxa» monih Lord UranTille teUmplMd *'L«t me know m foon m you can bv telegram. rMuIt of negotiations with Red Hirer delegates." Uftving Itwmed tlie arrest of the dflle< gate, Loni UranvlUe telegraphed on IKlh April, "Was arrest of delegates author- ized by the Canadian (lovemment 7 Hend tull information by telegram." To this Sir John Young replied on the following day. "Arrest of delegates wns not authorized by the Canadian Uovern- ment." The uneasiness felt by Lord (iranville, relative to the arrest of the delAOateH, proTes how much hii Lordship deplored the odious proceeding, and that the Itevd. Mr. Kiohot had comprehended the views of the Imperial Oovernment when addreiS' ing the following energetic protest to >Sir John Young. "To Bis Excellency Hir John Youno, (iovernor General of Canada. "Excellency," "1, at this moment, address myself directly to you, the representative of the Sovereign and the guardian of British honor in ihii Country for to ask yeu to kindly order to respect in my person, the privilege belonging to a parliamenteer, to be exempt from all hostilities and all mox lestations until return to safe quarters. 1 am here in company with Judge Black »nd Mr. Scott, as representative of the North West Territory, invited by Your Excellency's proclamation, and on the assurances given by the CommiflMiODern of Your Excellency's Govern- ment, especially by Mr. Smith and Cjlonel de Salabery." "Mr. Boott and 1 came to Ottawa in company with Colonel de Salabery, and have been at the frontier met by a Magis- trate who offered ud, as the actual circum. stances required, the safe conduct of his escort." "Notwithstanding the inviolability with which we are invested, character respecti* ed at all times and by all nations, iode>. pendent of all circumstances and complioa- tions, ice are submitted to pursuits and indignitiea which the Oovermnent of Your Exoellenoy no doubt deplore, but which do not seem to be coming to an end." •< 1 am accused of participation in the death of a man. Even if the thing were OS tiue as it is nwlically false it would not alter my position as Parliamenteer in< vited and accepted by the Government of Your Excellency, for I came here trusting to a sacred pledge and under the guard- ianship of British and Canadian honor. " •• For my own satiflfaction, 1 declare to Your Excellency before God and before men, that 1 have not in any way contributed to tho death of a man. I know nothing more of the fact of the death of an indi^ vidual oalletl Scott (if it occurred) than what every one knows or thinks to know. At this v«ry moment, 1 would be unable to give the least evidence in this att'air, but, I repeat this does not interfere with my position as Parliamenteer, which ren« ders me inviolable, and by which I am free from all civil or criminal Jurisdic. tion." " Relying on public honor and on the honouralileness of Your Excellency and of those who with Your Excellency are the guardians thereof, I demand that an end be put to the persecutions and insults to which we are submitted. " 1 postponed making this demand in order to not increase actual ditficulties ; but I feel that the dignity of my mission would suffer by a longer delay. " Accept, Excellency, the assurance of the respect with which, 'f I have the honor to be, " Your humble and obed't. serv't,, " (Signed), J. N Kitouot.' Ottawa, 2iJlh April, 1870, The Private Secretary of His Excellency acknowledged receipt of the above doou' ment by the following : KiuEAU Ball, April 22nd, 187'J. " Sir —I am commanded by His Ex^el" lency the Governor General to acknowl* edge the receipt of yoir commuDic%tion calling for the protection of His Excel* lency, and I have the honor to inform you that His Excellency has transmitted it to his council to be taken into considera> tion as soon as possible. " I have the honor to be, " Sir, " Your most obdt. servt., (Signed.) '• F. Tobvillb. • The delegates were then set at liberty. The deliberations began. On the 3rd of May, Sir John Young sent the following telegram: "Negotiations with the delof gates closed satisfactorily." On the 18th of the same month the Minister for the Ck>lonies addiessod the following letter to Sir John Young : DowMiMG Street, ISth May, 1810. Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches Nos. 85 «nd 87 of the 25th and 29th April Ust, en- closing documents connected with the re- cent disturbances in the Red River terri- tory. I am glad to learn that the pro* ceedings adopted against the Rev. Mr« ) b%torm ribut«d lotbing iban know. uiMble •ifwr, » mth ob nn- I am uriadio. ftiobot and Mr. Soott were promptly dia- poMd of, aD'«bended tbe situation and that heedless of all theex - oitement then prevailing in Canada all his anxiety was to secure the prosperity of tbe Confederation, and above all to guard the honour of tbe Crown, pledged by its repre- entative. In fact tbe conditions dictated in the name of Uer Majesty having being acoepted, it became necessary on the other hand to fulfill the promise made in her name. All this means that whatsoever ap pelation be given to the Red River ditUcul* ties, all that occurred in connection there* with from October, 1869, until May, 1870, was pardoned by amnesty, and that using her royal prerogative, our beloved Sove- reign wishc^ tbe past to be forgotten and merely aimnU at tbe future prosperity of the new Province of jiianitoba. Sir John Youn^and Sir Clinton Murdoch endorsing the views of tbe Minister for the Colonies gave tbe delegates tbe must positive assuranoes of tbe grant of an am* nesty. This has been often repeated by Messrs. Ritchot and 8cott since their return from Ottawa. In February, 1872, the said delegates drew up and signed a petition to Uer Man jesty statirg tbe same undeniable fact." Below is furnished on the subject tbe sworn affidavit given by Father Uitchot be- fore Nareisse Valois, Esquire, Justice of Peaoe for Montreal^ and dated 19tb No*. vember, 1873. DOMINION OF CANADA, ) Frotinob of Qubbbc, V District of Montreal, j I, the undersigned, Noel Joiepb Ritcbot, PariHb Priest of St. Norbert, County of I'lovencber, Province of Manitoba, being now in tbe oily of Montreal. Province of Queb«>c, after having been duly sworn on the Holy Goopel, declare and say : That tbe I'reiiJent of tbe Provisional Government of Assiniboia, by an order in Council dated 22od March, 1870, delegated to (Jttawn, tbe Rev.'N. J. Rilohot. John black, £e<] , and Alfred Soott, Krq., to carry to Ottawa th<« iiill ol rights claimed by the people of Aminiboia, and to nego- tiate there the conflitions on which tbe same people would agree to join in tbe Canadian Confedenition. That tbe said de'cjsatestbus empowered proceeded to Ottawa, were received by tbe Government in tbe said capacity of delegates, and trauflacted with ^i^ John A. Macdonnld and Sir George Cartier, tbe tiro ministers authorized to that effect by their Government. That on tbe l>Gih April, 1870. tbe nego- tiations were opened by tbe taking into consideration of the Bill of Rights brought by tbe delegates, and on which the Bill of Manitoba was framed. That, besides the Bill of Manitoba, in accordance with tbe 19th clause of tbe Bill of Rights, the delegates required as condition sine qua non of any agreement, a general amnesty for all that bad been done or authorized by tbe Provisional Gov« ernment. That the Honorable Sir John A. Mac- donald and Sir George £. Cartier, after stating that the Government of Ottawa bad no power to grant an amnesty, de* ciared that they were in a position to as- sure tbe delegates that tbe intention of Her Majesty was to grant it. That they would guarantee its promulgation, and tbiit it would, in fact, be proclaimed im- mediately aft^r tbe passage of the bill of Manitoba. That on tbe 3d of May, 1-70, before closing tbe negotiations, the Governor General and Sir Clinton Murdoch assured tbe delegates in tbe name of Uer Mtyesty that the amnesty would be granted. Hia Excellency referred to his own procIamaK tion of tbe month of December previous, as a proof of the intention of Her Ma- jesty, and Sir Clinton Murdoch added, among other assertions : That Her Majesty would willingly expunge the deeds in question in order to restore tranquillity in tiiat country. The delegates objecting that they had no writ- ten document to show to the people of the Red River the said representatives of Her Majesty repeatedly assured the delegates that the question would suffer no aiffl- I0 euUy, and thai the amneaty would surely be granted. The delegates aooepted this promise of honor and the Governor Qeneral, Sir John Young, telegraphed to Lord Qranville, * Negotiations with the delegates olos^'d satisfaotorily.' < That on the 19Ui of the same month of May the Qovernor General of Canada, at his residence, in presence of Sir George £. Cartier, renewed to the delegates the as- surance that the amnesty would be un- doubtedly granted. Still more, that the said amnesty would reach Manitoba before thearriral of the Lieutenant Governor of the Province, and that while awaiting its publication, he, the Governor General, would give orders that no annoyance would result to any one of those impli* cated in the troubles of 1869 and 1870. I have signed aftei reading had been done. (Signed) ' Nubl J. Bitohot. < ilwom before me on the nineteenth day of November, 1873, at Montreal. (.Signed) Nar. Valois, J. P. Such a declaration sworn ta by a person of the position and character of Rev. N. Uitohot should suffice alone, and it is easily underatood that it can but strengthen my conviction when added to so many other evidences, that the amnesty has been promised in the name of Her Majesty. The very fact of negoliating with the « Delegates of the North West" with the approbation of the Imperial Government, demonstrates that the proclamation of the Governor General, which had been handed to me by command- of His Excellency on the 17th February, 1870, had obtained its full effect in England, and ought to be sufficient throughout the Dominion to protect all and every one of those connect- ed with tae Eted Kiver difficulties, whatso- ever may be their names or the share of responsibility they have assumed. The proclamation of Sir John Young having been neither revoked nor modified, held good when I arrived at Fort Garry and continued so when I handed it to those it oonceined. This document has lost nothing of its weight since, if I may judge by the words of the Governor Gen- eral himself. In an interview with His Excellency at Niagara, on the 23rd of July, 1870, I expressed the desire to have a renewed declaration of amnesty. The Governor General pointing to his proclama'* tion, exclaimed :— '* Here is my Proclama tion, it covers the whole case." As I in-* silted on having something more explicit; owing to the doubts expressed by some parties concerning the same proclamation, the Governor General requested me to write to him on the subject. I did so, and the following written at Hamilton was ad- dressed to His Excellency, at Niagara, and merely intended to obtain a renewed and more explicit promulgation of amnesn ty, for the satisfaction of those whom 1 had mentioned to the Governor General, and who doubted the meaning of hin first proclamation, though it was quite sufficient for me ; as I was perfectly satisfied that the amnesty had been positively promised. Hamilton, 23rd July, 1870. To His Excoliency Sir John Young, Oovernor Uenerat of the Donalnloa of Canada : May it please Your Excellency to allow me to communicate the following obser- vations relative to the Red River difflouU ties : 1st. I desire to resent the odious cal- umnies lavished on me in certain news- papers. I protest before God and before men again those accusations. The part I took in the Red River troubles consists merely in the pain they caused me : in the efforts made to the best of my judgment, to quell them ; and in the desire to see the whole concur to consolidate the noble institutions by which we are governed by forming a close and indissoluble union be- tween Canada, the land of my birth, and the Northwest, that o| my adoption. 2nd. I regret as much as any one, the de* plorable deeds perpetrated ; nevertheless, I dare affirm that it is impossibleto form an impartial judgment of tbe same, without being acquainted with all the circum- stances that have given rise to Aem, and such informatioa it is very difficult for outsiders to obtain. Three men lost their lives during the troubles ; the first I may say accidentally, as Parisien who shot him was not sound in mind. Parisiea himself, arrested before the sad event by the so called loyal party, was afterwards killed by them, or rather left for dead and in fact died in consequence of the horrible treat- ment they had inflicted on him. No men- tion is mn !e of the death of these two men ; bui, instead, some of those whe most largely contributed to the death of the latter, thinking to thereby display their loyalty, loudly called to revenge the last victim, the unfortunate Thomas Scott. Any one acquainted with the events, is less astonished at the death of Scott, than at the fact of there being but one victim in the insurgent quarters. This fact dearly proves that the armed party was neither bl ve bl m d( ar dt 1 ei B e< B o a t a 11 biood'thirBwy nor actuated by a rej vengeful spirit. 3rd. I have no Sesire to accuse any one, but if punishment is to be inflicted on the most guilty and rebellious, it might be deserved by some of those who are exalted as the champions of loyalty, duty and honor. If deplorable acts can have an atonement, 1 find it in the very conduct of ^he lead- ers of the insurrectional movement of Bed River. The movement was never intend- ed to be against allegiance to Oreat Britain ; the British flag was never taken down, and the Fenian banner was never hoisted, notwithstanding the assertion of the contrary in newspapers. . The Fenians, as a body, only met refusal or silence when they oflered their co-oper- ation. Outside of the Fenian Associations, the Provisional Government of Red Biver has repudiated ofiers that might have seduced its members, had the sentiment of allegiance not prevailed, sums of money amounting to more than tour millions of dollars (ft4,U00 000) men and arms had been offered, aud the whole was refused by those ■< rebels" whom it is proposed to get hanged by the expedition, after they had refused the help offered to determine them to attack it. 5th. The last and most important of the observations I take the liberty to lay be- fore Your Excellency, is relative to the amnesty in favor of those who have taken a part«in the illegal and criminal acts which in one way or another were com* mitted during the painful period of the lied River Disturbances. Noiwithstand- ing the accusations thrown against me, I venture to say that 1 have largely contributed to the pacification of Bed Biver, and I have thereby averted com- plications that would have entailed the most deplorable results. In this I have only accomplished my duty as a citizen and pastor ; and I would leave the fact un- mentioned were it not to throw more light on what 1 hxve to aJd. The promise of an amnesty has largely coatributed to obtain the result secured ; had 1 not been oonvinoed myself that an amnesty would be granted ; had I not brought the people to partake of my conviction, the mission en- trusted to me by the Qovernment cf Your Excellency would certainly not be crowned with the success obtained. Guidel by what / had heard at Ottawa : by the pro- clamation of Your Excellency of the Gth of December ; by a letter of Sir John A. 2 Macdobald, dated 16th February ; alarmed by th^ danger of desperate resistance and of foreign intervention, persuaded that our Gracious Sovereign would easily pardon her subjects that had erred because too highly provoked ; seeing < irregularities on all Rides' I thought myself justifiable in giving a positive and solemn assurance that a complete pardon would be granted. 1 then promised it. I may have done wrong; but 1 cannot believe it, my opinion being that of all thoae I have heard speaking coolly on this irritating question. It ^eems to me than an act of clemency is not too much when the peace of a couu' try is at stake. At present this act be- comes necessary to restore oonfidenoe, without which it is almost impossible to govern the immense territory of the North- west. Without this act of mercy, the country may be exposed to renewed and disastrous commotions. If amnesty is not granted, I will be considered by some as having imposed upon the people, and will perhaps only have prepared a fearful re-* action, others who will never suspect oiy sincerity, will easily believe that I have been deceived by the Canadian Govern- ment. 1 will go so far as to say that really I would have been deceived, for it is im- possible to understand otherwise what was told to me at Ottawa. If an " indignation meeting" called by the " loyal inhabitants" of Toronto is sufBcient te give a direction to the settle- ment of affairs at Red River, every one will easily admit that it is impossible for us to expect liberal measures or even the most elementary justice. I easily under- stand the pressure brought upon the au- thorities of Ottawa by such demonstrations, inspired by party spirit rather than by "horror of crime," but I appeal to the tribunal of our Gracious iSovereign ; may the feeble voice of an humble, bui sub- missive and devoted subject reach Her Throne. I feel satisfied that the Loyal clemency will be guided by generosity. I therefore rely on the amnesty ; of course the Oanadiin Government cannot pro- claim it, but if our Gracious Sovereign be pleased to grant it, your Jfixcellency may rest assured that it v^ill be a guaraatee of success for the " d ministration of the Lieutemnt Governor of Manitoba, and that it wijl commaud the respectful sym- pathy of an entire people, Deign Your E-tcellcncy to make an al- lowance for the precipitation with which I had to write, an'l believe in the complete / 12 and entire devotednecs of one, who, with profound respect, Your Ezoellenoy's moit i^humble and obedient servant, , (Signed,) Albx, fiisbep of fars.' This telegram of the fifth of March is not modified by the lamentable event of the eve, for, on the 23rd ^pril, among the conditions without which Earl Granville would not promise the oo-ope ration of the Imperial Government, the following is read : ' Canadian Government to accept decision of Her Majesty's Government on all points of the Settlers' Bill of Bights.' What do all these precautions signify ? Why is the same, name attached to the military expedition an had been given by His Excellency to the mission intrusted to me ? Is it necessaiy for a Government as powerful as that of England to be so cau- tious when going to suppress "Bebellion" and eeize '* Murderers" amidst a few hun« dred Half-breeds that had already laid down arms ? Udoubtedlynot, but it is necessary for the powerful Government of England as for every Government that has Bel&respeot, to keep up to faith promised, even if it be towards the weakest of na'< tions. Honor above all, is what breathes in all the despatches coming directly from England. Wny should others who boast of their loyalty, not seem to heed even the rudiments ? The Bed Biver expedition organized by Lieutenant Gene al Lindsay was placed under command of Colonel Wolseley. From Thunder Bay, since called " Fiince A rthar's Landing," Colonel Wolseley ad., d.tissed to the people of Bed Biver the f Mowing military proclamation. ' To the Loyal InhabitanU of Manitoba." " Her Majesty's Government having determined upon stationing some troops among you, I have been instructed by the Lieut. General commanding in British North America, to proceed to Fort Qmtj with the force under my command. " Our mission is one of peace, and the sole object of the expedition is to secure Her Majesty's sovereign authority. •'Courts of law, such as are common to every portion of Her Majesty's Empire, will be duly established, and justice will be impartially adminietered to all races and all classes, the loyal Indians or Half- breeds being as dear to our Queen as any others of her loyal subjects. *' The force which I have the honor of commanding will enter your Province rep- resenting no party, either in religion or politics, and will afford equal protection to the lives and property of aU Faces and creeds. "The strictest order and discipline will be maintained, and private property will bo carefully respected. •■ All supplies furnished by the inhabi- tants to the troops will be duly paid for. Should any one consider himself injured by any individual attached to the force, his grievance will be promptly inquired into. " All loyal people are earnestly inn vited to aid me in carrying out the above mentioned objects. "(Signed) G. J. Wolsblbt. ''Colonel Commanding Bed Biver Force." Painob Arthub's Landino, ) Tbunder Bay, June 30, 1870. J The above proclamation was forwarded to me, together with the following letter : PiUNoa ABTHrR's Landing, ) Thundbb Bat, 30th JuDP, 1870. \ '•Mt Lord, — Enclosed I have tbe honor to forward you a copy of a proolanoation in English and in French, to which I have tb en se ca th Ct M T< d P' m m tc tl tl Pi n Q I o y m imentof that has romlBed, of na« breathes tly from ho boast ed even aized by placed Tolselej. " Piince eley ad', iyer the having troops by the British t Gharry the honor to request you will be good enough to give the utmost publicity in the several parishes under your Bpisoopal care. "Similar oopies h^ve been forwarded to the officer representing the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Garry, and to Bishop Macrae. '■I have the honor, to be, (>My Lord, Your most obedient servant, (Signed), G. T. Wolsblet, Colonel, •■Commanding Bed River Force. To the Lord Bishop Tachb, JkOjj &o., Ac. ,) J Bed River Settlement. The proclamation reached Fort Garry during my absence, and was printed and published by command, and under the im>« mediate direction of Mr. RieL as the ruh neztioniat tendencies of other parties went to prevent absolutely the publication of the document. General Lindsay having conferred with the Governor General at Niagara, thought proper to send me the following letter : ■ 1 ' " Clifton Housb, Niagara,.Iuly nth, 1870. "My Lord,— Colonel Wolseley, com- manding the military force en route to Fort Garry, has tranamilted to you a Military Proclamation, addressed to the inhabitants of Manitoba, which will be forwarded to you via Winnipeg. " I have the honor to request that before issuing it, you will have the goodn ness to erase the paragraph in which the English translation commences witli the wards ' Courts of Laws,' and terminates with those of 'The Loyal Subjects.' L?gal affairs being alton gether within the tunctjons of the civil authorities." " 1 have the honour to be. '•Your Lordship's Obdt. Servant, '•(Sijsned), Jas, Lmrisvr. "Lieut. General, "oomraanding H. Majesty's forces in British North America. " Right Rev. Bishop Taohh. ; , , , •. " Fort Garry. " I WUB still absent when thi» last dccu" ment reached St. Boniface. The prock.' mation havmg been ,: ublished it was thought advisable by the administrator of the Diocese to make the General's letter public also. I afterwards wrote to the Lieut. General, who kindly thanked me for what had been done. Now,I appeal to the judgment of any one able to combine two ideas : What is the meaning of all this ? What do all these prooeediogs denote ? What is to be eon- eluded from this luxuriant display of pre-* caution ? What is intended by the assur- ance given so minutely, if not to indicate that the Red River insurgents were not looked upon as rebels to be subdued by force , but, on the contrary, as subjecte that should be protected and defended ? The last official documents quoted above, also prove that the views oT the Imperial Government had been oo imunicated to the superior officers directing and oom« manding the Red River expedition. It is obvious that this expedition of peace had neither enemies to crush, rebels to disperse, nor crinainals to pursue or punish. Colonel Wolesley was moveover well aware that the entire native population of Red River, without distinction, desired the arrival and stationing of the Imperial troops in their midst. He knew it when he addressed me tbe following letter : "Prinob Arthur's Landino, " Thunder Bay, 30th June, 1870. •' My Lord,— I have written to-day to the otticev representing the Hudson's Bay Company, at Fort Garry, referring to a letter to him of this day's date, from Mr. Dawson, of the Public Works Department, in which he has been requested to take immediate steps for opening out a real between the northwest corner of the Lake of the Woods and the teiminaf ion of Mr. Snow's road, and whereby he has been authorizd to expend money for that purpose. " 1 have begged Litu to render every assistance in his power in obtaining the labor and funds required for this service. I have the honor to request your Lordship's earnest co-operation in doing ho, and being aware of the anxiety of your peo- ple to welcome us atnongst them, I am led to hope that they will avail the^iselves of this opportunity for proving the siUi, cerity of their wishes. " I have the honour to be, My liord, " Your most obedient serr't., "(Signed). " G. J. WoLsicLKY, Colonel, " Commanding Red River Force. ■' The Right Rev., •' To tbe Lord Bishop Taohb, ^ko., •• Bed River Settlement." Mr. Dawson in his " Report of the Red River Expedition" publishes an extract of a letter from J. H. McTavish, Esq., " The officer representing the ^Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Garry," showing the re- sult of colonel Wooheley's request. " Sa- a oloaed herewith you will find copy of Col. Wobeley's letter to me. " « On its receipt, I iisued notices in the Colonel's name calling for me to com-* mence the work, and went myself through the English portion of the settlement, but failed in getting » single English half- breed or Swampy. None but French half- breeds oilered, though it was given out and well understood that the road was to be pus>bed through m order to hurry in Hfjr Majesty's troops. "(Signed,) J. H. KcTavish.'" Immediately French half-breeds (rom the different parishes of the cotOny com- plied with the desire of Col. VVolseley, and went to worlc to prepare the road by which the expedition was expected, and where, in fact, a part of it did pass. It was then perfectl]^ understood by the Im- pel ial authorities and by the people themselves, particularly by the so-called ■"French half-breed rebels" that all the difficulties were over, and that the arx rangementa concluded sheltered them from all annoyance. While the expedition was on the way to Fort Garry I was at Montreal. I went in company with Uis Honor Judge Coursol to offer my regards to the < ^neral Com- manding Her Majesty's Force in British America. The distinguished officer, with the frank* ness that characterizes him, confirmed by his assertions what I already knew to be exactly the aim of the expedition, its ob- ject and its non object. I had again the pleasure of seeing the Generroolamatiuu addressed by Colonel Wolset ey to his troops, and in thi?, many whose loyalty has never been questioned share my feelings. The badge of honor that shines on the breast of the brave, is not exempted from rust, and it is to be de- plored that the hearts that beat vrithin those breasts are not free from all weak« enneES, Men are so disposed that fana- ticism and hatred not only blind them, but the same feelings often become a powerful mobile for overcoming dillioul« ties and surmounting obstacles which nobler motives would leave as invincible. That weakc ess of the human heart was known and made use of to assure the Buccese of the expedition. It has been organized at the time when the most vi0'< lent and dangerous passions over-exoited public opinion in Canada, and especially in the Province of Ontario. The soldiers enlisted under a banner that they believed to be a banner of blood, were during the whole time kept iu excitement, and in a feeling of hatred. The terms *' rebels," « murdererf," " robbers," &o., sea. Boned their daily rations, were given as a rest amidst their fatigues and an encouragement to the aocompliahment of what remained to be done. On arriving at Fort Garry it seemed necessary to continue the same stratagem, and the commanding othcer hid the weak, ness to have recourse to it. Officers and soldiers had nobly done their duty ; they were deserving of their coun- try and their Sovereign ; it, was requisite to resort to a theatrical performance of an inglorious effect. His- tory when recording the courage and de- Tction of the expeditionary force, wiil re* Eudiate the proclamation of its chief who as branded himself by endeavoring to throw diograoe on an entire people. Love of truth is a distinctive characteristic of a soldier, and 1 am convinced that Oolonel Wolseley reluctantly used the word '' banw ditti," in speaking of a population to which he shortly before and immeaialely ater, gave the most unequivocal marks of trust. The very next day after his ariival at Foit Gurry, he ordered one of his staff, Colonel Boulton, to go alone acd examine the road as far aa the north west angle r (1(]0 miles), he allowed all his officers to stray through bush and plain in pureuit of game; he had previously left orders for a company of volunteers to come from Francis by the North West Angle, and chose the same route for a company of regulars on their return; h» himself ventured to paes through the same woods end marshes with a few officers and a lady. In almost every one of the above circumMsnres the parties weie guided by Frenrh tinlfwbreeds, moving in the midst of the "Metis" population, in a country thinly inhabited, unknown except to thor Hall- breeds, snd where it vrould be the easiest thing to do miechief, were its men '-banditti" or had even a disposition to become so. Had Colonel Woleeley been sincere in inEulting our population, he would have been guiltv, military and morally, of those ••banditti" and thu» iisking his own life, that of his officers and Boldiers, as well as the honor of his Hag and the fruit of his expedition. But no !: there was not the slightest risk and nowhere in the worll was there lesa danger than in the midst of those he BO improperly qualified "banditti." And he knew it. 3rd. Beyond the observation just made on Col Wolseley's proclamation, my per- sonal mtercourse with this worthy officer does not admit of any other reproach ; so I refiua to believe, although it has been affirmed, that he is the author of the <' Narrative of the Red Biver Expedition, by an Officer of tho Expeditionary Force." 'J here is in the said articles of Blackwood's Magazine such a venom of hatred, such a mass of falsehood, so much infatuation of the author, that I cannot suppose them written by any superior officer of the Brit-^ ish army. An individual may for a mo-, ment forget himself and commit a breach of duty, but to wiite anything like "Nar- rative," Ac, where such innate malice and COD tempt of truth are required that it would he too painful for me to believe that it had fallen from the pea of a person I bad hitherto respected. To resume my opinion on the triple ob« jeciion just examined. I will say that neither the simulate attack on Fort Garry, the ohilipio of Colonel Wolseley, nor the "Narrative," prove against the promise of amnesty made by the Imperial authorix . ties, and safe-guarded by them. I k 16 m i \ t t < i f ll.— The Federal Authorities and the Amnesty. When treating of the Amnesty by the aoTernment of the Dominion, it it eatily understood that I cannot even insinuate ^t Booh prerogative of mercy, such sus- pension of the ordinary laws, can rest with Ottawa or that the grant or promulgation thereof is within the Province of any GoU onial authorily whatsoever. The pardon by amnesty of political offences or of any thing connected with them, necessarily remains with the supreme authority, and in the present case, could not be granted by any one except by Her Majesty the Queen of England. This knowledge and conviction does not exclude another, viz : that the Canadian Government could and should have secured the grant of amnesty, its mediation being uecesaary to that effect as the constitubional medium be- tween Canadian and Imperial authorities. Consequently, if amnesty has been asked from the Citnadian Government it was not that it could originate there, but merely to secure its intervention in soliciting the benevolent application of the lioyal Prero- gative. After thisexplmation 1 shall give my menning of the two words heading this paragraph : "The Federal Authoriliea and the i^mQedty." To convey an iJea of my oi.iuion on th3 subject, I will examine wh it Canada was in duty bound to do to secure the amnes- ty ; what it had promi-sed by its accredit-- ed agent, and what it haii done since. I. Was Canada bound to do anything to secure amnesty ? To thii questioa, Ian- ewer without hesitation Ciriada was bound to U:e the utmost endeavors to thus settle the lied River difficulties, and extirpate as fir as possible, even the very remembrance o! the same. This, my opinion, rests on a mere prin- ciple of equity, which principle impo- >3 the obligation to make amends for faults ooYumitted and misfortunes occasioned This obligation that binds every individual is still more stringent for societies and nations. In the present case, it is Canada that Jias (jlvcn occasion to an outburst of :uolence iu Ked River. So Canada is bound to make amends, not merely by opposing a vride and liberal policy to a narrow and hasty legislation, as has been done, not only by indemnifying those who have sufn fered pecuniary losses, which has also been done, but moreover; Canada was obliged to do all in its power to secure a general and complete amnesty in order to restore to their former condition, in the eye of the law, all those who, in one way or another had taken a part in those trOnblei. I Mi^ that all and erery one ahould have be«i^ pardoned, whether they were the aooredit- ed agents of the Gorernment or the me« deceived 07 the false attitude of the same ageata or the men excited by the prenub- tore and illicit intetferenoe ol Canadians in Ked Kiverooantry. 1 know thai what 1 here advance ia, at least in part, adverse to the views enter < tained by many ; nevertheless, I am con* vinoed that all judicious and impartial men will admit it, after mature consideration. I therefore repeat that Canada had to solicit the amnesty, since it was Canada that caused the outbreak. My assertion is easily proved, ana 1 defend it by argu< ments based on anthentio and irrecusable document*. Canadian delegates were sent to England to negociate for the acquisition of Rupert's Land and the North West Territoiiei. Negotiations were conducted and ended without It being brought to mind that » clvi ized popolation inhabited the country. The report of the deleg»t«8 was placed be- fore the Canadian Parliaqient in May 1869. During the same session the report was accepted, and the Canadian Legislature made and passed an act entitled " An Act for the temporary government of Rupert's Land and the North West Territory when united with Q>n^ai. ' Parliament assem'jlei at Ottawa, ai well as the delegate) sent to Eugland, for* got or did not know that they were legis- lating lor a people that had their rights, their laws, their habits, and their aspira-* tion^i for settlements inhabited by British subjects, proud of such a privilege and jealous cf the independence it affords. At Ottawa, so little is made of this peo- ple, that thev are not even mentioned, it is not even thought worth while to inform them of the meatiures adopted relative to their ejuntry and to themselves. The Governor and Council of Assiniboi' were left as ignorant of what was going on, as the rest of the cdmmanity. No one had the caurteay to inform them that Cu' ida, their future master, was planning their new political ori^anization and giving a new direction to their affairs. Such is the immediate cause of our troubles. Who bas given occasion to them ? It was not only the Uons. Cartier and McDougall de- legated to Oigland ; it was not only the Uon CanaduMuin Iranoe ia^ at lews enter - I am ooo- ipartial men nsideration. aada had (o was Canada [y aasertion it by argO' irrecusable t to England I of Rupert's Territoiiei. 1 and ended mind that a the country. is placed be- n May 1869. report was Legislature ed '< An Act ) of Kupert'a ritory when Ottawa, at Qgland, for* were leeia- heir rights, heir aspira- d by British ivilege and affords. of this peo- ?ntioned, it ie to inform relative to elveR. The Qiboi:> were oing on, as '^0 one had bat Ca '. ida, ming their id giving a Such h the bles. Who It was not Dougall de- it only the 1, advising Seneral ; it I the three «r brABches of the Canadian Legislalute ; GODsequf ntly it waa Canada. This ' blunder,' which I may call a na^ tional one, having entailed misfortunes, I consider that, at least m a certain propor< t:on, the Canadian nation becomes respon- sible for the whole ; and is, oonscquenlly, under the moral obligatioa of repairing as far as possible the calamities resulting from its mode of acting. Uavip" taken a course evidently false and inconsiderate Canada pursues: Un the 10th July, lb69, the Honorable the Miniitter of Public Works requests Col. Dennis to proceed without delay to Fort Oarry (Red River) for the purpose of selectin;; the most suit- able localities for the survey of Townships for immediate settlement. To confer and advise with Mr. Snow especially as to the ebaracter of the country about Uak Point, and its adaptability for immediate settle-< ment." And it was added : •• You will report to this department the plan of sur- vey you propose to adopt (with a rough Boap; as soon as you shall have deter- mined upon it ; but in the meantime, un- til you receive notice of its approval or myditication, you will proceed with (uch surveying operations at Oak Point, and the vicinity of Red River as may appear to you to be iiecessary in any event," The reader will please remark that " Oak Point" and a portion of the " vicinity of Bed River." were settled and claimed by French Canadian half-breeds. Colonel Dennis, on his arrival at Red River, could not faU to notice, at once, signs of disi satisfaction, whichhe pointed out to the Canadian Government, in a letter dated 3l8t August, 18()9, of which I quote what follows : '* But, — I have the honor to report to you that, in company with Dr. bchultz, 1 arrived at this settlement yesterday, about 2 o'clock p. m " 1 find that a oonsidem able degree of irritation exists among the native pepulation in view of surveys and settlements being made without the Indian title having been first extinguished I am satisfied tbat the Qovernment will, in the first place, ha^e to undertake and effect '.ne extinction of the Indian title. This question must be regarded as of the greatest importance. In connec- tion therewith^ 1 would reiterate to you my conviction, as expressed while at Ot- tawa, tbat no time should be lost. The necessity for prompt action is more apt parent to me now than it se«mtd even Uten.' '« i^upposing the transfer from the Comn pany to tuve been complete, it is poisibie that the object m(>y be cariied cut yet thufall. " There can be DO question as !o the prejudicial effects in retarding the eettle- ment of the country, should Half»breeds and Indians assume a position of hostility to any extent whatever towards in- coming settlers or the Government. The difficulties of the position may be much enhanced by giving the discontented par- ties the winter to brood over, and concert measures in opposition to the views of the Government. In the meantime the French half-breedp, who constitute about oceit fourth or cne-di'th (say 3,C0O soula) of the settlement, aie likely to prove a turbulent element. This class have gone i-o far as to threaten violence ehculd tuiveys be at- tempted to be made." The 28th of the same' month. Col. Den/* nis wrote :<• I have again to remark the uneasy feeling which exists in tbe half- breed and Indian element with regard to what they conceive to be premature action taken by the Qovernment in proceeding to effect a survey of the hnds. " Oveilooking tbe above information, a proposed system of surveys was approved by the Privy Council. Regardless of harm already done, and heedless of its conso' quences the fallowing instructiocs are sent to Col. Dennis. '• Ottawa, October 4th, 1869. " Sir,— 1 have the honour to inform you that the Governmer\t, upon the recom- mendation of the Minister of Public Works, has approved of the system pro- posed by you in your report dated 28 th of August last, for the survey and sub-division of Townships in the North West territories. You are, therefore, authorised to proceed with the surveys on the plan proposed." . . *< I have, &a, (Signed) "F. BsAinr, Secretary." Meanwhile the surveys were going on, and produced tiie effect naturally expect/* ed by all. 1 leave to others to ascertain who is personally responsible for these proceedings. I merely say that they are to be charged to Canada. A member of the Cabinet of Ottawa, writing on these surveyo goes so far as to say : " The course taken was the moat imprudent that could have been adopted. It can only be ascribed to infatuation." Still more, information from the most reliable quarters were furnished to the Cuiadian Oovernment, about the dissatis- fao< ion prevailing at Red River. No at- tenlioiii was paid to the informants. On the 29ih September of the same year, a commission under the Great Seal of Can' % li I' lt(. III • ! ll H'U, w.is i-(8iiei • ipjoiutiag the Hon. W. MoD>>ug»ll, (J. B., to be L1eutea%nt Qov^ «rnor ot tha Norlhwe^t Territories," in view of the transfer ot the said territories to the CriRiiciiin Government. In the month of Ootober the would-be Lieutenant Governor set out taking •< with him 35'3 breech'had'nrf rifles with 3).Ol}0 rounds of ammuiilion," (oircumstanoe published in the newsnapers of the Canadi^in capital), to go and enter a country where Canada had not the slightest authority, and which was not tranafered until the 16t,h July of the following year. After such proceedings, no one will be Burprinad at the saying of Ltrd Qranville, 30th November 18G9 :...." the Canadian Government. . . .undertook certain opera- tions in respect of land and directed the future Lieutenant Governor to enter the territory. Mr. MoDougall, goes next, it appears, by armed resistance, muu iub disturbances cauted by his presence . . .The Canadian Government having, by this measure gioen an occasion, to an outburst •of violence in a territory." I have placed in italics the words caused by his presence and given occasion used by the most Uon" ourable, the Secretary of State for the colonies to show to the Canadian Govern- ment that the troubles were the result of its policy. The same fact is acknowledged in a re- port of a committee o( the Honourable the Privy Council, dated 16th December, 1869. •< The resistance of this misguided people is evidently not against tb6 Bove'> -reignty of Eer Mnjasty or the Govern i ment of the Hudson's Bay Company, but to ike aisumplion of Government by Can- «da." Things wet e getting worse and worse at Bed River, because . nothing was done to remedy the evil ; on the contrary, the so called "Canadian party" succeeded to .hurry the authorized Canadian agents to wards regretable and illegal measures. The Ist December, 18('>9, the future Canadian Lieutenant Governor issued a proclamation, in which be "used the Queen's name without her authority ; at- tributed to Her Majesty acts which she has not yet performed; a..3umes the authority of Lieutenant Governor which did not belong to him, and purported to extinguish the powers belonging to the only legal Governor of the Territory," who, in fact, resigned his authority, eup» posing it extinguished, (as Ix>rd Granville had foreseen) by a proclamation, the nuU lity of which was not suspected by him. The same day. the same future Liouten» ant Governor of the Northwest set forth another proclamationi by which he nomii* nated and appointed JohnStoughton Den- nis to be hia Lieutenant »nd a conservator of the peace in and for the Northwest Territory. r at the sharp remonstrance addressed to Hon. W. McDougall by the Honorable the Sec* retary of Htate. for the Provinces, in dea« patch dated 24th December, 1869 : « The exertion of the military force against the misguided people now in arms, eve^ if under the sanction of law, was not to be hastily risked But a? the organizUion and use of such a force was. under the circumstances, entirely illegal, the Govi* emor General in Council cannot disguise from you the weight of responsibility you have incurred." "The receipt of your despatch of the 6 th instant, which reached me on the 23rd with its enclosures <2A,' '2 6,' <2G,' and the course taken by Colonel Dennis as described in those papers, make it neces^ sr.ry vrithout further dely, to send this . despatch by a special messenger." " I wish I could inform you that this re* port had entirely relieved the Governor General and Council from the anxiety al< ready expressed. It is true that no bided bad been shed up to the 6 th, and you had not carried out your intention of occupy- ing the Stockade, near Pembina, with an armed party, but thq proceedings of Colo« nel lOennis, as reported by himself, are so reckless and extraordinary that there can be no relief fron. solicitude wbile an officer so impudent is acting under your authority." "Had the inhabitants of Kupert's Land on the breaking out of the disturbances, risen and put an end to them, or had Governor McTavlsh organized a force to oc- oupy his forts and maintain his authority, all would have been well, and Riel and his people would have been responsible for 19 aoy bloodshed or property deatro) ed. But Oolonel Dennis with no legal authority, proceeds to seiie the fort, then in posses- sion, not of the insurgents, but of the Hudson's Bay (Jocapany, and to garrison it with a mixed force of whites and In- dlans, and prepares to give battle to the insurgents should a junction be formed with some forces which he has ordered to be drilled on the AsBiniboine. He ap- pears never to have thought that the mon ment war commenced,' all tbe white iD> habitants would be at the mercy of the Indians, by whom they are largely ouIn numbered, and divided as they would, be might be easily overpowered. '•It is irapcsiiible to read the Colonel's account of hia attempt to persuade Jtidgo Black to aid him in proclaiming Martuil Law witbout strong feeling of regret that you should have been represented in the settlement, by a person with so little diss oretion. It is no wonder '^n*. Judge Black was frightened at tbe jj^upObal, as he must have known that Colonel Dennis would have to answer at the Bar of Justice for every lite lost, by such an assumption of authority, and that the illegal seizure of an American citizen, would at onoe pro< yoke interference in tbe quarrel and lead to very serious oomplications." I have, Ac, (Signed,) Joseph Howb. The Honorable Mr. Howe while giving a severe but just appreciation of the pro- ceedings of Canadian agents, failed to draw the conclusion that did not escape Lord Granville, as may be seen in hia dispatch of the 26th January already quoted. "I much more seriously regret the proclamation put forth by Mr. McDougall, and tbe com* mission issued by him to ColoDel These proceedings have certainly en- hanced the reapomibilUy of the Canadian GovernvienV All this has been but too often re^ peated, and if 1 come over it again, it is merely to express the regret that Canada has not, long ere tbi^, caused it to be buried in oblivion, by repairing the con- sequences of tbe responsibility incurred. Far from me the desire or inteation to re- call bitter remembrances, or the idea to provoke painful recriminations ; quite the contrary, 1 make the largest allowance possible for circumstances. I willingly admit good faith and the best motives in those who gave orders. I do not overlook the merit of those who obeyed, and who, in so doing, exposed their lives for what they supposed to be a legitimate object. Nevertheless, the bare recited facts, leaving all bad motive* uide, cannot but prove that illegal and even criminal acta have been committed by clticial Canadian agency ; that such acts have led to the most deplorable results ; and I moreover say : Canada thus guilty was bound to sO'' licit an amnesty by all the means in its Eower. Ye8, I repeat, Canada should ave begged the pardon by amnesty for its own agents, the agents of its own gov- ernment who had • caused disturbances.' Caniida f>hould have asked pardon by am- nesty for those who, believing the same agents, had seconded and asaistpd them in reprehensible actH. l.'anada had also the obligation to prens the grant of am- nesty in I'avoP of thote that such inoonsidn erate proceedings provoked to a lesistnnoe leas guilty than the attack that gave rise to it. I say less guilty in conformance with the appreciation expressed by tbe Honor- able the Secretary of State for the Provinces in hia despatch of^the 24th of December already ^engthly quoted : " It was equally dear, that if you were invested with the legal title to govern, without being able to get into Rupert's Ltnd, or exercise any authority, the revolutionary government would be strengthened by your weakness, and would in fact (tbe proclamation having superseded Governor MoTavi8h)6e the only Oovemment in the territory, until put down by force of arms. The Honourable the Privy Council did not hesitate to express the same views on the subject even before the events of the beginning of December had been brought to their knowledge. I read in the report of then- committee dated 16lh December, as follows : *' While the issue of the pro- clamation would put an end to the gov- ernment of the Hudson's Bay Company it would not substitute government by Can- ada therefor. Such a government is physically impossible until the armed re« sistance is ended, and thus a state of anarchy and contusion would ensue and a legal status viight be gioen to any gov.rii' mentde facto formed by the inhabitants for the protection of their lives and property." If the Canadian Government itself did thus, openly and otUcially, express such views, relative to the proclamations and warlike preparations of the beginning of December, wliat can be said of the movent ment that took place two months later, and that had the lamentable result of ihe killing of Sutherland and Parisien on one hand and the execution of Thomas Scott on the other ? Once more I regret that I recall these deplorable circumstajces, merely to ex- lit J] 20 •mi itA^^M^., f! Hn no loss of lives during o ir political difficulties had it not been tor the undue interierence of Cana- dians. I then say that Canada, as a nation, haa assumed an immense responsibility in the troubles of the Northwest, and it was its duty to do all in its power, to allay the anxiety, and thereby complete as lar as possible the reparatiooa required in honor and justice. IL Has Canada by its accredited agents promised amnesty 7 I answer without the slightest hesitation, yes, such promise has been made repeatedly both verbally and in writ ng. The reader will please remember what I have already said, when speaking of the amnesty by the Government of the Do- minion, I merely refer to its mediation with Her Majesty, or to the knowledge it may have of the Ruyal good will. While at Ottawa in February, 1870, at ikepartieutar request qfthe Canadian Oov- irnment, i had long and numerous inter- views with the members of the Cabinet, •specially with those more particularly en* Siged in the question of the Northwest, y a decision of the Privy Council, taken in my presence, all the documents rsloA tive to Red River affairs were handed to me, and 1 had all the facility to study them and to receive all desirable explana< tions. I saw members of the Cabinet pri-' vately. I saw them together and even with the Governor Oeneral. They spoke without reserve, and they requested me to freely repeat to the people of Red River what I was told at Ottawa. One desire, above all, seemed to predominate, the Gov- ernment deeired the pacification without violence, without having recourse to force, without revenge, without spite. The ministers laughed at the idea of subjugating and conquering as per- fectly liiiculous, and spoke of nothing more than to peaceably gain the assent and good will of the people. The tone used was so constantly the same that unless afSioted by s degree of stupidity, which 1 cannot admit, I had reason to believe that Hi) Excellency was right when writing to <>You Are fully is of the views of my Govern^ me, on the subject, possession ment." All my intercourse with th* Federal Ministers, all the information furnished me by them, all tended to persuade me that the grant of the amnesty was the easiest question at stake, and that the Canadian Government really deserved the approval fiven by Earl Granville in his dispatch of th January, I87U, already mentioned. « I observe with great satisfaction the anxiety manifested by the Canadian Government to avoid any collision with the insurgenta in the Red River settlement, and to exhaust all means of explanation and eoneiliathn be- Jare having recourse to force." It is easy to judge ot the impression pro- duced on my mind, by a testimony oom- ing from such high quarters, and comment- ed upon with the legitimate satisfaction experienced by the Federal Ministers at the approvdl of their conduct by the Cabi- net ot Her Majesty. Nevertheless, as it haa been said, that <• perhaps J did not understand," or that I had not rightly expressed the views of the Government, 1 wul continue to give the proofs of my convictions, which convictions could alone have inspired my mode of ob* jection. The fbllowing letter was handed to me at Ottawa by the Honorable the Secretary ot State for the Provinces : ••Ottawa, 16th Feby., 1870. •< Mt Lord,— lam commanded by His Excellency the Governor Ctoneral to ao^ knowledge and thank you for the prompti« tude with which you placed your services at the digposal of this Government, and undertook a winter voyage and journey. that you might, by your presence and influence, aid in the suppression of the unlocked for disturbances which had broken out in the ^orthwest. •' I have the honor to enclose for your information : • •'- - - .■ .u-. ,v , i . , *• 1 . A copy of the instructions given to the Hon. Wm. MoDougall on the 28th September last. ,.,,j ,^,, •• 2. Copy of a further letter of instruc- tions addressed to Mr. MoDougall on the 7th November. . » . i j , i:;,,; ; ••3. Copy of a letter of initructions to the Very Rev. Vicar General Thibeault on the 4th December. •'4. Copy of a proclamation, issued by Qis Excellency the Governor Goneral, ad- dressed to the inhabitants '*f the North- west territories by the express desire of the Queen. i' 21 <' 5. Copy of • latter »dclr6M«d io the MeoMterTOf SUto, by Oomdd A. Bmilb, Btq.. of MontrMd, on Um Mih No?emb«r. «• 6. Oopy of a UtUr of iMtruoUon* ad- droved by mo to Mr. Smith, oa tho 26tb NoTorabor but. •• 7. A Mioi-offloial latter, addrauad by tha Mloiatar of JutUoe, on tha 3rd January, 1870. to Mr. Smith, also— •< 8 Copy of tha Commiuioo iuuad to Mr. Hmith on tha 17th of January, 1870. <^Copiaa of tha proclamation, issued by Mr. MoDougall, at or near Pembina, and of the Commission iuuad to Colonel Sennia, having been printed in the Cana- dian papers and widely circulated at the lied Uiyer, are, it is assumed, quite within your reaoh, and are not furnished ; but it ia important that you should know that the nroceedings by which the lives and properties of Uia people of Rupert's Land ware jeopard iied for a time, were at once disavowed and condemned by the Qovernx ment of this Dominion, as you will readily discover In the dispatch addressed by me to Mr. McDougaU. on the 21th Decem- ber, a copy of which ia enclosed. '' Your Lordship will perceive in these papers the policy which it was, and is, the desire of the Canadian Government to establish in th^ North VTest. The peojple of Canada have no interest in the creation of iDstitutiona in Bupert's Land wh!6h public opinion condemns, nor would they wish to see a line race of people trained to discontent and Insubordination by the preaenoa of an iinwise system of Goverax ment, to which British subjects are un- accustomed or averse. The^ look forward to the period when institutions moulded upon th-je which the other Provinces enjoy, may be established, and in the mean time would deeply regret if the civil and religious liberty of the whole popula- tion were not n adequately protected by Buch temporary arrangements as it may be prudent at present to make. " A convention his been called, and is now sitting at Fort Garry, to collect the viens of the pepple as to tiid powers wliich they may consider it wise for Parliament to confer, and the Local Legislature to assume. Wlien the procaedings of that Conference kive been reviewed by the Privy Council, you may expect to hear from me again ; and, in the meantime, should they be communicated to you on the way, Uia Excellency will be glad to be favored with any observations that you may have leisure to make. '*You are aware that the Very Revd.ti»e Vicar General Thibeault, and Messrs. Don- ald A. Smith and Charles DeSalaberry^ are fcn («■(, alnady in Ruport's Land, ebargtd with • Uununiaakio fhMn Ooveromeot. Bb- oloaad f Uttwi to Iboao gantlaoMii, of which yuu will obligo mo by taking ohargt, and I an oommanoM to ozprMs the cm« sir* of His fiKoallonoy that you will oo- operata with them im their well dir«otMl efforts to seouro a peaceful solution of A^ difficulties in the Northwest Territoriaa, which tiave caused His Excellency mach anxiety, but which by your jomt encteavors, it is hoped may be speedily removed." ••I have the honor to be, "My Lord, "Your Lordship's mott obd't sev't., (Signed,) JocKi-H Llowa. The Very Revd , The Bishop of St. Boniface. It ij useless to say that the very fact of I equesting a Bishop to return in haste to the midst of his Hcjck, in order to bring a peaceful solution of ditBoultiea, bringa with it the idea of an amnesty to be grant-* ed by the authorities as well aa that of voluntary submission on the part of the people. The Pastor is the father of bia people, and it would be unreasonable to . expect that he will act the part of a police- man or of a oonatable. Consequently, the oMssageentrusted tome was one of peace, so the •'desire of His Rxoallency was; that I woiiild GO operata" with the above men- tioned gentle "to secure a peac^ul sottiUtn of.thedJfficuUUsof the North Weet." Now^ a word of explanation on the documents furnished to me, 1 and 2. Copies of instructions given to Mr. Uc- Dougali at difl'erent times, were to be brought before the people to convince them of the liberal intentions of the Can" adian Government. 3. The letter of the Uocorable the Secretary of ^tate, to Hi© Very Revd. J. B. Tl oeault, V. G . contiiins the fV Uowing passages : Ottawa, Dec. 4th, 1869. S cation of the country, Mr. McDougall, the Hudson's Bay authorities and yourself." •'As the informations received by the Government here are necessarily imperfect, and as the circumstances at the Red River are continually changing, it is not oorv sidered expedient to hamper you with more specific instnn ea." •* You will thsrafor* act aooordlDf lo ttebMtof Tour judfinent." .... So the UoDOunibr* Donald A. Hnitb, Bpaoial Ck>mmlMioDer, wm ulio to tak* '* auob atajMi aa maj Mam motl proper Tor enroling tba peaeeabU trtQsrer of tbaoouDtrjr, and endaaTOr to arrange oueijitam for ibrnpacificaUon ol tbe ouo* ttj. (and alter all) aotaooording to tbe best of hla judgment. Aa tbe circamitanoea at tbe Red Hirer were oontinuallj cbang* init it was not oon^idered expedient to hamper bim wiib more epeoitio inatru»> Uone." Urbllat giring me all tbe documenta and requesting me to cooperate wilb ide«f-rs. Tbibeault, Hmitb, and DaSalabery it waa ■urely agreed to that the promise made to me, would uot be modified by a situa* tion tbat tbe aaid tbree Kontlemen might btve aooepted or which oircumatancea might bare firoed them to accept pre- Tioua to my arrival. And why give me the despatch of the 24th of December censuring so severely the conduct of employees of tbe Canadian Qovemment, if not to pi riuade tbe peo- ple of Red Uiver tbat there was no inten- tion to reduce them by force, but on the oontrary, merely to ask their aasentment, which, of course, was impossible without Mauranoe of an amnesty. I would recommend to tbe most seiious attention to the following letter addressed and handed tn me by the Honorable the Minister of Justice, Sir John A. Macdon* aid: (Private.) •' DKl'A&TMaNT OV JUSTIOB, OttaWA, '•C'rnment with respf ot to the mode oi dealing with the Northwest. " We have fully explained to you and desire ) ou to assure the Council authori« tallvf ly tbat it is the intention of Canada to grant to tbe people of tbe Northwest, ine same tree institutions which they them- selves enjoy. Had not these unfortunate events occurred, tbe Canndian (i ivemment bad hoped long ere this to have received a report from tbe Council through Mr. McDougall as to the best means of speedily organizing the Qovernjaent with repre- sentative institutions. *' I hope that they will be able immft> diately to tal it. I thenee Sir John A. light be ^». are author* at if the Com- 'ed, not onljf granted, but, claim the paT- the Canadiati reeo the in- apany's 6ov<< i>ut the Pro- placed it, had ftpreaentauYWi 9y. f^ovenior nvmbera of propriety of had replied : xl's sake, and 1 the settle., arable Doi^d >rtby motinsp, le same Goth report page le ^igniQoai^^ rt's Land and inerally, now pie to ele9t Provisioaal acur with this lacon McLean company me, of the settle- eral parishes nost loyal to desirous for ready chosen ed to all that sional in the iatended ez- ferance of the iBuring safety leaniime.' t 1 found es- ly arrival, se* Government ig for the re- Government, ifore, annihi* )88ed by the the grant of demnity for lentiyl com munioated to the ' leaders' the promise made by ti'a John A. liaodonald. Instead of rectifying my error, if 1 have oommitted one, I have besn left in it until this day. 1 have written and spoken, over and over again, to the Federal MinisterF, whose words I had oonveyed to the people of Bed River, and they invariably gave me to understand that my conduct and asser- tions at Fort Garry bsrmonized perfectly with their views and desires, and that 1 was entirely justifiable in saying that a ftall and complete amnesty would be granted, meanwhile maintaining the prin- dple that the exercise of the prerogative Of mercy rested solely with Her Msjesty the Queen, and that the Canadian Government had no power to grant such amnesty . The promise made having largely con- tributed to restore confidence, I strong- ly reoommtnded to send the delegates without delay, their departure seeming to be adjourned indefinitely. Sir John A. Macdonald's letter " assur- ing them that they would be kindly re- ceived and their suggestions fully con- sidered, their expenses coming and re- turning and while staying in Ottawa would DO defrayed by the Canadian Gov- ernment." Mr Howe's telegram, asking for a dele- gation, even after be had received the •• Bill of Bights" cauied the greatest satisfaction, and determined the Provi- sionftl Government to take the important step proposed. he delegates left Fort Garry on the 22nd March, reached Ottawa and were revived officially, negotiated with the Otnadun Government taking for a basis of the same negotiations a certain Bill of Bights not that prtpared by tJu Conomtion, and which 1 had telfgraphed to Mr. Howe but quite a different one subsequently finmed by the £xecutiv6 of the Prooisional Qovemment, and officially handed to the delegates by the Secretary of the same Government. Ihe 12th clause of this "Bill of Bights" [or rather instructions] was at once orcaght forward as a audition aire qua non of any agreement between the delegates of the Northwest and the Government of Canada. This condition reads as fol- lows : .'-;- - ' . ■ ' XIX. " That all delta contracted by the Pro- visional Qovemment of the Territory of the Northwest now called Ajsiniboia in consequence of the illegal and inconsider- ated measures adopted by Canadian offi- cials, to bring about a civil war in our, midst, be pa'd out of Ihe Dominion Trea- sury ; and that none of the Provisional Government, or any of those acting under them be in any ynj held liable or re- sponsible with regard to the movement or any of the actions which led to the present negociations." ''There can be no doubt as to the meanx ing of tbiB. The Honorable Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George S. Carlier, who had been officially appointed by their Government to treat with the delegates of the North nestydeolared "that they were in a position tu '•.ssure the delegates that the intention of Her Majesty was to grant it (the amnesty) ; that they could guarauii tee its promulgation, and tliat it would, in fact, be proclaimed immediately atter the passing of the'biU of Manitoba." As a proof of this assertion, I have the official report of the delegation loth Pro« sional Government and to the Legislative Assembly of Aisiniboia. I have, morod over, a petition addressed to Her Majesty the Queen of England, in February, 1872, and signed by Messrs. Bitchot and iScott, the only two delegates that remained at Ottawa, until the close of negotiations. I also have the swotn affidavit of the Bevd. Mr. Kitchot, already cited in full on page 14, and I may add, 1 have the ackuowledgi« ment of the fact, made to me by the Ministers themselves. The interview of the ]9th May, referred to in the above mentioned irrecusable document, was occasioned by a letter of the Bevd. Mr. Bitchot to Sir George B. Cartier. The letter written on the eve of the said interview (18th May), contains the following paragraph : ** f he questions mentioned in the 19tti clause of our iUi^ structions, especially the amnesty, are of the Utmost importance. I am aatisfiad, and the past is a security for the future, that previous to our departure yru will furnish us all the guarantees promised by Sir John and you, relative to these most important questions." Having received this letter, before givx ing a written answer. Sir George £. Car^ tier went himself for the delegates, and accompanied them to His Excellency the Ctovernor General, that he might "renew the assurances that the amnesty would certainly be granted." It was in the same circumstance (on the 19th May) that the immediate Bepresenta- tive of Her Majesty the Qaeen, specially authorized to use the name of our beloved Sovereign, gave to the delegates the "renewed assurance" spoken of by the Bev. Mr. Bitchot in bis sworn declara*. tion. 26 "!l ( P I; .15 ; '^ ■■H \ ii ; ,1 t hi \il i H - 11 if ■I Tbia having oeendone, the Honourable Canadian Ministei, the only one (Sir John A. Macdonald) being ill, charged by the Federal QoTernmeni''rayed by the Canadian Exchequer. The delegates were chosen by the Pre- sident of the Provisional Government : 27 at>d even bjr der to bear by my deter- lector private any letter or lor personal the reliance ind in honour I shall oers uty by adding 1 on the quea- reirs, without , what I hare only flerires and tojusti- tssertion made n promised by «ve, 1 could •ns who could promise had to me. ernment done ty? An answer )een given, in 8. 1 will add Dominion has but reasonas lat, m fact, an [ranted to all rt whatsoeTer h West, rernment has les to those of I most repre- tly caused the >re. same Govern- lose who had ?erlooked all DIB hare been iurely not too tions, that an amnesty had notbee'n grant- ed ? Though ita best friends regret its omissions on the subject, nevertheless, there is nothing in its actions tending to shew that the granting of an amnesty was not an accomplished fact. The strongest and most unjust pressure has been used to force the author» ities to take somo step<> against the leaders of the ez-Frovisiopal Govern- ment, interpellations h>ve oeen made in the House to provoke tne denial of an amnesty ; all has been useless. The Canadian Government persuaded, on the one hand, that the difiiculties had been occasioned by its acts and those of its officials ; and on the other, satisfied that the amnesty had been promised through its accredited agency, remained consistent with itself and refused to repu-> diate the consequence) of ita policy. The Canadian Government, I say, at least through (hose who were in power at the time of the troubles, has done nothing to destroy the impression given, viz. : "That the amnesty would undoubtedly be grant- ed ; still more, that the said amnesty would reach JUlanitoba before the arrival of the Lieutenant Governor of the Pr On vince, and that while awaiting its publica- tion, he, the Governor Genersd would give order that no annoyance would result to any one of those implicated m the troublea of 1869 and 1870. What 1 have said relative to the Impe- rial and Federal authorities should sufBoe to indicate the action of those of Manito- ba concerning the subject I am treating of. I shall, however, examine ^bother our Provincial authorities had any obliga- tions in that respect, and take a rapid glance ovei: the manner m which such ob« ligations have been fulfilled. 1 . Should the question of Amnesty at- tract the attention of those who govern and administer affairs in Manitoba? To this I will agam answer, without hesi- tation, yes I Those in power in )Iani- toba could not, or cannot, lose sight of the amnesty. The Proviucial authori- ties, in the limits of their respective at* tributes, are the legal guardians, not only of the general laws of the Federal Union, but they are, moreover, under the strict obligation of safe-guarding the special conditions, on which the Province they ad- minister became an integral part of the Dominion of Canada. The Provincial policy, at least in this matter, should ne- cessarily reflect the Federal policy, the lat- ter being nothing but the echo of the im- perial one. I have proved that the Government of Her Majesty bad imposed certaiA condi- tions before consenting to the union of the Northwest with Canada. Canada had adopted them, and, m order to avoid all misunderstanding, a delegation had bisen asked for and officially received. The dele- gates had negotiated and come to an agreement as to the stipulations required and accepted both at Ottawa and Bed Biver. Such agreement and stipulations are the basis on which rests the union of our Province with the Dominion. The same negotiation?, ordered by the Impe- rial Government, received its sanction. Tbe Federal authorities that conducted and closed those negotiations, took thelieby the engagement to respect them, and to cause them to be reespected. It is then evident that such settlements binds in the strictest manner all those in s 29 |ioy. The- at least JBr at th«- kothine to "That I be grant- amnesty le arrival Mhe P;o» I publfca- rould give ' result to » troubles mesty at- ho govern a? louthesi- in ^ani- sight of author!- ective at> Dot only ■al Union, the strict e special e they ad- ut of the Provincial hould ne- T, the lat f the im- Dment of jA ooudi- I union of nadahad avoid all liad been he dele- le to .an required ' audited >uIation8 union of a. The i Impe- unction, iducted I, took t them, peoted. ements tose in i power in Manitoba, as Euch power is a mere resu't of the same. Without the agreement come to at Ot- tawa, in April and May, 1870, there would not be on earth a spot of land, called the « Province of Manitoba :" there would not be in our midst an !£:zecutive Council whose members are termed '< the Minisn ters of State for Manitoba ;" such institu- tions as the "Legislative Council" and " Legislative Assembly." of Manitoba, would be yet unheard ot. Outside of the instructions given to the delegates by the Provisional Government, no one ever thought, for the time, of the mode of adi ministration then prqjposed and accepted, and by which we are now governed. The three branches of our Legislature are therefore the result of the above men,' tioned negotiations. Then, the civil powers our Province now enjoys, owe their existence to the arrangement con- eluded between the Government of the Dominion and the delegates of the North West, sent and directed by the Provisional Government. Such arrangements, not only as a whole, but even in ibeir details ought to be held as sacred, and should bo known and safe- guarded by all and every one of those who possess any jorisdiotion in the Province of Manitoba. The appointment of our oificials being the result of the conventions agreed to, they could not and have not any promise to make relative to amnesty. Their sole . duty in thiq line is to ascertain and guard what has been done by superior authori> ties. I have proved that the task is easy, at least, as far as the acquiring the know>< ledge of it is concerned . The political difficulties of the Bed Kiver having been settled, previjus to the oxiotonce of the Province of Manitoba, cannot be brought under the control of , the actual authorities of the same Pro- vince, that should faithfully and constant- ly follow the path prepared both by the Government of 11 or ikiajesty and that of the Dominion. I cannot expect that what I kfrite here will be accepted by men blinded by pre- judice, but it will surely be admitted by all who will view the matter impartially, together with the act of Manitoba, certain agreements were passed, signed, and ex- plained to the Delegates by the represen.i tatives of the Government of Ottawa. Such were the conditions of our union with the Dominion, t^ut such conditions, I repeat, should be studied and known hj our local authorities, not only as a whole, but in their minutest details. No one has a right to command without being certain that there is an obligation to obey ; and it is impossible to guide with security in an uulcnown path. An impartial judgment cannot be reudeied without the knowledge of the privileges aud immunities to which the justiciable have a sure and legitimate right. The overluokiog or forgetting of these privileges can easily entail the most deplorable results. Even while invoking duty and justice the most imperative duties may be neglected and the grossest injustice committed. '-, order to avert such a misfortune whicL, 'ar all, is not chimerical, I again repeat that the ques- tion of amnesty should attrsct the atten- tion of those who govern and administer the affairs in Manitoba. 11. During the debates on the Bill of Manitoba, a speech delivered in the Com- mons of Ottawa inspired to the Govern- ment the idea that the orator might be the man of its choice, the one to whom they could conhde the important and de- licate task of continuing in Manitoba, the work of moderation and conciliation begun at Ottawa and that had been suggested and entirely auctioned by England. The Honourab' iams George Archibald was chosen as mat Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. ' I am not aware of the instru&t tions given to the new Governor ; but it is obvious to every one capable of refir "a, that they were such as to determiL.^ him to piaintain the attitude taken by the Im- perial and Federal authorities. Any other policy, any other line of conduct, after the negotiations and the passage of the Act of Manitoba would have been so inconsis- tent (not to say so criminal) that a feeling of justice and self respect would have forced the Honorable Mr. Archibald to repudiate it. I therefore consider as certain thit the new Lieut. - Governor received orders to leave nothing undone to restore confidence towards the Canadian Government, and good intelli- gence among the people. (Jseless to say that such was not possible except by eu' deavoring to calm excitement, instead of provoking it, or in other words, by for- getting the past, and applying the natu- ral consequences of amnesty. This poli- cy was adopted by the authorities of Manitoba. A proclamation was issued inviting all parties to reassume their usual occupa» tions, with promise of equal protectioin for all and every one. A member of His Honor's Cabinet, the one representing the French population, went purposely through different French parishes to eZ' plain the said proclamation in its widest •ad moct antatti awMr. Mnuixif tiM pto* pi* Uwt Lb» new lieateoutt (Juvamor «m perfect]/ iKOO'jaiated wttfa the proauM MMle St tJttMm, aod ttau oooe ot ihom promiMt wooid be oreriooked, com— qoentJ/ tiMt ib« promue oi usDut/ iK»kl 6« r«i«pected Petitioiu pretWDg tb« aireit of Ihi* one •nd tb*t oat, cauJuig f'>r TeogeikQ^e oo thk utd tiot ; pfrtitioot dr»w up m Um mott rioleot ttvLe were pretrated to Hia HoDor. Tbe Uck of respect acKi ooortesj if«it BO f ^r M bo embitter the Terr act of welcoming the repreeeotatire of saperior autfaoritj bjpoariog hatred and rerenge OT«r the itOihiMtt pre*«mted. The OoiemoT feeling that hix pontion f •'juire'i DOfjle asd inriepeodeot freedcwn. tooBt»t,tlj replied to all in the uone tone of moderation, urging tbem to forget ih? pa>t and eU" received tbe c3mmi98ion of trust. Recriminations were beard and even threats were loudly made, but aU to no avail. The path was beaten, duty obliged to follow in it, and tbe Government con- Htftntly perceived it, overcoming all ob- stacles thrown in the way by the invoca^ tion of past troubles. Honorable appoinme. Ik were made, and a seat in the Legiilative Council was given to the Vice-Preuidentot the ex Provisional Government, the same gentleman that bad been arrested and incarcerated at Fort Garry, for a fen bour^, on tbe arrival ot «be troops. WitiiyQi k&ving oiy [muirm i oo tteloUDwa^ 1 hBve all riason to be- lieve (and it is tteepioiaaaf eliiMMevvry I) that steps were tkkaa to prevent or any attempt made t» arreet or pro- sy of taose wbo h»d takeo a pert i0 the pest diS^tiee. The ofbeen of tbe Crown m M»a:boba eoold sot have acted as they lid, had they not been ooovieced that tbe amiMsty had been graated, and tbu the procUmation of Her Majesty had, in f set. depnved oar Courts of aUiariadis> tJou relative to oar pohtieal difficnlties and thoa* roonected wiUi than Ihiring the first Aesion ot the fint Par« liameot of Maotoba, a motion ti^*fhig barely to provoke an investigatioa of the said political difficultiee, indoding the death of Scott, was broagbt before the House, bat was negatived by an amend* mint supported by a large majarity of the Hooae, aoii even by the memt>er wbo had aeoooded the original motion. In this circamstanoe, as in muiy others, the Hou«e proved by its vote that it be« heved in the amnesty. .Speeches of tbe members of tbe Cabinet proved clearly that sach was their convictions and that they defended it. DariDg tbe second Session of tbe same PAriiament. tbe three branches of tbe Legislature expressed tbe same opinion in a still more positive and nnanimoos manner. It is then of public notoriety tbit the whole oondnct of tbe Government of Man- itoba from iu outset, denotes a belief in amnesty. It is also clear that it was mnch more difficult at tbe outset than it has been since, to act in acoordanoe with that belief. So much so, that tbe policy of tbe Government did not prevent marmurings, threats and even acts of violence on the part of those not moved by that spirit of conciliation. French Half-breeds were from time to time, brutally assailed, and one of tbem was cowardly assassinated a few days after tbe arrival of tbe Lieuten- ant-(iovemor. Tbe 'Metis' leaders of the ex-Provincial Government, were more than any one else, exposed to the llUwili and vengeance of tboee who did not even take trouble to dissemble their feelings. Tbe Government discountenanced, as much as possible, such proceedings, it was, however, very easy for outsiders to believe that the 'Metis' thus vexed would eagerly receive and join with men coming under tbe pretextr of protecting tbem. Such, however, wai\ not tbe case, * Tbe 'Metis' could not but feel and regret tbe unfatf proceedings to which tbe; were submitted, but, in th9 meantime, they ki Ic it tl w P i a I ] ] \ 1 1 i J 1 < I 31 to U- tftmry itor or pro. > put I of the Ire acted iTicced ^ted, and itylttd, ianMlio> Itietand |fint Pari taoding of Um nc the ifore the amend* itf of the who had 7othen, it be. of the clearlj nd that le same of the opinion lanixnoos thit the of Han- t>elief in ras mach an it has nth that T of the norings, on the ipirit of l» were »d, and aated a Lieuten* 3 of the 9re than 'iU and en take Bed, as Qgs. It lera to I would coming them. J. *The et the ' were , they ^' knew that it the Government wai power- leaa to give them more protection, at leaat, it waa not in connivance with the enemies they had in the Province ; and the 'Metis' were far imm comitenanciiig their pre» teno d friends from abroad, as I shall prove, and the proof is such that by itself, it would in honor necessitate the grant of an amnesty, even if there had never been a question of it befnrA . Through an nnezplainalle blindness Fenians undertook the conquest of the Province of Manitoba. This criminal undertaking becomes perfectly ridiculous wh'^n the number engaged in it is known. Beiore it was possible to ascertain the whole truth, the most alarming rumors spread through the Province. ''An army I Aimies were to invade the whole country! The entire population of the Province could not sustain the first shock of the numerous battalions under the command of experienced officers, lurqj|»hed with arms and ammunition for a regular cam- paign." It is easy to laugh now at such nonsense ; but it must be owned that very few laughed, at the beeinning of October, 1871. There was sufficient ex- citement at the lime to justify the appre- hensions of the Government and people of Manitoba. The manner m which the " Metis" had been treated in Winnipeg caused some mistrust as to their willingness to come forward in the conllict which seemed im- minent. It waa even dreaded that they would be inclined to join with the invad* er*, and, in reality, this was what the lat« ter expected, although their expectation waa entirely groundless. There waa then but one cry in Winnipeg, *' Let Biel come forward now ; let him show his loyalty ; let the Metis take arms and we shall forgat the past." These last words, which express the policy of the Government, were in time of danger, used by the enemies of the people: they had hitherto to sovereignly despised, and no doubt, they would have found their effect, had the fear that dictated them not been so sudden'y dispelled. The fears however ungrounded were not less real, and it was the duty of the au - thcrities to ensure, by all the means in their power, the integrity of the empire, threatened in the small and weak Fro* vinoe of Manitoba. Nothing less than the unanimous oo«eperation of all the citizens seemed neceasary to repel the enemy . I give this explanation for the better understanding, with regard to the amnesty, of the bearing of the following documents Ics'J^h i refjecHulIy ckII fie attention of every Catadian htnng at tesrt the booorofbis country e&d tbe he tor of thoie who govern it. " GOVESNMENT UCUSE, "October Stb, 1871. "Beverend Sir, — Your note has jast reached me. You speak of the difficulties which might impede any action of Mr. Biel in coming forward to uce bis influence with his fellow- citizens to rally to tbe sup- port of tb'^ Province in tbe f lecent emer- gency. " Should Mr. Kiel come foiwonl, as euggested, be needs be under no appre- hension that bis liberty ^hall be interfered with in any way, to use your own lan» guage " pour lacirconstarce actuelle." It is hardly neceesary for me to add that the co-operation of the French half breeds and their leaders in tbe support of the Crown, under present circumatances will be very welcome and cannot be looked upon otherwiae than as entitliog tbem to most favorable coi^eideiation. " Let me aad that in giving you this assurance mth promptitude, 1 feel myBelf entitled to be met in tbe same spirit. " The sooner the French half^breeda asx Bume the attitude in question, tbe more graceful will be their action, and the more ^vourable their inSuence. I have tbe honour to be, Bev. sir, yoir truly. (Signed,) A, > .rchibald, Lieut. Goveruor." Bev. Pere Bitchot, St.'Norbert. Every one will understand the meaning of the above letter that I copy from the original. I shall nevertheless add a few explanations that are almost a mere re- petition of tbe document itself. The " action of Mr. Biel" is considered neces. sary and hss been asked for, not only by proclamation addressed to the population at large, but, moreover, in private cons versation with the Bev. Cbas. Fitchot. This gentleman " indicates tbe difficulties which might imp>ede any action of Mr. Biel in coming forward to use hi « influence with his fellow-citizens to rally to the sup- port of the Crown." The Governor re- plied, " should Mr. Biel come forward as suggested, he need be und y. -> apprehen- sion that his liberty shall L.:: iuterfered with in any way." The intermedium be- tween the Governor and Mr. Biel alluding to nothing more than momentary protec- tion. His Excellency adds as if ironically, " To "ase your own language, ' pour la c'lr- Constance actuelle. ' " But the depository 82 of authority in Manitoba, feoling all the impropriety of such a restriction continues. •* It is hardly necessary for me to add that cooperation of the French balf.breeds and their leaders in tht support of the Crown unier present circumstances will be very welcome and cannot be loaked upon otherwise than as entitling them to most faTOurable consideration." The letter was written at Fort Garry on tiie 5th of October, and sent to Rav. Mr. Ritchot, at Hi, Norbert, then communi- cated to Mr. Kiel, called purposely from St. Vital. I- r / The latter gentleman visited the pir' ishes inhabited by French Half-breeds, and during the night of the 7th, wrote to the LieutenantaGovemor a letter that I have never seen, but was replied to as foK lows : GOVKRSMENT HoOflB, FORI GaEBT, January, 8th Oct., 1871. ''Gentlemen, — 1 have it in command from Hi) Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, to acknowledge receipt of your note of this morning, assuring His Excellency of the hearty response of the 'Metis' to the appeal made to them in His Excellency's Proclamation. ♦'You may say to the people on whose behalf you write, that Hia Eezcellency is much gratified to receive the assurances which he anticipated in bis communica- tion with the Kevd. Pere Ritchot, and which your letter conveys, and that he will take the earliest opportunity to transv mit to His JSxcellency the Governor Gen- eral, the evidence of the loyalty and good faith of the «Metij' of Manitoba. "His Excellency will be pleased to be furnished as soon as possible, with a nom- inal list of the persons in each parish, who desire to enroll for active service in the present emergency. "His Excellency will raly upii their readiness to come torwarJ the moment Ihey reoeive notica. 'I have the honor to be, "Gentlemen, "Your obedient servant, "(Signed) Wm 0. Buchanan, "Acting Private tJecrp^ary." To Messrs. L. Riel, A. D. Lepine, Pierre Parantean. As may be seen it is the Governor that has communicated "officially with Messrs. Riel, Lepine and Paratean," acknowledg- ing receipt of a "note" in which these gen- tlemen "assure His Excellency of the hearty response of the 'Metis' to the apo peal made to them, authorizing them to say to the people that His Excellency is much gratified to receive the aacurancea contained in their letter promising in re-> turn that be will lake the eariieut oppor- tunity to transmit to the Governor Gen* eral the evidence of the loyalty of the 'Metis' of Manitoba." The Lieutenant Governor goes farther, and expreasea the desire to be furnished with a nominal list of the persons who de- sire to enroll far active service" All this not being a matter of form, but a positive reality, Measra. Kiel, Lepine, and Paratean, called to arms the men they had recruited among their fellow-citizeoa,' and in the afternoon ot the same 8th October, the Lieutenuit-Qovemor inspect- ed coivi d' elite under the command of Mr. Riel. The next day fifty mounted "Metia" were aent towards a aoutheaatem point of the Province, where it waa reported that the Feniana bad muatered their brigades, and it waa only on the return of the eclaireurs that all feara were dispelled. A aeoond proclamation by the Lieu en< ant Governor fumiahed the official and diplomatic report of the Fenian ^owco. I quote the following extract : TO THE PEOPLE OF TAG PSOVINOE OF MANITOBA. " In the name of the Queen, I thank you, one and all, for the promptitude and apirit with which you have rushed to the defence of the country when called upon by Her Majesty's proclamation I had the best reason to know that the plan of the marauders was based on the belief tbat there were divisions in your ranks which would drive a part of the population into their arms. One of the leaders of the gang assured his com- panions thereof : — ' The events of the past few days have repelled the slander. At this moment our whole population has assumed an attitude which aif(n'ds no en- couragement to these dastn-lly maraud.. era The reports froi the front oq Thursday left no doubt that ihe raid was to be commenced at once, and next day orders were given to advance a body of troops towards the frontier. "Major Irvine detailed, with that view, the bulk of the service companies of the Fort, two ot those organized in Winnipeg, under Captains Mulaly and Kenedy, and a company of Canadians and half-breed French, under Capiain DePlainval Meanwhile the French parishes were com- pleting the arrangements which I had been assured were in contemplation. " On the afternoon of the 8th inst a body of French half-bieeds were assem* bled on the east bank of Bed River, and 88 i friabed to pe perioitted to aasurA me, per- eooally, or their loyalty, and tu offer their aervioesac BOldierr. I went orer immedi- ateiy, in oompany with Captain McDonald, the oommancfer of Forttiarry in Major Ir- vine's absence. I found aasembled on the bank 200 able-bodied French MetU. Of these &0 were mounted, and a conside- rable part of the whole body had tire- arms. assured me they had rallied to the support of the Crown, and were proM pared to do their duty as loyal (ubjeots in repelling any raid that might, now or hereafter, be made on the country. " I thanked the people very cordially for the assurances given in tbeir name, and told them I should take care to make this demonstration of their feeling known to Bis Excellency the Governor General. " If among these people there were, and I believe there were, some persons whose exceptional positicn might have led O'Donoghue to look far their support, it only adds to the value of the demonstntr- tion, and removes the last hope of the mis- creants who have invaded your soil, that they would receive sympathy or aid from any class of the population. "Best assured 1 shall watch over your safety. Should danger come, you will be applied to again, and you will respond like men of courage — of loyalty — of patriotism. •* The Queen relies upon the fidelity of her people of this Province, of every ori" gin. " [Signed] Adams G. Abcuibald, Lieutenant Governor. if fables have their moral, surely reali- ties should have theirs ; and the moral or teaching of what preceded, cannot esaope notice. What encouragement would there be in coming forward to rally to the defence of the Crown "if the con- sideration it entitles to," for it entitles to, « is to be found in perpetual banishment or jonfinement in a dungeon." I do not hesitate to say that the official appeal made to the " Metis" leaders to make of their bodies and their lives, a rampart for the public protection; the acceptation of their military services, the inspection by the civil and military au« thorities of the troops under their com- mand, all thio constitutes such an obliga- tion to grant an amnesty [if required] that it would be di'Jicult to qualify the conduct of a Government that would defer to ac- complish such a duty. Honor is such a characteristic of the races that inhabit the Canadian soil, thai its people cannot re- pudiate the dictating of such a noble sen- timent. Please do not venture to bring forth the objection that the Lieutenant Governor promised protection merely ' tain the second, the Lieutenrnt on board, has not only power to order manoouvres or even to plunge into t he deep as the case may require, but, more than that, he has a light to encourage every one to do their duty nobly by promise of reward ; and such promise is binding for the superior oftioers. Should a brigade be taken by surpiise in the absence of the General and Colonel, it belongs to the first cfUcer in duty to provide tor the defence and, when iu the impossibility to resort to headqupurters, he succeeds in saving those under his com- mand, it is quite sure that no one will blame the promptness of his action ; and bhould any one, at his request, have came to his help, superior ofllcers would not allow them to be rewarded by ill- treat- ment. A Province of the Confederation is attacked by marauders, the Lieutenant Governor, in the impossibility of having recourse to the Governor General, and still less to the Imperial authorities, takes all the steps tliat prudence and common sense dictates, succeeds, perfectly to avert the misfortunes that nothing but prompt action can repel, will any on 9 say that he has done wrong? ^ill the Federal or Imperial authorities repudiate the ob- ligation contracted in honor by their Lieutenant? Is it possible to suspect ' hesitation in the exercise of the '' Itoyal Prerogative of Mercy," in favor of ^ those who, without hesitation, offered their lives to rally to the support of the Crown ?" Children acting the part of great men, would understand all this, and would not fail to detpct the requirements of the role. If it is now asked how it happened that after all that had occurred, a new procla- mation of amnesty has not been issued. I O^ H will reply th tt tbe Ihiag i* quite clear and natural ; it U beoaute the amnesty bad been already granted •• I have prored. The ailenoe kept by the difierent authO' rities after tbe eyenta in Manitoba, In 1871, ibdwa clearly that they ooniider as ButUoient the proclamation of amneaty alM ready iMued. In his letter to MesBra. Kiel, Lepine and Parenteau, aa well aa in his Proclamation > to the people of Manitoba, the Lieutenant Oovernor of the Province promised to " tranarait to Uia Excellency tbe Governor General, tbe evidence of the loyalty of tbe "Metiii'' and their leaders, in a demon, ■tratiou entitling them to tbe moat favor'> able couHideration." Tbe Honorable Mr. Archibald did certainly not omit to fultil this solemn engagement. On tbe other hand, Lord Lisgar cannot have placed in his most secret drawer, the report of such " evidence of loyalty and good faith." So tbe whole was necessarily made known in England, and the clemency and generosity of our Beloved Sovereign are such, that she could not have refused to aooept tbe natural consequences ot the act of her re< presentative. Uad a renewed declaration of amnesty been necessary, the Honorable Mr. Ar- chibald would have solicited it, at lea»t, when be arrived at Ottawa, and had be failed to have bis demand endoraed in the Capital of tbe Dominion, having shortly affcer gone to England, be would have ? laced his request at tbe foot of the 'hrone, and I do not hesitate to say that he was bound in honor to go thus far. Had ail such endeavors been vain, his duty tbec, fM to disengage bis responsibility by making known tbe inutility of his efforts. But nothing of the kind was required, as the amnesty had been agreed to, long ere then. So tbe superior authorities remain- ed silent, and the Government of Manitoba quietly continued to act as before. Why has a change since taken place ? In the month of December, 1872, a maladroit and unjust word fell from so high that its echo SO' nded l3uder than was ex- pected when it was pronounced. A few months later, tbe general statesman that had taken the most active part in the sets tlement of the Red Kiver difficulties had breathed bis last. The enemies of the "Metis" thought that the assurances {iTen were entombed with him, who, more than any other, had to protect them, The printed account of tbe last honors paid to the remains of Sir George E. Cartier had hardly reaohed Manitoba, when a new policy was inaugurated in tbe Province : On tbe 1st July, 1873, a step w^* Ukeo, that would have been merely ri Jiculous had it not been for some parties, the oc- casion of a deplorable attitude towards an inoffensive population. The organs of violence in Winnipeg atBioted with "a cer* tain business look." easily attributing to others their own feelings, loudly published with incendiary comments : 'The War of Haces revived." Advantage was taken of the fast ol a drunken man at Ileuae't Taeern to rekindle hatred, and a spirit of revenge that soon had its effect. Tbe election of Sir George H. Cartier bad occuioned disappointment and spite. Vengeance was decided upon ; and during the anniversary week of the election, warrants were iaaued for the arreat of Measra. Hiel and Lepine who had so large* ly contributed tbe same election. Tbe first stone is not alwayr cast by those Wtvbout sin. So it happened in this case. The suit was instituted by one of the Canadian employees, who, according to tbe appreciation of their own Gov- ernment, bad "Joined an armed force entirely illegal," and partaken in "pro- ceedings so reckless and eztraordinaiir that the Governor General and CounoU could not disguise the weight of responsi- bility incurred." By one of those who, according to Earl Granville, •< have ceri* tainly enhanced the responsibility of the Canadian Oovemment.' ' Mr. Farmer who had awom to an infor- mation, failed to support it in his sworn deposition ; nevertheleir, he was ^chosen as % juryman, and swore to report *an im- partial presentment in a case in which he was himself ^o««cutor. And it is m accordance with the pre« sentment of such jurors that criminal trials are continued, that arrests are made, and that citizens have to fly to a foreign land at the risk of being declared oflt' laws. * The public will know later to whom we are indebted for this new case of excite- ment, and what has been its consequence at Ottawa. It will be an easy task to as- certain who gave the first impulse and what degree of responsibility has been as« Bumed by violating the most solemn promises kept for three years after they had been made. Such will undoubtedly be undertaken by some one. For my part^ I shall now bring to a dose what I had to say on amnesty. y 1 i t i e a ai tc m tij hi aci «oi th( ou «» «b de th( tia ^ th< thi ^ii Jpl 'ai 001^ tW Ck>nolu8ion- Before concluding this work which would be already too long, were not luch an im.- 85 n. an of wr- to . Aed of \ae $ tof ■tier )ite. ring lion, Btof kfge- i by > this le of rding Got- force ipro- Linarr >unoll ponai' ivho, e oer* if th« infor- noorn ihoMn ,n im- ioh he 1 i|re* riminal I made, foreicn edoAt' lom we excite' gquenoe to •■- ilae and )een aa< solemn «r they rabtedly nypart, had to oh would ihMiun^ portant queitlon at itake. 1 iiluli reoapi' lulate the proofa on which my auertione are baaed. The amnesty ia no longer an open quei • Uon that one would cHiregard or accept Without acrutiny or attention. I'he qur^a. lion ia not free ainoe public honor is )>ledged both by the Imperial and Fed< )ral aatboritie*, aa well aa by the Proviacif 1. aio. 1. ixpcRUL AUTHOunia. The Imperial UoTemment ia boui id to gr.int an amneaty for all the reprehei laible acta committed during the whole pei iod of the Bed Bi?er troubles, whatevei • may have been the nature of theae acta or by WhomaoeTcr committed. Thia ob' ligation ia imperatiTe beci^uae, I. TheBritiahUabiQ«tba?ingaM ertainei that Canada had given ocoaaioa to the koublea of the Red Kiver, had m joined to exhAUit all mcana of conoiliatioc i, to pacify a population that bad notriaeaf gUnat the authority of Her Mi^ty the V jueen, nor to withdraw from her allegiana i. K. Themoataoleran promief'S have been made by the legitifjaate reptetientativea of tiie Imperial aut'aontiea. i'he promiaea have never been revoked and have been accepted in the greateat good faith. 111. The Itrjperial Qovernment has acted ia a way to convince everybody that those aame jpr omiaes were being oruriied out The Br itiah Cabinet asked for dele> gates, manifested great interest about thero, granted them their demands und did not permit the moTem< ntof the troops uutii after having reoe ived the assurance that the 'Bed Biver ii ksurgent» were satiified with the ariaag< iments. In consequence of ^ia, thelofiperial troops received but a ^mission of « peace (md civilization." The iB banoed not only b y the acts of private individuals or inten or employees, but also 'by the conduct of i luperior officers of its ^ti11 also pray for tho»e who have killed him I May Qod forgive them I May he have mercy on the vic« tim, and spare his murderers I We offer the aacrifioe of our feelings that peace may be restored in our unfortunate coun- try, and tha« our relative may be the last victim I" The so deeply afflicted family declined any pursuit against those known as having contributed to the aHsaasio'ttion, and went so far as to request that nothing would b* done against tnem. Uh I You who seem to live but to hate. You who have so uojuvtly reviled the poor "Metis" of theNort'a West, be savage and barbarous as those I have just men- tioned, and our dear Canada wiil not be the worse of it, To come to a final cl