# ^^-^> .%. .o3:^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // // 1.0 i.l |5C) ™^ la 1^ III 2.5 2.2 '- IIIIM lllll 1.8 11.25 1.4 1.6 .^_ . 6" — ► V] <^ /2 o "# / /^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ,\ ;V ^ ^ •sj ^ resulted in bloodshed and the fiercest hatreds ; ami the .Saskatchewan outbreak of 1885 was simply the transfer of the spirit of lawlessness from the banks of the Red River to those of the great river of the west. Were it not for the bloodshed and heart-burnings follow- ing in the traiu of these events one would be disposed to look upon the humorous side of these outbreaks. 37 I ■? I Think of Capt. Cameron, in 1814, who was no cajitain at all, swaggering in his red uniform and dangerous looking sword as the arbiter of destiny in old I'ort C.ibralter. See old I'ort Douglas, taken ])ossessioii of by the victorious Metis in i8]ti, after the murder of Ciovernor Seni- ])le, and devoted to scenes of wildest re- velry and savage mirth. Read Ross's account of De Meurons, ami disgusted Swiss, and angry settlers of Red River, as they nicknained (lovernor Alexander Macdonnell, the "grasshopper governor, " "because he jjroved as great a destroyer within doors as the grasshojipers in the fields, and prided hinisLlf in affecting the .style of an Indian victory." Imagine three or four hundred I'lench half-breetls armed to the teeth, surrounding the court house at ( )1<1 T'ort Garry, to fortify Judge Thorn and the officers of the law in ad- ministering justice, and careering over the plain with shouts of " Le commerce est libre ! Vive la liberte I " or listen to the insufferable bombast of "President" Riel, as he says, five days after the execu- tion of Scott, in his proclamation : ''To tlic pi'iipli- of tin- NortliwL'st ; " lilcvutcil I'V tlK- (jiMif of I'rovidi'iKO ami tlif Miffraijcs of my fullow-ritizins to tlic ! t-lu'st posi- tion in till' uo\ t'lnmonl of tiiy countiv, I proclaim tliat pt-aci' rcijxns in our miil-t tins ilay. 'I'lii- u:o\ irniiK'iit will take every prrcantioii to prevent tliis jieaee ffoin beiny disturbeil." Truly comedy and tragedy have often been near together in the Red River of the past. Tliis evening my purpose is to bring before you two of these coniico- tragedies known as " Provisional Govern- ments " in ^Manitoba. My purjjose in doing so is partly historical, and partly to deal with certain claims for the latter of these governments, which I regard as jier- fectly unte:'able. Before doing this it will be necessarv to give a short sketch of the COINCIL OK .\.S,SINIHOI.\. After the resumptiou of the territory of Assiniboia from Lord vSelkirk's heirs, the Hudson's Bay Company sent out a local governor to Fort Ckirr\-, and with him appointed in an informal way several ad- visers from the officers of the company at Red River. For a time the settlers were mystified as to who were tiieir real rulers, but in 1835 something more defi- nite was required to satisfy the people. Ju this vear a council of fifteen members .(.rN was appointed, but, as lias hccn said tl:i. y were, " };ciu'rally siicakiiij^, cither siue- curists f)r ])aid servants of the eonii)any," and though thev were usually goc tl men, yet rijj;htly or wron}j;ly public discontent continued. THIC FIRST COUNCIL. of Assiniboia was : — Sir (ieorj^e Simpson, ])resident. Alex. Christie, ^ovenu)r of Assiniboia. The Rc-man Catholic I'.ishoj). Rev. I). T. Jones, Church of luij^hind chaplain. Rev. Wm. Cochran. James Bird, James Sutherland. W. H. Cook. John Pritchard. Robert Loj^an. Alex. Ross. John McCullum. Dr. Runn. A. McDermot. Cuthbert Grant, Warden of the plains. This council was ajipointed under the charter of the Hudson's Ba}- Company, which provided for the company a])point- ing governors and other officers to jMeside within their territories and judge in all causes, civil and criminal, according to the laws of Kiigland. I'rom time to time new appointments were mac'e in the council, and this patriarchal government continued on the Red River up to the stirring events of lS()!)-70. The territory placed under this rule was generall}- understood to be included in a CIRCI'IT OK FlKTY MILKS by the compass from the forks of Red and Assiniboine rivers. More strictly, the settlement, which was two miles in breadth on each side of the river, was surveyed according to Col. Dennis' map north on the Red River to Sugar Point, south on the Reil River to the entrance of the Rat River into the Red River, and west up the Assiniboine nearly to Lane's Post, lieyond the White Horse plains. The functions of this council were always carefully exercised under the constant im- pression that their powers were very limi- ted. The real authority under the charter was always retained by the London board, so that the functions of the old Council of Assiniboia may best be defined as mu- nicipal. The rules and regulations passed by the council in its 30 or 40 year's exist- ' ence were very few, and may be seen as embodied in the beginning of the Conso- lidated Statutes of Manitoba. Outside of this circle of fifty miles known as Assini- boia no government seemed to prevail. • »•••• ••«^',',," - .*, • ■.••• The district of I'ortagela Prairie attracted some of the nativisof Red River to itself, but as this was outside the limits of Assi- niboia it was against the v.ishcs of the local aiitlioiities that this settlement was made. In consequeiue the peojjle of Portage la Prairie had thus a slight sus- picion of being outlaws about them, and naturally i-raved for sonusort of local or- gani/ation. It was resevvef the pcojjle of Portage la I'rairii-in this matter and to form the KKITHLK' OK MAMTOHA. In a letter dated I'eb. li»tli, iStiS, Mr. Spence informs the British secretary of stale, as follows : '•Mv Lord : '•.■\s I'n-.-iili'iit -clift, l>y tlic lU'oiiU' of tlu' tii'wiy c)i'j;;mi/cd ^(.\ iriiim'nt jiiul tiniiuil of Miiiiilolin, in Ilritish tfiritory, I liiivi.' tlu' dutiful liniidv iif l,lyin^ licforo voiir Lordslilp for tlic idiisiiUiatiun of I k r M<»t (Jniiious .M:i]i'sty, niif bi-liAfd (liiciMi, tlio ciriuinsliinccs atlLiKliii^i- llic crciilion fif Ibis sclf- -.uiipcrtm;;- pi'ttv yovfrnincnt in Ibis isohitrd porlion (if I lir Miijc.'-ly's dominion.';, etc., itc." It will readily be seen that Mr. Slicnce and his four hundred settlers were cjuite ready to face the resiKHisibilities of self- government. They deiined the limits of tlieir new v'ris nilrs aixl r^'- Hiiliilioiis wliicli iIh'V may aurci' lo (ih-iTvo for tlif urcatiT proUiiiiiii ami iinpi-oxciiiiMit of Ihu tcnitotv iii uliiili tluv Mm', lull vvliii-li will iiavi' no forcu as vtuncU ()11h'I"> than those who iiiav liavu so siil) mitli'd thciiisulvis." Thus passed the j-lory of the llrst I'ro- visional Govenitnent ol* Manitoba. 'rmc i;ir:i, uichivi.ijox. My purpose tliis eveniu^^ does not lead me to discus-i llie causes of that untoward event. Sutlice it to say that the liasty ac- tion of tlu- Canadian Croverunient in s'eud- ing in roadinakers and surveyors to the Nortlivvesl before the transfer had 1)een made, the unwise conduct of a nuinljerot these forerunners, and the natural fear of the Red River ])eople that tlieir interests would be ne,i^lccted, accoiuit for the risins.:;. To these uuist be added the restless cha- racter of the Frciuh half-breeds, who, as hunters and traders, were accustomed to the use of fire-arms, had a hereditarv bent toward insubordination, and were led b}' a few darin}.^ leaders. Hon. William Macdou,t,fall, on cominj^ to the boundary line at Pembina in October, iSdl), heard of the I'rench half-breeds bein.LC in arms at St. Norbert, nine miles from T'ort Irarry. The half-1 ireeds at once ori^anized in that locality a council with Ji)hn Hruce president, and I.ouis Riel, secrc-tarv. The council of Assiniboia, which was the only authority in the country, after several meetin<;s, expressed its want of satisfac- tion with the steps taken by Canada, ex- l)ressed its confidence in the future admi- nistration of the country under Canadian rule, but advised Mr. IMcDoui^all not to enter the country owing to the disturl)ed state of feelin,tj. The inertia of the coun- cil and the mass of the people of Assini- boia gave the cons])irators their o])))ortu- nity, and on 2nd of November, IHtitt, Riel and his iifty to one hundred followers seized Fort ('Tarry notwithstanding the pro- test of the officer in charge, Dr. Cowan. A band of robbers thus forcibly seize the centre of government, and take another .step forward. This is, "as the ])resident and representatives of the r'rench speak- ing people of Rupert's Land in council," and they invite the Iiuglish-si)eaking peo- ple to send twelve representatives from twelve districts, which they, the French, name. Twelve men were sent by these illegal districts, and to the assembled de- legates Governor McTavish, the head of the council, protested against the acts of the banditti and refused them recognition. With the ineffectual efforts of the Cana- dian party, which had strong S3'mpathi- zers auioug the English half-breeds of the countrj- we have here nothing to do. .Vfter much natural distrust the delegates, lirst meeting in two sections, Ivnglish ami French, and then jointly, agreed on the KIRST r.r.ST OI- RICHT.S. It was at first projjosed to send dele- gates to Governor McDongall at Pembina to present this so-called "bill" with its fifteen clauses, but no agreement was reached on the matter. (See apjiendix I.) No one, of course, clai. sany authority for this list, made under the hand of violence and l)y illei^ally chosen representatives. .\nother effort was made on December 1, \Hi\U, to formulate a list of rights to be sent to Governor Macdongall at Pembina, but no steps were taken beyond a gene- ral ailhesion to the previously asserted list, with a few changes. Matters remained in a very disturlied state in the settlement during the dead of winter. Col. Dennis and others were stirring up the Kuglish people to activity, and Riel was making arrests of those most o])posed to him and confining them witli all the cruelty of a Russian autocrat in the uncomfortable quarters at h'ort Garry. l''urther demands were made u))ou the Hudson's Bay Company by Riel, and the rebel forces freely helped them- selves to whatever they chose in the fort. The news of the outbreak having reached Canada steps were taken to seiul envoys to the ])eople of Red River. Chief among these was the commissioner HON. DONALD A. SMITH, who arrived at Fort Garry December 27, hSBi). Mr. Smith was a prominenc officer of the Hudson's Bay Company and was well suited for his delicate task. He was allowed to take up his quarters at Fort Garry, but according to his own account was treated as a prisoner by Riel. Mr. vSmith had left his credentials as a com- missioner to eiupiire into the troubles at Red River at Pembina. Several loyal French half-breeds undertook to bring the documents to Fort Garry. Riel, with all the instincts of a desperado, endea- vored to seize the commission, but was thwarted. Mr. Smith had succeeded in bringing about a division in Riel's coun- cil, and a party of loyal French took up their abode in I'ort Garry to protect the commissioner. Messengers were now sent by Mr. vSmith's request to call A GRAND MASS MEETING of the settlers of Red River, entirely without reference to the bandits who held Fort Garry. This was convened on the 19th January, 1870. The meeting was so liir^'c lliiil il liad U> Ul- lu-M in llic ojx-'n air. and tlr- j-iopli' stood it out lor live hours, thoM^li llic thernioini'tcr was at Ll(P l)Ldovv /.iro. II is imixiitaut luri' lo note tin- state of things. I'Drtunaaly we have iu Mr. Smith's report a elear statement : '•'I'ht' slulc cpf matlcis ;il tlii> liim in iiiul Miniiiul I'url (iarrv \v:is iiiiist llll^illi>l:l(■tlll■^ iiiul lnil\ liii niiliatinn. Upw.irds of >.ixtv livilish siilijrils wcii' luUl in il()..f cimrnunu nt iis iinlilical prisunri-s ; si'- cnrilN fur |nrsi)ii ur pniiHtiy [Ulvl- was iwiiic ; lliu I'lirt. witli il- larm MiiipliiN and aiMnuniiliin. |ini- vision-- anil >l(iir> of all Uind-. \\ a^ in llu' |)o--si s-ion i>f a fiu luindvi'il !■ rcnc li lialflnii'cU-. whose Uadirs had ilfclaird Ihiir ditiTiiiinalion |o usi' I'vivv I'ffoil for tlu' purposi' of arnii.sinu the tiiritoiv to l\\v I'nilfd Slati-. ; and Ilii' yov iTnor and conni il of .\ssinihoia was powvili ss to iiiforcf tlu' lavv," Now when tlie meeting w.is held I\Ir. Smith, with nuich interrui)ti()n Irom Kiel, i\ri(l the sever.-il doeunieiits from the government of Canada. It was moved and earrietl that twenty representatives sliould he eleeted hy the Iviij^flish iind twenty hy the Freiieh ])eo])k'. to meet lo "consider the suhject of I\Ir. Smith's eommissitm. and to decide what wotiUl he l)est for the welfaie of the coun- try." ^n (hie course the representatives were electeH. and met Jan. liti. The con- vention at length adoi)ted h'HE SKCONl) 1, 1ST ()!• uic.lirs, nineteen clauses in number, on I'el). .'i. (vSee ap])endi>,: II.) The convention next considered the (piestion oi' forming a " ])rovisional govertiment."" The Iji- glish delegates were o])j)osed to this, but though they were not commissioned by the people to go so far, they yichled to Kiel's strong will. Governor INIcTavish refused to tlelegate hispovver to any- one. On Feb. \) the provisional govern- ment was formed with Kiel as president. No doubt the English delegates, under the intiueiiee of force, accpiiesceil in this for the time l)eing, though not em- powered to do so !)}• the people. Now here we notice that the I'ROVI.SIONAI. COVKRNMKNT W'A.S U.LKGAh from every ])oint of view. 1. According to the well understood principles of law and so well expressed m the letter to Mr. vSpence, already cjuoted from the British secretary of state, the people have no inherent right to form a government luider such circumstances. 12. At a later stage (.iovernor McTavish, under a state of coercion, recognized the Provisional government so far as the Hudson's Bay Company in the country was concerned, V)ut this even if freely done meant nothing as the council in London had such sole power under the crowu. ;{. Commissioner vSmith in his repoit gives us very clearly his view. " In the I)reseuce of Kiel" he says, "I ])romis.ed to take no imiiieiliate stejJS forcibly to upset the so called ' I'mvisioiial giivernineiit,' ' legal or illegal, as it might l)e,' without tn-st atuiouncing my intentions to do so." Mr. Kiel lakitig e\ce))tion to the word il- legal, while I insisted on ri'taitiing it. Mr. O'Douoliiie. to get over the dillicnhy, ir- marked " That is as he " ( nuanitig my- self I " understands it." To which 1 re- plied " jirecisely so. " The above' ex])la- nation I am the more particular in giving, as it has been reported that I at onci- ac- knowledged the Provisional government to be legal. Neither then iU)r afterwards did I do so." 4. The delegates to the convention were not authorized by tlu' ])eo])le to form suih a government. it. The Canadian ( 'lovernment never re- cognized the i)rovisional government. The convention nametl Judge Black, Kev. l''all;er Kichot, and .\. M. .Scott as its de- legatus to go to Canada. This was before the lime of authority of the ])rovisional govermnent created at the I'ebruary con- vention. It was tlie.se delegates of the jjeople that the Canadian (rovernment recognized and no other. This is clearly shown in Lc>rd DulTerin's (lesi)atch, De- cember lo, 1S74, where he says: "An attem])t has been made to show that these delegates really held their ai)i3ointment from Kiel, and were to be considered as commissioned by his governinent. 'i'his, however, was not so ; they wer(! selected, and the terms they were in.structed to de- mand were settled" before the election of Kiel to the so-called presidency." The deliberations were conducted under a state of organized terrorism, with the Fort in possession of several hundred armed half-breeds, and no liberty of ac- tion was permitted. It is a weli-e.stab- lished principle that a government of pirates or rol)bers has no legal status. 7. The decision of the Court of Queen's Bench in the trial of Kiel and Lepine re- fu.sed to recognize the act of the provi- sional government in the case of the ex- ecution of Thomas Scott, but made it to be murder, and the chief actors suffered the penalty of imprisonment and banish- ment. On :\Iarch 4th the munler of Thomas vScott, at I'ort (jarry, by the des- peradoes, in the name of the provisional government, sent a thrill of horror through the whole Dominion. Whatever the motives may have been for this terri- ble deed of violence, the case for the .so- called provisional government became much worse. The government of Canada, ill the fiioi- of outrai't'd j)ul)lic' soiitiiiietit, (land not allowto j^o uni)iinisluMl tliveinnieiil took ])la(e on the lotii of \f*ir/»li Hii^liiiii 'l*!i('lii> li'ii'itwr iii\\»' ri>_ March, liishop 'I'achc ^ . envoy of the Canadian this havin;.; now re- oftiie ■ juncil anan;.;e- turned as a spei ia jiovirnnient. At tins ccmhuh lie vvit- ne^sed. It has for seveial years hei-n sus- pected that the instructions to the dele- j^ates wlio j)roceeded to Ottawa I'.ad been tami)ered with after their adoption by t' e council of the ])rovi>i(>iial j^overnnu t. This has been now tliorou.ijhly proved by the pulilication in the h'ree I'rcMS of Dec. «7, )jy Arch!)ishoi) 'fache of what is there called a "Hill of Rij^hts," ])repared by the executive of the i)rovisiunal .novern- nieut and handed over to tlie Northwest dele.sjates. (vSee apinndix I\'. i The Archbishop states as the document " has never been i)id)lished before it may prove interestini,' to many as an historical docu- ment." Certainly it is an iHtere^.tinj^ document. It is nothing less than a KOUKTU I'ICTITIOU.S I.I.ST OI' KiCHTS. I am not speakin,i;' at rancUim on this matter. The orii^inal of the list of rights, in the handwriting of the secretary of the provisional government, Thomas lUuin, i?> in the ])osses^ion of tlie secretar\' of this society. The so-called lull of rights ])ublished by Archbisho]) Tache has been com])ared with the original and authori- tative document, aiul the following is the result : The true document has twenty cl.auses, that lately jiromul.galed nineteen. Clauses '2 to tj and S to IS incluhive, with slight changes of verbiage, are the same in both and contain virtually the same demands. Let us look at the clauses which differ : Clause I in Thomas Bunn's certified copy reads : " That the territories heretofore known as Ru|)ert's J.and and Northwest shall not enter into the cont'ederation of the Domi- nion except as a province, to be styled of III.) And o'lf of the most I and known as the province of Assinil)oia, and with all the rights and privileges coinninn to tin- dilferent provinces of the Dominion. Clause I in Kiel's fictitious bill reads : I. That till' terrilury of the .Northwest enter into the confederation of the Domi nion of Canada as a province, with all the privileges common with all the differ- ent ])rovinces of Mie Dominion. That this ])rovincc be governed : I. I'>y a lieut. -governor appointed by the ( ".overnor-Cieneral of Canada. -. l?y a senate. .'i. Ily a legislature chosen by the jieo- ])le, with a resixmsible ministry. It ni'cds no comment to show, when we bear in mind the anxiety of the l''reiu'li minority in this ])rovince to ])reserve an npper chamber, and the composition of the legislative council of seven, why this change was made in a confidential docu- nunt. 'fhe next difference is in clause 7. Had it not been for this change no doubt the latest revision would never have seen the light of day. 'i'he true co])y gives clause 7 thus : " That a sum of money etjual to 8(1 cents per head of the i)opulation of this ]n-ovince be j)aid annually by the Cana- dian government to the local legislature of the .said province, until such time as the said jjopiilation shall have increased to (;()(»,()(l(». Clause 7 in Kiel's fictitious bill reads : " Th.'it the schools he separate, and that the public money for schools be distri- buted among the different religious deno- minations in pr()j)ortion to their res])ec- tive ])oi)ulations, according to the svstem of the province of Ouebec." What do the Ivnglish speaking people of Red River think of that ? They never knew for nineteen long years they had asked to hava schools modelled after those of Ouebec. They never knew thev were thus betrayed. But A CRIIAT MARVi;i< yet remains. Riel's fictitious bill, which Archbishop Tache says was the only do- cument presented in Ottawa, dropi)ed clause 20 of the true list entirely, and yet in the ^Manitoba act clause 2fi provides for what this missing cliuise demands, vi/ : That there should be no increase in customs duties for three years. This coidil not have got into the Manitoba act by chance. The true list must have been presented in some form. It remains to I)e seen what important part the al- tered document played in the whole affair. Now while the English people of Matiitnl)a never Haw this list of rij^lits Anhliishop Tarlic states that he was familiar with all the lUtails. In a patn- ?hlet ])ul>lish(l hy Arehltishop Taehe in HTo, entitled "The Atnnesty Aj^'ain," the Arehliishop says : " I ani ])erfertly well ae(|uainte(l with the niinuU'St details of this second " Hill of Rif^hts ' (i. e. the one of lilind of March, now published for the first time, (i. H.) altlioM<;h it was not correct that I myself had drawn it n]>. I came to a knowleil},;e of it by having' heard it dis- cussed by the delej^ates in my presence * * * " n ^y,,j^ ^yit], tiu'se oflicial docu- ments and no others, that the delegates came forward in the Canadian ca])ital." Now what j^round is there lor the state- ment that the people tjf Red River ob- tained the establishment of an upper house, t^'ivin;^ the I'rtnch a control of Manitoba, and obtained sei)arate schools after the model of Quebec by treaty ? We answer not the sligl-.test. I'or a moment leave out of sij^ht as some ask Riel anil his I'rovisional j^overnmcnt altoj^cther. Well, if this be done the people of Retl River never asked for either an upper house or se])arat" sduiols. The list of rijj;hts of 15 clauses of Novem- ber, lH(i!>, has not one word of either ; the lind list of !!• clauses of February .'{rd, 1H7U, never mentions either subject ; the true coj)y in the hands of the secretary of this society, published at the time, and approved on the --iid March, 1870, by Thomas lUmn, secretary, h.is not a word on either subject. The people of Red River never knew till two weeks a,i;o, on the piiblication of Archbishop 'i'ache's letter, that they were ever supposed to have asked for separate schools or an upper house. Will any one in his senses maintain that what only a do/en ])eoi)le out of twelve thousand knew initil nine- teen years afterwards binds the peojjle with a treaty obligation ? Will any one have the hardihood to contend that any- thinji less than the consent of both jjar- ties is recjuired before a treaty between these jnirties can have an iota of force ! If Riel and his provisional government be taken into account the case is equally bad. They were an absolutely illegal body, but to their illegality they seem to have added fraud. They seem to have substituted, or to have allowed some one to substitute a fictitious bill of rights. They kept the fact a profound secret, and it is fortunate that the documents to prove lurnished t<» to Ottawa. as comniis- governnient tlu' coiiven- of I'ebruarv. thiH have fallen into the han>t not expect either the old or the new people of Reil River to be thus imposed on ; liki- the famous Don (Juixote, they hail better turn theii weapons on a llock of unolfeml- ing sheep, who may prove themselves foeinen more worthy of their steel. .After the reading of the above pnjjcr bv Dr. Kryce, Rev. Mr. Cloutier arose to m.ikc explanations, e.-pcciallv in regard to tlu- counnission the delegates who went He stated that they went sioned by the I'rovisional atid not as delegates of tion which met on the 7th He stated that the delegates refused to go until urged by Archbishop fache on his arrival, that Archbishoj) Tache provided funds, being assisted i)y his friends, to take the delegates ; and ihat they only went on letters being j)resenteil from the (iovernment of Canada giving assurances to them. Rev. Mr. Cloutier stated dis- tinctly that the delegates, es])ecially Father Rilchot, refused to act until recog- nized as a delegate of the I'rovisional governnieutby the (iovernment at Ottawa. This statement was ciuestioned by some of those present. A discussion arose as to the several bills of rights which were ])resented ; it ended in Dr. Bryce and Mr. Cloutier agreeing to meet at some point with the several documents and have Ihem compared. Mr. .\shdown also made a few remarks, st.'iting that Judge Black especially could not have regarded himself as a delegate of the Provisioiud government, but must have regarded himself as a delegate ap- pointed by the convention as being a re- ])resentative of the Kiiglish people. Mr. Ashdown was strong in his e> pression of the unfairness of the Bill of Rights being presented in the name of the whole peo- ple after the Ivnglish people had with- drawn themselves in consecjuence of the death of vScott, from having anything to do with the Provisional government. I'rof Ilart made a few remarks, and addressed some inquiries to Rev. Mr. Cloutier. Oil nioliou of Mr. Ashdown, seconded by Rev. Mr. Baird, a vote of thanks was presented to the lecturer of the evening, and the meeting adjourned. tl p tl (1 tl p el fr tl b 1) tl b tc tl P tt t( C a' b C b tl h u f( tl H 11 ri It BppcnMy. l.—B.LL OF RIGHTS. Proposed to be sent to Governor McDon- j,'all, Dec. 1st, 1809. [See /icing's Creation of Manitoba />. 110.) 1. The right to elect our own Legisla- ture. 2. The I.egislature to have power to pass all laws, local to the Territory, over the veto of the Kxecutive, by a two-third vote. ;i No act of the Dominion Parliaine:it (local to this Territory) to be binding on the ])eople until sanctioned by their re- presentatives. 4. All sheriffs, magistrates, constables, etc., etc., to be elected by the people — a free homestead pre-emption law. "). A portion of the jjulilic lands to be ap])ropriatcd to the benefit of schools, the bu'.lding of roads, bridges and parish buildings. (). A guarantee to connect Winni])eg l)y rail with the nearest line of railroad — the land grant for such road or roads to be subject to the Legislature of the Terri- tory. 7. I'or 4 years the ])ublic expenses of the Territory, civil, military and munici- pal, to be paid out of the Dominion treasury. 8. The military to be composed of the people now existing in the Tv'rritory. it. The I'rench and luiglish language to be connnon in the Legislature and Council, and all pul)lic documents and acts of Legislature to be pul/lislied in l)oth languages. 10. That tlRv Judge of the »Superior Court speak I'rench and Lnglish. 11. Treaties to be concluded and ratified between the (Government and several triljes of Indians of this 'J'errilory, calcu- lated to in.sure peace in the future. 12. That all privileges, customs and usages existing at the time of the trans- fer be respected. 18. That these rights be guaranteed by Mr. McDougall before he be admitteil into this Territory. 14. If he have not the power himself to grant them, he' must get an act of Parlia- ment passed expressly securing us these rights ; and until such act be obtained, he nuist stay outside the Territory. 1"). That we have a full and fair repre- sentation in the Dominion Parliament. II.— LIST OF RIGHTS. Adopted Feb. 8rd, 181)0, by the convention chosen by the people of Red River Settlement after the meeting with Hon. Donald A. Smith. {.See Begg\s Creation of Manitoba p. J55.) 1. That in view of the present excep- tional po.sition of the Northwest, duties upon goods imported into the country shall continue as at present (except in the case of spirituous liquors) for three years, and for such further time as may elapse, until there be uninterrupted railroad communication ])et\>een Red River settle- ment and vSt.Paul, and also steam commu- nication between Red River settlement and Lake vSuperior. 2. As long as this country remains a territory in the Dominion of Canada, there shall be no direct taxation, except such as may be imposed by the local legislature, for municipal or other local purposes. .'). That during the time this country '.hall remain in the position of a territory, in the Dominion of Canada, all military, civil, and other public expenses, in con- nection with the general government of the country, or that have hitherto been borne by the ])ublic funds of the settle- ment, beyond the receipt of the above mentioned duties, shall be met by the Dominion of Canada. 4. That while the burden of public ex- pense in this territory is borne by Canada, the country be governed by a I jeutenant- liovernor from Canada, atul a Legislature, three members of whom being heads of departments of the Government, shall be nominated by the Governor General of Canada. .'). That after the expiration of this ex- ceptional period, the country shall be governed, as regards its local affairs, as the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec are now governed, b}- a Legislature by the people, and a Ministry responsible to it. Tinder a Lieutenant-Governor, appoint- ed by the Governor General of Canada. (). That there shall be no interference by the Dominion Parliament in the local affairs of this territory, other than is allowed in the provinces, and that this territory shall have and enjoy in all res- lects, the same privileges, advantages and aids in meeting the public expenses of this,' territory as the provinces have and enjoy. 7. That, while the Northwest remains a territory, the Legislature have a right to pass all laws local to the territor}-, over the veto of the Lieutenant-Governor by a two-third vote. 8 S. A hotiiestead and pr»>-einptioti law. 9. That, whik' Ihe NorlliNNCst remains a territory, the snni of S-'"),00(l a year l)e appropriated for schools, roads and l)rid,i,^es. 10. That all the jniblic huildin.^s l)c at the expense of the Dominion treasnry. 11. That there sh.'dl be .i,maranlved nn- internipted steam couinumiralion to I,ake Superior, within five years ; ami also the establishment, by rail, of a connection with the American railway as soon as it reaches the international line. 1:!. That the military Ibrcc re(iuired in this country 1)e composed of natives of the country during; four years. [Lost by a vote of Ki yeas to 2.'! nays, and consecpiently .struck out of the list.] Ill That tlie Ivn.tjlisli and r'rench lan- ij;uai;es be common in the I,e.i;islature and Courts, and that all pul)lic documents and acts of the Lej.^islaturc be pul)li;;lied in both lantijuages. 14. That the Jud.ne of the Supre.ne Court speak the French and Jvni^dish languaj^es. ]•"). That treaties be concluded between the Dominion and the several Indian tribes ot the I'ountry as soon as ])ossible. Ki. That, until the population of the country entitles us to more, we have three representatives in the Canadian Parlia- ment, one in the J^enate, and two in the Le.yislative Assembly. 17. That all the ])ropenies, rights and ])rivile,iiss!0/t to l\ev. luit/tcr A'itctiot, J. Utactc, Esq., Atf red Seal t, E>ij., ,i^!ZTi! i\v ttic /Vo:isi(>/iat oo-ccyjiiitoit. 1. See Begg's "Creali'm of Mani- toba "published IS71, p. ;>2."). •1. This is verbatim the official copy found in the papers of Thomas Bunn, secretary of Riel's govern- ment. .">. In the same " Bunn papers" is a co])y in French, which differs onlv in (lro])])ing tiie name "Pro- vince of As',-,iniboia " and sulvsti- luting "the i)rovince." 4. In the same " Bunn papers " is a verbatim copy of this iM-encb copv, ])rinted liy the Provisional government, and signed "Maison du gouvernement," ]\Iarch :i-'!rd, 1870, the very day Messrs. Rit- chot and Scott started for Ottawa. 1 . That the territories heretofore known as Rupert's Land and Northwest, , shall not enter into the confederation of the Dominion, except as a province, to be styled ami known as the Province of Assinil)oia, and with all the rights and ])rivilegcs connnon to the y the people of this Pro- 9 and vince up to the date of our entering into the confederation he respected, and that the arrangement and confirmation of all customs, usages and privileges he left ex- clusively to the Ivocal Legislature. H. That during the term of five years, the Province of Assiniboia shall not be subjected to any direct taxation, except such as may be imposed by the I^8(l,()0() be allotted l)y the Dominion of Canada to the Legislature of the Province of the ! Northwest. ! ."). That all properties, rights and privi- leges enjoyed by us up to this day be re- spected, and that Ihe recognition and settlement of customs, usages and privi- leges l)e left exclusively to the decision of the Local Legislature. (5. That this country be submitted to no direct taxation excejit such as may be im- posed by the local legislature for muni- cipal or other local purposes. 7. That the schools be separate, and that the pul)lic money for schools be dis- triljuted among the different religious de- nominations in proportion to their re- spective populations according to the system of the Province of Quebec. 5. That the 'determination of the qua- lifications of members for the parliament of the province or for the parliament of Canada be left to the local legislature. n. That in this province, with the ex- ception of the Indians, who are neither civilized nor settled, every man having attained the age of 21 years, and every foreigner being a British subject, after having resided three years in this couu- trv, and being possessed of a house, be entitled to vote at the elections for the members of the local legislature atul of the Canadian Parliament, aiul that every foreigner other than a British subject, having resided here during the same period, and being proprietor of a house, be likewise entitled to vote on cotulition of taking the oath of allegiance. It is understood that this article is sub- ject to amendment, by the local legisla- ture exclusively. 10. That the bargain of the Hudson Bay Company with respect to the transfer of government of this country to the Dominion of Canada, never have in any case an effect prejudicial to the rights of Northwest. 11. That the Local Legislature of this Province have full control over all the lauds of the Northwest. 12. That a commission of engineers appointed b)- Canada explore the various districts of the Northwest, and lay before the Local Legislature within the space of five years a report of the mineral wealth of the country. lo. That treaties be concluded between Canada and the different Indian tribes of the Northwest, at the retpiest and with the co-operation of the Local Legislature. 14. That an uninterrupted steam com- munication from Lake Supei'ior to Fort Garry be guaranteed to be completed within the space of five years, as well as the construction of a railroad connecting the American railway as soon as the latter reaches the international boundary. !•"). That all public buildings and con- structions be at the cost of the Canadian Pyxcheciuer. 1(). That both the Knglish and French languages be connnon in the Legislature and in the Courts ; and that all public documents as well as the acts of the Legislature be published in both lan- guages. 17. That the Lieutenant-Governor to be appointed for the province of the North- west be familiar with both the English and I'Yench languages. 18. That the Judge of the Supreme Court speak the luiglish and French languages. \\). That all debts contra'ited by the Provisional government of the territory of the Northwest, now called Assiniboia, in consequence of the illegal and incon- siderate measures adopted b}' Canadian officials to bring about a civil war in our 11 midst, be paid out of the Dominiou treasury, and that none of the Provisional ixoverumeiit, or any of those acting under them, be in any way hekl hable or re- sponsible with regard to the movement or any of the actions which led to the present negotiations. jsIoTK.— Archbishop Tache explains in a letter, in the I'Vee Press, Jan. loth, 1890, that the sheet on which clause liO was written had been lost sight of.— G. B.