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Sib, — I have the honor most respectfully to submit for your coiibiJoratioii tho follow- ing facta in connection with a report made to you by Mr. S. II. Stroufj, of Toronto, rc- frarding certain charges attecting my private and olSci.il ohara'ter made by tiic Rovd. Jabez Sims, and investigated by him. My first knowledge of the nature of the charges preferred, and that an investigation was to bo held, was obtained in Toronto on tho eve of Mr. Strong's starting i'or th(i Manitouliii Island. I reached Little Current, situated twenty-live miles Irom my home and oifici', by the some steamer that conveyed to that place Mr. Strong, accompanied by the Revds. Drs. O'Mcara and Salterrc ivcn". We arrived on the Island upon a Friday morning, and I informed Mr. Strong that I should require time, to proceed to Manitowaning to procure official papers and instructions to show, that in many matters complained of, I was not a iree agent, and not to be held responsible; us well aa other documents material to my defence, uiid to send lor witnesses. lie replied, that any official papers could be put in afterwards, and that lie wished I would not detain him lor witnesses, until, at least, they were found to be required on my side; but would stay where [ was and allow the investigation to proceed that day. Await- ing therefore, tho result of the testimony submitted by the Rev. Jabez Sims, and inform- ing Mr. Strong that if he considered anything proven by them, I sliould cull two witnesses to Mr. Sims one, in disproof; I consented net to delay or take time to make any pre- parations, but to allow the investigation to proceed, and tho Rev. Jabez Sims' statements and witnesses to be heard. At about four in the afternoon at the school-house at Little Current, there being admitted only the llov. Dr. O'Meara and Saltern Givins as spectators, the Rev. Jabez Sims made his statement (which, with some questions I asked him, for tho purpose of more cft'ectually exhibiting his utter disregard of truth, when t should come lo call ray witnesses), occupied until six o'clock, when Mr. Strong adjourned until 7 30 P.M. On leaving the building, tho three Reverend Gentlemen diverged in one direetion, Mr. Strong and ir.yself in tho opposite direction to where our quarters lay. Mr. Strong eame up and took my arm, and the first words that passed between us were from him. lie said, " that man (alluding to tho Rev. Jabez Sims) is a d nd fool." I told him ho should go on, and ho would find out all about it for himself. At 7 J50 P. M. the investigation was resumed, there being again no speciatora 4iiUiit- ted but the Revds. O'Meara and Givins, whon my statement was taken.. On my askiii^^ Mr. Sims whether ho had not followed me along the street calling me a villain and a scoundrel, and calling upon the Oraugcmci. to avenge him, he prevaricated to such a de- gree, that Mr. Strong used these words to him with great impatienve : " I am bouiid to • •/' '•. •-•••• ■>., tell you, Mr. Sims, that your way of stating things is a very unfair one. You did not follow Mr. Dupont further than Mr. McClarty's house, because he did not go any further. You followed him as far as you could, that's about the amount of it." After ailjourning for that night, Mr. Strong spent the evening with myself and some friends (who comprise all the respectable inhabitants of the place), and from his expres- sions and conduct fully impressed every one present that I was completely cxouevated, and expressed himself in ',,^e hearing of parties in his boarding-house, that as the result ot his inquiry, the investigation ought never to have been held. The following moruing, on resuming the inquiry, there being again none but the Revds. Dr. O'Meara and Givens admitted as spectators, Mr. Strong on opening his papers suid, substantially, as follows : "Now, Mr. Sims, I am ready to go on and take further testimony in this matter if you in- sist upon it; but I think I fully understand it, and that nothing can give me any i.^w light upon it, and I shall report to the Government that no further notice ought to be taken of it. I am not prepared to say, however, that there are not other serious charges against Mr. Dupont." The words, " I shall report to the Government that no further no- tice ought to be taken of it," are as exactly Mr. Strong's language as it is possible to re- peat. He then continued, " You referred to a very excellent example when you referred to your Lurd and Master, and it is a pity you did not display more of hi^- spirit." He characterized Mr. Sims' conduct as most unchristian and unwise in not accepting any apology, and said, his correspondence with the G^oic was very wrong, adding, " George Brown is one of the greatest enemies of our church, and is only too glad to get hold of such a scandal." He also condemned my giving way to my temper, but said I had very great provocation and had aftewards made an ample apology, which should have been accepted. Mr Sims replied, that he would have accepted the apology if I had gone in person, instead of send- ing him a letter. To this Mr. Strong said, that a written apology was always considered much more satisfactory than a verbal one, as a person could afterwards evade the latter. It was then assented to both by the Revds. Dr. O'Meara and Givins, as well as tiie Bev. Jabez Sims, that this should be the decision in the matter of the assault, and i\Ir. Strong turning to me asked if I was satisfied ? To which T replied, that it being in my favor, of course I was. On adjourting for dinner in the middle of the day, 1 had the fol- lowing conversation with Mr. Strong us we walked together; I said, they will not drop this matter as they have promised, you will sec that they will still agitate about it. And he replied, " do you think fiO, well they won't do much after my report." On the settlement of the question of the assault, Mr. Strong took up the other cha"ge9, and after hearing all that had to be said against me, ho appeared to find so little ground for the alleged Indian grievances, that at the conclusion of the investigation, in open Court, before a large number of people, he stated that, "he would be very glad if Mr. Sima and myself would then become friends, as he could then go down and state to the Government that all charges were withdrawn." The following incident also occurred during the investigation : Mr. Strong said to Mr. Sims that he was accustomed to taking evidence, and knew whe;^ u man was telling the truth, and that he considered it distinctly proved, and by his (Sims') own witness, that his assistant in the mission, a man named Henry Eraser, had gone about with a bottle of whiskey in one pocket and a paper defaming mo in the other, to jiOcure the signatures of the navvies working upon the road, and other parties who had never seen me nor knew any thing about me ; he said it was most disgraceful, and turning to the Ilevds. Dr. O'Meaia and Saltern Givins said, " It is for you gentlemen of the church society to take notice of." Momentarily overlooking the settlement arrived at in the morning, on the question of the assault, at the conclusion of the hearing of Mr. Sims' witnesses, I called Mr. E. Johnston, a material witness in my defence, in whom, when before ho could answer my first question, the llev. Jabez Sims rose and objected strongly to anything being heard, as Mr. Stroo;2; hud already settled this matter as previously stated. Mr. Strong a.ssentcd vLat it wais'ailroady settled, and there was no occasion to take any testimony in the matter. Mr. Johnson was therefore not examined nor any other witnesses who were there ready to tsstify in the matter. The investigation was then closed, it being 9.30 P.M., and Mr. Strong spent the '**."' You did not I any further. elf and some n his cxprea- »nevated, and J result ot Ilia : moruing, on I and Givcns jr, as follows : ter if you in- 3 me any i.^w e ought to be rious charges 10 further no- jossible t? rc- you referred spirit." lie iccepting any ing, "George to get hold of it provocation id. Mr Sims ?tcad of sond- es considered the latter. 13 well as the iault, and jMr. t being iu my I had the fol- not drop this t it. And he other cha-ges, ) little ground n open Court, Mr. Sims and 3 Government ig said to Mr. ras telling the tness, that his li a bottle of I signatures of rao nor knew lie Ilevds. Dr. ociety to take he question of called Mr. E. nswer my first heard, as Mr. sen ted vLat it matter. Mr. here ready to remainder of the evening with my friends and myself on the most cordial and friendly terms. Ho expressed freely most contemptuous opinions of the Rev. Jabez Sims, and did not leave a doubt in the minds of any that tho investigation had resulted entirely in my favor. On the following morning the steamer Algoma arrived very early, and feeling that I was basing my case perhaps too much upon Mr. Strong's pledges, I went down to where he was lodging, and had substantially the following conversation : " Mr. Strong, I desire to know whether you consider any one of the charges made against mo has been proved ; for if so, I shall now demand that tho investigation be continued and my side heard." He replied, " You know I have already settled the most important charge in jour favor. You don't want *• J keep me here all winter." I said "No; but very dauiagiDg charges have been u'mie against me. I cannot see that one of them has been proved, out if you have any doubt, tho investigation must go on." Ho repeated, I have already decided in your favor as to the most important charge; us for the other matters, in writing tho evidence so fast, I could not fully weigh it, but I could see nothing of much conseque iCe, and added, " it is a pity you did not say this last night." I said, it having been past nine at night when he concluded hearing Mr. Sims' side, there was no time for me to have produced my witnesses, and that it was now not yet 7 A.M., so that no delay on my side could be complained of. Of this conversation I have tho fullest recollection ; and of his statement " I have already settled the most important matter in your favor," I am perfectly ready and willing to make oath to. However, on the understanding that he was to report in my favor on the question of the assault, I said that if he would send mo up the evidence so that I might send him a resume and any counter sworn testimony as to the other charges, I would not insist upon his waiting upon the Island. I may remark here that there was no occasion for hurry on Mr. Strong's part, as both tho steamer Algoma and the steamer Wawhuno' made later trips than the one he returned by. In support of the foregoing statements I offer herewith the testimony of Thomas Simpson, Esq., M.D., of Manitowaning, Mr. Edward Johnston, store-keeper, and Mr. John MeClarty, boarding-house keeper at Little Current. I had an intimation that Mr., Strong's report was unfavorable, but was not aware, on leaving the Island, of its very extraordinary nature, or I could have procured many more statements similar to these. Mr, McClarty's is an affidavit made before myself, for the reason that there was no other Magistrate in tho place. I submit it elsewhere. Letter. Manitoavaning, April 15th, 1868. Dear Sir, — In reply to your enquiry respecting certain matters connected with an investigation held by Mr. Strong, at Little Current, in November last, I have tho following statement to make. I was present at Little Current during tho investigation. I am not awaro of any witnesses except Mr. Phipps and myself being examined in your defence, owing to your being unprepared, your witnesses at a distance, and the limited time of Mr. Strong, who was anxious to return to Toronto by tho first opportunity. The Commi.ssiouer was engaged throughout the sitting in examining witnesses brought forward by Mr. Sims to prove certain charges made by him (Mr. Sims) against you. I was present when you called Mr. E. Johnston to testify respecting the charge of the assault. Mr. Sims objected to his examination on the ground that this charge had been already settled, and Mr. Strong agreed. Yours truly, Thos. Simpso" C. J. Dupoiit, Esq., Manitowaning. }ng spent the Little Current, Manitoulio Island, May 2nd, 1868. I, Edward Johnston, of Little Current, hereby declare that I was present at the in- vestigation held by Mr. S. H. Strong regarding certain charges preferred against Mr. C T. Diipont, Visiting Superintendent oJ Indian Affairs, by the Reverend Jabez Sims. That I was a luater'al witness in Mr. Dupotit's favor, and was called by him to testify regarding the assault complained of by Mr. Sims. That before I could answer Mr. Dupont's first question, the Rev. Mr. Sims rose from hip seat and objected strongly to anything being heard on that subject, as it had already been settled by Mr. Strong in Mr. Dupont's favor. That Mr. Dupont therefore assented, and waived asking any more questions or calling any witnesses upon the subject. Mr. Strong's stay upon the Island was only of two days' duration. He lodged in the same house that I did, and freely expressed his sympathy for Mr. Du- pont and contempt for the Rev. Mr. Sims, from what ho had seen of the two gentlemen and left myself and the public generally fully impresstd with the idea that as far as he was con- cerned his decision would be in Mr. Dupont's favor. I was present at the conclusion of the inquiry, when so little did Mr. Strong appear to ''md against Mr. Dupont from the complaints of the Indians that he stated in open Court a .it he would be glad if Mr. Sims and Mr. Dupcnt would there become friends, as he then ■ >ald go down and state to the Government that all charges had been withdrawn and that ae had no report to make. Deposition of John McClarti/. f ■ ovjNcE OF Canada, ) I, John McClarty, of the Village of Little Currcit, 3Iauitouliu District of Algouia. | Island, upon oath say as ibllows : — That Mr. S. H. Strong, accompanied by the Revds. Dr. O'Mcara and SaUcrn Givius, arrived here by Steamer ylA/onia upon a Friday morning in the early part of November, 1807, to investigate certain charges preferred by the Rev. Jabez Sims, ag.MOH'. Mr. C. T. Dupont, the Visiting Superintendent of Indian affairs. That Mr. Dupon^ arrived Ironi Collingwood by the same steamer that day. That Mr. Strong put up at r.y house during his stay upon the Island, which was two days and two nights, he leaving again by the Afyoma on Sunday morning about nine o'clock. That the Rev. Jabez S'ms was sent for to the Sheque-an-dah, and arrived in the afternoon when the investi,',ation was commenced, with closed doors, the public not biing admitted. That on Saturday it was proceeded with, and in the evening, thi public being admitted, I was present, having also been told by Mr. Dupont that ho would call me as a witness. On the closing of tlio examination of Mr. Sims' witnesses, 31." Dupont called Mr. K. Johnson to testify regarding the asssault complained of by Mr. Sim*, when that gentleman rose and objected to anything being heard on that subject, as it was settled. Mr. Dupont thereupon deferred asking Mr. Johnson any questions, nor did ho call me or any other witness as to the assault. That during Mr. Strong's short stay upon the Island he was upon the most cordial terms with Mr. Dupont, and by his expressions in my house, both in that gentleman's presence and absence, ho gave me the impression and Icit behind him the general impression that ho had. so far as he was concerned, settled the matter altogether in Mr. Dupont's i'avor. He expressed very contemptuous opinions of the Rev. Jabez Sims, and said in my hearing on Saturday morning that as the result of his invcstigafion on Friday afternoon ho thought thj matter was not worth the iuquir}-. Finally, as shewing what weight he attached to the Indian complaints of (heir griev- ances and their treatment by Mr. Dupont, at the close of the inquiry on Saturday morn- ing in open Court, Mr. Strong stated that ho would be very glad if Mr. Sims and Mr. Dupont would then and there make friends, so that he could go down and state to the Government that all charges had been withdrawn, and that therefore there was no report to make. Sworn before me at Little Current this second day of July, 1868. John McClartt. C. T. Dupont, J. P. k id, 1868. lent at the in- igainst Mr. (J. z Sims. That itify regarding Dupont's first tnything being )upont's favor, or calling any days' duration, y for Mr. Du- gentlemen and as be was con- rong appear to in open Court ids, as be then rawQ and that nt, Maiiitouliu Sulleni Givius, of November, UH'. Mr. C. T. arrived from louso during his by the Ahjoma Bont for to the Eis commenced, icing ndmitted, ; as a witness, t called Mr. K. that gentleman nor did hu call rt stay upon the pressious in my rcssion and Ictt icd, settled the and said in uiy riday afternoon of (heir griev- Saturday morn- r. Sims and Mr. and state to the was no report tfcCLARTT. And in further support of my statements, I adduce tho fact that not one single witness was examined by Mr. Strong in my defence regarding the assault, although, as proved by |Mr. Johnston's declaration, they were present and ready to testify. Would I have coDseuted that they should not be heard, or had Mr. Strong any ground for not hearing thorn had the decision he announced not been in my favor as I have stated ? In Mr. Strong's report, he says : " Mr. l^upont, from his defence, seems to be laboring under some misconception ot what I stated at the conclusion of the evidence on the charge. I did not, of course, assume as any part of my duty, the office of determining how Mr. Dupont should bo dealt with, or even of making any recommendation to you upon the subject. My functions, 1 conceived to be merely to state what conclusions I drew after hearing the statement of the parties and the evidence as to the charge made. I did ii> leed, in order to put an end to a discussion which was consuming time uselessly, and which involved irritating recriminations, say that I should make precisely the report upon the head which I have just made, and to show this was so, T extract tho following memorandum from my note book, made at the time : " At the conclusion of the statement made on the several charges, I stated that I i bought as to the assault, I should report that the assault was admitted. That it had been a blow struck in heat, and that Mr. Dupont had promptlj/ apologised for it, and had also immediately apologised to the Bishop on bchalt of the church." — Sir, I ask whether out of Mr. Strong's own mouth I do not sustain my statement, tor although his note book does not to the full expres ; what he stated, which T unhesitatingly repeat, was that ho would report that no further notice ought to be taken of it." Dol's it not show that he thus felt that no further notice ought to be taken of it? I ask Sir, had he sent you upon this sub- ject merely this note and the evidence and statements laid before him, would the impres- sion he has produced against mo Yivo been '' precisely s'milar," as by the report he has made? In common justice, I now most lespectfully ask that ^thc evidence I was prepared to lay before Mr. Strong on this complaint, touching the character of the Rev. Jabez Sims, and the intense provocation he had for some time b'^en giving, and which culminated in this occurrence which I most sincerely regretted and apologised for at the time — but which Mr. Strong did not think it necessary on my side to hear: — [ may have the opportunity of submitting if you consider it necessary, in my defence. Having been so unfairly dealt with by Mr. Strong, in his report, I now beg that I may be permitted to offer the following analysis of it : Mr. Stro says: "The ground of complaint in the several documents referred to, not being set forth with clearness before proceeding with the investigation, I extracted as well as 1 could from the letters and petition, the several accusations against Mr. Dupont, and arranged them in the form of distinct charges, adopting as nearl" as possible the language of the parties preferring them." "And having read these to tho Rev. Mr. Sims, the Revds. Dr. O'Meara and S. Givins, (who attended the investigation on behalf of the Church Society), they were adopted by those gentlemen as explicit statements of tho complaints against Mr. Dupont." Charge No. 1 is that Mr. Dupont is tyrannical, overbearing and unjust to the Indians. Regarding this charge Mr. Strong s ys : "He thinks it is, if not to the letter, m sub- stance proved. The evidence of all tho In- dian witnesses though expressed very sim- ply, and bearing chiefly on matters which to Mr. Dupont may appear of very minor im- portance, is greatly against him as respects this charge, and I am bound to say, that I give credit for truthfulness to every Indian who gave testimony. I will only under this head refer particu- larly to one case, that of She-wc-ta-gun-an- Ojibbeway of Little Current, who was to my mind very harshly, not to say cruelly dealt The efforts throughout in Mr. Strong's Ilenort to put the most damaging construc- upon every subject when treated as towards me and his equal endeavour to write up tho raissonary and gloss over his failings, savors niuoh more of the retained counsel than of the impartial judge. lie cannot but say that the evidence sub- mitted to him by tho Indians was on mat- ters of very minor importance, and he can find no case of sufficient gravity to specify, but that of the selling of tho log house of the Indian She-we-tah-gun to Smylie. He says ho gives credit for truthfulness with. It seems that this poor man had for some years lived in a log house which ho had built for himself at Little Current on a piece of land, which when the survey was made came to he included in the village plot. In the epring of the year ho went to the fiup;ar bush, but leavin.s; his wife at home. Whilst he was absent, Mr. Dupont sold the lot on which his house stood to a trader named Smylie, and a written notice requiring She- we-tah-gun's removal, was forthwith left with his wife, who took it to her husband in the woods. Upon his immediate return, he found Smylie in the act of turning his few things out of doors, and he was thus, wliilst the 8nT)w was upon the ground, left without a roof to shelter him. Mr. Dupont's conduct in this one in- stance, is in myjudgmcnt conclusive against him on this charge ; but in audition to it, the evidence, I think, discloses that he treats the Indians with harshness and unkindncss. to every Ind'an witness who gave testimony, albeit none of them were sworn. Mr. Strong, I infer from this statement alone, to be as ut- terly ignorant of Indian character as it is possible for a man to be. It is well known tiiat to gratify revenge, or even almost with- out a motive, an Indian has little or no regard for truth. If to mako a truthful statement iu this particular is to militate against me, or bo held further proof that I hold the Indians in contempt, it is for me most unfortunate, but it is nevertheless the truth, and I cannot say anything else. And I would appeal to the Hon. Wm. McDougall whether tlieir fre(iuent accusations asiainst him that ho obtained the cession of the Manitouliu Island by the influeacc of whiskey upon the chiefs, and by threatening the Indians by bringing up soldiers to coerce them, is proof to his mind that they are a people given to speaking the truth ? In the case of these particular men, although I do not mean to assert that all their statements are false, most of them are utterly so ; and if the matter rests upon a (juestion of veracity, I crave permission to put in testimony t - prove them utterly unreliable. Mr. Strong has strangely overpainted the case of the Indian She-we-tah-gun. And without the least foundation in the evi- dence laid before him for doing so, he makes the statement " that iu the spring of the year he went to tlic sugar bush hut leav- ing his wife at home," here again displaying his total ignorance of the Indian charater. The sugar making season is a perfect holdi- day to the Indians, and they will not be kept by anything from flocking en masse to the bush. The schools are emptied. The church service is deserted, and even the most aged and dccrepid get out to the sngar carnival. It is a perfectly gratuitous as- sumption of Mr. Strong to mako the case blacker against mo that this man's wife re- mained VI the village in this log house. Such in fact was not the case, and there is nothing whatever in She-we-tah-gun's statement to support such an assertion. The facts of this case are simply these : The treaty made by the Hon. Mr. McDougall, in 18G2, 3iaving reserved from the selection of tlie Indians as their permanent locations, ail village and mill sites, Little Current was surveyed into town-lots and I was instructed to require the Indians of that place io select their 100 acre lots elsewhere. Twelve months or more prior to the sale of the lot L ) gave testimony, rorn. Mr. Stroog, xlono, to be as ut- cliaracter as it is It is well kaowa !Ven almost with- little 01 DO regard uthful statomeut militate agaiust jot" that I hold ;, it is for me I nevertheless the thing else. And Wm. McDougall cusations acrainst ! cession of the ho intlueDco of id by threatening up soldiers to s mind that they king the truth ? particular men, :o assert that all e, most of them matter rests upon crave permission ovo them utterly y overpainted the ■tah-gun. And tioa ip the evi- for doing so, he iu the spring of gar bush but Icav- i again displaying Indian cbarater. is a perfect holdi- ey will not be kept ; en masse to the emptied. The d, and even the t out to the sagar tly gratuitous as- to make the case is mail's wife re- s log house. Such id there is nothing ud's statement to ire simply these : n. Mr. McDougall, from the (-election rmaneut locations, jittlc Current was d I was instructed Lat place (o select ewhere. Twelve the sale of the lot I that this man's shanty stood on — he selected ' his land at Sucker Creek, and his name with j others was ofiBcially returned by me to the i Deputy Superintendent of Indian AflFairs. I Ho had his clearance there and his camp, j but on ly as do all the Indians, until one by one the lots upon which their shanties stand I arc sold. He returned off and on, and loitered I about the village. When Smylie came to the Indian oflice at I Manitowaning and applied for this lot and presented tho money in payment for it, it was not within n.^ power to set aside the printed order in Council declaring these lands for sale and say I would notsell it to him, but I made him pay at the same time for the Indian improvements, and wrote the Indian a kind ote, informing him that the lot was pur- mey for her log Uo mp ns. Id but ! chased by Smylie, that I had the i j him for his improv^ements, or r j shunty, and that when required b\ f^ I he must leave it and go to h ' and clearance amongst the othc Knowing full well also that lie not then be occupying his cabin, with all his family would bo in the sugar bush, where they continue until the snow is \ entirely gone, and then remain to prepare for planting their crops, not returning to the village until after this work is accomplished. To speak of this case as Mr. Strong does " as in his judgment alone conclusive against me," is in my opinion alone sufficient to condemn Mr. Strong's judgment upon the whole question of the grievances of the Indians, as a man entirely unacquainted with their habits and not competent to arrive at correct conclusions. This man never complainod of any hard- ship. Nor does he do so in his statement, as regards the time or manner in which he had to relinquish his log cabin, but that he did not wish to have it sold at all, a mat- ter in which I had no choice. Charge No. 2. — " That he has arrested, fined and imprisoned the Indians and{their children on the most frivolous pretences to gratify his own spite." " With regard to Mr, Strong reports : charge No, 2,1 do not find it established ; though I may say in passing that I doubt the reasonableness and fairness of applying the stringent provisions of the Statutes of Henry Gth as to forcible entries and detainers, to trespasses committed by tho Indians in entire ignorance of the law. Mr. Strong does not find this most serious charge of the Revd, Jabez fciims ectabUshed. Yet in his well kept up character of my prosecutor and counsel for the Church Society, he endeavours to make me appear to have been unreasonable and unfair in apply- ing a statute of Henry Gth to trespasses com- mitted by Indians. These Indians were arrested on a Bench warrant issued by Judge Prince, and cer- 8 tainly were not tried before mo. What had I then to do ia this matter to merit thJH censure 'I It is, I think, a further proof of the exparte nature of Mr. Strong's report, that he should introduce hia views in regard to the conviction of these Indians to militate a(rain>t me, when, as is shown by the evidence submitted to him, I was neither the Magistrate who issued the warrant for their arrest, nor before whom the preliminary examination wus hold, they being taken to the Sault for that purpose, and when, although ably defended by the Hon. M. C. Cameron, they were found guilty by a jury. 1 would respectfully call your attention, in connection with these arrests, to a letter from the Rev, Jabez 8ims, published in the Globe of the 17th of February, 18G6, and which is (oo lengthy to embody in this paper, but which I desire to put in as part of my defence, to show how inconsistent with the opinions he expressed in that letter are his present statements, and how unprin- cipled he. is, when holding in such an estimate the Ileverend Gentlemen of the Jesuit Mission, reviling them and charging them with the foulest crimes. He sent a message to say he would now make common cause with them and to ask their assistance in procuring my dismissal, as is proved by the evidenc? of Henry Corbin, given before Mr. Strong at the investigation. It is evident the Rev. Jabez Sims, to gratify his vindictive feclingw, has no scruples of conscience in using what he considers the falsest testimony, and if he will (do this, is it not a fair presumption that he would not either hesitate in making the falsest statements himself. As embodying his views regarding the arrest of these Indians for forcible entry, I submit the following resolution of the (Miureh Society of the Diocese of Toronto, based on information furnished that body by Jlr. Sims, and lorwarded by His Lordship the late Bishop of that Diocese to His Kxecllency the (Jovernor (Jeneral. RESOLUTION. That whereas, information has reached this Board of a credible character, that the Church of England Mission on the Manitoulin Island is exposed to pn-it and VIOLENCE, from parties now residing upon the Island, who exercise an undue und danyerous influence over the Indians settled thereon, the Jord Bishop of the Diocese bo respectfully request- ed to appeal to the Government on behalf of the Mission Board of the Church Society of the Diocese of Toronto, lor the adoption of such measures as shall give due protection to their Mission, and secure the free exercise of the ministrations of their Missionaries. (Signed,) J. Beaven. Chairman. (True copy.) S. GiviNS, H. S. Charge 3. — " That Mr. Dupont has kept breaehy animals, viz , boars, sows, &o., which have broken again and again into the Indian crops, and when remonsL "'-ed with, has told the Indians to go about their business. Charge 4. — " That by his conduct in the matter last mentioned, he has driven the Indians from their settlement. Charge 5. — That Mr. Dupont has reserved the best locations on the Island for himself and his family." Charges 3, 4, and 5, as above, Mr. Strong reports ho does not find proved. Charge G. — •' That Mr. Dupont systematically breaks his promises to the Indians, that he spurns them from the house when they come to see him telling them that he has no time to waste with them, that they must be quiet and get out. Mr. Strong reports : I have already under the head of No. 1 said much that bears upon this ; in addition, I may remark, I can hardly think it reason- able thbt Mr. Dupont should deal with the By the judicious separation of the charges from the place in his report where Mr. Strong deals with them, he gains the double advantage of having the unfavorable accusa- tion first read, and then by dealing with it 9 1 mo. What had er to merit this 's report, that he I militate ajrainst 3r the Magistrate examination wms ;^h ably defended I respectfully call Rev, Jabez 8ims, iDgthy to embody how inconsistent and how unpriu- nca ol' tho Jesuit 5ent a message to ince in procuring 3rc Mr. Strong at indiclive feelings, timony, and if he ite in making tho t of these Indians I Society of the ns, and Ibrwarded iovernor General. haracter, that the ind VIOLKNCE, ini/erous influence ipectfully rcquest- Jhurch Society of due protection to yiissionaries. Jeaven. Chairman. i, sows, &c., which ved with, has told le has driven the Island for himself )roved. lea to the Indians, icm that he has no ition of the charges report where Mr. le gains the double infavorable aoousa- by dealing with it Indiana as he admittedly docs by refusing to see them at any place but his office and within office hours. These poor people do not understand these regulations, and they feel themselves aggrieved by being subjected to them. Moreover it must be a great in- convenience to Indians coming from a dis- tance to be compelled to wait, perhaps over night, in order that they may have an inter- view with Mr. Dupont during office hours. simply as charge No. 6 he can proceed to generalise to my disadvantage as in this case, so that without referring back and re-read- ing the charge, it might bo supposed to bo proved. In his remarks upon this charge, there is not a word applicable to my systematicaUy breaking my promises to the Indiana, and yet he has not the fairness to say it is dis- proved, but he proceeds upon a pure assump- tion upon his part to condemn me for seeing the Indians only at my office, and in office hours; There is nothing whatever in the evidence laid before Mr. Strong to justify this assertion. And I most distinctly state that from first to last nothing whatever was said or hinted at in any way approaching the keeping of office hours. It is a pure assumption on Mr. Strong's part, and utterly false as a matter of fact. At any hour, and on any day, I have always been ready and willing to attend, and havo constantly attended to any Indian who had business to do with me. And that I refuse to see Indians at any place but my own house, is an equally incor- rect and unsustained assertion. But that I only transact business at my office, within a ■tone's throw of my house, I cannot see the unreasonableness or unfairness of. Would Mr. Strong have mo remove the safe and the land books and of&cial papers to my house, and require the clerk and in- terpreter to attend there, or should I carry books and papers and money backwards and forwards between the two places ? Charge 7. — That on the 2nd of August, 1867, at Little Current, Mr. Dupont vio- lently a£,saultcd the Rev. Mr. Sims. Mr. Strong reports upon this subject in the most unfavorable light he can put it for me, saying also, " I have no doubt but that Mr. Sims, after being struck, did say some things which he ought not to have said, but although Mr. Dupont attached weight to this, I do net see that it is within the scope of the enquiry I was authorized to make." Ho gives also an extract from his note book made at the time, shewing the impression then conveyed to him to be that, " I should report that the assault was admitted, but that it was a blow struck in heat, and that Mr. Dupont had promptly apologized for it, and had also immediately apologized to the Bishop on behalf of the Church," and again in hiB report "he (Mr. Dupont) very promptly wrote and sent Mr. Sims a very ample apology." 2 Having already, in the beginning of this paper, dwelt at such length upon this sub- ject, I will now confine myself to asking whether or not Mr. Strong does not convict himself of having held an ex-parte investi- gation. In his statement " that although Mr. Dupont attached tceight to Mr. Sims* oonduot subsequent to the blow, I did not see that it was within the scope of the en- quiry I was authorized to make." Was this justice ? was this even-handed and impar- tial ? I again refer to his extract from his note book as conclusively in my favor, and I beg to ask in what way is to be interpreted his statement, " he, Mr. Dupont, very promptly sent Mr. Sims a very ample apology." What, Sir, is the meaning of the word I ample, which Mr. Strong strengthens by the 10 prefix of the word " very ?" Is it not that it should have been a sufficient and conclu- sive settlement of the mattei ? I have further to remark, that either iu the original documents sent by Mr. Strong, or ^, some error of the copyist, in the papers on subject laid before the House of - .01.. a clause in my letter of apology His L. dship the Bishop, of very great do^ '{ir je, is omitted. The letter, as sent ids, " His (Mr. Sims') first t/ying .'> inciv mischief among the settlers, then ..mating a falsehood to Your Lordship to my detriment, and on being required to explain actually accusing me of being the liar, was more than I could bear, and I told him he was a liar." In the uncontrollable irritation and im- pulse of the moment, &o., &c. Whereas the correct reading of this let- ter, as sent to Mr. Strong, was, " I told him he was a liar, when he replied that I WAS A LI AH, and in the uncoiitrollabic irritation and impulse of the moment," &c., &c. The omission I consider one of very great importance, and, occurring as it docs in the papers as sent in by Mr. Strong, is of a some- what remarkable nature. Charge 7. — That Mr. Bupont has cut the Indian hay at Manitowaniag. Mr. Strong reports " I find not proved." Mr. Strong has stated his charges in the mildest form. The Rev. Jabez Sims' state- ment over his own signature in a com- munication to the Superintendent General of Indian Afiairs, is, " He has robbed theaj of their hay at Manitowaning." Mr. Strong finds it not proved. Is it a creditable thing to the Eev. Jabez Sims to have made such a slanderous statement without the least foundation ? Charge 8. — That Mr. Dupont has slandered the Rev. Jabez Sims. Mr. Strong reports " I think not established." Charge 9. That on the occasion of the funeral of a lata officer of the Indian Depart- ment at Manitowaning, upon the Rev. Jabez Sims refusing to read the burial service of the Church of England at the grave, Mr. Dupont declared he would do so himself, and that if Mr. Sims interfered ho would take him by the shoulder and put him out of the Church- yard. Dr. Laytcn the officer referred to, died suddenly of congestion of the brain, as estab- lished by a post-mortem examination. He had been my brother officer, my neighbor and my intimate friend, and I could not see him buried like a dog for no reason what- ever. Previous to his death the Rev. Jabez Sims had been bitterly inimical to him, and on his declining to read the service at the grave, I said 1 would do so myself. Mr. Strong reports charge 9, Mr. Dupont does not deny. L Is it not that ent and conclu- ? , that either iu by Mr. Strong, St, in the papers the House of Btter of apology , of very great e letter, as sent s') first t/ying c settlers, then ~ ordship to my uired to explain g the liar, was I told him lie itation and im- ing of this let- as, " I told him ed thatlWAS ollablc irritation &c., &c. ae of very great IS it docs in the ing, isof a some- 3 charges in the ibez Sims' state- ure in a com- tendent General las robbed theaj proved. Is it a . Jabe;; Sims to rous statement ? s Indian Depart- )urial service of bimself, and that of the Church- cferrcd to, died 3 brain, as estab- umitiation. He r, my neighbor I could not SCO DO reason what- the Rev. Jabez ical to him, and service at tho fiyself. 11 Surely I had a right to do this, and I cannot see by what right Mr. Sims assum- med to interfere. If I erred in the manner of expressing myself to him, I can only say that I felt deeply the loss of my friend, and was touch- ed by the cruel indignity proposed to be put by a Christian minister upon his unofifending corpse. The officer in question had been for seven- teen years Surgeon at Manitowaning, where also he had buried i^r- of his children. He was a regulor attendant at Mr. Sims' church, and with the latter gentleman, my clerk and myself, comprised all the white men of the place. Tender indeed was this christian minister's conscience, in declining to give his family the poor consolation of reading tho burial service over him. Charge 10. — That Mr. Dupont has, at political meetings called by hiu.self, slandered Mr Sims. Mr. Strong reports : — I think not proved. Thus, Sir, of eleven most serious and defamatory charges preferred by tho Rev. Jabez Sims, for although Mr. Strong has numbered the last one only No. 10, ho has two num- ber sevens — making eleven in all. Out of eleven such gross charges thus, every one is found not proved by Mr. Strong, excepting No. 1, which he says is not to tho letter proved, and in which his report against me is based on false assumption on his part, and which no facts were adduced to sustain; charge No. 6, where again ho draws purely on his imagination for his facts, which he states to bo that I do business only in office hours and at my office ; charge No. 7, regarding tho assault, which I never from the first denied, and charge 9, connected with the interment ot the late Dr. Layton. Seven of the elevea, and the most damaging and slanderous statements of the Rev. Jabez Sims, ho finds " not proved." On handing me the papers in Toronto, Mr. Strong, to whom also I was an entire stranger, said to me, *•' I do not know Mr. Sims. His letter is a very intemperate one, and I should judge him to be a very vulgar man," in which conclusion I think the facts of this case fully bear him out. Mr. Strong says, with regard to the reliance to be placed on the statements of witnesses, "-with the exception of two, Neil Currie and IJenry Fraser, I consider them as truthful." That Mr. Strong's judgment in this respect is not infallible, I think, will bo shown by the following statement regarding the Rev. Jabez Sims' chief friend upon the Manitoulin Island and witness on his behalf: David Man- chester, lately of Ottawa, and now passing undor the assumed name of David Moor Smiley upon tho Manitoulin Island. TUh Affirmation of Hiram Johnston. Province of Canad.i, "I District of A.lgoma. J I do hereby affirm, that f reoogaize in tho person passing under the name of David Moor Smiley, living at Little Current on the Manitoulin Island, a man formerly known as David Manchester, a clothier, ibrmerly living in the City of Ottawa, who, a'oout two years since, disappeared from that city, and who was supposed to have been drowned, a skiff in which he had gone out on the river having been found adrift, and his body having been dragged for, and whoso family have subsequently been endeavoring to obtain an insurance on his life. — Signed and affirmed, on board the steamer AJgoma, this fourth day of May, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight. Hiram Joh.^son. In presence of Thomas A, Towers, Wm. Plummor, J. P. 1r> it \ This is the class of man Drought by the Kcv. Jabcz Sims to testify agaiost me by Lis companions, and his right hand man in the organization of the Orange Lodge, al- luded to in the evidence of James McGregor, and whom Mr. Strong says he believes. It is* difficult to determine whether the latter gentleman's penetration, or his want of fairness in his dealing with this matter is most to be called in question, but I think he might rea- sonably have expected the Rev. Jabez Sims tohuvo sustained his charge, by the evidence of at least one respectable man of the neighborho. J, before so strongly condemning me. In conclusioa, Sir, I respectfully claim that it is most unfair that the opinion of Mr Strong, who was b ..t two days in all upon the Manitoulin Island, and who had never before been in any part of the District of Algoma, in which my duties are performed, and who is manifestly utterly and entirely ignorant of the Indian character, should, unless supported by facts, bo considered as conclusive against me. Is it to ba expected that in so short a visit he could appreciate the influences brought to bear upon the Indians, or does it appear that he took the least trouble to apprehend the difficulties of my position 'I Has he acquainted himself with the nature of the instructions from the Department of the Government to which I belong, under which I acted, and the nature of which in some instances was distasteful to a portion of the Indians ; and is my conduct, as set forth by the evidence submitted to him, such as to mefftthe utter condemnation he heaps upon me, most carefully abstaining frooi the least word that could be said in my favor, and insinuating blame for acts he dare not openly censure, and for the performance of which I merited and have heretofore received the full approbation of my Department. Sir, I have faith- fully, zealously, efficiently, and honorably discharged my duty. Not one single official act in all the persecution that has been waged against me has been found for which I can be censured, and as regards my private character and personal integrity, ray bitterest enemies and slanderers have not daredio breathe or even insinuate a word, as my character is thoroughly and well known. I have never in my life been under the influence of liquor ; immorality of any description, I am as free from the taint of, as the day I was born, and I have never in my mature years told a falsehood. Had I been content to do so, or at least to be a party to them, by allowing ^feitements prejudicial to the interodts of the Indians •to pass uncontradicted, perhaps I w^uld not now h;we li;ul any occasion to make this de- fence before you. Can so much be said with regard to mj detractors ? I would that even-handed justice might cause as searching an inquiry into their conduct as has been made into mine. Sir, in this matter you have to deal not merely with my living, but with my reputa- tion, and which however humble an individual I am, is as dear to me as is his to the highest in tho land. Am I then the " perfect rowdy and blackguard," the " robbar of hay from Indians," the''ovcrbcaring, unjust and tyrannical magistrate," "the breaker of laws," and "ignorant man," which the refined and lleverend. Jabez Sims has asserted — or does not his total failure to sustain in any way, manner or shapes these utterly unfounded accu- uations, and for which I am about bringing him before tho Courts of Toronto, prove much that I have said of his capacity for giving mo provocation which led to the unfortunate assault, and which Mr. Strong reports : " Was a blow given in heat — and was promptlif apologized for to Mr. Sims — and also immediately apologized for to tho Bishop," and for which, and for which alone, I submit that I do not merit the reproach, " that I am a man totally unfit to hold any office under Her Majesty's Government." Is this. Sir, to bo the reward of Her Majesty's Government for fulthful services per- formed with some personal risk, and much annoyance of u life of six years' isolation and privation from every enjoyment of civilization, when the oppo&ing influences may be grffch forinstance, as that respectable body the Church Society of tho diocese of Toronto, on the one side, and on tho other, an isolated -. I absent ninn un an ice-bound Island, where for weeks and weeks at a time, not a letter orncwspapcr reaches to inform him of tho plans of his enemies. , . I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, ' ^^ C. T, DUPONT, \ VisUiiKj Superintendent Indian Affairt, - To the Hon. H. L. Langeviu. . Secretary of State, Ottawa. ' •' ■» '\,^ r\4 .^ •• ' y agaiost me by •range Lodge, al- he believes. It is s want of fairness ink he might rea- , by the evidence andemning me. e opinion of Mr d who had never e performed, and r, should, unless expected that in the Indians, or 1 of my position ? le Department of of which in some , as set forth by heaps upon me, r, and insinuating which I merited Sir, I have faith- }ne single official 1 for which I can •ity, ray bitterest as my character is luence of liquor ; [ was born, and I do so, or at least jts of the Indians to make this dc- 3n-handed justice into mine. with my reputa- as is hia to the 3 " robbar of hay breaker of laws," asserted — or does unfounded accu- onto, prove much the unfortunate nd was promptly Bishop," and for ' that I am a man iful services per* iars' isolation and uces may be grfbh f Toronto, on the Island, where for im of the plans of NT, lUan Affairt, ■ i if _ I