Settlers' Union formed to redress land grievances


" Settlers' Union formed to redress land grievances"
Prince Albert Times 10/17/1883 The public meeting of the inhabitants of Prince Albert and vicinity, which was held on Tuesday afternoon, to consider the propriety of forming a "Settlers Union or association" was largely attended. Mr. Wm. Miller was appointed chairman, and Mr. Fitz Cochrane secretary. The Chairman briefly stated the objects of the meeting and called upon Mr. Slater to move the first resolution, which was as follows: Whereas - The inhabitants of Prince Albert and the District of Lorne in common with their brethren of other portions of the North West Territories, have long laboured under great grievances and disadvantages arising from the land policy of the Government, which bears most oppressively an injuriously upon the best interests of the settlers of these Territories, and from the long continued neglect of the Government to provide as with the machinery and appliances for self government, and the management of internal affairs. And whereas - No attention whatever has has been paid in the past to the repeated remonstrances and prayers for redress which have been embodied in Memorials presented to the Dominion Government and Parliament from time to time. And whereas - The so called amended Land Act and the regulations and orders in Council which have been passed, have rather increased than diminished the evils and injustice complained of. Therefore resolved - That in the opinion of the meeting the time has arrived when it is necessary for the settlers of this District to form a Union or Association for mutual protection, and the defence of the rights and liberties which they as freemen possess, in common with their brethren of the other and more favored portions of the Dominion. Mr. Slater stated that although he would have preferred that some older settler and more experienced hand than himself should have taken the initiative in the movement, yet as none such seemed inclined to do so, he had taken the responsibility of calling this meeting as he felt that the time had come when something decisive should be done by the people of Prince Albert to compel the Government to recognize our undoubted rights and to relieve us of the grievances we so justly complain of. He pointed out some of the most oppressive of these, such as compelling settlers to live nearly all the year on their claims when they had no roads to have access to them and no schools to educate their children. The delay in granting patents and the locking up of cancelled lands for the benefit of the Government. He did not advocate extreme measures at present, but thought that the Government would yield to firm remonstrances and a collective effort for mutual protection such as that contemplated by the resolution which he begged to move. Mr. J.J. Campbell, J.P., in seconding the resolution made a very effective speech in support of it. He regretted the absence of may of the old settlers of Prince Albert, who ought to be present, and would perhaps hereafter regret that they had not taken part in the movement. He did not approve of the free use of the term rebellion. It might not do any harm in Prince Albert, but in some parts of the Territories there were men only too anxious to receive any encouragement in that direction, and therefore we should be cautious. Rebellion in this country meant annexation to the United States, and he for one was not prepared for that, nor did he think the majority of the people of these Territories were. He did not consider this meeting in any sense a political one in the restricted sense of the word. It was a meeting of settlers to consider the policy of the Government in its bearings upon the North West Territories.

" Settlers' Union formed to redress land grievances"

Prince Albert Times
10/17/1883
The public meeting of the inhabitants of Prince Albert and vicinity, which was held on Tuesday afternoon, to consider the propriety of forming a "Settlers Union or association" was largely attended.
Mr. Wm. Miller was appointed chairman, and Mr. Fitz Cochrane secretary. The Chairman briefly stated the objects of the meeting and called upon Mr. Slater to move the first resolution, which was as follows:
Whereas - The inhabitants of Prince Albert and the District of Lorne in common with their brethren of other portions of the North West Territories, have long laboured under great grievances and disadvantages arising from the land policy of the Government, which bears most oppressively an injuriously upon the best interests of the settlers of these Territories, and from the long continued neglect of the Government to provide as with the machinery and appliances for self government, and the management of internal affairs.
And whereas - No attention whatever has has been paid in the past to the repeated remonstrances and prayers for redress which have been embodied in Memorials presented to the Dominion Government and Parliament from time to time.
And whereas - The so called amended Land Act and the regulations and orders in Council which have been passed, have rather increased than diminished the evils and injustice complained of.
Therefore resolved - That in the opinion of the meeting the time has arrived when it is necessary for the settlers of this District to form a Union or Association for mutual protection, and the defence of the rights and liberties which they as freemen possess, in common with their brethren of the other and more favored portions of the Dominion.
Mr. Slater stated that although he would have preferred that some older settler and more experienced hand than himself should have taken the initiative in the movement, yet as none such seemed inclined to do so, he had taken the responsibility of calling this meeting as he felt that the time had come when something decisive should be done by the people of Prince Albert to compel the Government to recognize our undoubted rights and to relieve us of the grievances we so justly complain of. He pointed out some of the most oppressive of these, such as compelling settlers to live nearly all the year on their claims when they had no roads to have access to them and no schools to educate their children. The delay in granting patents and the locking up of cancelled lands for the benefit of the Government. He did not advocate extreme measures at present, but thought that the Government would yield to firm remonstrances and a collective effort for mutual protection such as that contemplated by the resolution which he begged to move.
Mr. J.J. Campbell, J.P., in seconding the resolution made a very effective speech in support of it. He regretted the absence of may of the old settlers of Prince Albert, who ought to be present, and would perhaps hereafter regret that they had not taken part in the movement. He did not approve of the free use of the term rebellion. It might not do any harm in Prince Albert, but in some parts of the Territories there were men only too anxious to receive any encouragement in that direction, and therefore we should be cautious. Rebellion in this country meant annexation to the United States, and he for one was not prepared for that, nor did he think the majority of the people of these Territories were. He did not consider this meeting in any sense a political one in the restricted sense of the word. It was a meeting of settlers to consider the policy of the Government in its bearings upon the North West Territories.