Unnamed source describes Metis


"Unnamed source describes Metis vie of the Rebellion, including the March '85 Bill of Rights"
Daily Intelligencer (Belleville, Ont) 4/14/1885 An Important Letter Fort Qu'Appelle, N.W.T., April 12. - An important letter was received last night by a person here, from St. Laurent giving the rebel account of recent events. The substance of it is as follows: On March 6 or 7, a large meeting of half-breeds delegates was held at St. Laurent. Three white delegates were present, purporting to speak for the discontented white settlers of the Prince Albert district. Riel submitted the following Revolutionary Bill of Rights which the meeting adopted, most of the points having been discussed at many public meetings during the fall and winter: (1) That the half-breeds of the North-West Territories be given grants similar to those accorded to the half-breeds of Manitoba by the Act of 1870. (2) That patents be issued to all half-breeds and white settlers who have fairly earned the right of possession on their farms. (3) That in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan be forthwith organized with legislatures of their own, so that the people may be no longer subject to the despotism of Mr. Dewdney. (4) That in these new provincial legislatures, while representation according to population shall be the supreme principle, the Metis shall have a fair and reasonable share of representation. (5) That the offices of trust throughout these provinces be given to residents of the country, as far as practicable, and that we denounce the appointment of disreputable outsiders and repudiate their authority. (6) That this region be administered for the benefit of the actual settler, and not for the advantage of the alien speculator. (7) That better provision be made for the Indians, the parliamentary grant to be increased and lands set apart as an endowment for the establishment of hospitals and schools for the use of whites, half-breeds, and Indians, at such places as the provincial legislatures may determine. (8) That all the lawful customs and usages which obtain among the Metis be respected. (9) That the Land Department of the Dominion Government be administered as far as practicable from Winnipeg, so that settlers may not be compelled as heretofore to go to Ottawa for the settlement of questions in dispute between them and the land commissioner. (10) That the timber regulations be made more liberal, and that the settler be treated as having rights in this country. * * * * * At this meeting speeches were made on behalf of the half-breeds by Riel, Maxime Lepine and Charles Nolin; and on behalf of the white settlers by Archibald Davidson, George Fisher and Alexander Waller (or Walter). It was determined to embody this bill of rights in a memorial and send it to the newspapers and to leading members of Parliament and to the Dominion authorities. Nolin and Riel then moved that, as the Government had for fifteen years neglected to settle the half-breed claims, though it had repeatedly (and more especially by providing for their adjustment in the Dominion Land Act of 1883) confessed their justice, the meeting should assume that the government had abdicated its functions through such neglect; and should proceed to establish a provisional government, based upon the principles involved in the bill of rights. This was agreed to, and a government was there and then formed with Riel as president. He announced that no hostile movement would be made unless word were received from Ottawa refusing to grant the demands in the bill of rights. If, however, the government should appoint a commission to deal with the half-breed claims and pledge itself to deal with the questions affecting white settlers, then the provisional government, on obtaining reasonable guarantees that this would be done, would disband. Bloodshed was to be avoided unless the provocation amounted to life or death for the revolted settlers. In the meantime the authority of the dominion would be repudiated, and supplies collected to provide against the emergency of war. * * * * * Immediately after the meeting Alexander Fisher, Lavallee and Lepine, who had charge of supplies, began to levy on the freighters and settlers. Riel, Dumont and others turned their attention to the Indians, with whom they had talks during the winter: and tobacco men were sent out in all directions informing the chiefs and head men regarding what had been done. This is how matters stood when the fight at Duck Lake occurred. The half-breeds solemnly declare that while they had repudiated Dominion authority, they had no hand or part in provoking the collision there. The half-breeds say that Captain Moore, who was wounded, will testify that Crozier lost his head, and ordered his men to fire without cause or provocation. The news of this bloodshed reached Riel on the 27th March. He at once issued an order, of which the substance is as follows: The police have suffered in an attack upon the forces of the provisional government, having fired upon our men without provocation and even without knowing that this government had been established. No doubt they acted under orders from Mr. Dewdney, who, to our entreaties and remonstrances so often conveyed to Ottawa by letters and by deputations since 1870, replies with a volley. It is, therefore, evident that war is being thrust upon us. We shall not continue hostilities, however, unless we are again attacked, until we know for certain that Mr. Dewdney has been instructed to deal with us, settlers struggling for our rights, as public enemies of Canada. In the meantime it is necessary for us to prepare to resist. We remain on the defensive, but the emissaries of the government are evidently determined to make us the aggressors. Justice must triumph, however and we must trust in God. For God and our rights! * * * * * The white settlers who had taken part in the preliminary movement, and who had opposed the levying for supplies, were now greatly alarmed at the news of the fight, and most of them abandoned the half-breeds, though Riel argued all through that the police were to blame. Riel then sent out other messengers, telling the Indians that Mr. Dewdney had determined to kill them as well as the half-breeds and all other persons who had complained of him and his Administration. Lepine and others renewed their efforts to secure supplies, promissory notes of the so-called provisional government being given to those levied upon. Orders have been issued instructing the united half-breed and Indian forces to hold one of the crossings, the exact place to be determined upon as circumstances may direct, against the troops. When General Middleton arrives there (Batoche's Crossing is to be the place) Riel will send a flag of truce and submit the bill of rights. If the General declines to treat, but not otherwise, Riel will then fight. He calculates that by the time the troops get to Clarke's Crossing, the situation at Battleford, Fort Pitt, Victoria and Edmonton will be such as to compel General Middleton to send most of his troops to the relief of those places; and that the half-breeds at Batoche's will be able to offer a successful resistance to the remainder. Nolin boasts that before Middleton reaches Clarke's the half-breeds and Indians on the Manitoba frontier will have risen. * * * * * Riel tells his followers, and also the white settlers, that he will not fight unless he is attacked by the troops. He says that with the help of the Indians he can keep the Saskatchewan country in a blaze for a year, and compel the dominion to seek for peace by granting the half-breeds their demands. He will not treat with the half-breed commissioners unless the troops withdraw. He says that up to the present he has abstained from violence, and that the robberies and murders committed by the Indians have not been authorized but expressly forbidden by him. Should he be attacked again, however, he will fight to the last and attack the police forts all over. As evidence of his pacific intentions, he points to the fact that he has not destroyed the telegraph wires, though he could interrupt communication by a blow of an axe.

"Unnamed source describes Metis vie of the Rebellion, including the March '85 Bill of Rights"

Daily Intelligencer (Belleville, Ont)
4/14/1885
An Important Letter
Fort Qu'Appelle, N.W.T., April 12. - An important letter was received last night by a person here, from St. Laurent giving the rebel account of recent events. The substance of it is as follows:
On March 6 or 7, a large meeting of half-breeds delegates was held at St. Laurent. Three white delegates were present, purporting to speak for the discontented white settlers of the Prince Albert district. Riel submitted the following Revolutionary Bill of Rights which the meeting adopted, most of the points having been discussed at many public meetings during the fall and winter:
(1) That the half-breeds of the North-West Territories be given grants similar to those accorded to the half-breeds of Manitoba by the Act of 1870.
(2) That patents be issued to all half-breeds and white settlers who have fairly earned the right of possession on their farms.
(3) That in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan be forthwith organized with legislatures of their own, so that the people may be no longer subject to the despotism of Mr. Dewdney.
(4) That in these new provincial legislatures, while representation according to population shall be the supreme principle, the Metis shall have a fair and reasonable share of representation.
(5) That the offices of trust throughout these provinces be given to residents of the country, as far as practicable, and that we denounce the appointment of disreputable outsiders and repudiate their authority.
(6) That this region be administered for the benefit of the actual settler, and not for the advantage of the alien speculator.
(7) That better provision be made for the Indians, the parliamentary grant to be increased and lands set apart as an endowment for the establishment of hospitals and schools for the use of whites, half-breeds, and Indians, at such places as the provincial legislatures may determine.
(8) That all the lawful customs and usages which obtain among the Metis be respected.
(9) That the Land Department of the Dominion Government be administered as far as practicable from Winnipeg, so that settlers may not be compelled as heretofore to go to Ottawa for the settlement of questions in dispute between them and the land commissioner.
(10) That the timber regulations be made more liberal, and that the settler be treated as having rights in this country.
* * * * *
At this meeting speeches were made on behalf of the half-breeds by Riel, Maxime Lepine and Charles Nolin; and on behalf of the white settlers by Archibald Davidson, George Fisher and Alexander Waller (or Walter). It was determined to embody this bill of rights in a memorial and send it to the newspapers and to leading members of Parliament and to the Dominion authorities. Nolin and Riel then moved that, as the Government had for fifteen years neglected to settle the half-breed claims, though it had repeatedly (and more especially by providing for their adjustment in the Dominion Land Act of 1883) confessed their justice, the meeting should assume that the government had abdicated its functions through such neglect; and should proceed to establish a provisional government, based upon the principles involved in the bill of rights. This was agreed to, and a government was there and then formed with Riel as president. He announced that no hostile movement would be made unless word were received from Ottawa refusing to grant the demands in the bill of rights. If, however, the government should appoint a commission to deal with the half-breed claims and pledge itself to deal with the questions affecting white settlers, then the provisional government, on obtaining reasonable guarantees that this would be done, would disband. Bloodshed was to be avoided unless the provocation amounted to life or death for the revolted settlers. In the meantime the authority of the dominion would be repudiated, and supplies collected to provide against the emergency of war.
* * * * *
Immediately after the meeting Alexander Fisher, Lavallee and Lepine, who had charge of supplies, began to levy on the freighters and settlers. Riel, Dumont and others turned their attention to the Indians, with whom they had talks during the winter: and tobacco men were sent out in all directions informing the chiefs and head men regarding what had been done.
This is how matters stood when the fight at Duck Lake occurred. The half-breeds solemnly declare that while they had repudiated Dominion authority, they had no hand or part in provoking the collision there. The half-breeds say that Captain Moore, who was wounded, will testify that Crozier lost his head, and ordered his men to fire without cause or provocation.
The news of this bloodshed reached Riel on the 27th March. He at once issued an order, of which the substance is as follows:
The police have suffered in an attack upon the forces of the provisional government, having fired upon our men without provocation and even without knowing that this government had been established. No doubt they acted under orders from Mr. Dewdney, who, to our entreaties and remonstrances so often conveyed to Ottawa by letters and by deputations since 1870, replies with a volley. It is, therefore, evident that war is being thrust upon us. We shall not continue hostilities, however, unless we are again attacked, until we know for certain that Mr. Dewdney has been instructed to deal with us, settlers struggling for our rights, as public enemies of Canada. In the meantime it is necessary for us to prepare to resist. We remain on the defensive, but the emissaries of the government are evidently determined to make us the aggressors. Justice must triumph, however and we must trust in God. For God and our rights!
* * * * *
The white settlers who had taken part in the preliminary movement, and who had opposed the levying for supplies, were now greatly alarmed at the news of the fight, and most of them abandoned the half-breeds, though Riel argued all through that the police were to blame. Riel then sent out other messengers, telling the Indians that Mr. Dewdney had determined to kill them as well as the half-breeds and all other persons who had complained of him and his Administration. Lepine and others renewed their efforts to secure supplies, promissory notes of the so-called provisional government being given to those levied upon.
Orders have been issued instructing the united half-breed and Indian forces to hold one of the crossings, the exact place to be determined upon as circumstances may direct, against the troops. When General Middleton arrives there (Batoche's Crossing is to be the place) Riel will send a flag of truce and submit the bill of rights. If the General declines to treat, but not otherwise, Riel will then fight. He calculates that by the time the troops get to Clarke's Crossing, the situation at Battleford, Fort Pitt, Victoria and Edmonton will be such as to compel General Middleton to send most of his troops to the relief of those places; and that the half-breeds at Batoche's will be able to offer a successful resistance to the remainder. Nolin boasts that before Middleton reaches Clarke's the half-breeds and Indians on the Manitoba frontier will have risen.
* * * * *
Riel tells his followers, and also the white settlers, that he will not fight unless he is attacked by the troops. He says that with the help of the Indians he can keep the Saskatchewan country in a blaze for a year, and compel the dominion to seek for peace by granting the half-breeds their demands. He will not treat with the half-breed commissioners unless the troops withdraw. He says that up to the present he has abstained from violence, and that the robberies and murders committed by the Indians have not been authorized but expressly forbidden by him. Should he be attacked again, however, he will fight to the last and attack the police forts all over. As evidence of his pacific intentions, he points to the fact that he has not destroyed the telegraph wires, though he could interrupt communication by a blow of an axe.