The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-14 00:00:00

CANADIAN AFFAIRS

The Fenian "scare" over the border has half amused,
half annoyed the United States. The American press
assure Canadians that international obligations will
be rigidly observed, and laugh at the farce enacted
by the Fenians, while they ridicule the grand pre-
parations made in the Dominion to receive the
invaders. So absurd does the fright of the colo-
nial papers appear to the people on the other side
of the Border, whose throats are not threatened,
that they ascribe the alarm kept up to a deliberate
purpose on the pact of Canadian politicians who
desire to represent the United States, one New
York paper says, as a vulgar, greedy, unscrupulous,
scheming enemy, so hungry for Canada, and so en-
viously hateful of England, Oa t nothing would please
itbetter than to turn loose on the other side of the bor-
der a hoard of Fenian murderers. The Toronto (71obe
is said by another to be one of the few papers which
" kept its head." The Detroit Post gives a satirical
account of the first encounter which took place on
the 17th of April at Windsor, when. a Fenian was
knocked down by a red coat. It is very well to de-
pict the Fenian organization as a conglomeration of
Irishmen of vivid imagination, limited means, and
unlimited brass, who since 1866 got a living by pre-
tending a yearly invasion, and who are ousted after
every failure, iu favour of another set who make the
fine promises which bring in the subscriptions from
the servant girls ; but men who hear George Francis
Train's declamation may well find their hair stand
on end with fright. " Fenians, to arms ! Rally for
Ireland, cry a Hofer 1 a Tell I a Fitzgerald ! a Cor-
coran! Down with Saxon ;up with Cat Wipe
out centuries of brutality— strike now or never.
Cry an O'Neill, a Savage, to the rescue ! ambush
the troops ! Rally to Riel ! Backwooodsmen,
woodchoppers, and raftsmen! Remember Seventy-
six ! Lexington and Bunker Hill ! I am off to
Stump Minnesota. Twenty-eight engagements in
May. No British troops shall pass that gate. One
Million poor men dead. Three Thousand Millions
of Debt on the backs of the people. Commerce
destroyed. Citizens in Bastile. Blockade Bills
Unsettled. Banquets to Arthur. On to Victory !"
While these soul-stirring words are ringing in our
ears, can we wonder that the blood of the Canadian
curdles? Independent of Fenian threats and pre-
parations, Canada has difficulties enough on her
hands. It is true that a delegation is on the way
from British Columbia to arrange the terms of con-
federation of that Province with the Dominion; but,
on the other band, Newfoundland is discontented
not only with the prospect of its connection with
Canada, but with the new attitude of• England. Its
House of Assembly has distinctly expressed the
latter feeling in an address to Lord Granville on.the
withdrawal of troops. Newfoundland, it says, is
the resort of capitalists, who go there to make for-
tunes, but return to England to spend them ; that
the bulk of the property is owned in Great Britain,
and the revenues of the island are drawn to the
mother country, leaving Newfoundland poor, and
unequal to the means of providing defence. In
Nova Scotia and Newßrunswick annexation leagues
are active. In the Nova Scotian Assembly an ad-
dress to the Imperial Government has also been
prepared, and in it the following questions are
propounded:—" Whether the Dominion will be
allowed, if desirous, to become independent ; and
again, whether Nova Scotia, if desirous, would be
allowed to become independent alone. The Attor-
ney-General, in commenting on the resolutions,
expressed the belief that independence must lead to
annexation." Even in Canada the annexation
party grows in strength. Meanwhile the Domi-
nion is actively engaged in preparations for the
expedition to Winnipeg. It will consist of 600
regulars and 1,100 volunteers, with a steel battery,
and 300 armed and mounted police, the whole
under the command of Colonel Wolseley of the
regular army, who is described as a distinguished
soldier who has served in New Zealand, the Cape,
through the Crimean war and the Indian mutiny,
with seven medals, five wounds; a first-class officer,
brilliant and solid. The expedition has its rendez-
vous at Collingwood, on the Georgian Bay, which
is now in communication by rail with Toronto. By
telegram we learn that the troops are already mus-
tering at Toronto, and it was announced by mail
that they expect to be afloat during the latter part
of next week. From Collingwood they will pro-
ceed in steamers to Fort William on Thunder Bay,
a distance of 540 miles; but an obstacle inter-
venes, for to reach Lake Superior from Lake Hu-
ron a canal about a mile long has to be passed, and
that canal is in American territory. The cable
brings a report that " the steamer Michigan has
been sent to Detrcit with instructions Rot to allow
the British Winnipeg Expedition to cross United
States Territory through the St. Marie Canal."
Now, as the Sault St. Marie Canal is about 800
miles from Detroit, there is here an evident error,
the meaning being that the steamer Michigan has
been ordered from Detroit to Sault St. Marie. We
now learn that the Michigan has been lying at
Erie, on Lake Erie, and was ordered to be got
ready for active service about the 20th April,
it being then supposed that the movement was
in connection with the Fenian operations on the
Lakes. If intended to prevent the passage of the
troops through the Canal, a very great diffi-
culty will be thrown in the way of the Canadian
expedition ; but supposing this to be surmounted,
and Fort William reached, Col. Wolseley will thus
proceed, according to the Ottawa correspondent of
the Tribune, our readers supposing that the troops
are now in Thunder Bay, at the further end within
British Territory, of Lake Superior :
" There are, first, 28 miles of a march to Dog Lake,
where the boats will be called into requisition. The next
stage is along Dog Lake and River, a distance of 35 miles.
The river is a sluggish and winding stream, about 25
yards wide, rising only 18 feet in 35 miles, and running
through a flat and swampy valley about one mile wide.
At its head there are three portages five miles in length,
rising 205 feet, and traversing the height of land between
the levels of Lakes Superior and Winnipeg. These
are the Prairie, Middle, and Savanne portages, and are
easily made, though the last is swampy, and would re-
quire drainage. Over all, these hoats must be dragged
by oxen or horses, and the provisions, &c., conveyed by
hand. Taking to water again, the troops proceed down
the Savanne River, a muddy and meandering stream, much
clogged by drift-wood, to Lac des Mille Lacs, 19 miles,
and across the lake, 36 miles, to the Seine. This lake is
s udded with numerous islets, and the scenery is bold and
rocky. Entering the Seine, which is from 100 to 200 feet
wide, and winds through a flat, wooded valley, a sail
of 10 miles brings us to the Little Falls at the junction
with the Fire-Steel River. These are literally Little
Falls, only 25 feet high. Down the Seine, bounded by
low hills of the primitive formation, a course of sixty-
six miles, with five portages, leads to Rainy Lake. This
lake contains some 500 islands, mainly composed of pale
red granite and chloritic and green stone slate ; and,
though they are very picturesque, they are desolate and
barren. There are some 15,000 Indians here of the Saul-
teaux tribe, and loyal to England. The distance over
and along the lake to Fort Francis is 50 miles. Here, at
the Hudson Bay Company's post, there is a portage of 200
yards past Rainy Falls, 23 feet high, and entering Rainy
River. This is a glorious stream, from 250 to 450 yards
wide, winding through an alluvial country rich and beauti-
ful, and studded with groves of maple, birch, and oak.
There are a quarter of a million acres of the finest land
in the world here, and navigation is only interrupted by
two insignificant rapids. In the whole 74 miles of river
the fall is only 26} feet. The river debouches into the
Lake of tho Woods. We have left behind the Laurentian
formation and the sterile belt, and at Rainy Lake have
struck the wooded and fertile belt which runs west to the
great plain of the Saskatchewan. The Lake of the Woods
is crossed into its north-western angle, 84 miles, and here,
the boats must be left. The lake is crowded with nume-
rous islands, on which the Indians grow maize, and wild
rice springs up everywhere in the water. The line of
march is now due west, over the prairie. The first
sixty miles are wooded and swampy, the last thirty-two
are open prairie. The wood is, however, light and open ;
the few ravines are mere gulches, and the swamps can
easily be fascined. The Government road has been built
as far as the White Marth River, Crossing the Red
River, about 300 feet wide, we were at last, after 534`
miles by steamer, 345 miles by batteau, and 120 miles by
road—a total distance from Collingwood of exactly 1000
miles—at Fort Garry. The town of Winnipeg contains
only some 250 or 300 inhabitants, the total population of
of Red River settlement is between 12,000 and 15,000.
This is now Riel's headquarters. It is 74 miles from
Pembina, and 580 from St. Paul. You will see on a gene-
ral review of this route that it is an arduous and danger-
ous one. If Riel had 500 good men, and opposed the ad-
vance of the English with resolution and sense, there is
no doubt but that at every portage and defile he could
repeat the story of Braddock. Regulars and volunteers
accustomed to open warfare and to act in mass would be
useless when caught in an ambush. But although Mr.

Scott, Riel's delegate, is sure that Riel will fight it, I doubt
it. In the first place, he has his hands full in keeping
order in the settlement, and only rules by terror. Again,
the Indians despise his conciliatory policy, remain loyal,
and will fight on the other side if they fight at all. On the
open prairie and in the lightly wooded stretch to the
landing at Lake of the Woods, he could not successfully
oppose the regulars nor dispute, the landing, so that he
must go to meet them in the swamps and creeks,3oo miles
from home, ere he can do any effective damage. It is not
likely then that weshall see any fighting or bloodshed till
the end of March. Will Riel run ? If he does not, as
was observed by one of the Canadian Cabinet, 'he's a
d-d fool.' If he is caught, there will not even be a
drum-head court-martial. .1 anticipate that by the let of
June we shall leave Collingwood, and Fort William by
the 10th, and arrive at Fort Garry about the 12th of July.
About the let of August matters will be ' all quiet on the

Red River,' and about the 25th, after riding 600 miles
across the prairie, under the cool sky and brilliant stars of
the North-West, we shall strike the borders of civilisation,
telegraph offices, and railroads at St. Cloud. In all the
trip will occupy from ten to twelve weeks, and will bo
glorious one."
The Imperial Government has guaranteed the
peaceable transfer of the Hudso❑ Bay Territory to
the Dominion, and the arrangement with the Hud-
son Bay Company has, we understand, bee❑ com-
pleted. General Lindsay, under whose directions
the expedition will act, will be appointed to the
Governorship of the Territory until peace is fully
restored, and it is calculated that most of the volun-
teers enlisted in Canada for three years' service will
settle at Winnipeg. The bill introduced into the
Canadia❑ Parliament for the Government of Prince
Rupert's Land provides for two Legislative Cham-
bere, the first nominated, the second elected on
household suffrage of one year's residence. Two
Senators and four Representatives to sit in the
Dominion Parliament, 80 cents per head of popu-
lation to be paid by Canada annually, together with
$30,000. Twelve hundred thousand acres to be re-
servel for the extinction of Indian titles. The
province is to have power to amend municipal con-
stitutions, except as •to execution; to comprise
territory from 96 to 98 degrees 15 minutes wesv,
longitude, and from 49 to 50 grees and 30 minutes,
north latitude, and to be named Manetoda. Ali
other portions of the north-west territory to be
governed by Canada. On Thursday evening ques-
tions were put in both Houses of Parliament for
any information Government might have recciaed,
and Earl Granvil•e replied, showing that the Red
•
River Convention had agreed to the above terms of
the Canadian Government, that the bill was pass-
ing through the new Dominion Parliament, and that
the expedition will be one of peace, as the Red River
settlers concurred in the terms as heartily as did
their delegates. Riell had issued a proclamation
pardoning those led astray, and generously accord-
ing an amnesty to all who would submit to the
Government :

"Prom this day forth the puhlic highways are open.
The Hudson Bay Compary can now resume business them
selves, contributing to the public good. They circulate
money'as of old. They pledge themselves to that course.
Elected by the grace of Providence and the sufferance of
my fellow-countrymen to the highest position in the Gre-
vernmeut of my country, 1 proclaim that peace reigns in
our midst to-day."
Externally also, says Riell, matters are looking
favourable:—

"Canada invites the Red River people to an amicable
arrangement. She wants to guarantee us our rights, and
to give us a place in the Confederation equal to that of any
other province connected with the Provincial Govern
went."
In its leading article of yesterday on the subject the
limes hits the Dominion Government fairly. Ere
entitled Ottawa despatched officers to administer
the government of the Red River, and surveyors
alarmed the people by mapping tracts of land for
their friends. This caused the insurrection, when
the very Government to whom it was owing re-
fuse i to pay the money in the terms of the contract
when due, on the ground that the Province was in
a state of anarchy. Sharp practice, observes the
limes, considering that the anarchy was their owe
fault. The limes has a hit also at some kind things
said in the U. S. Senate touching the refusal to per-
mit the expedition to pass through the Sault St.
Marie Canal, which it asserts were unnecessary, as
the British Government did not intend to make the
request, though, in the opinion of the 'limes, these
remarks supply evidence of the temper of the Iron.-
tier people.

Brigham Young and party have returned to Salt'
Lake City. They were received with a display of flags, It
parade of the school children, and a general turn out of
the faithful. The telegraphic news of Monday last re-
ported the Mormons as secretly arming to resist the en-
forcement of the national laws against polygamy. The
Chicago Triblaie supports the Cullom, Bill, ridiculing the
notion that polygamy is entitled to forbearance because its
professors may believe in its sacred origin; and asks if as
set of horse-stealers had a divine revelation, whether those
they robbed should pay any attention to their religious
scruples, and should not hunt them down and string them
up as if they stole from pure cussedness. The cases are
not, however, parallel, as the horse-stealer interferes with
the property of another, whereas the Mormons confine
their rites to themselves, all being consenting parties.
The Thugs murder as a religion, but then it is not their
own brethren, but travellers of the outside public that they
strangle. If they restricted the practice to their owl'
community, as the Jews do circumcision, the chief cause
of complaint would be abolished; but we are not so cer-
tain that a Jewish baby has not a right to complain, and
exercise it to the full extent of his lungs.
It is now evident that Chief Justice Chase was
not present at the time of the frightful accident in the
Court-house at Richmond, as he had decided to adjourn
the Supreme Court last Saturday, at the time announcing
his intention to proceed next Monday to hold Court in Rich-
mond, and the accident had of course occurred ere he
left Washington. Every one was taken by surprise when
the cases of Latham v. the U. S. and Deminy v. the U. S.
(being appeals from the Court of Claims against the recep-
tion of greenbacks in payment for contracts made with the
Government before the Legal-Tender laws were passed)
were called, and withdrawn by the counsel for the
appellants. It is even insinuated that their claim must
have been satisfied by persons interested in maintaining,
the decision of Hepburn v. Griswold. On the motion be-
ing made to dismiss, the Attorney-General opposed, but
desired, in case the Court concluded to dismss these appeals,
that tha motion be granted he had made to rehear Mr. Pot-
ter's Hepburn v. Griswold and left undecided. He said it in-
volved many important interests, and e .pecially in view of
the fact that the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitu-
tion has ratified the Legal-Tender Act of Congress ; assert-
ing that the validity of this issue of the public debt, to
the full measure of its statutory qualities, could no longer
be questioned in the courts. Justices Miller and Bradley
suggested doubts as to the rights of the appellants to
withdraw the appeals, and asked for a conference. After
a brief conversation among the Judges the Court retired,
but shortly returned, when the Chief Justice said the
motion to dismiss the appeal was unanimously concurred
in by the Court as the absolute right of the parties, and
announced that the Court had determined to deny the motion
of the Attorney-General for the rehearing in the Hepburn
and Griswold case, as none of the four Judges now on the
bench who concurred in the opinion in that case desired to
have it reheard, and, under the rule of the Court, without
the consent of some one of the Judges who concurred in
the decision of a case, it could not be reheard. Justice
Bradley remarked that, according to the practice to which
he had been accustomed, an appeal on a writ of error
could not be dismissed without the consent of the other
party, but as the practice of the Supreme Court was other-
wise, he had yielded a cheerful concurrence. In one of
the appeal cases withdrawn the Court of Claims had ruled,
as a conclusion of law, that the United States notes
offered to and received by the claimants were a legs
tender in payment of any debt due to the claimants in the
premises, whether due under the special contracts set
forth in the petitiOn or in any other manner whatsoever.
The Secretary of the Treasury, in the years 1855 and
1856, had agreed, on behalf of the United States, to pay to
the Lathams good and lawful money of the coin of the
United States, such being the terms of the special con-
tracts alluded to.

Sir John Simeon, M.P., has been ordered by his
medical advisers to go abroad, in the hope that entire
rest may speedily enable him to resume his duties.

FRIGHTFUL SUICIDE.—OR Thursday a, your/
woman, respectably dressed in black, was seen by severe
persons to mount the balustrade of Waterloo-bridge. Silo
waved her arms in a frantic manner, and then, before anY
one had time to get to her, she sprang from the bridge-
Instead of plunging into the water, as she no doubt in-
tended, she fell upon the foot promenade of the Thames
Embankment, close to the spot where two ladies were
standing. Upon examining her it was found that the
injuries she had received had caused instantaneous death.

BIRTHS.

On the 9th. inst., at Byron Rouse, Ealing, the wife of Charles

Atlee, of a son.
On the 11th inst., at Midsomer Norton, the wife of Alex-
ander Waugh, Esq., L.R.C.P.L., of a daughter.

MARRIAGES.

On the 12th inst., at St. Mar" Magdalen, Bermondsey,
George J. Newsom, of Rathgar, near Dublin, to Elizabeth,
daughter of Alfred Bevington, of the Grange-road, Ber-

mondsey.
On the 14th inst., at St. Peter's, De Beauvoir Town, Thomas
James Adey to Mary Frances Reeves, London.

DEATHS.

On the 10th inst., at Rochester, Adam Martin, Esq., M.D',
aged 77.
On the Ist inst., at Kinnaird House, Dankeld, Willon
Stevenson.
On the 10th inst., at Eldon House, Reading, John May, Esq•

London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREWS,
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SuN Office, No. 112,
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of
Middlesex.—Saturday, May L 4, 1870.