The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-13 00:00:00

FRESH DEMANDS FROM RED RIVER.

The New York Herald of May 31st publishes the fol-
lowing account of the state of affairs at Red River, from
its correspondent at St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 24th.
He says :—An arrival from Fort Garry last evening
brings additional news of interest from the Red River
settlement. President Riel had just laid before the
Legislature, at Fort Garry, a copy of the demands made
upon the Canadian, Government, and made a lengthy
speech, in which he said :—" We have just learnedd by
mail that something is going on in the other
provinces of Confederation which concerns us. Threats
are being made, but I do not know how far these
threats are going against us. For my own part Ido not
attach much importance to them, and I have been the
more inclined to this view in consequence of a telegram
which has just been received by his lordship Bishop Tache
from Father Richot and other commissioners. They an-
nounce that they are urging a settlement with Canada,
and that there is no danger. But at the same time I have
observed in the other reports which have reached us that
some importance is attached to one idea—namely, that
the people here are divided, and that the conditions on
which we were prepared to receive Canada had been
changed before they left here with the commissioners.
It is true there has been a change, but it is, I think, one
for the better, as the terms proposed in the long run could
more easily be assented to than those agreed on in the
convention. Some changes were found to be necessary
by the Executive, and they had to be quickly decided on,
as the commissioners were expected in Canada, and the
people here were anxious to see them starting to Ottawa.
Hence the manner of making the alterations. But
I would like to place them before the House, so
that honourable members might judge for them-
selves. Hon. Mr. Bunn, the secretary, was with us
while the alterations were being made, and so limited was
our time for the work that we had to work day and night
in order to finish and enable the Commissioners to start
at the time they did. The Commissioners, of course, had
certain power in regard to these demands, but before any-
thing was finally settled they were instructed that the
approval of the Legislative Assembly of this country was
necessary ; so that, while complying with circumstances,
we had at the same time a saving clause that the ratifica-
tion of the action of our Commissioners depended alto-
gether on the will of the Legislature of this country.
To-morrow, if it is the wish of the House, I will place on
the table the list of rights as given the Commissioners,
printed in English and French. I have to thank you,
honourable gentlemen, for the attention you have given
me with regard to the executive appointments. We must,
of course, bear in mind that they are merely provisional
in their nature. It is said that we are going to fight with
England, but we have not that pretension—and some may
find out that the present arrangement, such as it is, is
more provisional than they think"
_ The demands of the provisional government are as

follows :
1. That the territory known as Rupert's Land and the
Northwest shall not enter the confederation of the Do-
minion of Canada except as a province, to be styled and
known as the Province of Assiniboia, and with all the
rights and privileges common to the different provinces of
the Dominion. 2. That we have two representatives in
the Senate and four in the House of Commons of Canada
until such time as an increase of population entitle the
province to a greater representation. 3. That the pro-
vince shall not be held liable at any time for any part of
the public debt of the Dominion contracted before the
date the said province shall have entered the Dominion,
unless the said province shall have first received from
the Dominion the full amount for which the said
province is to be held liable. 4. That the
sum of $BO,OOO be paid annually by the Do-
minion government to the local legislature of the province.
5. That all properties, rights and privileges enjoyed by
the people of the province up to the date of our entering
the confederation be respected, and that the arrangement
and confirmation of all customs, usages, and privileges be
left exclusively to the local Legislature. 6. That during
a period of five years the people of Assiniboia shall not be
subjected to any direct taxation, except such as shall be im-
posed by the local Legislature for municipal or other local
purposes. 7. That a sum of money equal to eighty cents
per head of the population of this province be paid
annually by the Canadian government to the local Legis-
lature, until such time as the population shall have
increased to 600,000. 8. That the local Legislature shall
have the right to determine the qualification for members
in the Parliament of Canada and the local Legislature.
9. Same qualification for voters as passed in Convention.
10. That the bargain of the Hudson Bay Company, in
respect to the transfer of the Government of the country
to the Dominion, be annulled, so far as it interferes with
the right of the people of Assiniboia, and so far as it would
affect our further relations with Canada. 11. That the
local Legislature of the province has full control of all the
public lands of the province, and the right to annul all
rights or arrangements entered into with reference to the
public lands of the province. 12. That the Government
of Canada appoint a commission of engineers to explore
the various districts of the province, and lay before the
local Legislature a report of the mineral wealth of the
province within three years from the date of entering the
Confederation. 13. That treaties be concluded between
Canada and the several Indian tribes of the province,
by and with the co-operation and advice of the
local Legislature. 14. That an uninterrupted
communication from Lake Superior to Fort Garry
be guaranteed to be completed within five years.
15. That all public buildings, bridges, roads and other
üblic works, be at the cost of the Dominion. 16. That
English and French be common in the Legislature, and
all public documents be printed in both languages. 17.
After several resolutions this concludes by demanding that
the Governor speak English and French. 18. That the
Judge of the Supreme Court speak English and French,
19. That all debts contracted by the provisional govern-
ment of the Northwest Territory in consequence of the
illegal and inconsiderate measures adopted by Canadian
officials to bring a civil war in our midst, be paid out of
the Dominion treasury, and that none of the members of
the provisional government, or any under them, be held
liable or responsible for any movement or any action that
led to the present negotiation. 20. This article, same
as before, in relation to no extra tax for five years except
on liquor.
This document is not the Bill of Rights drawn up by
the Convention, which went no further than to ask
a Territorial Government with a local Legislature, but
is an entirely new set of demands drawn up by Riel on
his executive responsibility, as a protocol of a treaty to
be negotiated with. Canada, and then referred to the local
Legislature for ratification.
The Manitoba bill is a substantial concession of most of
these demands, but the exceptions are of a somewhat
grave character. Riel demands that the province have
control of the public lands. This Canada denies, giving
instead a grant to half-breeds. Riel demands the legali-
sation of all acts done in resisting the efforts of Canadian
emissaries to stir up civil war among the Red River
people. But this demand is ignored in the Manitoba bill,
and the only reply to it is that a military force of 2,000
men is being sent into the country. If Riel does not,
under these circumstances, give notice to Canada that
the Manitoba Bill will not even be considered
while an armed force is threatening the country, and
that that force must be withdrawn, or he will accept
its advance as a declaration of war, he is a good
deal less of a man than he la generally regarded here as
being.
The Red River Cabinet has been fully organised, and
now consists of the Hon. Mr. Bunn, Secretary,. Hon. Mr.
Donohue, Treasurer ; Hon. Mr. Bannatyne, Postmaster-
General, and Hon. Mr. Lepine, Adjutant-General ; and
he had appointed Hon. Mr. 111`Kay Commissioner of In-
dian Affairs, and Hon Mr. Bruce Superintendent of
Public Works.

TELEGRAPHING.—Those who witnessed some ex-
periments on the 15th of May in the office of the Western
Union Company in this city believe that the limit of the
capacity of the telegraph wires is not yet known. A com-
bination of circuits was formed, varying in length from
3,000 to 5,000 miles, through which Mr. R. C. Duncan,
chief operator of the company in this city, and one of the
most accomplished of the profession, sent messages with
great ease and rapidity. The first circuit formed was from
New Orleans, rid New York, to Plaister Cove, Nova Scotia,
the terminus of the Atlantic Cable, a distance of 3,000
miles. The operators, thus widely separated, chatted toge-
ther with perfect ease, the signals coming rapidly and with
great distinctness. After a few moments' conversation,
another circuit of still greater length was made up, and
we are informed that it was the longest laud circuit
through which intelligible signals were ever sent. Nine
repeaters were used, one each at Rome, Georgia, Lynch-
burg, Virginia, New York City, Pittsburg, two at Cinci-
natni, one each at St. Louis, Chicago, and Memphis.
The writing was returned to New Orleans almost as clearly
as when leaving the office, having passed through eighteen
States and over 4,800 miles of wire. The electric current
traversed the distance in about three-quarters of a second.
The writing was transmitted as rapidly as an ordinary
short wire,—Em Orkan4 rims.