Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-12-09
The Troubles on Red River.

Her gracious majesty, Queen Victoria,
is having some trouble with her subjects
in the far north, and, as the questions now
demanding adjustment in that remote re-
gion enter more or less into the structure
of the political system which holds to-
gether in somewhat uncertain bonds the
several portions of the Canadian Domin
ion, brief explanation Of the situation
will not be amiss.
For years past the cooperation known as
the Hudson Bay Company have held GER
tain acknowledged rights and interests in
the vast domain of the Northwest Terri
tory, otherwise called "Rupert's Land"
Through the instrumentality of the Eng
fish government, an arrangement was
made by which the Hudson Bay Company
Canada those rights and interests, and re-
ceive in exchange therefor 100000 1t is
understood that, so far as the principals in
the contract are concerned, the bargain has
been duly consummated, by the payment of
the money on the one hand, and the with
drawal of the officials of the company on
the other. But, as sometimes happens in
such diplomatic schemes, the parties most
deeply interested in the change were not
consulted, and the bad feeling generated
by this neglect on the part Of the COVER
ment has been intensified by the unfortu-
nate, if not oppressive, policy pursued
since Instead of concilating the in
habitants of the Red River settlements
by appointing a ruler among them
selves, the Dominion selected Cana
dian politician of no particular reputa-
ton or force of character, named Nc
Dougal and vested him with the authority
of Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest
Territory. Not only this, but the act of
the Dominion Parliament declares that
the Governor shall be assisted in his adj.
ministration by Legislative Council,
and the members Of this important body
are to be chosen, not by the people, but
by the Governor himself. Moreover it
seems that McDouga, so far from realiz-
ing the embarrassments of his position,
and striving to lessen them by judicious
exercise OF his extraordinary powers,
proposes to bring with him from Canada
a gang of hungry government pets, install
them as his counsellors, and thus virtually
cheat the Red River people out of any
voice in legislative matters whatever
Believing with our revolutionary an
cestors that taxation without representa-
ton is tyranny" the hardy frontiersmen
are preparing to change the state of af-
fairs, peaceably if they can, torcibly if
they must. The population, without
counting Indians, numbers between IF
teen and twenty thousand souls, and the
male portion are skilled in the use of
arms and thoroughly courageous
II is not impossible tnat this very lively
instruction may bring up an interesting
and difficult diplomatic question before
Mr.. Secretary Fish. The Instruction
though sudden, has "assumed alarming
proportions Governor McDougal has
been compelled 70 60 into winter quarters
at Pemblna, and the rebels, about six
hundred strong, have occupied Fort
Garry, and VOW that his Excellency shall
not advance foot further into the prov
ince till their policy is assented to. As
cold weather already prevails up in that
bracing latitude, the Governor, the Do
minion and the British Government will
hardly venture on military operations TO
force the refractory Assiniboine provincials
to terms before spring, and when spring
comes il, military force is to be sent into
the insurrectionary district it cannot easily