Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-02-12

AHe Mllelll.l 90 me n4N River
has been the subject of much dia-
eaasi0h By The English press, but
nevertheless oxcitea g very Ian
guild interest ID alIs public az
large. Like most things colonial,
Il d too Ear away to come readily
home % "the general at home.
The Declaration made BY q pOF-
ton Of the settlers at the Red
River ie lhus commented on by
he London Daily News
"A Declaration Of Indepen-
dence sometimes forms an epoch
in the wOrld's history, and some
times affords materials for ridi.
cale. Until the known conditions
Of the case shall be entirely alter
ed, we cannot help chasing the
Declaration just issued by the
Red River insurgents among the
curiosities Of literature. There il
no adequate reason to justify its
proclamation, and neither rhyme
nor reason characteristics its con-
tents. Just as painting with n
big brush does not constitute n
great painter, so employing big
aud high-sounding words does
not demonstrate the patriot.
When the facts connected
with the Red River Settlement are
carefully pondered, it is difficult to
imagine a justification for the
course pursued by the insurgents.
They were on the point Of being
relieved from u grievance in o
way desired by themselves. A
Governor was appointed over
their territory who had taken a
leading part in Kidding them of
the detested domination of the
Hudsonis Bay Company and now,
at the last moment, parade is
made Of the allegiance borne to
that Company, and q fundamental
principle is discovered, according
to which they were bound to de-
clare war upon Governor McDou-
gall. AS yet the rebellion has
happily been a bloOdless demon
stratlon. The rebels have used
force to get possession of stores,
and have used their authority to
Danish loyal Canadians from the
territory, but these are the only
outrages of which authentic rec.
ords have been supplied. 1t is to
be hoped that the pacific course
adopted by the Government Of
Canada will obviate the necessity
for an appeal to arms when the
spring returns, and dcprives the
rebels Of the temporary advan-
tages which they now enjoy. The
policy to which the Canadian Gov
eminent has given its adhesion is
to the effect that the territory
around Lake Winnipeg must be
prepared for settlement; that
steamers shall be enabled to ply
on the lakes that roads and rail.
ways shall be built to provide ac-
cess to the territory at all seasons
ofthe year, AS for the precise
form OF Government, this has
been left an open question. The
first thing to be done was to con
suit the settlers themselves, and
this is what the settlers are trying
to render impossible. The con
duct Of these insurgents may be
very foolish; the proclamation
isued in their name is a seriO.
comic performance but we may
charitably excuse. their blunders
by assuming that they are either
grossly ignorant or shamefully de-
luded.
The Pail Mall Gazette concludes
an article on the subject, with the
following suggestion - upposing
the use Of force to be unavoida
BILE, there can belittle doubt that
a very inconsiderable armed force
from Canada would suffice to do
what is necessary. They would
find a divided population, one
half or nearly so ready to join
them.
The Red River settlement is
easy accessible over q plain coun
try, either in mid winter, or in
summer, from the peopled part oil
Minnesota still its frontiers lies
four hundred miles from Saint
Panrs (Close to the falls OF the
M%ississippi), the nearest Ameri.
can post of any consequence. Il
is less than that distance from
Lake Superior, in Canada; buI
then the space between is a region
of marsh and scrub, roadless, ten,
antless, and almost impenetrable
How, then, is u Canadian force L
reach it? With American permits.
sion, to march through American
soil, easily enough. But how with
out it? Only in one way that W,
can conjecture. Winter in these
regions lasts until April or May
While the marshes are frozen II /.
conceivable that an armed party
of hardy Canadian Volunteers Of
Militia, with or without such ait
as the British Contingent coulC
furnish, might effect the marcel
from Lake Superior over Canadian
soil in sufficient force to overpow
4 er resistance. They could no.