, 1870-06-21
RED RIVER.
a Defence oIthc Win0iPegEers-Sklll
in MAfkNManshlP.


in markxmanshiP.
Under the caption Of s.Our Defence" the
Winnipeg Nesu Nation, Of June 8, replies to
the abuse which CANADIAN Journals have l1eap-
ed upon the Bed River people. The Netg Na-
ton says;
1.-THE base nsinuasions have been thrown
ont by Ontado journals that our real object
WAS annexation to the United States. This We
throw back into their faca with the scosn and
contempt It deserves; and We can well do 10,
AZ after Investigations will prove. .
Lives have been. unhappi1y. lost in the de-
fence Of our rights; and the only wonder TO-
dag Is that .th5ee hundred hAvs not
geneEalahip prevented civa was IN
ouE little settlement, and, Along with it, the
ruin and destruction Of al. For preventing
such, and, because in doing this, Va dared to
mprison Canadaus and dfe brands, we have
been abused and vi1iied by Canadian nsws-
ple-" Unfortunately, The majority Of the
Canadians imprisoned Were the victims uf the
misrepresentation OF designing men, who
cared Little for their hves or ours. Searching
Investigation viii prove to the world who vera
tho primary murderers Of the three unfortu-
nate men who lost THAR lives By the Poi4Age
noEemant-two uf them natives OF hid
A1ver and ono Scotchm2n, a. has bean
represented. On tha leada OF the lead
eEs OF the Portage movement lies tho
Whole responsibility Of the blood Of these
three men Had the leaders succeedea and
formed Canadian provisional government, AZ
waa the intention, would it have been more
legitimate government than the one they
w1ehed to overthrow And who would hare
paid their lives to the British Government for
the bloodahed and anarchy caused thereby7
them.
HNow, We desire these views, at this time,
to be calmly considered, in justice to ourselves.
We hsve borne patiently with tho indiguities
and insults heaped upon us by tho Canadian
press with soma e.ceptions) al winter; and
nn"1llinglV. even now, those explanations are
forced from us. in se1f-lefence, as an injured
Queen"
The -Se,o Nalion, referring to tha expeeted
arrival OF the BED River delegates from O.ta-
wa. says:
'ssomething official will then bs laid before
the people, Is to what Canada haa granted us.
but it Will remain for US to decide whether va
accept the terms or not. We trust md believe
th9Y are such as vii bring about happy and
peaceful settlement OF ali our difficulties, aud
try
The Bed River cavalry is atill continuing its
ar7I Ibe troop Is composed OF the Red River
marksInen on horseback IN the world Tbs
AeU Natlon gives several instances Of their
1a1 akil in hitting the bnlls eye At
lonG distances whiIa running .. full speed:
Lieutenant John Cyr, when armed With IN
old faahloned double -b4rrelled gun, raced the
half- mile course, and, befo1a futning II the
end, bad discharged twe1ve shots, hitting The
target each time Without pausing moment,
he ran the cousse oye1 again, discharged IN
equal number Of shots without drawing rain,
md with Ike c1editab1e results. II this ia NOT
Splendid shooting, We do not know what to call
It. Another day, oue OF the priyates fred =
common mnaket seventeen times during tbs
Eaile aaah, hitting the target at each disehazge;
= Second scored eighteen shots in similar
run, and q third cas7h5man fifteen