Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-02
selyes thr0ugh neeassIty up o a recent

drive Mr.. William McDOugal and his
companions, coming in the name
of Canada, to rule us with the
rod of despotism without previ-
Gus notification to that effect, we have
but acted c~Onformabiy 70 that sacred
right which commands every citizen to
offer energetic opposition to prevent his
coun nv from being eDslaved.
Fourth. That we continue and shall
continue TO oppose with all our strength
the establishing of Canadian authority in
our country, under the announced form
and in Case of persistense on the part OF
the Canadian Government to enforce its
obnoxious policy on US by force OF arms,
we protest beforehand against such a un-
Just and unlawful course; and we declare
the said Canadian Government response
BILE before God and man for the innumera-
bic evils which may be caused by so IN
warrantable a course.
Be il known, therefore, to the world in
general, and to the Canadian Government
in particular, that as we have ALWAYS
heretofore successfully defended oar
country in frequent wars with ne neigh
boring tribes OF Indians, who are now on
friendly relations with US, We are firmly
resolved in future, not less than in the
past, to repel all inVasions from whatso-
ever quarter they may come; and further
more, we do declare and proclaim in the
name of the people Of Ruperu's Land snd
the Northwest, that we ave on the said
24th day of November, 1869, above men
toned, established a Provisional Govern
ment, and hold it to be the only lawful
authority now in existence in Rupert's
Land and the Northwest, which claims
tue obedience and respect Of the people
md hal meanwhile we hold ourselves in
readiness TO enter into such negotiations
with the Canadian Government as NAV be
favorable for the good government and
prosperity of this people. In support of
this declaration, relying on the projection
Of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge
ourselves on oath, our lives, our fortunes,
md u sacred honor TO each other.
Issued al Fort Garry, this eighth day of
December, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
(Signed) JOHN BRUCE, President.
tSigned) Louis RLELL, Secretary
TITLET THE INsURGENT TERRITORY.
In the year 1870 Charles l., of Eng
land, granted to Prince Rupert, the
Duke of Albemarle, the Earl of Cra-
ven, and thirteen others " the sole
trade and commerce of all those seas,
straits, bays, rivers, lakes, creeks, and
sounds in whatsoever latitude they
shall be, that lie within the entrance
of the straits commonly called Hud-
sons Straits, together with all the
lands and territOrities upon the coun-
tries, coasts, and confines of the seas,
bays, lakes, rivers, creeks, and sounds
aforesaid" This was the origin of
the famous Hudson Bay Company.
The territory was coded under such
conditions that the company were
made absolute proprietors in free and
common sOcage, saving the faith. al
legiance and sovereignty due the
croWn. The company had power to
make laws, constitutions and Ordi-
nances, and to provide pains and pen
alties for their violation. The terri
tory comprised but q portion of its
present possessions, and is described
on English maps OF 1850 (the time
Canada was coded to Great Brittany,
liz the form of 4 horse shoe, not in
Guiding the northwest territory, the
southern boundary of the territory be-
ing at the northeast corner of Lake
Winnipeg, above latitude 81 degrees
north. Until the ceSSiOn OF Canada
the Indian Territories on the south
and west OF the Hudson Bay Territory
uad been French, but when Canada
became a colony of England the In
liam Territory became English, and
the company extended their claim
over the whole northwest. RuperU's
Land was recognized as included in
the cOmpany'S charter, Dr. rather, the
name was extended over the portion
acquired from the French. In 1881
the British Government granted X
elusive trade over the Indian terrific
ries to the Northwest Company, but
his right passed, in 1898, into the
hands Of the Hudson Bay Company.
This is the abstract of the title Of the
company to the land in revolt.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY
comprises all that country lying north
of the United States and west of Can
ada, Moose river, and the great lakes.
The country itself is described by
some as an earthly paradise, and by
others as unfit for human h%abitatiOn.
Emigration was contrary to the inter
ests of the Hudson Bay Company,
and they spared nc pains to have the
land reported as de5olate sS possible.
THE RED RIVER SETTLEMENTS.
In all the vast region under con-
troll Ofthe Hudson Bay Company, the
only attempt at colonization worthy
the name was that at Red River, ex-
cept at n or two points in Labra-
dor, nothing having been attempted
the cultivation Ola few acres
around the trading poS@. In 1872
Lord Selkirk, a Scottish peer, obtained
a grant of 1000 acres OF land in that
district of the country designated as
Red River, and which may be de-
scribed as a half eclipse, the major
axis being the boundary line of the
United States, commencing at the
junction of that line with the Lake OF
the Woods, curyiDg nOrthwesterly so
as to touch the southern portion OF
Lake Winnipeg, and then curying
sOuthgesterly to the boundary line
again. The AFst settlers left Sligo in
1911, and going by Hudson Bay, win
tered at York, and proceeded up the
Severn River to their place of destina-
ton. To the settlement Lord Selkirk
gave the name Of 0sna BQia, or o.
Tower. The community thriVed
apace until the outbreak of hOstilities
between the Northwest and the Hud-
son Bay Companies in 1915, when a
number of the colOnistg were escorted
to Canada by the Northwest Com
pany, and the rest dispersed around
the southern shores of Lake Winni-
peg. They were again gathered to-
by Lord Selkirk, who demand
ed troops for the protection of his col
ony from the Governor Of Lower Can
rda, but the demand was refused.
They were more or less troubled until
the amalgamatiOn Of the two eompa-
mics, SINCE which time they have
maintained an existence isolated from
the world, and with little or no emil
grafton.
THE CoLoNISTs-wHERE THEY LIVE.
The present population of the coun-
consists mainly of h~alI-breeds and
Indians, Scotch, French, English, and
2 few Canadians and Americans. The
greater part ofthe French reside along
the banks Of the Red River, extend
from Pembina and the American
boundary line, sixty miles to Fort
Garry, apdon the Assiniboine as far as
la Prairie, sixty-fve miles
west Of Fort Garry, the latter river
emptying into the Bed at the fort.
The Scotch settlements are also on
he Red River, extending north from
town tabOuta quarter OF "a
nile from Fort Garry. a distance OF
Xix OF seven miles, the English settlers
acing the French, on the north bank
the Assiniboine, but only extend
ng about halfway from Fort Garry
Portage La Prairie. From Fort