Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-02
A NEW NATION.
Declaration Of Ind pendehce by the People
of Rupert's Land.
Who They a~re--Their SettIemsnt--And
Their Former Government.
The Seat of War, and the Possibility Of
S~HbjugatiOn.

We have already published in the
APPEAL a Geographic abstract of the
Declaration of independence issued
by the Provisional Government Of
Rupert's Land. The full text has
since come to hand, and is as follows:
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
WHEREAS, 1t is admitted by all men,
as a fundamental principle, that the pub
lie authority commands the obedience and
respect of all its subjects; it is also adj
mitted that the people to be governed
have the right to adopt or reject the form
of government, or refuse allegiance to
that which is proposed. In accordance
with these fundamental principles, the
people Of this country have obeyed and
respected that authority to which the cir
cumstances surrounding its infancy COM
PEELED il to be subjected. A company of
adventureFs, known as the Hudson BAY
Company, and invested With certain
powers granted by his Majesty Charles
the Second, established itself in Rupert's
Land and in the Northwest Territory, for
trading purposes only. This company
consisted Of many persons, requiring a
certain constitution; but, as there was a
question of cOmmsrce only, the constitu-
tion was formed IN reference thereto; and
vet since there was at that time no gov
IA to see TO the interests Of q peo-
Die already existing ia the country, IL be-
came necessary for judiciaio officers TO have
recourse 70 the Officers OF the Hudson Bay
Company-they -inaugurated that species
of government which, slightly modified
by subsequent circumstances, ruled Jnis
country up TO a recent date.
RhereGS, The g-Ogernuent thus crea-
ted was lar from answering the vans OF
the people, and became more and more so
as The population increased in numbers;
and. as the country was developed, COM
lnerce extended, until the present day,
when it commands a pace among the
countries; and This people, ever aciuated
by the aforementioned prlncif les. have
supported the aforesaid gov
and gwen 10 IL . faithful ale
giaace; when, contrary TO the Lazy Of ma
fiors. in March, 1859, that said govern
rlent surrendered and transferred TO Can
sa4 al the rights which il had or pretend
ed 90 have in his Territory, by transac-
with which the people were eonsid-
cred unworthy 10 be made acquainted;
and,
Whereas, 1t Is generally admitted that
q people is at liberty TO establish any form
Of government it may consider suitable
to its wants as oOn as the power to which
it was subiect sbandOns it, or ~subjugaJes
it without It's consent to q foreign power,
mat no Ti9nt cdu DS tEaIs-
to such foreign power.
No0, therefore, first, we, the represent
OF the people, in Council assem-
bled, in Upper Fort Garry, on thu z4th
day Of November, 1852, having invoked
the God Of nations alsD, relying on these
fundamental moral principles. solemnly
in the name of the constitution
our own names, before God and man,
hat from the day on which the govern
nent we had always e,beyed abandoned
as by transferring to a strange power the
authority eonhdsd to it, the people
If Rupert's Land and the Northwest be-
anne free and exempt from all allegiance
> the government.
Second. That we refuse to recognize the
uthority of Canada, which pretends 10
a right to cOerce u3 and impose upon
S a despotic form of government still :
contrary to our rights and interests :
) British subjects than was that govern. !
asnt 70 that which vs. aad subjected our