The Republican journal., 1870-01-06
THE WINNIPEG REBELLION.

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4 THE WINNIPEG REBELLION.
The rebellion that has been reported l.
exist for some months past in the north
western portion of the British North Ameri
can, possessions, has assumed such import
ance as to warrant its recognition by tn
press as an event Of political Importance
The region which it holds, however, is so re
mote and unfrequented as to be an unknown
land to the larger portion of our people.
IF the reader will take q look at the MAJ
of North America, he will notice that tn,
immense arm Of the Arctic ocean known a;
Hudson's Bay, stretches southwardly until i
approaches within two or three hundred
miles Of the chain of great lakes which form
the northern boundary of the United States
thus almost cutting in two the Dominion of
Canada. Westward Of this bay and north o
Minnesota and Nebraska--just north Of the
divide which turns the water to the Mississ
| lpp and to the northern ocean, lies the terri
| tory of the late Hudson's Bay Company
This reg ion is sometimes called Rupert
Land, from the grant by Charles the Second,
in 1870, to Prince Rupert and his associates,
for trading purposes, under terms which con-
stituted it the most absolute and exclusive
monopoly.
It conveyed to the company a grant of
''the sole trade and commerce Of all those
seas, straits, bays, rivers, lakes, creeks,
and co1,nIc in hot la Al,
be, that lie within the entrance of the straits
commonly called Hudson's straits, together
with all the lands and territories upon the
countries, coasts, and confines of the sea-
bays, lakes. rivers, creeks, sounds aforesaid
that We're not previously granted to or in the
possession of any British subjects, or those
of any other Christian prince. All mines of
gold, silver, gems, or precious stones, dis
covered or to be discovered, within those
territorities and limits, were also conveyed
to the company. OF the territory they were
constituted absolute proprietors, in fee and
common socagc, saving the faith, allegiance,
and sovereignty due to the crown. For all
this, the company was TO pay yearly to the
Sovereign Two tlhS ittl wv Dltck beavers :.
but this only whenever the sovereign should
happen to be within the territories granted.
The company had power to make laws, con-
stitutions, and ordinances. and to provide
pains, penalties, and punishments for their
violation. Fines for the breach of laws thus
made We're to 90 to the company There
was, however, one limitation to these powers:
the laws, constitutions, orders, and ordinan-
ces which the company might make, and the
fines and amercements which they might i'm
pose, were required to be reasonable. and
not contrary 81 repugnant but rs near as
may be agreeable to the laws. statutes, or
customs Of the realm How complete was
the monopoly intended to be conveyed by
Charles H. may be seen from the stipulation
on the part of the king that no other subjects
of Great Britain, except the few individuals
forming the company, should visit the ports,
Ravens, islands, or territories granted, con-
rary TO the true meaning Of the charter, that
is, for trading purposes. All other subjects
Of the crown were expressly forbidden to
visit or trade at any Of the places, unless
specially licensed by the company on pain
Of mourning the royal Indignation, and the
forfeiture of goods which might be taken to
or from the territories in question Offend
ers might be bound in the penalty of I'll 900
not again to trade within the exclusive do
main of the company. The company had
full power to send vessels of war, with men
and ammunition, to any OF their forts factor
les, or places of trade, for the defence and
security OF the same, appointing command
ers and officers, by commission under their
common seal. They had the right of max
ing war or concluding peace with any non
Christian prince or people within the terrific.
ries covered by their charter They mich,
build castles, Notifications forts, or rarrisons
and plant colonies, and lay out and buil(
villages or towns. Any persons not mem
bers of the company whether English subjects
or not, who should sail into Hudson's BAY O.
enter the company's territories without leave
were liable to be seized and sent to England
The employees of the company were mad,
liable for any offence thay might commit t,
such punishment as the president and coun
ell, acting on behalf of the governor an,
company should see fit. In case the part,
convicted should appeal against the sentence
he might be seized and sent a prisoner t
England, to be tried by the laws of the na
ton The governor and company might ex
anime upon oath any persons in their employ
ment, upon any matter not repugnant to TN
laws of the realm.
The trade of the company in this region