The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1885-04-25

STOCKMEN'S REQUEST.
1ndorsctll by Acting Governor Tooker and
Forwarded to the President.

AuuoIScsil w IACtlnS \1OVernOf lOOkcr anu
Forwarded to the President.
To the Honorable John $. Tooker, Acting Govern-
n of Montana Helena, Montana.
SlR:-We would respectfully call your
attention to the great danger threatening
he settlers Of the northern half of the Ter
ritory, and more particularly to those en-
gagged in the business of stock raising,
from a probable invasion Of our borders
by the armed bands of British half.breeds
and Indians, now in state Of open rebel
lion and warfare against the Canadian
Government in the Northwest Provinces
OF the Dominion and very near the Mon
tana line.
This danger is the more imminent be-
.se "Reil," the leader and prime mover,
intimately acquainted with all that por-
ton Of the Territory north of the Yellow
stone river, and from our eastern boun-
Diary to the Rocky Mountains. a large
number of his followers are also familiar
with that portion of Montana from their
villages having been allowed to camp and
hunt all over it during the years from 1877
t" 1855, to the utter determination Of all
large game and great damage to the set
tiers, from cattle killed and horses stolen
by them, and as their ccca, and rout is
only question of time, we have every
reason 10 believe that they will then retreat
| across the boundary line into Montaua, the
| more surely because there is Il considerable
! nu,lbrr Of their relatives and friends To-
| Gated in various places i'll our Territory,
where they have always been 4 source of
loss and annoyance TO our people, because
lhey are usually very poor and have large
families and are compelled to exc out 4
prccarious existence by stealing cattle and
horses. These people are aliens and wards
OF the Dominion OF Canada, and their
presence should never have been tolerated
| ~ our government. In view Of these facts
and the necessity Of prompt action on the
part Of the government, the Board Of Stock
| Commissioners CT Montana Territory
would respectfully request that this COM
muuicatiou be forwarded to the President
Of the United States, with such indorse-
,ncnt from YOU, as the Governor of Mon
tana, rs the urgency Of the situation de.
mands.
Very respectfully,
GRANVILLE STUART, President.
Il. f. HARRISON, Secretary.
Beard of Stock Commissioners, Montana
Territory.
TERRITORY OF MONTANA,
i EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
HELENA, April 20, 1855.
SIR:-f have the honor herewith to
transmit for your consideration comm,.-
nication this day received by me from
Hon. Granville Stuart, President of the
Stockgrowers' Association OF this Terri
tory, urging immediate action on the part
Of the government for the protection of
the settlers in northern Montana ayains.
dcprcdations necessarily incident to the in
vasion of the Territory by the armed bands
of half-breeds and Indians under the lead.
ership of Louis Riel.
: The admonition is, in my opinion, bot,
timely and important considering the fact
that Rie. has made northern Mon tara his
headquarters up to q recent date d is not
only familiar with that portion of the Ter.
ritory, but is also possessed of the SYM
pathy and good will of tho halt:brects and
a portion of the Indians on our northern
bocdcrs;i it is Improbable that he would, in
case Of defeat or discontinue, seek an
asylum in an, other direction.
The country ON our northern border is
sparscly settled and the people are consc
qucntly in 4 deienSclcss condition, and the
herds of cattle and horses now ranpiny
near the Dominion line are at present ey :.
posed to plurder by marauding bands of
half-hreeds and Indians.
Dceming the lives and property of citi.
zens of northern Montana in imminent
danger of injury from this source, I earn.
est!y suggest the consideration by your
exellency at an early date, Of such meas.
ures as may be deemed necessary to pro-
tect the property ofo citizens from harm
or mo!estation at the exposed points.
have the honor, sir, to be your obedi.
ent servant.
JOHN S. TookER, Acting Governor.
10 his excellency the President of the