Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-28
THE RIEL REBELLION.
Parliament Rated for Allowing the
Trouble To Come TO a Head.



In tse Commons last night. Blake, leader
of the opposition, rose amid cheers to call at
tention 10 the Rel rebellion, aud the cause At
the same time. He reviewed the conduct of
/ the government since Riel's return 10 Can.
i ada, and in stern terms condemned their iail-
ure TO deal with the grievances of the half
| breeds and other settlers OF the northwest
The government has been wanting in it's duty
in Withholding information from Parliament.
He reminded the House of John A. MaeDon-
aids conduct in 1871. when he paid Riel
$1,000 to get out of the country while profess
! ing that he Wished TO God he could catch him.
Riel had made good thing out Of the rebel.
lion of 1871, and now wanted to repeat the
operation. Ii was only now, after the insur-
rection had broken out, that the government
ha thought proper TO issue a commission to
settle the claims. He moved that the govern-
ment should at once lay before Parliament
full and complete information as to what steps
had been taken by them in reference to the
claims of the half-breeds. to calling out the
militia and with respect to the disturbance in
the northwest.
Sir John Macdonald charged Blake with
endeavoring to make capital out of Riel's
outbreak. Many of the claims set up bv the
half-breeds were fraudulent, and many who
| got 2+0 acres in the Red River settlement had
sold out and gone to Prince Albert and there
claimed 100 acres more. The hali-breeds
were now quarreling among themselves about
/ the land claimed by each The Indians and
/ haf-breeds could never be satisfied. The
government was not responsible for the
stories published by their organs. The gov
ernment was the guardian of the public prop
erty, and must resist fraudulent claims to
public lands. Had he caught Riel in 1871 he
would have been tried in Ontario or Quebec
and found guilty. Never had a more sincere
PRAYER been uttered than that which he (Sir
john had uttered at Peterborough, when he
said he wished to God he could catch Riel
Money had been given to Riel to induce him
to go away and cease agitaling the country.
After remarks by Cartwright and Esey in
support of the amendment, members were
called in and the amendment defeated on a
vote of Sc 10 1872.
| In the House of Commons tonight the fol-
lowing telegram from Lieut.. Col Civine to
Sir John Macdonald. dated Fort Carleton.
March p, was read by the Premier;
"rhe party under my command nave just
arrived. When near Fort Carleton found
that Major Crozier, with party of 100 men,
had gone to Duck Lake to secure a large
quantity of supplies there stored They were
met by some one hundred rebels, who held
an advantageous position At Beady's reserve,
and endeavored to surround Maj. Crozier's
! force of police and civilians. The rebels
| fired first, when the firing bscame general.
Maj. Crozier, owing to the disadvantage at
which he was taken, retreated in good order
arriving at the fort at the same time ~ INV
party. Ten civilians of Prince Albert and
two policemen were killed and four civilians
and seven constables wounded, The number
of rebels killed is not known. The police
and civilians acted with the greatest bravery
under the heavy fire.
! The reading of the despatch caused intense
excitement Detachments OF the A and b
batteries OF Kingston and Quebec, the Queens
Own. the 10th Royal of Toranto and infantry
school, under command of Col Otter, have
received marching orders and will proceed
via fhe Canadian Pacific railroad northwest
without delay.
ST. PAuL, March -.
/ special from Winnepeg says that it is
reported on good authority that the govern
ment has received word that the rebels cap
tured Major Crozier and his force Of over
/ 100 mounted police after an engagement in
which several were killed on both sides The
rebels tried to wreck the train which was car
ryiug troops from Winncpeg, west, but were
arrested. One OF the prisoners had des-
patches from Rie To the half-breeds around
/ Winnepeg and in Southern Manitoba urging
them to rise.
Gen. Middleton arrived here this morning
( Orders were issued for the advance of
troops this afternoon.
QUEBEC, March %.
Orders were received by Col. Cotton to-
night ordering immediate dispatch of 100
men of battery A to the scene of disturban ce
in the northwest. The orders were immed-
lately acted upon and special train will
leave here at o'clock in the morning,
TORONTO, March ~.
News from the northwest tonight of col
lisioD between the rebels and mounted police
caused intense excitement Col. Otter has
received instructions TO hold himself in read
iness to leave for the northwest tomorrow
morning in command of the infantry school
corps and 500 men of the Queens Own and
ROYAL Grenaders