The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-04-16

the government Of the Hudson Bay com
panys territory. and Dec I. lst", was SUB
seulIcntly fixed as the date OF the transfer
As the cxpiry of the charter had only lie
priycd the company OF It's sp'cHt nceisss
and privileges aud not of its original ;elri-
tory, it was necessary for the government to
purchase the territory. The price agfc'u
upon was $500 OOt which looks like very
small sum in view OF the i,n'nensitY oi lnc
possessions involved These nocco"ln"s
awakened alarm in the hearts of the trcncn
half breed settlers whose rude houses ii'ird
the banks of the Red and Assnaboino iiver-.
These people were mainly the dcscrn .'h's
of the early traders, trappcrs and employees
of the Uudson's Bay company They were
in the main an untutored people, excerpt Tor
such instruction us they received from their
priests Each head OF family had his RUE
strip of land which he cultivated ana tiie
dwellings of the people were princi-
pally log huts The titles under when
they held their lands had been ob'a'ned
from the Hudson's Bay COMPANY,
where they had titles, but in many cns"S II
would probably have been difficult t. cstab.
Iish any legal or valid claim to the land
However. for years they had remained IN
undsturbed possession Of the property on
which they had built their cabins, and ielt
perfectly secure in the possession Thereon.
Their state had been the iIudson's Bav com
pany. The rule OF the company had been IN
the main mild and bcnciiccnt; ana. although
there had been occasional complaints against
the company for arbtrarincss in connection
with trading-for IL fixed its own price and
hunters and traders were compelled Ia ac-
cept them or nothng-:he peop.e were gen
orally well content with their lot The pro-
posed transfer Of the company's possession
gave promise of an entirely new and untrie'
condition of things
THE CAUSE OF ALAEM
The settlers felt insecure IN thrir posses
sions and in regard 70 their civil rights. Tho
course OF the British government IN pacing
them under the dominion Of the Canadian
government seemed u them arbitrary. Ihe.l
voice had not been heard in the matter
They knew not what 10 expect There wa'
much nurmurng. and as the time ap
proachcd. when the transfer was to be com
summarized, the settlers of the As sinaboine and
Red-iiivcr districts began To organize. Will
Louis Rcl at their head. They drew up &
bill of rights in which they put forth, anon.
other demands. the following:
First, the right 10 elect their own legislature
second, this Legislature To have power To pass nj
laws of u local nature by two-thifds vol" Over
the veto of the cxccu'i i've: third trcc homes =
United STATES: fourth. ror ion OF the l'ghi.,
land to he donated To the support Of schools "a
construct ion of roads and bridges: fifth. tT'aties
with the Indian tribes calculated To secure l'c.c
In the future
William McDoucall. who had been ap
pointed rs governor of the newly Organized
territory arrived there in October He found
the roads in posse, ssion ot the m-ur,:eht,
suite. and for some time lived in camp neal
Penbina, on this SIDE of the line. This wa
the first act of wal ON the Part OF the rebels
They immediately obtained possession ~ nj
the posts and forts. and were the masters OF
the country. A provisional government wa
organized at Fort Garry, with John Hrouss'
as president. Louis Kiel comm ander-in- chic
of the armies. and the young priest ana ni-
triot O'Donoghue was virtually secretary ol
state and secretary of war. The governor
surrounded himself with twcnty-four coun
eelors, twelve selected from among thu
French breeds and twelve from among
the English and Scotch element. iii
capture of Fort Garry had been .asilN
accomplished and without blooishcd IL
the meantime Gov McIougal had attempt
cd To interest the indians in his cause, AN
made sorie futile attempts To gam POSSES
sion Of his province. \ counter -revoluti"i
was also attempted by the I"Na!isiS, ana on'
James Scott was shot by order of Re-. III
council Of the provisional government was no
always harmonious. the scotch and Enwli>i
elements coming into occasional coii'ic