The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-04-10

the government of the Hudson Bay COM
pany's territory, and Dec. 1, 1869, was sub
seQuently fixed as the date of the transfer.
As the expiry of the charter had only de-
prived the company of it's special licenses
and privileges, and not of its original terri
tory, il was necessary for the government TO
purchase the territory. The price agreed
small sum in view of the immensely of the
possessions involved These proceedings
awakened alarm in the hearts OF the French
half settlers whose rude houses lined
the banks of the Red and Assinaboine rivers.
These people were mainly the
of the early traders, trappers and employees
of the Hudson's Bay company. They were
in the main an untutored people. except for
such instruction as they received from their
priests. Each head of family had his little
strip of land which he cultivated, and the
dwellings of the people were princi-
pally log huts. The titles under which
they held their lands had been obtained
from the Hudson's Bay company,
where they had titles, but in many cases IL
would probably have been difficult TO essae-
lish any legal or valid claim to the Iapd.
However, for years they had remained in
undisturbed possession or the properly on
which they had built their cabins, and felt
perfectly secure in the possession thereof.
Their state had been the Hudson's Bay COM
pany. The rule of the company had been In
the main mild and benefcent; and, although
there had been occasional complaints against
the company for arbitrariness in connectlon
with t~rading-for it fixed its own prices, ana
hunters and traders were compelled TO ac-
cept them or n~othing-the people We're gen.
orally well content with their lot. The pro-
posed transfer of the company's possession
gave promise of an entirely new and untrled
condition of things.
THE CAUSE OF ALARM
The settlers felt insecure in their posses
sions and in regard to their civil rights, Inc
course or the British government IN placing
them under the dominion OF the Canaaian
government seemed TO them arbitrary. Ihelr
voice had not been heard In the mattef.
They knew not what to expect Inere was
much murmuring. and as the m ap-
preached, when tho transfer was 10 pc com,
summated, the settlers of the AssinaDoine AM
Red River districts began to organize, Will
Louis Riel at their head They drew up =
bill of rights In which they put fortn, among
other demands, the following:
First, the right TO elect their own leglsiaIuIS;
second, this legislature to have power TO pass az
tss y Of 2 Il local cal nature a7sor;,r BY : sb tT0s = free ho sDss
and presumption law, similar 70 gnas Oh M, sis
United States: fourth, a portion OF yne puDaaS
land to be donated to the support OF SENIORS a. sias
construction of roads and bridges: fifth, treaeles
with the Indian tribes calculated to secure peace
In the future.
William McDougall, who had been ap,
pointed as governor of the newly organized
territory, arrived there in October. de Iouno
the roads In possession OF the
and was driven from the country VIII me-
suite, and for some time lived In camp near
Pembina, ON this side of the line: Inns WI
the first act of war on the part OF the reDeis
They Immediately obtained possession OF y.
the posts and forts. and were the masters y
the country. A provisional government wa
organized at Fort Garry, with John Brousss
as president, Louis Riel commander-ln-cule '
of the armies. and the young prieso anu pa
triot O'Donoghue was virtually secretary =,
state and secretary of war. Inc governoi
surrounded himself with twenty-four couh y
selors, twelve selected from among cne
French half-breeds and twelve from am sml
the English and Scotch element lnss
capture of Fort Garry had peel saslIrs
accomplished and without biooasneu ~ =
the meantime Gov. McDougal had a1eeinpS
ed to interest the Indians IN his cause, ano
made some futile a~ttemptsto gain PVsses
sion of his province. A ountei-revolu. ~
was also attempted by the I.oyaiis.s| anu M -
James Scott was shot by order OF hleL ~,
council OF the provisional government was Nv
always harmonious, tho Scotch y Ensac'
elements coming into occasional coun