New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-04-08

the government of the Hudson Bay COM
pany's territory, and Dec. /, 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 it's original terri
tory, it was necessary for the government to
purchase the territory. The price agreed
upon was 100000, which looks like very
small sum in view of the immensely of the
possessions involved These proceedings
awakened alarm in the hearts of the French
half-breed settlers whose rude houses lined
These people were mainly the descendants
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 it
would probably have been difficult to estab-
lish any legal or valid claim to the land.
However, for years they had remained in
undisturbed possession of the property 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 connection
with trading-for it fixed it's own prices, and
hunters and traders were compelled to &C
cept them or nothing-the people were gen.
orally well content with their lot The pro-
posed transfer of the companys possession
gave promise Of an entirely new and untried
condition of things.
THE CAUSE OF ALARM
The settlers felt insecure in their possess
sions and In regard to their civil rights The
course OF the British government in placing
them under the dominion of the Canadian
government seemed to them arbitrary Their
voice had not been heard in the matter.
They knew not what to expect. There was
much murmuring, and as the time ap-
preached, when the transfer was to be COM
summated, the settlers of the Assinaboine and
Red River districts began to organize, with
Louis Riel at their head. They drew up a
bill of rights in which they put forth, among
other demands, the following:
First, the right.to elect their own legislature:
second, this legislature to have power to pass all
laws Of a local nature by a two-thirds vote over
the veto of the executive: third, free homestead
and preeee e. law similar to that Of the
land to be donated to the support OF schools and
construction of roads and bridges; fifth treaties
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 He found
the roads in possession of the insurgents,
and was driven from the country with his
suite, and for some time lived in camp near
Pembina, ON this side of the line. This was
the first act OF war on the part of the rebels
They Immediately obtained possession of all
the posts and forts, and were the masters of
the country. A provisional government was
organized at Fort Garry, with John Brousse
as president, Louis Riel commander chief
Of the armies, and the young priest and pa.
state and secretary of war The governor
surrounded himself with twenty -four coun-
selors, twelve selected from among the
French half-breeds and twelve from among
the English and Scotch element The
capture of Fort Garry had been easily
accomplished and without bloodshed In
the meantime Gov. McDougal had attempt
ed to interest the Indians in his cause. and
made some futile attempts to gain posses
sion of his province. A counter-revolution
was also attempted by the Loyalists, and one
James Scott was shot by order of Riel The
council OF the provisional overnmentwasn not
always harmonious, the Scotch and English
elements coming into occasional conflict
with the French, and at times there seemed
to be danger that the government would
peter out altogether. 1t retained possession
however, all through the winter, spring and
summer of 1870, until Sir Garnet Wolseley'a
arrival with British troops
REL ADVOCATES.
Instead Of holding their ground, Riel and
his compatriots fed from Fort Garry and
crossed the United States line, leaving theil
guns and ammunition behind them. Si1
Garnet, on the Oath Of August. took peace
able possession of the Fort and issued his
famous orders Riel was afterward ban.
ished for five years Such was the
Red river rebellion of 1869-7O
1t was practically war without bloodshed
acts Of clemency and kindness on the part 81