Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-31
The Rel Rahellinn

The RIEJ rebellion which is exciting
our Canadian friends, and which at this
writing threatens to assume formidable
proportions. is the breaking out of an
old sore. Louis RiEL, the half-breed
leader of the present outbreak, is the
same man who fomented and led the
Red-Riyer rebellion in 1869, which re-
bellion was suppressed through the
vigorous measures Of General (then
Colonel Lord WoLsELEy. The act
OF 1867 creating the Dominion of
Canada contemplated the acquisition,
as mentioned below, Of the vast terri
tory which had been under the control
Of the Hudson Bay Company. AS
result Of negotiations and legislation
the company's rights were annulIed
upon the payment by Canada Of ST.
100000, and the whole country,
with its population of white colonists,
half-breeds, and Indians, was turned
over to the Dominion Government. In
this transfer, the date Of which was
fixed by royal proclamation for Decem-
Der L, 1869, the people were not con-
suited. A vigorous protest against
being sold like so many sheep was
made, fears as TO the notification of
land rights arose, and, as a conse-
quence, when WILLIAM MCDoUGALL,
who was appointed Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Of the Northwest Territory, as
the new acquisition was designated, ap-
preached the territory, the halfbreeds
Of AssiAiboine under RIEL resolved to
prevent his entrance into the settlement
until some guarantee was received that
the rights OF the inhabitants were to
be respected. Eventually provi-
sional government was formed, with
RIEL as president, and council Of
twenty-four members, and bill
of rights was adopted, the pro-
minent features of which were de-
mands for representation in the Do
minion Parliament and for local
Legislature elected by the people.
These were finally conceded by the
Manitoba act of the Dominion Parlia-
ment, but the country was not quoted
until General WcIsELEY, (now in the
Soudan,) entered Fort Carey at the
head OF the Sixtieth Rifles. AS
one outcome Of the formation Of
Manitoba into province the half
breeds living therein received, AMONG
other things, two hundred and fifty
acres Of land each. Their copfrsres in
the Outlying territories made demand
that their rights be similarly recognized.
This demand, it seems, the Dominion
Government has ignored; hence the
present outbreak. RIEL's demands,
as now formulated, are as follows:
!. Subdivision into provinces of the
Northwest Territories what we call
Territoriesl. 2. All. the half-breeds
therein to receive the same grant as the
half-breeds Of Manitoba received. 3.
That patents be at once issued to colo
nis.s in possession. 4. The sale Of half
a million acres OF Dominion lands. the
proceeds Of which to be applied to the
establishment in the half-breed settle
menss Of schools, hospitals, and such
like institutions, and to the equipment
of the poorer half-breeds with seeds,
grain, and needed implements. s. Bet
ter provisions for the support Of the In
dams, who, owing to governmental
neglect, it is urged, are starving.
Whether the Dominion Government
viii concede these or not is question
not easy 10 answer, but il seems pretty
evident that If it does not its military
force will have their hands full for some
months 10 come.