The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-08-06
REL IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.
The Leader Of the Rebellion Addresses
the Jury, Calling the Government In
sane and IRRESPONSIBLE.

1n0 Leader OF the h0De1lOn Addresses
the Jury, Calling the Government In
sane and Irresponsible.
At the trial OF Louis Riel at Regina, N. w.
T., on the 31st, the judge gave Riel an op-
portunity OF addressing the jury, and he
spoke nearly two hours. The court was
crowded to the utmost. Breathless still
ness prevailed. Riel prefaced his speech with
the following prayer, delivered with eyes
turned heavenward:
ooh, my God, help me through the grace
and divine influence of Jesus Christi Oh,
my God, bless me; bless this honorable
court; bless this honorable jury; bless my
good lawyers, who have come 700 leagues
to try to save my life; bless the lawyers OF
the crown because they have done, I am
sure, what they thought their duty, and
they have shown fairness which I did not
expect. Oh, my God, bless all these
who are around me through the
grace of Jesus Christ, Our Savior
Turn their curiosity into calm inter-
est. Amen" Riel said he had two moth
and the Northwest. The first would not
kill him, neither would the second. Poster
ity would justify him yet for what he had
done. His mission WAS to bring about
practical results, and if he failed tempo
rarily, his spirit would yet accomplish the
mission. He had
WRITINGS WHICH WOULD LIVE AFTER HIM.
Archbishop Bourget and other dignitar-
les told him he had q mission and for the
past ten years had been working at it and
was performing it in the Grim
all danger. While bullets were flying about
his head thick as mosquitoes, at Batoche, he
knew he was safe because God protected
him. God acknowledged him when Middle
ton gave evidence that he was not insane.
He called on God to bless the crown lawyer
for breaking down the evidence OF DR.. Roy,
the medicalexpert. Even ifhanged, he would
have the satisfaction OF knowing that the
world believed him not insane. He said
the agitation would have been constitu-
tional had not government forces at
prisoner said, he was the founder OF Mani
toba He denounced Archbishop Tache for
some wrong doing, and said he was benefac-
tor of humanity. He proclaimed himself a
prophet of the new world; told how Gods
spirit had spoken to him in his cell last night
and assured him ofcomfort. Comfort had
come in being allowed to speak. Therefore
he had confidence that God would speak
through him. He could prophesy by feel
ing OF the flesh on his hands and legs. He
would yet bring Sir John Macdonald to his
feet. He had stopped deputations three
times from going to the States to induce
Americans to come over to take possession
OF the country.
FINAL APPEALTO THE JURY.
In conclusion Riel read from paper writ
ten in pencil, as follows:
Your Honors and the Jury: My rcputa-
ton, my liberty, my life, are at your dis
posal. So confident am Of your sense Of
duty I have not the slightest doubt as to
your verdict. The calmness OF my mind
concerning the favorable decision / ex-
pect from you does not come from ayny pre-
sumption on my part. I simply hope for a
conscientious verdict, and that after having
heard what I have to say, you will acqnit me.
! do respect you, although you are only ha!f
q jury, but your number of six docs not
prevent you from being just and conscien-
tious, and does not prevent you from hav-
ing my confidence. I am taking the circum-
stances OF my trial as they are, and wish
to call your attention to, before you retire,
that the house OF commons and senate and
the ministry OF the dominion, which make
laws for this land, are not representative
whatever OF the people OF the Northwest.
ated by the federal government, has great
defect. The present number of persons Sc
lected for that council make it only show,
and they are not a representative govern
ment which rules Canada and the North
west. But from signs shown in court you
are compelled to admit that if they are not
responsible they are not insane. Good
sense alone leads to sane conclusions. BY
testimony laid before you during the trial,
witnesses on both sides have made it GER
tain to you that.
PETITION AFTER PETITION
has been sent to the federal government, but
so irresponsible is that government to the
Northwest that in the course OF several
years, besides doing nothing to satisfy the
people OF the Northwest, it has not an
swered once or given a sign OF response.
The fact would indicate absolute lack OF re-
sponsibility and insanity complicated with
paralysis. Laughter.] That monster OF ir-
responsible, insane government, and it's little
one, the Northwest council, have made up
there mind to answer my petitions by sur
rounding me slyly, and by attempting to
Jump at me and mypeoplei in Saskatchewan.
Happily when they showed their teeth to de-
yourI was ready. Ihave fired and wounded
them. Bear it in mind that is what is
called my crime OF high treason. They led
me to it, but my act was in the namc OF
Jesus Christ, the only one who can help me.
II they are trying to tear me to pieces,
ii you believe the plea Of insanity OF
the defense that am not responsible for
my acts, acquit me- since have been quar-
reling with the insane acts OF the govern
ment. Ii you believe in the crown, which
contends that I am responsible, acquit me.
You are perfectly iustifable to declare that
having my reason and sound mind have
acted responsibly and in sound mind, while
the government, my aggressor, has acted
madly, and if there be high treason it must
be on their side, not on mine.
The Grandeur of the Funeral Pageant.
Anew York dispatch says: Preparations
for the great military pageant, which is to
be the principal feature OF the Grant funer-
al on the 9Th, continue with great zeal.
With the exception of the vast number OF
details, which will now take care OF them
selves, these preparations may now be
called completed. Gen. Hancock has ap-
pointed all his aids and is now occupied
during every working hour OF the day in
receiving and answering applications for
places in the line. SO numerous are these
applications that the principle has been
adopted OF having organizations represent
ed in the procession rather than march as a,
whole, for if the complete bodies we're adj
mitted the line OF march from the city
hall to Riverside Park, a distance Of
nine miles, would not contain the mass
of men. So important has it become to
keep the procession within manageable
limits that very few carriages will be al
lowed. The decorations of building of all
kinds continue to increase in number, ex-
tent and variety. Many decorations which
were at first put up hastily, have been re-
modelled and deliberately emblemished.
There is not building on Broad
way without some token OF mourn
ing, and the great thoroughfare be-
comes more and more fringed with
black: The adva demand f6r car:
riagea on the day Of the funeral has already
practically exhausted the supply: The an
plication for windows along the line OF
march indicates that the demand will be
immense. AS much as $3.50 has already
been offered for a single window on Broad
way.
It has been decided to abandon all
thought OF conveying the remains from
Albany to New York by river, although had
this plan been tbs first suggested it would
have been accepted. It was abandoned with
regret. Saratoga made a last and unsuc-