The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-08-06
REL IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.
The Leader Of the Rebellion Addresses
the Jury. Calling the Government In
sane and irresponsible.

Inc LeSief OF the AtoDell1On Addresses
the Jury, Calling the Government In
sane and Irresponsible.
At the trial OF Louis Riel at Regina, N. w.
r., on the 31st, the judge gave Riel an OPP
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 M
ooh, my God, help me through the grace
and divine influence of Jesus Christ. 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, l am
sure, what they thought their duty, and
they have shown fairness which 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
ers-his earthly one, who had nursed him,
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 il 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 a mission and for the
past ten years had been working at it and
was performing it in the Grim
inal dock. God preserved him from
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 DIR. Roy,
the medical expert. 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
tackled the Metis. By the grace of God, the
prisoner said, he was the founder OF Mani
toba He denounced Archbishop Tache for
some wrong doing, and said he was a 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 populations three
times from going to the States to induce
Americans to come over to take possession
OF the country.
! FINAL APPEAL TO THE JURY.
In conclusion Rie read from apaper writ
ten in pencil, as follows:
/ Your Honors and the Jury: My reputa-
ton, my liberty, my life, are at your dis
posal. So confident am OF your sense OF
duty l have not the slightest doubt as to
| your verdict. The calmness OF my mind
concerning the favorable decision / ex-
peet from you does not come from any pre-
sumption an my part simply hope for
conscientious verdict, and that after having
heard what have to say you will acquit me.
! do respect you, although you are only half
jury, but your number OF six does not
prevent you from being just and conscien-
/ tious, and does not prevent you from hav-
ing my confidence. 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.
SECOND, that the Northwest council, gener-
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 q 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 1T Ger
tain to you that.
I : PETITION AFTER PETITION
has been sent to the federal government, but
: so irrpSponSih1e 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 ans
swered once or given sign OF response.
The fact would Indicate absolute lack OF re-
sponsibiity 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 It me and niy pelple IN SASKATCHEWAN.
! Happily when they showed their teeth to de-
vourI was ready. Fhave 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 name OF
Jesus Christ, the only one who can help me:
II they are trying 10 tear me TO pieces,
II you believe the plea OF insanity Of
The defense that 1 am not responsible for
my acts, acquit ME, since have been quar-
reling with the insane acts 81 the govern:
ment. II you believe in the grown, which
contends that am responsible, acquit me.
You are perfectly justifiable to declare that
having my reason and sound mind have
acted responsibility 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.