The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-04-25
sToCKMEN's REQUEST.
Endorsed by Acting Governor
TOOker and Forwarded to
the President.

The Montana people are becoming
alarmed at the movements of Riel and
! the Indians under his control, and have
taken steps to protect their stock
interests. as the following correspand-
ence, published in the Helena Indepen.
dent of the 2lst, will show:
To the Honorable John S. Tookcr, Acting
Go0cr1lor Of Montana, Helena, Montana
SIR:-We would respectfully call
your attention to the great danger
threatening the settlers OF the northern
half OF the Territory, and more par
ticularly to those engaged in the bust
ness of stock raising, from probable
invasion OF our borders by the armed
bands of British half-breeds and In
dams, now IN a state Of open rebellion
and warfare against the Canadian
government in the Northwest Provinces
of the Dominion and very near the
Montana line.
This danger is the more Imminent
because Rel" the leader and prime
mover. is intimately acquainted with all
of that portion of the Territory north of
eastern boundary to the Rocky Noun
tains. A large number of his followers
are also familiar with that portion of
Montana from their villages having
been allowed to camp and hunt all over
it during the years from 1877 to 1888, to
the utter determination OF all large
game, and great damage to the settlers,
from cattle killed and horses stolen by
them, and as their defeat and rout is
only a question of time, we have every
reason to believe that they will then re-
treat across the boundary line into Mon
tana. the more surely because there is a
considerable number of their relatives
and friends located IN various places in
our Territory, where they have always
been source of loss and annoyance to
our people, because they are usually
very poor and have large families and
are compelled to exc out a precariouS
existence by stealing cattle and horses.
These people are aliens and wards of the
Dominion of Canada, and their presence
should never have been tolerated by our
government. In view of these facts and
the necessity of prompt action on the
part of the government, the Beard of
Stock Commissioners of Montana Terri
tory would respectfully request that
this communication be forwarded to the
President of the United States, with
such endorsement from you, as the
Governor of Montana, as the urgency of
the situation demands.
Very respectfully,
GRANVILLE STUART, President.
R. B. HARRISON, Secretary,
Board of Stock Commissioners, Mon |
tana Territory.
TERRITORY OF MONTANA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, |
HELENA, April 20, 1885. !
SIR:-I have the honor herewith to |
for your consideration a COM
this day received by me
rom Hon. GRANVILLE Stuart. president
Of the Stock Growers Association of this
Territory, urging immediate action on
The part of the government for the pro-
ection of settlers in Northern Montana
against depredations necessarily incl
lent to the invasions of the Territory
oy the armed bands of half-breeds and
Indians under the leadership of Louis
Riel.
The admonition is. in my opinion,
timely and important, considering the
act that Riel has made northern Mon
ana his headquarters up to 4 recent
late, and not onl familiar with that
portion of the Territory, but is also
possessed of the sympathy and good
will of the half-breeds and portion of
he Indians on our northern borders it
S improbable that he would, in case of
lefeat or discontinue, seek an asylum
n any other direction.
The country on our northern border
5 sparsely settled and the people.are
in a defenseless condition;
nd the herds of cattle and horses now
angling near the Dominion line are at
resent exposed to plumber by maraud
1g bands of half breeds and Indians.
Deeming the lives and property of
itizens OF northern Montana in Immi-
ent danger of injury from this source, !.
earnestly suggest the consideration
V your Excellency, at an early date, of
Ich measures as may be deemed
9cessary to protect the property of
IT citizens from harm or molestation
t the exposed points.
1 have the honor, sir, to be your
bedient servant,
JOHN S. TooKER, Acting Governor.
To his Excellency, the President of the T
United States. c