The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-08-14
REL IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.
The Leader of the Rebellion Addresses
the Jury, Calling tho Government In
sane and I~rrexponkIhle. =

KEEL IN HIS Nv
The Leader of the Rebellion Addresse.
the Jury, Calling tho Government In
sane and irresponsible. E
At the trial OF Louis Riel at Regina, NV
T., 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. Rielprefaced his speech with
the following prayer, delivered with eyes
turned h~eavenward:
"Oh, 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. | aln
sure, what they thought their duty, and
they have shown fairness which did not
expect. Oh, my God, bless all these
grace Of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Turn their curiosity into calm inter
est. Amen" Rel said he had two moth
ers-his earthly one, who had nurscd 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 if he failed tempo
rarily. his spirit would yet accomplish the
mission. He had
WRITINGS WHICH woUI.D II AFTER HIN.
Archbishop Bourget and other dignitar-
les told him he had a mission and for the
past ten years had been working ut it and
inal dock. God preserved him from
all danger. Whilebullets were flying about
his head thick as mosquitoes, at Batoche, he
knew he was sale 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 medicalexpert. Evenifhanged, hewould
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 Tachefor
some wrongdoing, and said he was a benefac-
torof humanity. He proclaimed himself n
prophet OF the new world; told 10 Gods
spirit had spokentohimi in his ~celliast 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 APPEALTo THE
In conclusion Riel read from a paper writ
ten in pencil, as follows:
Your Honors and the Jury: Myreputa-
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-
pect from you does notcomefrom any pre-
sumption on my part. ! simply hope for Il
conscientious verdict, and that a~fterhaving
heard what have to say you will acquitme.
lido respect you, although you are only half
a Jury, but your number OF six does not
prevent you from being just and conscien-
tlous, and does not prevent you from hav-
ing my confidence. am taking the circum-
stances OF my trial as they are, and I 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 ashow,
and they are not r. representative govern
ment which rules Canada and the North
west. But from signs shown in court you
are compelled to admit that if they arenot
responsible they are not insane. Good
sense alone leads to sane conclusions. BY
testimony laid before you during the trial,
witnesses on both sides nave 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 TACT would indicate absolute lack OF re-
sponsibility and insanity complicated with
paralysis. t~Laughter.l That monster OF ir-
responsible, lnsanegovernment, andits little
one, the Northwest council, have made up
there mind to answer my petitions by sur
rounding me slyly, and by attempting to
Jump me and mypeoplein Saskatchewan.
Happily when they showed their teeth to de-
vour1 wasready. 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 to tear me to pieces.
II you believe the plea OF insanity OF
the defense that l I'm not responsible for
my acts, acqnit me, since l nave been quar-
reling with the insane acts Of the govern.
ment. Ii you believe in the crown which
contends that | am responsible, acquit me.
You are perfectly justitiable to declare that
having my reason and sound mind | have
acted responsibility and in sound mind, while
the government, my asgressor, has acted
madly. and ii there be high treason it must
be on their side, not on mine.