LORD STRATHCONA'S HAND.
On Christmas Day, 1870, John Bruce, who was but a figurehead, resigned
his office of President of the so-called Provisional Government of Red
River Settlement, and the ambitious Louis Riel was chosen in his stead.
The Dominion Government had at length, been awakened to the danger.
Divided counsels still prevailed. Two Commissioners, Grand Vicar
Thibault and Col. De Salaberry, arrived at Fort Garry, but they were
safely quartered at the Bishop's palace at St. Boniface, and as they
professed to have no authority, Riel cavalierly set them aside. At this
time the American element in the hamlet of Winnipeg became very
offensive. Riel's official organ, "The New Nation," was edited by an
American, Major Robinson. This journal was filled with articles having
such head-lines as "Confederation," "The British-American Provinces,"
"Proposed Annexation to the United States," etc., etc. Or, again,
"Annexation," "British Columbia Defying the Dominion," "Annexation our
Manifest Destiny." All this was very disagreeable to the
English-speaking people, and highly compromising to Riel.
But the real negociator was at hand, and he not only had the authority
to speak for Canada, but had Scottish prudence and diplomacy, as well as
real influence in the country, from holding the highest position in
Canada of any of the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company. This chief
factor was Donald A. Smith, whom we have since learned to know so well
as Lord Strathcona. He, with his secretary, Hardisty, arrived on
December 27th, and went immediately to Fort Garry. Riel demanded of Mr.
Smith, the object of his visit, but received no satisfaction. On being
asked for his credentials, Mr. Smith replied that he had left them at
Pembina. Being a high Hudson's Bay Company officer, he was quartered in
Government House, Fort Garry. The larger portion of the building was
occupied by Governor McTavish, the smaller or official portion became
the Commissioner's apartments. Here he was able to observe events, meet
a number of the old settlers, and obtain his information at first hand.
On the 15th of January Riel again demanded the Commissioner's papers;
he, indeed, offered to send to Pembina for them, but Mr. Smith declined
the offer. In the meantime the Commissioner had learned that the
Dauphinais Settlement, lying between Pembina and Fort Garry was loyal.
Accordingly, with a guard, Hardisty started to bring the papers. Riel
learned of this, and taking a body guard with him, went to the
Dauphinais house, intending to seize the credentials. Hardisty arrived
with his precious documents. Meanwhile, the Loyalists had made Riel's
men prisoners, and when Riel attempted to interfere, Pierre Laveiller, a
loyal French half-breed, put his loaded pistol to the Dictator's head,
and threatened his life. Sixty or seventy of the Loyalists escorted
Hardisty and his papers to Mr. Smith in Fort Garry.
[Illustration: Train of Huskie Dogs, Fort Garry, north gate
(Governor's entrance still standing), Toboggan with Hudson Bay trader
IN FORT GARRY PARK, WINNIPEG Permission Steele & Co., Winnipeg]
Now in possession of his documents, the Commissioner called a general
meeting of the people for January 19th, and one thousand men appeared on
that day in the Court Yard of the Fort. As there was no building in
which they could assemble, the meeting was held in the open air, with
the temperature 20° below zero. The people stood for hours and
listened to the proceedings. Commissioner Smith then read the letter of
his appointment, and also a letter from the Governor-General, which
announced to the people that the Imperial Government would see that
"perfect good faith would be kept with the inhabitants of the Red River
and the Northwest." The Commissioner then demanded that Vicar Thibault's
commission, which Riel had seized should be read. Riel refused it, but
Mr. Smith stood firm. At length the Queen's message to the people was
proclaimed. One John Burke then demanded that the prisoners be released
and a promise was given. On the second day the people again assembled,
and Mr. Smith then read authoritative letters, one from the
Governor-General to Governor McTavish, and another to Mr. McDougall. It
was then moved by Riel, seconded by Mr. Bannatyre, and carried
unanimously, that twenty representatives should be elected by the
English Parishes and twenty by the French, and that these should meet on
January 25th to consider the subjects of Commissioner Smith's
communications, and decide what was best for the welfare of the country.
Speeches were made by the Bishop of Rupert's Land, and Father Richot and
Riel closed the meeting by saying: "I came here with fear ... we are not
enemies--but we came very near being so.... we all have rights. We claim
no half rights, mind you, but all the rights we are entitled to."
Begg, an eye-witness, says: "Immediately after the meeting the utmost
good feeling prevailed. French and English shook hands, and for the
first time in many months a spirit of unity between the two classes of
settlers appeared. The elections took place in due time, but in Winnipeg
Mr. Bannatyne, the best citizen of the place, was beaten by Mr. A.H.
Scott, and the greatest annoyance was felt at this by the better
citizens on account of his being an American, and because of the 'New
Nation' continuing to advocate annexation."
On the 25th of January the forty delegates assembled. Much excitement
had been caused at this time among the French by the escape of Dr.
Schultz, their great opponent. Commissioner Smith addressed the
Convention. Riel wished him to accept the original Bill of Rights, but
Mr. Smith refused to do this. A proposal was then brought up by the
French Deputies that the proposal made by the Imperial Government to the
Hudson's Bay Company to take over their lands be null and void. This was
voted down by 22 to 17. Riel rose in rage and said: "The devil take it;
we must win. The vote may go as it likes, but the motion must be
carried." Riel raged like a madman. That night, in his fury, he went to
the bedside of Governor McTavish, sick as he was, and it is said,
threatened to have him shot at once. Dr. Cowan, the master of the fort,
was arrested, and so was Mr. Bannatyne, the chief merchant, as well as
Charles Nolan, a loyal French delegate.
On the 7th of February the delegates again met, and at this meeting
Commissioner Smith, having the power given him by the Dominion
Government, invited the Convention to send delegates to Canada to meet
the Government at Ottawa. Two English delegates, Messrs. Sutherland and
Fraser, not quite sure on this point, visited Governor McTavish for his
advise. "Form a Government, for God's sake," said the Governor, "and
restore peace and order in the Settlement." Being asked, if in such
case, he would delegate his authority to anyone, he hastily replied, "I
am dying, I will not delegate my authority to anyone."
The Convention then proceeded to elect a provisional government. Most of
the officers were English, they being better educated and more prominent
than the French members. But when it came to the election of a
President, to their disgust Riel was chosen. Immediately after this,
Governor McTavish, Dr. Cowan, and Mr. Bannatyne were released as
prisoners, but Commissioner Smith was a virtual prisoner in his quarters
in the fort, though his influence was still felt at every turn.
[Illustration: LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL. Governor of the Hudson's
Bay Company]
Among the earliest acts of the new provisional government was on
February 11th, the confiscation of Dr. Schultz's property, and of the
office of The Norwester newspaper. The type of The Norwester was said to
have been melted into bar lead and bullets. Judge Black, Father Richot,
and A.H. Scott were chosen as delegates to Ottawa, though the
appointment of the last of these, the "American delegate," was very
distasteful to the English-speaking people. The success of Riel led him
to dismiss about a quarter of the prisoners in Fort Garry. The fact that
he seemed to hold the remainder as hostages stirred up the English
people living along the Assiniboine.
What is usually called the "Portage la Prairie" Expedition was now
organized, to secure the release of the remaining prisoners. A body,
varying from sixty to one hundred, marched down to Headingly, and were
there joined by a number of English-speaking Canadians and others. They
then pushed on to Kildonan Church, where they were increased by a number
of English half-breeds from St. Andrew's and adjoining parishes. The
proposal was to attack the fort and set free the prisoners. Alarmed at
the movement, Riel released all the prisoners in the fort. Their object
being gained, the men of the Kildonan Church camp, who had grown to be
six hundred strong, dissolved, and were proceeding to their homes, when
Riel, by an unheard of act of treachery, arrested some fifty of the
Assiniboine party. Among them was Major Boulton, a former officer of the
100th Regiment. Riel again sought out a victim for revenge, and intended
to execute this prominent man. It was only on the persistent request of
Commissioner Smith and the urgency of Mrs. John Sutherland, whose son
had been killed by an escaping French prisoner at the Kildonan Church
camp, that Boulton's life was spared.
Riel, however, seemed to feel that power was slipping from his hands. He
was criticised on all hands for his treachery and for his arrogance. It
is said his followers were dropping off from him, notwithstanding the
luxurious lives they had been living on the Company's supplies in Fort
Garry.
He determined, though with a divided Council, to make an example, and
despite the solicitations of Commissioner Smith, the Rev. George Young,
and others, publicly executed, on the 4th of March, outside of Fort
Garry, a young Irish-Canadian named Thomas Scott. It was a cold-blooded,
cruelly-executed and revolting scene--it was the act of a mad man.
"Whom the Gods destroy they first make mad." The execution of Scott was
the death-knell of Riel's hopes as a ruler. Canada was roused to its
centre. Determined to have no further communication with Riel, and
feeling that he had done all that he could do, Commissioner Smith, on
the 18th of March, returned to Canada. On the 8th of March, Bishop Tache
returned from Rome. A few days after Chief Factor Smith's departure, he
was followed to Canada by Father Richot and Mr. Scott, and they shortly
after by Judge Black, accompanied by Major Button. The conflict of
opinion was transferred to Ottawa, and the act constituting the Province
of Manitoba was passed.