for 1 October 1869, but was postponed for two considerable effort to enlist the support of their CRISIS AT RED RIVER months to 1 December 1869 to allow Canada to anglophone mixed‐blood counterparts in

raise £300,000 in the international money opposition to Canadian annexation. Delegates

markets. from the two groups met in a council in November of 1869, at about the same time that 125 years ago Louis Riel defied Canada The Over the summer and autumn of 1869, local the Canadian government decided not to take Founding of Manitoba uneasiness over the meaning of the transfer possession of the territory until it had been continually escalated. The discontent of the pacified. Representatives of all segments of the As one of its earliest actions, the new residents of Red River was not at all assuaged settlement assembled again in a Convention government of Canada passed resolutions by the failure of all parties involved in the meeting between 26 January and 11 February calling for the transfer of the Hudsonʹs Bay transfer ‐‐ the British government, the Canadian 1870, which agreed to a series of demands upon Companyʹs territory and the addition of British government, and the Hudsonʹs Bay Company ‐‐ the Canadian government, chose delegates to Columbia to the new union. Negotiations with to inform either the local government or the negotiate with Ottawa, and constructed a the HBC began in June of 1868 and continued local inhabitants of what was happening, much broadly‐based provisional government to until April of 1869. The Company bargained less to bother to consult with them on the administer the settlement until the negotiations hard, and the transfer was finally agreed upon matter. Rumours spread apace, fuelled by the had been completed. This outcome was the for a payment by Canada of £300,000 and stupidity of the advance Canadian teams in result of considerable turmoil in the settlement considerable land grants to the HBC. Even allying themselves publicly with the small party and much pressure upon the Anglophones to before the final agreement was completed, the in Red River that had long advocated co‐operate. One lot of prisoners, mainly Canadian government had sent roadbuilding annexation to Canada and was generally Canadians, was taken by the Metis on 7 crews into Red River, and before the transfer despised for its patronizing and often racist December and finally released (some having was effected Canadian surveying teams were in attitudes toward the native‐born population, escaped) only after the positive outcome of the the settlement. which consisted mainly of mixed‐bloods. The Convention. Another lot of prisoners, again French‐speaking Catholic Metis were the first to mainly Canadians, was taken on 17 February, Much of the subsequent difficulty was created organize in resistance, which began in October and held in part as hostages for continued by the clumsy insensitivity of Canada to local of 1869 when a group of Metis led by Louis Riel Anglophone co‐operation in the provisional sensibilities. Canada intended to govern its refused to allow the Canadian surveying party government. This contingent included the newly‐acquired lands, including Red River, as a to enter their lands. It escalated when the Metis Orangeman Thomas Scott, who had been one of colonial satrapy, with a Canadian‐appointed sent an armed party to refuse entry to the the captives who had earlier escaped. Before the lieutenant‐governor and an appointed council prospective lieutenant‐governor William negotiations with Canada could begin, on 4 of carpet‐bagging executive officers McDougall and his suite of officials, an action March 1870 the Metis executed Scott at Upper supplemented by locals. There were no that occurred virtually simultaneously with a Fort Garry, an action which would greatly immediate plans for an elected assembly or the Metis occupation of Upper Fort Garry on 2 complicate matters. introduction of responsible government. The November. West would have to be settled (by Canadian Despite the satisfactory reconstruction of the immigrants) before it could be allowed a proper To this point the Metis had been acting provisional government, there were still many government. The transfer of the territory from independently of others in the settlement, but problems facing Riel and his administration. the HBC to Canada was originally scheduled beginning in early November they made a Not the least of the difficulties was the attack of ʺbrain feverʺ which the Metis leader had prisoner George Sanderson would later insist dispatched on the spot by a revolver shot suffered on 24 February, evidence of the stress that Scott was so obnoxious that even his fellow through the head, while others told the bizarre under which he had been operating. Riel was prisoners asked to have him removed. tale of him being placed in a rough coffin while young, and he recovered quickly. He still alive, making noises to be let out until recognized that he faced a substantial military On 1 March 1870, Scott had been put in irons eventually he was shot by someone hours later. threat from a variety of directions. There might for insulting his guards. On 4 March the Scott was buried inside the fort, although well be more internal uprisings. A Canadian settlement learned to its astonishment that Scott rumours of the disappearance of his body were military invasion in the spring was almost a had been condemned to execution by a firing common at the time and later. From the outset certainty if an agreement with Canada could squad. Riel had threatened other prisoners with the Anglophone community in the settlement not be reached ‐‐ Riel could not know that the execution before, but had always backed down. were shocked by this event. ʺA deep gloom has Canadians had already asked the British to This time he was adamant. Riel tried to explain settled over the settlement,ʺ wrote Alexander provide an expeditionary force. Constant his thinking to Donald A. Smith. Scott had Begg in his journal on 4 March, ʺon account of rumours circulated of attacks from the Sioux already been spared twice, he was incorrigible, this deed.ʺ Scott rapidly became a martyr, and and Cree Indians. Riel and his government and he had so inflamed the other prisoners that as is the case with martyrs, the stories needed all the support they could get from the it was hard to keep the guards from surrounding his death became subject to armed horsemen of the Metis community. responding. Smith later reported that he had increasing amounts of embellishment. pointed out that so far the insurrection had Among the major Canadian hotbloods, only been bloodless, and that it was foolish to stain it Despite the warnings of Donald Smith to Riel, Thomas Scott remained in custody. Seeking to with a horrible crime which might make it hard even if they were actually given as Smith avoid another embarrassing series of escapes, to negotiate with Canada. To this Riel replied, subsequently claimed, there was no reason at Riel increased security for the Canadian ʺwe must make Canada respect us.ʺ He refused the time for Riel to anticipate that Scottʹs death prisoners, who did not like being treated to be moved from this resolution. The would become the central and defining event of severely. Both Canadian Commissioner Donald difference between this threatened execution the Red River Resistance. Riel never apologized A. Smith (who was being held as a virtual and those earlier which had not been carried for his decision to execute Scott, nor did he prisoner in the fort) and Anglican Archdeacon out (such as of John Schultz and Charles A. attempt to distance himself from the death. In John McLean insisted that the prisoners must Boulton) was that the death sentence to Scott 1873, in a memorial to the Lieutenant‐Governor avoid offending the guards. They extracted had not been instigated by Riel but by his men. of Manitoba, Riel and Ambroise Lepine wrote, promises of good behaviour. Nevertheless, the ʺConsider the circumstances; let the motives be prisoners, led by Thomas Scott, continued to be The details of the execution of Scott were, from weighed; if there were a single act of severity, vociferous in their complaints. Scott was a the very outset, the stuff of legend. Most one must not lose sight of the long course of native of Northern Ireland who had emigrated accounts agreed that Scott was led out the moderate conduct which gives us the right to to Canada West in the early 1860s. Of Scots‐ eastside gate at Upper Fort Garry and shot say that, during our troubles of 1869‐70, we Irish descent, he was a member of the against the wall there. A firing squad of five or sought to disarm, rather than fight the lawless Presbyterian Church, the 49th Hastings six men, according to some accounts strangers who were making war against us.ʺ Battalion of Rifles, and the Orange Order. He intoxicated, did the deed. Reports of the But whatever the circumstances behind it, the was also, contemporaries agree, a ʺviolent and number of shots fired varied, although several death of Scott drifted like a cloud of pollution boisterous manʺ who made his opinions known narratives agreed that the Canadian did not die over the subsequent negotiations between the in a loud voice and a rude manner. Fellow with the initial volley. Some said he was Provisional Government and Canada. Of course, the Canadians had never felt both very limited. The first was contained in a and promising the release of the remainder benevolently inclined toward the Resistance, proclamation issued by Governor‐General Sir shortly. which had thwarted transcontinental expansion John Young in December 1869, which had never and embarrassed the government. In February previously been published at Red River. This The settlementʹs delegates to Ottawa ‐‐ Judge 1870, the Canadian cabinet, at the same meeting document commanded those in defiance of the John Black, Mr. Alfred H. Scott, and Father at which it agreed to receive delegates from Red law to disperse and return to their homes, Noel‐Joseph Ritchot ‐‐ did not immediately River with respect, had also requested British promising that no legal proceedings would then leave for the East upon the arrival of Tacheʹs authority and assistance for a military be taken against ʺany parties implicated in these news of their favourable reception in the expedition against Red River in the spring. The unfortunate breaches of the law.ʺ A later letter Canadian capital. Ostensibly they were waiting day after the Scott execution, Colonial Secretary from Prime Minister Macdonald added, ʺIf the for better weather for the journey south to the Lord Granville cabled Canadian Governor‐ Companyʹs Government is restored not only American railhead. The Canadian leaders John General Sir John Young that ʺthe proposed will there be a general amnesty granted, but in C. Schultz and Charles Mair had both left the military assistance will be given if reasonable case the Company should claim the payment settlement in late February, by snowshoes and terms are given to the Roman Catholic Settlers for such stores, the Canadian Government will dogsled respectively, and both would have and if Canadian govʹt enable H.M. Govʹt to stand between the insurgents and all harm.ʺ arduous journeys across the snowy wastes of proclaim transfer simultaneously with the northern United States. Judge Black was movement of troops.ʺ In short, Canada would Tache would subsequently insist that he had particularly reluctant to depart too early. An occupy Red River with an armed force even if specifically asked the Prime Minister whether equally important consideration was that there the negotiations with the settlers were his promise included unknown ʺblameworthyʺ was considerable last‐minute jockeying behind successful. acts perhaps not yet committed, and was the scenes over their final instructions. assured it did. But nothing of the sort was With rumours about the death (or resurrection) committed to paper, and the Canadian The trio of delegates (or ʺCommissioners,ʺ as of Thomas Scott circulating around the government would always officially maintain they were often called by the Provisional settlement, most attention in early March that no promise of amnesty was ever intended Government) chosen for this task requires some turned to the return of Bishop Alexandre‐ to absolve the perpetrators of acts such as the explanation, since they were not necessarily the Antoine Tache from his attendance at the ʺmurderʺ of Thomas Scott. What was actually most obvious candidates. Black was a Scot who Vatican Council at Rome. Tache was a powerful promised by Canada was hedged with had been the last Recorder (or Chief Justice) of conservative force in Red River, and many conditions the resistance never met. the General Quarterly Court of Assiniboia. He observers felt his absence over the preceding Nevertheless, Tache informed Riel and his had been elected a delegate to the January months had contributed greatly to the turmoil. lieutenants of the Canadian commitment to Convention and was chosen its chairman. On ʹhis return from Rome, Tache had stopped unconditional amnesty he thought he could Regarded as a moderate, he had spoken at off in Ottawa for discussions with the Canadian communicate, officially at a meeting of the length in the Convention against the immediate Government, and he was returning to the council of the Provisional Government on 15 creation of a province, and was apparently settlement as a Canadian emissary. He carried March. Tache did not mention the death of Scott acceptable to the Anglophone party which he word that Canada thought it could work with specifically at this time, but merely alluded to theoretically represented. He had not been a the list of demands approved by the earlier ʺsome circumstances to be regrettedʺ in recent strong figure either as a judge or as a politician Convention, and he brought two different actions in the settlement. Riel responded by over the winter of 1869‐70, however. Father versions of offers of amnesty to the resistors, freeing half the prisoners being held at the fort, Ritchot was priest of the Metis parish of St. Norbert and had helped his parishioners ends relating to the negotiations had still to be assistance of several Metis. There was also a organize their resistance to Canada in the fall of sorted out. This was done by the executive of clause demanding amnesty for members of the 1869. He was described by Sir Stafford the provisional government, in effect Louis Riel Provisional Government ʺor any of those acting Northcote as ʺa fine looking vigorous man, and his lieutenants William OʹDonoghue and under themʺ for ʺany of the actions which led to apparently about 40, with a great black beard. Louis Schmidt, although Thomas Bunn, the present negotiations.ʺ All of the He does not speak English, but makes up for it secretary of the council, was also present at the commissioners were instructed to make the by speaking French with a marvellous discussions and signed the final documents. matter of the amnesty a ʹsine quo nonʹ of the rapidity.ʺ Ritchot was not a delegate to the Riel later claimed that the executive had to negotiations. Those responsible for the death of January Convention, but was a loyal and ʺwork day and night in order to finish and Scott obviously realized that they would have trusted advisor of Louis Riel and the Metis. He enable the Commissioners to start at the time to be protected. The Ritchot instructions was regarded as bright and single‐minded. they didʺ. Subsequently claiming pressures of contained a clause ‐probably drafted by Bishop Alfred H. Scott (no relation to Thomas) was time, Riel did not take this business to the full Tache ‐‐ that ʺthe schools be separate, and that probably British‐born, but was always council of Provisional Government. One loose the public money for schools be distributed associated in Red River with the American end was the question of who the delegates were among the different religious denominations in party. He had no known history before 1869, representing. Their final commissions made proportion to their respective populations when he began work as a barkeep in the saloon clear that they were authorized by ʺthe according to the system in the Province of of Bob OʹLone, later working as clerk in the President of the Provisional Government of Quebec.ʺ Earlier versions of the Bill of Rights store of Henry McKenney. Scott was elected to Assiniboia (formerly Rupertʹs Land and the had spoken about bilingual‐ism but never about the 1870 Convention as the delegate from North‐West) in councilʺ. A second question separate schools. Whether any of these details Winnipeg, beating out A.G.B. Bannatyne with related to the powers of the delegates. They were unauthorized additions to an earlier list is the aid of the American residents. In the were not given power to bind the government an interesting if somewhat moot point. The Convention, he broke with the Anglophones to they represented. Instead all arrangements with earlier Convention had no real standing, while support the Metis in several crucial votes, and Canada would have to be ratified by the the executive of the Provisional Government with this ambivalent record was apparently a provisional government. Another question did, at least within the settlement. Moreover, suitable third delegate, associated with neither concerned the ʺfinalʺ version of the Bill of the full council subsequently accepted the major section of the settlement. It would appear Rights carried by the delegates in their outcome of the negotiations. that there was some deliberate intention that instructions. The ʺterms and conditionsʺ carried Ritchot would be the dominant negotiator, by the Commissioners, but particularly by Father Ritchot finally left Red River on the 26th surrounded as he was by a relative non‐entity Father Ritchot, were considerably different of March in company with Colonel Charles de and a weak ex‐magistrate, both of whom were from the list accepted by the Convention in Salaberry, one of the earlier Canadian on record as intending to depart the settlement February, both through redrafting and the emissaries to Red River, whose mission had when the troubles were over. addition of fresh clauses. The additions little impact on events. On that same day, the included the demand for admission to Canada Globe in Toronto carried on its front page the Although the Convention had passed a series of as ʺthe Province of Assiniboia,ʺ with a news of the Scott execution, having received twenty articles (the ʺBill of Rightsʺ) which constitution like that of Quebec. The insistence word from Minnesota via cable. It provided no represented the demands of the settlement to on provisional status returned to a clause details, and the death of Scott was not the Canadian government as presented to its advocated by Riel in the Convention but immediately an issue in Ontario. It would soon emissary Donald A. Smith, a number of loose defeated by the Anglophone delegates with the become so, thanks to the deliberate orchestration of public sentiment by the leaders railroad. While the delegation was rattling institutions, whose only crime was devotion to of the Canada First movement, George Denison forward on the stagecoach, Canada First was the old flag.ʺ and William Foster. As Denison would later getting into high gear. At a private meeting on 2 recall, the public had been markedly apathetic April, Denison had made an impassioned News of the gathering storm in Ontario was about the Canadian debacle at Red River. Most speech in defence of Mair and Schultz, insisting telegraphed west, and Father Ritchot managed Canadians seemed to recognize that Canada that they had acted on behalf of Canada and to avoid reporters in St. Paul only by declaring had blundered badly, and deserved what it was querying whether ʺwe at homeʺ could be himself unable to speak English. At St. Paul, getting. But the Scott ʺmurderʺ and the ʺcritical as to their method of proving their Judge Black and Charles Boulton took the train impending arrival of Schultz and Mair in devotion to our country?ʺ A huge public rally in to Detroit and then on to Toronto. Father Ontario gave the ʺCanada Firstersʺ the Toronto to welcome the refugees was planned Ritchot and Alfred Scott were more prudent, opportunity ʺto draw attention to the matter, and organized. boarding a train which proceeded via Buffalo to and by denouncing the murder of Scott, to Ogdensburg, New York, where they were met arouse the indignation of the people, and The party from Red River arrived at St. Cloud at 1 p.m. on 11 April by Gilbert McMicken of foment a public opinion that would force the on 6 April, almost immediately boarding the the Dominion Police, who informed them he Government to send an armed expedition to train for St. Paul. On that same day, Charles had been sent by the Government to take them restore order.ʺ Mair and John Schultz arrived in Toronto, to Ottawa. McMicken got Ritchot and Scott to where they attended the public meeting Ottawa without incident, and the priest was Since the government already had an planned for 7 April at St. Lawrence Hall. A installed by 5 p.m. at the episcopal palace. That expedition in process, the main effect of the crowd of at least 1,000 escorted Mair and same day, the Canadian Governor‐General propaganda campaign was to inflame Schultz to the Queenʹs Hotel, and another advised the British government that Canada Protestant Ontario against Louis Riel and the crowd of over 10,000 forced the meeting to be would accept the transfer of territory ʺif Metis. While Canada First prepared incendiary shifted from the hall to Market Square, where movement of troops settled.ʺ editorials to plant in the newspapers (ʺit was the speakers stood on the roof of the porch of like putting a match to tinderʺ, Denison later the old City Hall. Three resolutions were passed While the delegates were travelling east from wrote), Messrs Ritchot and de Salaberry were on this occasion. The first welcomed the Minnesota by rail, Mair, Schultz, and Denison joined en route by Alfred H. Scott and later by refugees and endorsed their ʺsacrificeʺ in were also heading east from Toronto, to towns Judge Black, who was in company with Charles resisting the usurpation of power by ʺthe like Cobourg, Belleville, and Prescott, where Boulton (the commander of the disastrous murderer Rielʺ. The second advocated decisive massive demonstrations of welcome were February military action by the Canadian measures to suppress the uprising, and the organized. ʺPublic feeling was aroused,ʺ party). At Grand Forks this party overtook third declared that it ʺwould be a gross injustice recorded George Denison, ʺand we then knew J.A.N. Provencher, one of William McDougallʹs to the loyal inhabitants of Red River, that we would have Ontario at our backs.ʺ The erstwhile executives, who had wintered at humiliating to our national honour, and Government in Ottawa was not at all friendly to Pembina. Travelling by this ill‐assorted crew contrary to all British traditions for our this little group of agitators, however, and after was done mainly at night because of the Government to receive, negotiate, or treat with a meeting with his old acquaintance Sir John A. thawing roads. The party reached Fort the emissaries of those who have robbed, Macdonald, Denison angrily accused the Prime Abercrombie on 1 April, where a fatigued Judge imprisoned, and murdered loyal Canadians, Minister of attempting to humiliate Canada Black lagged behind while the remaining men whose only fault was zeal for British First. Denison, with the assistance of another took the stagecoach for St. Cloud and the Canadian refugee from Red River, Dr. James Spencer Lynch, drafted a formal protest on the North West.ʺ The government expected that as a friendly garrison. ʺFriendlyʺ was a relative behalf of the ʺloyal element of Fort Garryʺ the agitation would soon die away, said Cartier, matter, however, and behind the velvet glove against the reception of the provisional and begged for time to allow ʺminds to calm was the iron fist. Macdonald had earlier written governmentʹs delegates, while William Foster down.ʺ Alfred Scott was arrested and jailed on to Sir John Rose, ʺThese impulsive half‐breeds and others in Toronto were obtaining a warrant the Toronto warrant at 10 p.m. on the evening have got spoilt by this emeute [popular for the arrest of Ritchot and Scott on the charge of the 12th, and there was much excitement uprising] and must be kept down by a strong of the murder of Thomas Scott. This warrant about Ritchotʹs possible arrest. The next hand until they are swamped by the influx of was sent on to Ottawa, where according to morning the Globe reprinted the resolutions of settlers.ʺ The Prime Minister had also Denison it was mistakenly put into the hands of Lodge 404 of the Orange Order (Toronto) subsequently complained to his Governor‐ the Dominion government rather than the relating to Thomas Scott, ʺcruelly murdered by General that if the troops could not be Ottawa chief of police. the enemies of our Queen, country and employed ʺto force the people to unite with religion.ʺ The resolutions called upon Canada,ʺ they would be useless. ʺWhy should In Red River itself, Louis Riel issued a government ʺto avenge his deathʺ and rescue we agree to pay for troops that may be ordered proclamation ʺTo the People of the North Red River ʺfrom those who have turned it over not to act when they get to Fort Garry?ʺ Westʺ, dated 9 April 1870, declaring ʺthat peace to Popery.ʺ Accompanied by friends, on the reigns in our midst this day.ʺ The Hudsonʹs Bay 13th Ritchot made his way to the court house, At about the same time that the Prime Minister Company was again opened for business. Riel where the warrant was served. Scott and was writing to London, Judge Thomas Gait of offered an amnesty ʺto all those who would Ritchot met again at the police station, where the Ontario Court of Common Pleas was submit to the Government, who will they were sent home under armed guard. deciding that the Toronto Police Magistrate discountenance or inform against dangerous who had issued the warrant had no jurisdiction. gatherings,ʺ and insisted that ʺCanada invites On 14 April Sir John A. Macdonald wrote to the The two delegates were freed, only to be the Red River people to an amicable Earl of Carnarvon that Thomas Scottʹs people arrested again on a warrant sworn out in arrangement. She offers to guarantee us our were calling for retribution against Riel. Ottawa by George Denison. Ritchot and Scott rights and to give us a place in the Indignation meetings were being held all over again appeared in court, were referred to the Confederation equal to that of any other Canada, reported Macdonald, and the Police Magistrate, and were released on bail Province.ʺ His optimism was perhaps a bit Government had been requested not to receive until a hearing on 23 April. In the meantime, the premature. the delegates commissioned by Riel. Most of the British Government had cabled on 18 April to Red River residents were loyal to Britain, said Sir John Young, ʺDid Canadian govʹt authorize On 12 April Father Ritchot was introduced to Macdonald, ʺthough they would have preferred arrest of delegates? Full information desired by George Etienne Cartier by Colonel de Salaberry, their present wild and semi‐barbarous life to telegraph.ʺ On 14 April, the Canadian Senateʹs and the two men had a long discussion. the restraints of Civilization that will be forced select committee on Rupertʹs Land and Red According to Ritchot, Cartier said the on them by the Canadian Government and the River began hearing testimony, exploiting, as it Government regretted the death of Scott, ʺin new settlers.ʺ Matters were much complicated reported itself, ʺthe presence at Ottawa, during that it had given ground for the agitation which by the Scott incident, ʺa barbarous murderʺ on the existing Session of Parliament, of a number it had produced in menʹs minds, but that it the authority of a ʺsham Courtʺ on ʺmost of persons recently from Red River, all more or would not be a reason that the government frivolous pretexts.ʺ Macdonald still hoped that less familiar with the North‐West Territory.ʺ should not profit by the means of pacification the expedition being prepared ʺand which must The Select Committee had only been created on which it found in the persons of the delegates of goʺ would be accepted not as a hostile force but 12 April, obviously in response to the furor over Thomas Scott. Before the committee was implied recognition of the provisional Louis Riel and the provisional government may finished on 25 April, it would have heard from government involved in receiving the delegates have anticipated that the Canadian government Dr. James Lynch, Charles Boulton, John C. officially, and Macdonald replied the delegation would not be happy about the execution of Schultz, Charles Mair, John James Setter, Joseph ʺcould have the credentials of representatives of Thomas Scott, but they could hardly have Monkman, Donald Codd, Charles Garrett, the people.ʺ A variety of pressures had predicted what had transpired as a consequence Arthur Hamilton, and William Fletcher, all obviously made it impolitic to deal directly of that ill‐conceived act. Canada First had refugees from the Provisional Government with the provisional government of Red River. managed to inflame public opinion throughout visiting Ottawa, who testified at great length as Ironically enough, on that same day, Louis Riel Protestant Ontario against Riel, the Metis, and to the promise of the region and to the gave orders to raise the ʺUnion Jackʺ at Upper the provisional government. Quebec malevolence of Riel and the Metis. The Fort Garry, and when William OʹDonoghue newspapers had begun to editorialize on behalf committee invited Judge Black to testify, but he tried to take it down Riel countermanded him. of the Metis. Although the Canadian replied that he was too busy. The Senate According to Alexander Begg, Riel added ʺif government had managed to protect the Red committee did not in its recommendations anyone wanted the Provisional flag hoisted it River delegates from serious criminal charges, comment on the resistance in Red River, but it could be done so under the British one as under the Ontario agitation had enabled (or forced) Sir did emphasize that the region would become a the protection of it.ʺ Riel would have much John A. Macdonald to withhold formal prime destination for immigrants. Organizing trouble over the next few weeks keeping the recognition of the delegates as representatives an ʺarmedʺ immigration to ʺswampʺ the Metis Union Jack flying, however. At the hearing at of the provisional government. Public under the auspices of such agencies as the the magistratesʹ court on 23 April, the case sentiment in Ontario in favour of a punitive North‐West Emigration Aid Society would against Ritchot and Scott was withdrawn and military expedition against Red River, if quickly become the principal strategy of the delegates were freed. Outside the door, the necessary, was also increased. The negotiating Canada First and the Orangists. While in two men from Red River were met by a large position of the delegates had thus been severely Ottawa, however, the Canadians testifying crowd of French‐Canadians and Irishmen, who compromised, a disadvantage not compensated before the committee did not waste the cheered and had to be begged by Ritchot not to for, as we shall see, by the renewed interest the opportunity to lobby amongst sympathetic begin a major demonstration. The matter was British government was taking in making Ontario members of parliament against the turning into a major sectarian issue. Ritchot sent certain that the settlers would be fairly treated. Manitoba Act and in favour of a punitive telegrams to Red River stating that he was in no By the time negotiations between the Red River military expedition. danger and that the delegates were likely to be commissioners and the Canadian government, able to begin their negotiations soon. On that now to be conducted on an informal rather than On 20 April, Father Ritchot decided to appeal to same day, Colonial Secretary Granville cabled. a formal basis, began on 25 April, it was the Canadian Governor‐General, and in the Sir John Young that permission for the dispatch virtually impossible to conceive of a peaceful evening Sir John A. Macdonald answered of British troops required certain conditions to settlement that would satisfy everyone. questions in the House of Commons about the be met. They included the payment of the Red River affair. Macdonald denied that the £300,000 to the HBC and the completion of the On 25 April, Judge Black, Alfred Scott, and government had received any official transfer before 1 June and, most importantly, Father Ritchot went to Sir George Cartierʹs communication from anyone claiming to be ʺCanadian Govʹt to accept decision of H.M.ʹs house to meet with that worthy and Prime delegates, which meant that the matter of the Govʹt on disputed points of settlersʹ Bill of Minister John A. Macdonald. The Canadians arrests was still a provincial one. The Rights.ʺ asked pointed questions about the various bills opposition asked pointed questions about the of rights passed by the settlement, and asked for the latest list of rights to be presented to circumscribed. In his diary, Ritchot observed, ʺI to members of that government for acts them. Black was contented with the discussions, made a pretence of not understanding. He often perpetrated in dealing with the Canadian but Ritchot was not. He wanted to know where came back to the question.ʺ opposition in the settlement. The Canadians the parties stood. He pointed out that they had insisted that an amnesty was a question for been in Ottawa for two weeks and still had no On the following day, Secretary of State Joseph either the imperial government or the local formal recognition. Ritchot said he appreciated Howe sent a note which acknowledged the Red government, but Ritchot argued that the argument about inflamed tensions and was River emissaries, not as delegates of the negotiations were useless without agreement willing to be co‐operative, providing everything provisional government but as ʺdelegates from here. The Canadians said they could settle the was discussed in the open. He was reaching the the North‐West to the Government of the matter, and Ritchot replied, ʺpourvu que end of his patience, he emphasized, and wanted Dominion of Canada.ʺ For their part, the lʹaffaire soit reglee, cʹest tout ce quʹil nous faut.ʺ to know ʺwhere we stood officially.ʺ Cattier Canadians brought a draft of a bill, which was disengenuously responded that the delegates generally discussed. Ritchot saw immediately Resolving the amnesty business would not be were officially recognized, that Sir John had that the settlers would lose control of the land so easy, of course. Ritchot would spend the said so in Parliament. He offered to put the and especially of natural resources, and argued remainder of his stay in Ottawa attempting to recognition in writing. Ritchot insisted that a against Judge Black on behalf of Metis claims. get some written evidence of this promise, and general amnesty was a condition sine qua non According to his diary, both Cattier and was constantly fobbed off with oral assurances of any settlement, particularly given the Macdonald were sympathetic, but maintained and complicated legal explanations why prospective dispatch of troops, who could take the need for ʺconcessions.ʺ Ritchot said he nothing could be put in writing. At the time, the punitive action against the resistors, to Red would agree to anything that would be matter of Metis rights appeared rather more River. acceptable to the people of Red River, and Black complex, however, and carried over until the admitted that he could not get generally following day. The Canadians opened this The two sides met again later in the day. The accepted an arrangement which did not provide discussion by observing that the settlers could delegates obviously were not of one mind, with for Metis rights. For his part, Father Ritchot not have both civilized government and ʺthe Judge Black far more amenable to the Canadian introduced the new bill of rights embodied in privileges granted to Indians.ʺ Ritchot negotiating position than were Scott and his instructions, which included the amnesty answered that it did not follow that because the Ritchot. Macdonald wanted to delay making a and especially the schools clause demanding settlers wished to be treated equally that they province and sought an appointed government separate schools for Roman Catholics, publicly should lose their rights as descendants of in the meantime. When this position was supported. The Canadians reluctantly agreed to Indians. The Canadians offered 100,000 acres to rejected by Ritchot and Scott, Sir John tried for a accept this new list. be granted to the children of the Metis, then government of twenty‐six members, six increased the amount after Ritchot countered by nominated by the government and the The two sides discussed in detail the land insisting on 200‐acre grants for every adult in remainder elected. Eventually Cartier and question. Canada readily agreed to accept all the province. Ritchot and Scott refused to Macdonald accepted the concept of a province possessions of land in Red River, including the concede on the amount on the 27th, but Prime and agreed to a responsible government of two hay privileges extending beyond the actual Minister Macdonald obviously thought they chambers. Somewhat menacingly, Cartier river lots. Ritchot raised the 19th clause of his had agreement on the principle of land remarked that several provinces will have to be instructions, which demanded that the federal compensation. He wrote to Sir John Young that made out of the Northwest; the new province government assume all debts contracted by the evening, ʺWe are nearly through our troubles would have its boundaries severely provisional government and grant an amnesty with the delegates, and then we can take up the added, was expected to leave the territory in ones, would be left to the local legislature. To military matter.ʺ advance of the military expedition. ensure that law and order was respected in the new province, a mixed expedition of British and On the next day, the two sides began with a Sir John A. Macdonaldʹs ʺindispositionʺ took Canadian militia would be sent there as soon as draft of a printed bill, but postponed their the form of a weekend bout with the bottle possible. discussions because ʺSir John was indisposed.ʺ which in effect took him briefly out of the Ritchot took the printed bill away to produce negotiations at this critical stage. On 29 April The leader of the opposition, Alexander written comments upon it, which have the delegates, again at Sir George Cartierʹs Mackenzie, poured considerable scorn on the survived. Ritchotʹs ʺRemarks on Twenty‐Six home, discussed the land question without the size and population of the new province, which Clauses April 28 and 29, 1870ʺ make clear that prime ministerʹs presence. Cartier ultimately he said had a ludicrous look that might have by this point the Canadian government had its agreed to propose to his colleagues a grant of come out of Gu!liverʹs Travels. He also plans for the new province pretty well in hand. 1,000,000 acres for the children of Metis. The big complained that ʺhalf‐breedsʺ were not entitled The new province would be called Manitoba, issue remaining appeared to be the question of to land claims as if they were Indians. None of and would be quite small in area, roughly the amnesty, about which Carrier was the divisions ʺwhich were for so many years so 11,000 square miles, a limitation the priest reassuring at meetings on the 30th. The prime disastrous in our own countryʺ should be appeared to accept readily. He was not happy minister returned to the negotiating table on 2 perpetuated in the new ones, he insisted. The with the education clause, which repeated the May. Ritchot accepted an increased offer of printed bill was not actually available until the phraseology of section 93 of the British North 1,200,000 acres for the settlement of Metis day after Macdonaldʹs opening explanations. It America Act, but aimed his major criticisms at claims, insisting that lands could be taken was still being altered. For example, on 3 May the article relating to the administration of anywhere in the province. That afternoon, Sir Cartier asked the delegates whether it would be Crown lands, which reserved all land not John A. sketched out the governmentʹs acceptable to allow Portage la Prairie within the otherwise committed, to the federal intentions for Red River in the House of boundaries of the new province, and they government. He also noted the need to settle Commons. ʺManitobaʺ had been selected for the answered yes, providing grants and land article 19 of his instructions (the amnesty new province out of a number of ʺeuphoniousʺ reservations were increased. There were other question). Ritchotʹs were not the only comments Indian names. The chief alternative, changes on which the delegates were not on the issues of the negotiations. Sir Clifford ʺAssiniboia,ʺ was rejected because of confusion consulted, and with which they were less Murdoch, who was the special British envoy in with the Assiniboine River and the older district happy. But the opening debates left Macdonald Ottawa, sent particularly to deal with the of Assiniboia. The new province would be sufficiently confident to write the governor‐ military expedition, wrote to London that many small in area, but, Macdonald emphasized, the general on 4 May, ʺThe Bill affecting Red River of the clauses of the Red River bill of rights delegates had raised no objections about was received last night with great favour by the were ʺinadmissableʺ. He was especially confining its boundaries to the old limits of the House, and will pass without any serious concerned about the demands for control of settlement. In Manitoba there would be opposition.ʺ Crown lands and for amnesty, but he thought representative institutions, and a reservation of that the Canadian government would manage lands to extinguish Metis claims comparable to While the Manitoba Act was being discussed by to meet the British condition that its troops not the lands appropriated for the U.E. Loyalists. the House of Commons, on 3 May the Red be employed to force Canadian sovereignty Manitoba would be entitled to four members of River delegates had an important interview upon the inhabitants of Red River. Riel, he the House of Commons and two senators. The with Governor‐general Sir John Young and the details of most matters, including constitutional British envoy Sir Clinton Murdoch. These two worthies were charged, on behalf of the British to your words.ʺ In their testimony in 1874, both as gall‐stones, which meant that he was unable government, with making sure that the wishes Sir John Young and Sir Clifford Murdoch to shepherd the bill through its final reading in of the people of Red River were being observed denied making any such statement, and the face of fierce criticism from the Orange by the Canadian government. The British Murdoch could not even remember ever having interests. But in the end all amendments were government had, after all, agreed to commit met with the Red River delegates. easily rejected, and it passed its third reading troops to Red River only on condition that the intact, the parliamentary debate shifting local inhabitants were satisfied with the Apart from the unresolved matter of the without a pause into the question of the transfer. According to Ritchotʹs testimony in amnesty, even as the Manitoba bill was being military expedition. The Manitoba Act was 1874 before a parliamentary commission, on debated in the House of Commons, Father assented to by the governor‐general on 12 May this occasion the governor‐general had Ritchot and the other delegates had begun 1870. emphasized that if a satisfactory agreement complaining that the official language of the could not he reached with the Canadians, ʺI am text was modifying the agreement the parties The passage of the Manitoba Act was hardly the ready to hear you and Sir Clinton Murdoch has had reached. Ritchot was particularly end of the story. The unresolved questions of to do you justice.ʺ The delegates said they had concerned about the mechanism for distributing the amnesty and the mechanisms for dealing consented to the Manitoba bill, but were not the land promised the children of the Metis, with the land reserved for the children of the satisfied about the amnesty because they had now up to 1,400,000 acres. The delegates met Metis would continue to be problems for years. no written guarantee. Ritchot testified in 1874 with Cartier and Macdonald on this matter on 5 The military expedition of 1870 would raise its that the governor‐general pointed to Murdoch May. According to Ritchotʹs diary, the own difficulties. Despite the landmark of the and said, ʺHe knows it is the intention of Her Canadian response was that assurance of the Manitoba Act, the appropriate date for marking Majesty to declare a general amnesty in order to verbal understandings not reflected in the the anniversary of the official founding of establish peace in the country. Besides you have document would be given the delegates before Manitoba remains somewhat problematic. The seen my proclamation, are you familiar with they went home. It would be impossible to ʺget Manitoba Act became law on 12 May 1870, but it?ʺ Ritchot responded that the proclamation the Bill passed if one changed its form, that they the territory of the new province still had not only promised an amnesty and what he wanted would have a bad enough time to get it passed been transferred from the Hudsonʹs Bay was the ʺpromulgation of the actual amnesty just as it was, that in any case we had nothing to Company to the British government to the promises.ʺ Murdoch emphasized, ʺYou have fear.ʺ French‐Canadian members of Parliament Canadian government. It is hard to found a nothing to fear, Her Majesty wishes but one also told Ritchot that ʺit was not prudent to province without territory. The actual transfer thing, and that is to pass the sponge over all touch the basis of the Bill,ʺ which could of territory occurred on 23 June, and the that has happened in the North‐West and provoke amendments unfavourable to the Manitoba Act was proclaimed in Ottawa on 15 establish peace.ʺ Ritchot said he would still like people of Red River. Ritchot was not in a July 1870, which ought to have settled the something in writing to show the people, and particularly strong position to raise serious matter. It did not. The problem was that there Murdoch replied, ʺWhen you are treating with objections, either about the amnesty or the was no officer of either the British or the men such as those in whose presence you are alterations, since the alternative to a negotiated Canadian government actually in the new today there is no necessity for written agreement appeared to be one imposed by province to exercise any authority under the guarantees.ʺ He said in French, ʺtant mettre les military force. He could not know that the legislation. The effective government in points sur les i,ʺ adding, ʺyou must leave us a British would not co‐operate militarily if the Manitoba on 15 July was the provisional certain latitude and you will gain by it.ʺ Ritchot delegates held firm. On 6 May Prime Minister government headed by Louis Riel, which was responded, ʺsince there is nothing to fear I trust Macdonald collapsed with what was diagnosed totally outside of Canadaʹs legal and constitutional framework. Acceptance of this J.M. Bumsted is Professor of History at St. Johnʹs date as that of the official anniversary would College, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. His necessarily imply some retroactive recognition two‐volume history of Canada was published by of the Riel provisional government, although Oxford University Press. such recognition at the time would have changed the course of subsequent history. General Garnet Wolseleyʹs expedition did not actually arrive in the province until 20 August and possession of Fort Garry was not taken until 24 August. At that point Wolseley could well have assumed authority, but instead he asked Donald A. Smith to govern in the name of the Council of the old District of Assiniboia (thus presuming that Manitoba had not yet come into existence) until the new lieutenant‐ governor, Adams G. Archibald, was sworn into office on 2 September 1870. Selection of any of these potential dates makes its own political statement. Partisanship in the matter is probably no less than in 1970, when plans to re‐ enact the Wolseley takeover were hastily scuttled at the last moment as being politically contentious. In any event, readers of The Beaver can make their own choices.

ILLUSTRATION: Louis Riel

ILLUSTRATION: Donald A. Smith and Louis Riel explain Smithʹs commission from the Canadian government to a large crowd at Upper Fort Garry, 19 January 1870. Painted for the Hudsonʹs Bay Company by Bruce Johnson.

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By J.M. Bumsted