History of the North-West (Volume 1)

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894. Excerpt: ... account of this transaction I know not. If a murderous assault of thin description can be brought home in a coutt of justice to any individuals, they ought, of course, to be dealt with in due course of law, but it is idle to allege such a circumstance as exonerating the authors of another deed of blood. There is sufficient plea, which has been sometimes urged, not, indeed, as of itself sufficient to command an amnesty, but as communicating a cumulative force to those already mentioned, namely, the transmission of money to Riel from the Government of the day on condition of his leaving the country, and his subsequent resignation of his seat for Provencher, in order to make room for Sir George Cartier; but with transactions of this nature the Imperial Government cannot be expected to concern itself. I therefore pass on to the fifth consideration which is adduced as a reason why the Imperial Government should concede an amnesty to the murderers of Scott: and to the plea which I am about to exhibit I must ask your Lordship to give your earnest attention, as it appear to me to involve the consideration of a semi-legal question of very great moment, the ultimate decisien cf v hich will not only affect the case of Riel, but also that of the prisoner Lepine, now left for execution in Winnipeg gaol. In the year 1871, a rumor prevailtd in the Province of Manitoba, at that time incorporated in the Dominion, and under the jurisdiction of Her Majesty's Lieutenant-Governor, the Honorable Mr. Archibald, that a considerable body of Fenians were gathered along its southern frontier, and were prepared to make a very formidable irruption over the border. In order to understand the gravity of the situation, it must be remembe red that the leader of this movement was a man of...

Author: Begg, Alexander
Binding: TP
Desirability: 1
Publisher: General Books