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It was at this juncture that Donald Smith came to
the rescue. He had surveyed the situation from afar. Two thousand miles
away, in Montreal, he pondered the matter—perceived the danger— realized
the weakness of Macdougall's policy and discovered a remedy. The man for
the occasion must be one who understood both sides, could deal with both,
had the confidence of both and could be on the spot in person to promote a
settlement. And it was in no spirit of self-esteem that he recognized in
himself the man for the post. lie believed in himself. He believed that he
could pacify and control the turbulent spirits, and, with no desire to
exalt himself, he offered his services to the Government. He announced his
intention to go to Red River to pour oil on the troubled waters of
political life.
What a change in his fortunes! He had spent thirty
years in obscurity, living a rough and toilsome life, the companion of
rough men, trading with Indians and Esquimaux, enduring physical hardships
and exposed to many a hazard. His existence, so far as society was
concerned and the conduct of affairs, was of the narrowest and most
confined. Then suddenly he found himself in the stir and strain of public
matters of the highest importance, the confidant of great statesmen and
entrusted with a commission of the most delicate character. It was a
tribute to the value of his experience, and to the wise use he had made of
those years of discipline that, when the occasion came, he was ready to
meet it. It is interesting to wonder what might have happened had he
failed in the duty that was laid upon him. The whole future of the
North-West and, indeed, of the young Dominion, was involved in the issue
of his mission.
In order that he might be in a better position to
negotiate, the authorities at Ottawa decided that he should go, not simply
as an official of the Hudson Bay Company, but as "Commissioner" from the
Dominion Government. To this end he received a letter from the Secretary
of State, appointing him Special 'Commissioner, "to inquire into and
report upon the causes, nature and extent of the obstruction offered at
the Red River, etc., etc.," and also to consider and report on the most
advisable mode of dealing with the Indian tribes in the North-Western
Territories.
He started on his mission without delay, lie left
Ottawa on the 13th of December, and travelling by rail, stage coach and
sleigh, reached Pembina, on the American border, about midnight Christmas
Eve. He had taken eleven days to make a journey now accomplished in one
day and a half.
On the 27th of December he reached Fort Garry. There
he met for the first time the so-called President, Louis Rid, who was the
head and front of the rebellion, and whose reckless ambition came near to
producing civil war. As he refused "to take an oath not to leave the fort
that night, nor to upset the Government," Mr. Smith was kept a prisoner
for nearly two months, though he was allowed considerable liberty. These
two months represent a most critical period in the history of Canada. It
was a trial of strength between the Canadian Commissioner and the
half-breed rebel, with the advantage at the start on the side of the
latter. There is no doubt that Riel was afraid of his antagonist, lie was
a man of different calibre from those with whom he had had to deal, a man
not easily frightened, of a powerful personal presence and also the
official representative of the Dominion and Imperial Governments. After
many discussions, he agreed to hold a meeting at which Mr. Smith could set
forth the object of his mission and explain the intentions of the
Government. This meeting was held on January 19th, 1870. It was a
memorable gathering. A thousand people attended, and as there was no hail
large enough to hold them, they met in the open air with the thermometer
20 below zero.
As a result of this meeting, forty representatives
were afterwards elected to consider the message of Mr. Smith. Considered
in the light of the subsequent history of the Canadian North-West, it is
doubtful if a more important meeting was ever held. Affairs were critical.
Riel and his friends were in possession and were loath to give up their
position and were ready to oppose every proposal and raise every
objection. Mr. Smith made a speech which was full of the wise and
conciliatory spirit, he asserted that he was there in the interests of
Canada, but only so far as they were in accordance with the interests of
that country. He declared that so far as his connection with the Hudson
Bay Company was concerned, he was ready at the moment to give up his
position. lie expressed the hope that his efforts might contribute to
bring about peaceably, union and entire accord among all classes of people
of the country.
He then read a letter which had been written him by the Governor-General
of Canada, the Hon. John Young. In that letter he was authorized to assure
the people "that the imperial Government had no intention of acting
otherwise, or permitting others to act otherwise, than in perfect good
faith 'towards the inhabitants of the Red River district of the
North-West." He was to assure them that the different religious
persuasions would be respected; titles of property would be carefully
guarded; existing franchises should be continued and that "right shall be
done in all cases."
But the greatest impression was produced when he, in spite of the efforts
of Riel to prevent it, read a communication direct from the Queen herself.
There is a touch of romance in the scene— a letter from the greatest
Sovereign of the age being read to a motley crowd of her subjects on that
far-away prairie in the depth of winter. When the reading of this letter
was finished, the assembly showed their appreciation by cheer after cheer.
It is worth while to give the communication in full.
"The Queen has heard with surprise and regret that certain misguided
persons have banded together to oppose by force the entry of the future
Lieutenant-Governor into our territory in Red River. Her Majesty does not
mistrust the loyalty of persons in that settlement, and can only ascribe
to misunderstanding or misrepresentation their opposition to a change
planned for their advantage. She relies on your Government to use every
effort to explain whatever misunderstandings have arisen—to ascertain
their wants and conciliate the good will of the people of the Red River
settlement. But in the meantime, she authorizes you to signify to them the
sorrow and displeasure with which she views the unreasonable and lawless
proceedings that have taken place; and her expectation that if any parties
have desires to express, or complaints to make, respecting their
conditions and prospects, they will address themselves to the
Governor-General of Canada. The Queen expects from her representative
that, as he will he always ready to receive well founded grievances, so
will he exercise the power and authority she entrusted to him in the
support of order and the suppression of unlawful disturbances."
A "Bill of Rights" was adopted and it was decided to send delegates to
Ottawa to confer with the Dominion Government. Meanwhile a Provisional
Government was formed, of which Riel became President, and O'Donoghue, a
Fenian priest, the Secretary of the Treasury. The next few weeks were
marked by stormy episodes. Six hundred men marched on Fort Garry to secure
the release of the prisoners confined there. On the approach of this
force, Riel set the prisoners free, but revealed his treacherous nature by
arresting nearly 50 of the rescuers as, after the matter was settled, they
were returning to their homes. Among these was Major Boulton, whom he
condemned to be shot, but was persuaded by the earnest efforts of Mr.
Smith to recall the sentence and set him free. In the case of Thomas
Scott, however, the result was more dreadful. Ile was one of the prisoners
and for reasons that seem altogether insufficient was condemned to death.
In vain Mr. Smith and others interceded for him. The President was
immovable in his determination, and early in March the young man was put
to death. |
