The Struggle for Imperial Unity: Recollections & ExperiencesDenison, George T. (George Taylor)
History
The Struggle for Imperial Unity: Recollections & Experiences
Denison, George T. (George Taylor)
Canada -- History -- 1867-1914
Resolved that it is the duty of our Government to recognise the
importance of the obligation cast upon us as a people; to strive in
the infancy of our confederation to build up by every possible means
a national sentiment such as will give a common end and aim to our
actions; to make Canadians feel that they have a country which can
avenge those of her sons who suffer and die for her, and to let our
fellow Britons know that a Canadian shall not without protest be
branded before the world as the only subject whose allegiance brings
with it no protection, whose patriotism wins no praise.
The result of this meeting, with the comments of the Ontario Press,
had their influence, and Sir George Cartier was obliged to change his
policy. The Governor-General, it was said, took the ground that the
expedition was composed partly of Imperial troops, and was under the
command of an Imperial officer, and could not be withdrawn without the
consent of the Home Government. Sir George Cartier then planned another
scheme by which he hoped to condone the crime which Riel had committed,
and protect him and his accomplices from the punishment they deserved.
This plan, of course, we knew nothing of at the time, but it was
arranged that Mr. Archibald was to follow the Red River expedition
over the route they had taken, for the purpose apparently of going to
Fort Garry along with the troops. It was also planned that, when Mr.
Archibald arrived opposite the north-west angle of the Lake of the
Woods, he was to turn aside, and land at the point where the Snow Road
(so called after Mr. Snow, the engineer in charge of the work) was to
strike the lake, and proceed by land to Fort Garry. Riel was to send
men and horses to meet Mr. Archibald at that point, and he was to be
brought into Fort Garry under the auspices of the Rebel Government, and
take over the control from them before the expedition could arrive.
This is all clearly shown by two letters from Bishop Taché to Riel,
which were found among Riel's papers in Fort Garry after his hurried
flight. They are as follows:
_Letter No. 1._--BISHOP TACHÉ _to_ PRESIDENT RIEL.
MONSIEUR L. RIEL, PRESIDENT,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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