“Brava!”

A sort of fitful reflection followed the first wild burst of enthusiasm, and one bois brule arose and said: 

“Far be it from me to utter one word that might dampen your ardor, but let us try to take some account of the cost.  Would not such a step be an act of Rebellion? and is not Rebellion a treasonable offence?” At this point Riel, foaming with rage, arose and stopped him.

“We want no poltroonery, no alarmist sentiments here,” he shouted.  “Even though such an act were as you describe it, our duty as men, determined to guard their sacred rights, is to take the risk.  But it would not be treason.  The transfer of a people from one government to another is not constitutional without the people’s consent.  The Hudson’s Bay Company have certain rights in the unsold lands of these regions; but no man, no corporation, no power, can sell, cede, or transfer that which is not his or its own property.  Therefore the Hudson Bay Company has not the right to transfer our lands to the Dominion of Canada.  And since we, the people of Red River, are not the chattels of the Company, they cannot transfer us.  They have sold us to the Canadian government, but upon the ground between the two authorities will we stand, and create a province of our own.  It may be that the Dominion Government will have justice enough to agree to this; if they oppose our rights, then I trust that there are men on Red River, who are not afraid to stand up for, yea to die for, their country.”  This speech was received with deafening acclamation.

At once a Provisional Government was formed, and at the instigation of Riel, John Bruce, who was a mere cat’s-paw, was declared President.  Riel himself took the Secretaryship; and very promptly the Secretary raised his voice.

“McDougall who sent his scourges here to plunder our land, and to ridicule our people, nears our border.  There is no time to lose. He must not enter.  I, therefore, move that the following letter be dispatched to him by a regularly constituted member of our Government: 

“St. Nobert, Red River, October 21st, 1869.

“Sir,—­The National Parliament of the Metis of Red River, hereby forbids you to enter the North-West Territories without a special permit from the National Government.”

This motion was carried with enthusiasm.  The letter was signed by the President and Secretary, and dispatched to Pembina, which was situate on the border, to await the arrival at that point of the Governor Designate.  The pomp and daring of these proceedings had such an effect upon the colonists, that little by little they began to grow blind to the fact that their action was in the face of Canadian authority, and an invitation to a collision of arms.  If anyone expressed any fear he was either savagely silenced by Riel, or informed that there were men enough in Red River to hold the country in the face of any force that could be sent against them.  And the military enthusiasm of the Metis gave some colour to this latter assertion.  An armed force, sufficient for present necessities, was established on Scratching River, a place about fifteen miles from Fort Garry.  Here a barrier was put across the road by which McDougall must travel to reach Fort Garry, and beyond this the half-breeds swore the pale face Governor should never pass.