HC Deb 03 May 1864 vol 174 cc2053-5
MR. HENNESSY

rose to put a Question to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and in order to make the subject intelligible to the House it was necessary he should make a brief statement of the circumstances. He held in his hand a letter from a respectable gentleman a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Canada, dated Quebec, April 16. That gentleman stated, that at a meeting of the Governor and Council of the Red River Settlement, held on the 12th of March, application was made by the Governor to the Council to permit Major Hatch, the Commander of the American troops in the vicinity of the frontier, to cross into British territory, in order to capture and destroy the Sioux Indians, who were at war with the United States. At the same time — The Governor further stated that he had received a message from the main body of the Sioux, on the Missouri, asking his advice as to making peace with the Americans, and hinting at a desire to visit the settlement in spring. He had returned an answer advising the Sioux to make peace with the Americans, or be prepared for a prosecution of the war with renewed vigour next summer. It appeared that on the same day the Governor thought fit to grant to Major Hatch liberty to cross the frontier, and in his letter to Major Hatch he made only one reservation— I have no hesitation in complying with your request, stipulating only that in the event of active operations taking place within the settlements, you will communicate with the authorities and take such measures as will prevent bloodshed or violence in the houses or enclosures of the settlers, should any of the Sioux Indians take refuge there. The gentleman whose letter he referred to said— A most extraordinary circumstance has lately occurred at Red River which must surely arouse the indignation of the British public, as it is the first time that British territory has been put into the occupation, under the protectorate it may be said, and hence at the mercy of a foreign soldiery. The cool reservation that the wretched savages are not to be butchered in the houses or enclosures of the inhabitants is meant, I suppose, as an apology for the outrage. The Question he wished to ask was, Whether these statements were correct, and whether the right hon. Gentleman would lay the papers upon the table?

MR. CARDWELL

said, in reply, that within the last few days he had received from the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company a letter and enclosures which the Hudson's Bay Company had received from their Governor at the Red River Settlement. It appeared from these documents that the Commander of the United States forces upon the frontier requested permission from the Governor of the Red River Settlement to pursue and capture Sioux Indians who might cross the frontier. That permission was granted by the Governor of the Red River Settlement. The cause assigned for the request by the American Commander was to prevent the murder of women and children in the American territories, and the cause assigned by the Governor for the permission was the same. The stipulation made had been correctly described by the hon. Member. If the hon. Gentleman chose to move for the production of the official letters there would be no objection to lay them before the House.