Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 7 July 1860, CO 305:14, no. 8319, 328.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Other documents (1).
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
No. 34
7 July 1860
Since my return from British Columbia to this Colony, I have been
closely and anxiously engaged
engaged in the settlement and regulation of Indian affairs.
engaged in the settlement and regulation of Indian affairs.
2. Large numbers of Indians from almost every Tribe inhabiting the
northern coasts of British Columbia have been gradually collecting
around this place, and fresh detachments of those people are
continually arriving from their distant homes, so that
that at this moment
there are upwards of 2000 of those savages congregated on a part of
the Indian reserve assigned for their use, in the close vicinity of
Victoria.
that at this moment
there are upwards of 2000 of those savages congregated on a part of
the Indian reserve assigned for their use, in the close vicinity of
Victoria.
3. From their formidable numbers and social habits, they have become
a positive nuisance, and a cause of alarm to the inhabitants of the
Colony.
4. Passionately
4. Passionately fond of ardent spirits, they indulge in their use to
excess, whenever the means of intoxication are within their reach,
and on those occasions their quarters exhibit scenes of riot,
disorder, and outrage, disgraceful to a civilized Country.
5. When not under the influence of intoxication they are
are quiet and
well conducted, make good servants, and by them is executed a large
proportion of the menial, agricultural, and shipping labour of the
Colony.
are quiet and
well conducted, make good servants, and by them is executed a large
proportion of the menial, agricultural, and shipping labour of the
Colony.
Besides their value as labourers they are of value commercially as
consumers of food and clothing and could
could they be restrained from
excesses, which I regret to add, notwithstanding the severe
enactments enforced against vendors of spiritous liquors, it has been
found impossible to prevent, they would on the whole form a not
undesirable population.
could they be restrained from
excesses, which I regret to add, notwithstanding the severe
enactments enforced against vendors of spiritous liquors, it has been
found impossible to prevent, they would on the whole form a not
undesirable population.
6. Fortunately, in some respects for the
the Colony, those powerful
Tribes are divided among themselves, and entertain for each other the
most cordial feelings of hatred and contempt.
the Colony, those powerful
Tribes are divided among themselves, and entertain for each other the
most cordial feelings of hatred and contempt.
They take no pains to conceal those feelings and it is only the
terrors of the Law which even here restrains their mutual animosity,
and prevents them from attacking each
each other and settling their feuds
by open warfare.
each other and settling their feuds
by open warfare.
7. Occasionally, in moments of excitement, those restraints are
forgotten. Within the last month, two startling crimes have been
committed. One by a Hydah Chief named "Captain John," who treacherously shot the Chief of the Tongass Tribe
Tribe as he was
retiring from a festive meeting to which he had been invited by the
former, and a principal Quakualk chief was slain by some people of
the Songass Tribe.
Tribe as he was
retiring from a festive meeting to which he had been invited by the
former, and a principal Quakualk chief was slain by some people of
the Songass Tribe.
8. In consequence of these acts, I determined on removing from the
confined encampment they have hitherto occupied, the several Tribes
living there
there and who, from want of space, were unavoidably brought
into contact with each other, to another spot, where to each Tribe is
to be assigned a distinct and separate dwelling place.
there and who, from want of space, were unavoidably brought
into contact with each other, to another spot, where to each Tribe is
to be assigned a distinct and separate dwelling place.
9. Before taking that step I summoned the chief men of the several
Tribes to meet me in conference, and after reproving them for the
enormity of
of their conduct, I spoke to them long and seriously on
various subjects, explanatory of the nature of our Laws, and the
punishment which it was my painful duty to inflict on all persons
guilty of crimes. I told them that they must not seek redress
according to their own barbarous customs, but that in all cases of
of
wrong they must appeal to the Law for protection and redress, and I
concluded by telling them that they must decide on taking one of two
courses, either to submit, implicitly, to the rules that I proposed
to establish for their Government, or to leave the Colony, and return
immediately to their own homes.
of their conduct, I spoke to them long and seriously on
various subjects, explanatory of the nature of our Laws, and the
punishment which it was my painful duty to inflict on all persons
guilty of crimes. I told them that they must not seek redress
according to their own barbarous customs, but that in all cases of
of
wrong they must appeal to the Law for protection and redress, and I
concluded by telling them that they must decide on taking one of two
courses, either to submit, implicitly, to the rules that I proposed
to establish for their Government, or to leave the Colony, and return
immediately to their own homes.
They, with one accord declared
declared their willingness to submit to any
form of government I chose to prescribe, provided they were not
expelled from, and were allowed to remain within the Colony.
declared their willingness to submit to any
form of government I chose to prescribe, provided they were not
expelled from, and were allowed to remain within the Colony.
10. After much anxious deliberation on the subject of the Indian
question, it appeared to me that the presence of the Northern Tribes
in this
this Colony is one of those inevitable evils from which there is
no way of escape.
this Colony is one of those inevitable evils from which there is
no way of escape.
Their removal, for example, by persuasive and gentle means, would
fail of effect, and result in their return to the Colony in numbers
as great as before, while their forcible ejection, besides the
injustice and cruelty of that course, would
would surely lead to collision
and bloodshed, incense the whole Northern Indian population, and
probably end in hostile attacks on the defenceless settlements of
this Colony and British Columbia.
would surely lead to collision
and bloodshed, incense the whole Northern Indian population, and
probably end in hostile attacks on the defenceless settlements of
this Colony and British Columbia.
I therefore considered it advisable to deal with the subject as a
question of the gravest importance, demanding the adoption of a wise,
firm
firm and vigorous policy in preference to either of the plans of
removal suggested, which are at best expedients full of danger, and
incapable of producing any lasting good.
firm and vigorous policy in preference to either of the plans of
removal suggested, which are at best expedients full of danger, and
incapable of producing any lasting good.
11. It appears to me not impossible to combine the two important
objects of improving the habits and condition of those Indians, and
rendering them
them at the same time useful to the Colony.
them at the same time useful to the Colony.
12. I have long cherished the hope of being able to organize the
Indian Tribes into Communities, and to maintain peace and enforce the
laws by means of native officers selected from themselves. That
useful plan, which would put an end to Indian wars, and for ever
relieve the Colony from
from the danger of Indian outrages, I have
hitherto been unable to undertake for want of the small sum of money
necessary in the first instance, to defray the charge for the support
of a police force.
from the danger of Indian outrages, I have
hitherto been unable to undertake for want of the small sum of money
necessary in the first instance, to defray the charge for the support
of a police force.
13. I propose now, in this emergency, to attempt a modification of
that plan with
with the Northern Indians, that is to say, I propose to
form the different Tribes into distinct bodies: to allot to each a
separate peace [place]
of encampment: to require them to put up decent houses for their
dwellings: to pay a small rental for the use of the land occupied:
and to impose a moderate poll tax for the support of
of a native police
force, trained to execute writs, to apprehend offenders, and under
the superintendence of the Chief Commissioner of Police to attend
generally to the peace and good government of the camp.
with the Northern Indians, that is to say, I propose to
form the different Tribes into distinct bodies: to allot to each a
separate peace [place]
of encampment: to require them to put up decent houses for their
dwellings: to pay a small rental for the use of the land occupied:
and to impose a moderate poll tax for the support of
of a native police
force, trained to execute writs, to apprehend offenders, and under
the superintendence of the Chief Commissioner of Police to attend
generally to the peace and good government of the camp.
14. The Chief difficulty I apprehend in carrying out the plan is the
inability in many cases of the Indians to pay the proposed
proposed tax, we
must therefore be lenient with them at first.
proposed tax, we
must therefore be lenient with them at first.
15. The removal of the Indians to their new quarters, in furtherance
of my design, was effected without difficulty.
16. The following morning a complaint was made by the master and
passengers of the Schooner "Royal Charley," that several shots had
been fired at them
them as the vessel was passing the Hydah Camp.
them as the vessel was passing the Hydah Camp.
17. The Commissioner of Police was thereupon immediately despatched
to seize the offenders, and as a precautionary measure, a military
force, Kindly furnished at my request, by Rear Admiral Baynes, was
ready to support him if necessary.
18. The Hydah's who
who are the most ignorant, barbarous, and
ungovernable of all the Northern races, having turned out armed on the
approach of the Police, and made a shew of resistance I gave orders
that in addition to the arrest of the offenders the whole Tribe
should be disarmed, an order which was promptly carried into effect,
by the seizure
seizure of all the Fire arms in their possession.
who are the most ignorant, barbarous, and
ungovernable of all the Northern races, having turned out armed on the
approach of the Police, and made a shew of resistance I gave orders
that in addition to the arrest of the offenders the whole Tribe
should be disarmed, an order which was promptly carried into effect,
by the seizure
seizure of all the Fire arms in their possession.
19. Those who had fired on the "Royal Charley" were publicly whipped
in the presence of the whole Tribe, and afterwards conveyed to Jail
for a term of imprisonment, with hard labour.
20. The Tongass people soon after entered a complaint against
against "Captain John" for the murder of their chief, and he with his
brother, an accomplice in the crime, was accordingly taken into
custody. Neither of them made any resistance, but quietly
surrendered on the exhibition of the warrants, and walked from their
own quarters to the police office.
against "Captain John" for the murder of their chief, and he with his
brother, an accomplice in the crime, was accordingly taken into
custody. Neither of them made any resistance, but quietly
surrendered on the exhibition of the warrants, and walked from their
own quarters to the police office.
They were, after examination,
examination, committed to Jail for further inquiry.
While being searched preparatory to being locked up, they suddenly
drew their knives and furiously assaulted the officers in charge of
them, who, after receiving several severe wounds, were compelled, in
order to save their own lives, to shoot both the prisoners dead on
on
the spot: a fate which their manifold crimes had long merited;
though I sincerely regret the manner in which it happened.
examination, committed to Jail for further inquiry.
While being searched preparatory to being locked up, they suddenly
drew their knives and furiously assaulted the officers in charge of
them, who, after receiving several severe wounds, were compelled, in
order to save their own lives, to shoot both the prisoners dead on
on
the spot: a fate which their manifold crimes had long merited;
though I sincerely regret the manner in which it happened.
21. In pursuance of the general plan of government which I have
resolved to carry out, an armed Boat, Kindly furnished at my request,
by Rear Admiral Baynes, is kept cruizing night and
and day at the
entrance of Fort Victoria Harbour, and the officer in command has orders to
intercept all Northern Canoes and to require the entire surrender of
all the fire arms on board, before being permitted to proceed into
the Harbour.
and day at the
entrance of Fort Victoria Harbour, and the officer in command has orders to
intercept all Northern Canoes and to require the entire surrender of
all the fire arms on board, before being permitted to proceed into
the Harbour.
A receipt is given for the arms so surrendered, and they will be
returned to their owners upon quitting the Colony.
My
My object in this regulation is to impress upon the minds of the
Indians a respect for order, and to inspire them with confidence in
the protection afforded by the Law, so that they will learn to trust
to it alone for safety, and not to their own devices, while residing
within the precincts of the Colony.
22. The whole of the Indians in the neighbourhood are at present
perfectly quiet and
and tractable, and I hope that the system adopted may
result in their lasting improvement.
and tractable, and I hope that the system adopted may
result in their lasting improvement.
23.Mr Duncan whose labours as a Missionary at Fort Simpson, I have
already had the honor of bringing to the notice of your Grace, has
cheerfully placed himself at my disposal in carrying out the before
mentioned arrangements, and has been of
of the utmost assistance to me.
of the utmost assistance to me.
I have etc.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Fortescue
Mr Douglas as an old Hudson's Bay Company's servant, ought to be a judge of the management of Indians. I should acke his despatch and express a hope that the measures which he has set in operation with a view of preserving good order among the Indians may be successful.
Mr Douglas as an old Hudson's Bay Company's servant, ought to be a judge of the management of Indians. I should acke his despatch and express a hope that the measures which he has set in operation with a view of preserving good order among the Indians may be successful.
TFE
25 Augt
I wd add that there cd be no doubt of the propriety of disarming
such a population.
The Govr seems well able to deal with Indians.
CF
28
