of irritation which divided the English and French popula-
tions, and compelled the attention of the Government and
the Legislature to what had become a dangerous and anoma-
lous condition of affairs in respect to the persons implicated
in the murder of Scott.

On April 1st, 1874, Mr. Smith moved that a select
committee of nine members be appointed by the House of
Commons "to inquire into the causes of the difficulties
which existed in the North-West in 1869 and 1870, and to
those which have retarded the granting of the amnesty
announced in the Proclamation issued by the late Governor-
General of Canada, Sir John Young; and further, to inquire
whether, and to what extent, other promises of amnesty
have since been made; with power to send for persons,
papers, and records." Of this Amnesty Commission Donald
A. Smith, M.P., was chosen Chairman.

On April 15th a debate lasting two days arose on a
motion of Mr. Mackenzie Bowell to the effect that Louis
Riel, having been charged with murder, having fled from
justice, and having failed to obey an order of the House
of Commons to attend in his place on the 9th instant, be
expelled from the House. The resolution was carried.

In September, 1874, the Amnesty Committee issued its
report, which, as Professor Chester Martin observes,
"proved of greater value to the historical investigator than
to a perplexed Ministry." It remained, therefore, for the
Governor-General, Lord Dufferin, to cut the Gordian knot by
commuting the sentence upon Lépine to two years' imprison-
ment and forfeiture of political rights. Riel was declared
an outlaw, and after a term of pretended insanity at Longue
Pointe, he crossed the American border and disappeared
from view until the rebellion of 1885 caused him to re-
emerge as leader of the half-breeds. For this he paid the
death penatly at Regina in September of that year.

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