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AS CIVIL RULER
IN less than twenty
years Governor Simpson had gained complete leadership of the
Hudson's Bay Company, and his word had become law. This arose not
from a mere autocratic disposition on his part, but from the
recognition of his wisdom and ability in London and in the vast
western territory. The governor, while visiting his wide domain
every year, made his headquarters in Lachine, near Montreal, and
thus became acquainted with Canadian life. In this way Governor
Simpson became the exponent of the best traditions and opinions of
the old Nor'-Westers as well as the embodiment of the interests of
the directors in London, whom he visited as often as possible. His
influence in Canadian affairs became very considerable. Many of the
retired traders lived in Montreal and along the St. Lawrence and
Ottawa rivers, forming a sort of guild of their own, and the
governor naturally became the leader of this wealthy and influential
set. The old days of the Beaver Club were kept alive to some extent
at Lachine.
Troublous days fell
upon both Upper and Lower Canada in the third decade of the century.
The French in Lower Canada were dissatisfied with the oligarchy
which governed them, for up to this time Britain had not trusted the
French-Canadians to govern themselves. In Upper Canada the Family
Compact, a combination of placemen, governed the province without
regard for the interests or will of the masses of the people. These
conditions led to the unfortunate rebellion of 1837-8. Papineau in
Lower Canada and William Lyon Mackenzie in Upper Canada headed the
revolt. No doubt the state of things in the two provinces justified
great discontent, and the two sets of placemen were responsible for
the evils which an oppressed people rose to overthrow. It is
questionable, however, whether the evils could not have been
remedied without the dreadful alternative of an appeal to arms. Of
course the Hudson's Bay Company, its officers, and retired partners
and men were a part of the system of oligarchy, and threw in their
lot with the government as determined loyalists.
This was not
surprising. The Hudson's Bay Company was a chartered company, and of
old standing. All such organizations have their very life in the
favour of the state, and are disposed to support the interests of
capital as against the rights claimed by the people. It is probably
a good feature of the British constitution that there are bodies
which stand for law, order, and stability when popular tumult
threatens to overturn and destroy established institutions.
Nevertheless, popular government demands, and rightly, that equity
and fair play be meted out to all classes of the people.
The interests
represented by Governor Simpson in Montreal were strongly united
against the Papineau rebellion. That rebellion was soon suppressed
by the force of the regular soldiery, aided by the lack of coherence
in the rebel party and the natural differences arising among its
chiefs. Furthermore, there was a settled conviction in the minds of
the French people that the British government, which had been their
friend after the conquest in 1759, would in the present crisis
accord them justice. It was the wheel of government nearest them
which they wished to destroy, not the force which supplied guidance
to the larger mechanism.
The rebellion over,
the usual British process of examining into the grievances which had
caused the outbreak took place. Lord Durham came to Canada, and with
his liberal instincts, recommended a course of legislation which
gave the people the rights they so strongly demanded. Lord Durham's
visit to Canada was one of the most fortunate things in the history
of British North America. The policy of rewarding those who had
stood true to British interests, and also of redressing the
grievances which unquestionably existed, healed the serious breach
which was threatened both in Upper and Lower Canada.
The part taken during
the rebellion by Governor Simpson, as well as the successful
exploration of the Arctic coast at this time by Dease and Simpson at
the governor's suggestion, was duly rewarded, in 1839, by the order
of knighthood.
It is questionable
whether the events through which Governor Simpson passed during the
rebellion were favourable to the best interests of civil government
in Rupert's Land. As we have seen, in 1835 a council was established
for the government of Assiniboia— as the Red River Settlement was
officially called—and Governor Simpson was the head of this council.
The fact that its members were all appointed by the Hudson's Bay
Company in London, though many of them were natural leaders of the
people, was likely to rouse a feeling of antagonism, and, on however
small a scale, to array the masses against the classes. The officers
and retired officers of the Hudson's Bay Company with the privileged
clergy certainly dominated. It was probably an unfortunate thing
that Governor Simpson, while this new body was becoming fixed in its
attitude towards the hitherto ungoverned people of Red River, should
have been placed in antagonism to the aggressive movement of
Papineau and the French-Canadian malcontents. The suppression of the
rebels, the banishment of a number of them, the feeling of victory,
the increasing sentiment of loyalty, and the personal reward of
knighthood no doubt influenced Sir George and increased in him the
feeling of the autocrat, however much this may have been held in
check by his natural good feeling and sense of diplomacy.
That our estimate is
not a wrong one may be seen in his action in more fully organizing
the judicial staff of the colony, and in his choice of an occupant
for the high office of recorder. A young Scottish lawyer in
Montreal, named Adam Thom, had taken a noted part in journalism in
Montreal during the Papineau rising. Papineau in a moment of passion
had declared: "The time has gone by when Europe could give monarchs
to America. The epoch is approaching when America will give
republics to Europe." Young Thom, with true British fervour,
resented such disloyal sentiments, and entered the lists with a
series of newspaper letters, signed "Camillus," which were
remembered for many a day for their anti-French tone and for their
forcefulness.
When the rebellion
was over, Lord Durham came, as we have seen, to Canada, bringing
with him an exceptionally brilliant staff of assistants. To these he
added the powerful young controversialist, Adam Thom, who was versed
in Lower Canadian affairs. In 1838 Thom returned with Lord Durham to
Britain, and in 1839, the year in which Governor Simpson was
knighted, Thom was appointed by the Hudson's Bay Company, at a
salary of £700 a year, the first recorder of Red River, or as he was
also styled, president of the Red River court. The new recorder came
from Britain by way of New York, and proceeded at once to Fort
Garry.
The fourth decade of
the century saw Sir George with his aristocratic notions presiding
over the council of Assiniboia. His policy of government was, to a
certain extent, affected by the influence of the new recorder, who
was also a member of the council.
At present the
details of the irritation in Red River Settlement are not of
importance to our description of Governor Simpson's work as a civil
ruler. Suffice it to say that Recorder Thom's influence was felt in
restrictions made upon the settlers in their dealing in furs, of
which trade the company claimed the exclusive right, and certain
regulations of an onerous kind as to letters sent by post from the
settlement. Governor Simpson, with great wisdom, allowed all these
annoying ordinances to come by way of proclamation from the local
governor, Christie, but was no doubt to a certain extent responsible
for them. Towards the end of the decade the ferment reached its
height in an emcute on the part of the Metis, or French half-breeds
on the Red River, in which they released from prison one of their
compatriots and defied the authorities.
At Governor Simpson's
suggestion, Recorder Thom did not take his place upon the bench for
a year. Then the recorder, at the instance of Sir George, again
presided at a case which gave rise to popular discontent, and again
the governor was compelled to consent to the cessation of his
judicial functions. He allowed Judge Thom, however, to serve as
clerk of the court, which he did until 1854 when he retired to
Britain. During this decade in which Recorder Thom seems to have
been the "stormy petrel " of the Red River Settlement, Governor
Simpson acted with diplomatic discretion. The troubles culminating
in 1849 led to the appointment of a local governor in Red River
Settlement, who was not necessarily to be an officer of the fur
trade. Sir George Simpson retired from the active :administration of
affairs in the colony. He `vas, however, when present, the superior
officer, having precedence of the governor at Fort Garry.
Notwithstanding all
this, Sir George's visits to Fort Garry or Lower Fort Garry were
always notable events. He seems still to have been regarded as the
source of ultimate authority in time of difficulty. To all lie was
accessible. Visits of respect were paid to him by the leading
residents on his arrival in the colony, and lie no doubt oiled the
wheels of government by his skill and good sense.
Sir George during his
long career largely kept in his own hand the dealings with the
clergy, who received from the Hudson's Bay Company certain grants
and support for education and also for church service, and as a rule
he satisfied this important class, although he often rallied them in
a jocular way for not being as self-denying and devoted to their
tasks as he professed to think they ought to be. On the whole,
during his administration of civil affairs in Rupert's Land,
especially in the Red River Settlement, a period of nearly forty
years, he was regarded as a fair and reasonable man, though credited
with being rather astute or even adroit in his management. |
