Excerpts of the Notes Accompanying Mr. Waddington’s Petition

To accompany the petition of Alfred Waddington of Victoria, Vancouver Island, to the Right Honorable Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Victoria, Vancouver Island, May 29th 1865...

Note D

The real Causes of the Indian Uprise were:
1st. The introduction of the small pox, which carried off some 5000 of the Chilcoaten Indians out of 7000; and the outrages committed by white settlers at Bella Coula, and which the Government made no attempt to repress, either by appointing an Indian Agent, or Justice of the peace, or constable, or otherwise.

2d. The projected opening up and invasion of the Chilcoaten territory, without any indemnity being paid to these Indians, or even offered them by the Government.

3d. The impunity attending different murders of white settlers, which had naturally emboldened them to greater crimes.

4th. The removal of Governor Douglas, whom the Indians had so long known, in connexion with the Hudson’s Bay Co., and whom they had learnt to respect and to fear.

5th. The removal at the same time of the detachment of Royal Engineers under Colonel Moody.

No extra precautions were taken by the lord government in consequence of these changes, and since the government apprehended no danger why should Mr. Waddington be taxed with having felt himself secure...?

Note F
Governor Seymour’s

Message

The Governor lays before the Legislative Council a petition addressed to the governor in Council by Mr. Alfred Waddington of Victoria, praying that may be allowed to surrender his Charter for the making of a road from Bute Inlet to the Fraser, and be reimbursed the outlay which he has incurred upon the undertaking. The Governor in the Executive Council, deeply as he regretted the loss which Mr. Waddington has sustained, or believes himself to have sustained by the interruption of his operation, was unable to see that that gentleman had any claim upon the Government. But the Governor is willing, before finally disposing of the question, to lay it as requested before the Legislative Council.

Mr. Waddington relies as against the Colony, in his claim for compensation that no protection was furnished to his road party in return for the customs duties he paid. He however never asked for protection, and did not even inform the Government last year of the arrival of his road party at Bute Inlet. Had he apprehended danger, he had but to arm his men, and forbid them bartering away their arms and ammunition to the Indians. The Governor cannot see how Mr. Waddington could have expected protection to be extended over his party without solicitation, and thinks he would scarcely have approved of any interference by the Government between the Indians and his men. The commonest precautions would have saved the lives of the party who were massacred at Bute Inlet. But no government can undertake to anticipate and prevent the commission of crime in all places.

Murder may be committed in any public or private place, and society provides chiefly for the security of its members by hunting out and punishing the murderers, and thus deterring other from crime. Every effort has been made by the Government of this Colony to bring the murderers of the road party to justice. The whole correspondence with Mr. Waddington will be produced by the Colonial Secretary, should the Legislative Council desire it.

Government House, March 27th 1865...