Grip, January 30th, 1875.
THE POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICE; OR, SITUATIONS WANTED.
LOYALTY IN A QUANDARY
In the House of Commons, Sir John Macdonald sought to make a point against the Mackenzie Government for having declared an amnesty to those concerned in the Half-breed rebellion in Manitoba, which amnesty included Lepine, one of the rebel leaders, who had been condemned to death. As, at this time, the prerogative of clemency was vested in the Crown, the action to which exception was taken was that of the Governor-General and not of the Government. By the efforts of Hon. Edward Blake, a change was subsequently made in the Governor-General’s instructions, by which the responsibility in this, as in other matters, was vested in the Government.
Grip, February 6th, 1875.