The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-28

feel assured, will cheerfully cooperate with Con-
gress in giving all needful protection; and his
long residence in the Indian country and his per-
sonal acquaintance with this region, will give his
representations upon the subject additional force"
In making known to Congress the wants
OF the Territory, the Governor urges upon
the Legislature the importance Of insisting
upon an extension Of pre-emption privi-
leges to those actual settlers on the public
lands where the Indian titles have been
extinguished, He adds
81 consider this modification of existing law due
to that hardy and enterprsing people, who have
opened the boundless regions of the West to the
capital and industry of the country. For half
century this class of the community has kept upon
the march, having charge of the outposts Of that
immense army that year after year with resstless
energy encroaches upon the domain Of the wilder
| ness"
| Against land spectators the Governor
sets his face as flint; and upon this sub
ject he holds the following language:
| 81 would here remark, that the possession of
large tracts of country by spectators will do and
| has done more to retard its settlement than any
other cause and as if the evil not extended
enough before, the bounty land warrants, issued to
the soldiers Of the Mexican war, in good faith, and
as just though small compensation for their bra
very and sacrifices, have recently become fresh
| element Of speculation and Of resident land
| monopoly. Two-t thirds of them, it is estimated,
have passed into second hands. and being sys-
| tenlatically shingled our Territory and the
| whole western country by residents, thereby
| delaying and disturbing the natural and proper
| dav of egion Of nd he
adjoining States. l am not prepared at this time
to indicate the course proper to be pursued for
resting the evil; but will most cordially cooperate
| with the Legislative assembly, in any remedy de-
vised by them, to arrest from Minnesota this only
| blight upon her progress and prosperity"
He also urges upon the Legislature the
propriety, as well as necessity, of memo
rializing Congress to purchase the whole
of the Sioux Indian country west of the
Mississippi river, from the Iowa line
north to the Watah river, which is the
south boundary of the Winnebago coun-
try-adding as the western boundary Of
such purchase line drawn due south
from the lake at the head Of Long Prairie
river. Of this Indian country the Cover
| nor says:
"This extensive, rich, and salubrious region
| would open new inducements for the enterprise of
countrymen; for it is considered equal in soil
to any portion of the valley of the Mississippi and in
healthuness is probably superior to any part Of the
American continent. II is known to be rich in min
erals in soil, is sufficiently timbered, being ira
versed for 100 miles its western border by hard
wood forest some forty miles III width; is watered
q
as the Minnesota or St. Peters, the Blue Earth, the
OsalSis, the Root river, and others; and is bespan
gled with beautiful lakes in every direction
Governor RAMSAY attaches much I'M
portance to a trade of some magnitude
that could be carried on with the settle
to and beyond the British line, if Congress
would lend their assistance in securing
the same. Upon this subject he says:
"Alrcady several hundred Of their peculiar carts
visit annually, traversing a distance of seven
hundred miles, entirely through wild Indian
country, fording swollen rivers and crossing i'm
! nense prairies, without any guarantees of protec
ton. They bring the spoils Of the chase, and
many articles of comfort, necessity and even lux
ury, purchasing and carrying home with them in
return the varied productions OF our agricultural
and manufacturing industry. 1t would be advisa-
BILE invite the attention OF Congress TO this trade
as it is susceptible of being greatly increased, to
the advantage of the Territory and the interests Of
the country at large"
The last subject to which the message
has reference is the almost entire destitu-
ton of mail facilities in the Territory; and,
as this is matter of most vital importance
to the citizens of that rapidly growing
country, we embody all that Governor
RAMSAY urges upon this subject:
"The growing settlement and rising business Of
| the Territory manifestly demand Of Government
an increase OF mail facilities beyond those we
have heretofore enjoyed. At present all the CORE
| spondence have with the rest Of the world 10
through a mail TO and from Prairie du Chen, once
in every week; and in the winter, il is said, months
have interviewed between the periods Of arrival and
departure. Certainly the kind disposition which the
National administration has ALREADY evinced toward
our infant State in than instance, will pre-
vail upon them TO give us the means Of keeping up
more frequent interchange Of information and feel
ings with the rest of the American people. Gov
eminent have several military posts, and extensive
relations with the Indian tribes within the Terri
tory and 1t is equally their interest with that
will be advanced by allowing territorial mail,
at least three times in every week both in winter
| and summer. In this Geographic age, when light
ming has become a news- carrier, we may certainly
venture 10 claim this modest share in the advancing
facilities Of inter-communication throughout the
| world"
As the cheapest and safest means of
preserving the material for the future COM
position of the history Of Minnesota, the
Governor recommends that the Legislature
authorize and direct the Territorial secre-
tary OF Librarian to subscribe for and pre-
serve, in durable form, copy Of each
and every newspaper that may be pub
lished in the Territory. This is an exam
pie which many of the States in the Union
might, with profit and credit, initiate.
| The conclusion of the message is as fol-