The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-04-10

| heir products were the richest; the pre-
cious metals existed, seemingly inexhaust-
ible, the most delicious fruits grew in abun-
dance and the spontaneous production of all
that was necessary for mans subsistence
conspired to render these countries earthly
! Paradises. Ii is not surprising that the
beauties. the luxuries, the riches of those
Eldofados should have fred the enthusi-
asm Of the dark eyed Cast;lian. 1t is not
TO be wondered at that there was called
forth the spirit Of enterprise and daring
adventure that characterized Pizarro, Ponce
de Leon, Cortes and De Soto--,hat it excl
ted the ambition and varice of the people
Of the old world to an iniatuation that
stops at no barrier of justice or humanity
in its impetuous carer to possess the fair
heritage that Natures God had given TO his
simpler, worthier chl,lren-property, ,peace, a,
home affections, life, and that dearer than
life, liberty, were ruth'essiy traunpled upon
ami sacrificed upon the altar Of the Span-
iard's unsuitable rhrs, for gold--his unhal-
lowed lus, for power,
The rapid acquisition Of wealth and
the curse of luxury produced the evils of
Incidence. The coaquerors look not to
the cultivation of their moral and intel
lectual natures for happiness; but to
the indulgence Of animal appetites and
the qualification of selfish propensities.
Ignorance, mental depravity, and un-
bridcd RIGHTEOUSNESS were the neces-
sary results. Internal discord, civil
wars and crime of every dye have filled
the measure Of the punishment of that
people for violating Gods immutable
laws, to which the munifcient bounty oil
his blessings to their land, tempted them.
Look at the debasement Of Mexico, and
the depth of degradation to which her
people are sunk--contemplate the anar-
chy Of the South American states. The
fact stands out in relief, that the land to
which Nature has been most lavish, with
her physical blessings, is the land inhab-
tied by races lowest In the scale of hu-
manity. New England presents DIFF
ferent history, one more pleasing TO trace.
Go with me back to November 1920,
'When a band of exites moored their bark
On the wild New England Shore"
cherries and drear was the prospect
before them; chilling the greeting OF
the cold nor easter, There were no
balmy brezes waiting the fragrance Of
orange groves. The winds are burthen-
ed with snow-Aakes or the icy spray
from the frosty conflict Of oceans waves.
"With that stern and rock-bound
coast" the leafless forests, tenanted on
ly by the lank, grey wolt-for man in
his rudest, widest state, had fed the
pestilence-accursedc coast-stretched far
in their dark gloom; revealing no ma
ture's fields, like our beautiful prairies.
Those dense forests had to be removed
before the seed could be planted from
which they were to get their bread.
The climate was inhospitable; the gaunt
forms of disease and famine lowered
around them; the scantiest subsistence
could only be procured by the most un-
remitting toll. Such was the settlement
of New England. And what is New
England now: Let her fourishing vii
lagos upon thousand hills-her com
mercial emporiums-her wire-wover
system of railways traversing every
port---her busy manufactories--her ships
whose sails whiten every sea--hel
schools and institutions Of learning-hel
churches-her charitable institution,
embracing the whole world, the intclli
gence, enterprise and morality of he'
people; let them answer what New Eng
land is now.
To what may we attribute her pros
perity-her social and mora elevation
that make her the light Of the world?--
Not surely to any advantages of soil, o.
climate; many months in the year she il
enveloped in a shroud of snow; her sur
face is mountainous and broken; he
natural productions are said to be ic'
and granite. Not to mineral wealth
she has no omines. Industry stimulated b!
necessity; and rirtue, ncrer stifed By III
rices Of Incidence, have made New Eng
land what she is. These are the mora
agencies, independent Of physical ad
vantages, to which | have alluded a.
having an important part in determining
the destiny of Minnesota. Do we no
see the presence Of them in our midst
auickening and moulding our social AM
political institutions? The church an,
the school house go up side by side
Before dwellings are finished the schoo
house is erected. Already, by law pro
vision is made for the education of ever,
child in the land. No one can grow "
in ignorance in Minnesota. Public Ii
braries are founded. Courses Of publi
lectures, musical academies. literar,
societies are abroad in the land, havin.
for their object, the Improvement an
elevation of mans mental and moral ma
ture Our people are the Legitimate
: children of New England, and her nl
merous progeny of States, New York
Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois an
: Iowa. They are men of intelligenc
and stern morality--of hard hands an
bronzed checks Indolebce cannot breath
the cold air of Minnesota. For labo
there is bountiiu reward; without
r there is nothing. No drones of the SO
= cial hive can live here. This land ca
= only be the home of him who labors.--
e A son of New England, Webster, said
81 have spoken of labor, MS one of tn
. great elements of society, the great sui
e stantial interest on which we all stant