The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-01-22
FROM MINNESOTA.
ST. ANTHONY FALLS, Dec. %,

Oh hNlHoNh FhLLS, Det %, 1901
To the Editor Of the National Era:
A year has passed since | last wrote you, and
the progress of affairs in our Territory has fully
equalled our expectations The immigration
has been large, and mostly composed of farmers
and mechanics, who, by their industry and en-
terprise, are destined to develop the resources
and create the wealth of new State. Settle
ments have been made, and villages have
sprung into existence, along the eastern bank
of the Mississippi, from the Falls of st. An
thony to Sank Rapids, and even to the mouth
of the Crow Wing river, distance of one hun
dred and fifty miles. Other portions Of the
Territory have been equally prosperous. st
Paul has grown rapidly in population and
wealth, and is the commercial as well as the
political capital of the Territory. Several ele-
giant brick stores have been erected during the
past summer, besides a Presbyterian and an
Episcopal church, large Catholic seminary,
court house. and many other valuable build
ings of less note, which have much improved
the size and beauty of the town. St Anthony
has advanced in the same ratio. large num-
Der of stores and dwellings have been erected,
| four large mills are now in progress, and the
business of the town has at least doubled during
the past year The Catholics, Baptists, and
Episcopalians. have erected churches, and the
Congregationalists have the basement COM
pleted, and the materials ready to build fine
edifce in the spring
The Regents of the University have put up
fine building for the preparatory department,
and the school is progressing finely under the
care of an able and experienced teacher This
has been done by subscription alone, while
other public buildings, for which appropriations
have been made by Congress, are hardly COM
menced If our Congressman would only be-
lieve that we need an institution of learning
more than we need n capitol building, they
would perhaps render us little assistance in
starting one but we can hardly hope for money
from Government for such a purpose. They
have, indeed, reserved two townships of land
for the future endowment of this institution
but we can have no control of this until We
become a State and 20, in the poverty Of our
small beginnings we have to put our hands in
our pockets, and gather up as we can few
thousands of dollars wherewith to erect the
first public building belonging to the Territory,
and for one of the most important Of all useful
objects. If Congress understood our true po-
sition here am sure they would give us at
least one township of land with which to sup
ply the present wants Of this institution. IL
seems altogether wrong that all the institutions
of learning in our land have to struggle for
ever with embarrassments from want OF funds,
while there is always enough and TO spare for
the purposes of war
Could we have but small fraction of what
is uselessy employed for military purposes
even in this Territory it would enable us to
erect suitable buildings for the University pur-
chase valuable library and apparatus, and
establish the professorships on a permanent
basis
There is a military reservation belonging to
Fort Smelling, containing little more than one
township a part of which lies opposite our vii
lage But a small portion Of it is needed for
military purposes; the balance should he
brought into market Immediately, and the
avails of it appropriated TO the University.
Much of it is now claimed by spectators,
under permits from the commanding officer of
the Fort who expect to get the land at the
minimum price. Should these claims be re-
spected the land will not bring one quarter Of
its value. Should it be sold to the highest bid
der, it would bring sum sufficient to place our
Institution in a hourshing condition Will
not some of the friends of education in Con-
gress endeayor to do something for the cause
| in this quarter The transfer of piece OF
land from military 10 educational purposes, IL
certainly as reasonable request as could DE
made.
OF the political position Of the Territory you
are doubtless apprized. The Wings with the
assistance of the Fur Company, have the con.
troll Of Territorial affairs at present Our Chief
Justice, Secretary, and Marshal, have been re-
moved from Office by President Fillmore, and
others appointed to fill the vacancies. The re-
moyals and the new appointments give very
general satisfaction here
We have watched, with much interest, the
workings of the Fugitive Slave Law at tho
East, and we rejoice TO see that the moral sense
of the nation is against it. The effort to make
the support Of that law the test Of Democracy,
and also of Whiggery will undoubtedly drive
many doughfaces to it's support but it cannot
save from final condemnation al enactment no
utterly regardless Of the plsncst principles OF
justice and humanity
The treaty with the Sioux Indians We all re-
gard as a good one, and are snxiously awaiting
ia ratification by Congress. Hundreds OF our
citizens are preparing to ssttle upon those