The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-05

Nes,nre OF the Governor.


liabilities, survey of the monetary affairs of M IN
nesota may seem u very insi gnifcant matter; but
it cannot SO be considered, when reflect that
travagant outlays III habits OF waste. when once
| created by a government, are diii,ult to BE- re-
formed and retrenched, aud that this rec poet its
earlier legislation may in no inooAsiderable degree
bias the future policy of the territory
The utmost economy is mmendsd in order to
keep the territory out of laby rintA of debt, from
| which il would be difficult to extricate it.
| The prodiges achieved by individual adventure
and private enterprise, said to be visible in the
unparalleled growth of the principal towns In Min
Iesota, says the message
| Saint Paul, occupying site which but three
years ago was an unnhablted waste, with les popu-
ation of twenty five hundred inhabitants, its COM
mercial ACTIVITY. its numerous pubic edihces, and
private dwelling houses of superior construction is
rapidly pressing forward to become the great cap-
tai Of lhe Northwest. Saint Anthony, beautifully
situated almost under the spray Of the great falls
Of the Father of Waters, WITH its Intelligent popula
ton, and the genial and refining influences Of the
University, SO fifty located there, must enjoy an
envable distinction as the seat OF learning in the
lumber depot of the North, with the rapid aug
mentation of this giant interest is increasing with
uaabated vigor in wealth and population, and will
ever occupy commanding position as the central
mart Of the epulent valley of the st. Croix.
In pursuance of law, Board Of Building Com.
missionsrs was elected in May LAST, aad contracts
have been let by them for the erection Of terrific
rial trison at Saltwater, aud for the building of
capitol at 81. Paul the former to be completed by
the LIST Of December, 1852, and the latter 80 to
accommodate the two branches of the Legislative
Assem bly,, at the session 1858.
Highly satisfactory progress has been made in the
survey of the several roads in the territory, for
which appropriations we're made by the act OF
| Congress Of July. 1850, The road from Poia.
| to the st Louis river of Lake Superior and Saas
| from the Mississippi to the Winneba,o Agency at
Long Prairie, have all, during the past season,
| been located and surveyed.
Tha {rn tnftn a iahn IF fha los Nic1a fyya
Assembly, in collecting, revising, and putting in
accessible form the statute laws Of the territory, is
q matter Of sober, but just congratulation.
The Governor deprecateg partial or special
legislation as an evil to be avoided; and as pro-
| vision has been made for the incorporation by
| general low of all associations essential to the
prosecution OF business, or to the dsvelo cement Of
The resources of tho country, 1t is to be hoped that
| the time Of the Legislature will be occupied as
little possible with business of local character
In relation to judicial districts, according to the
the exgencies Of the territory, and he invites tho
deliberations of the legislators upon TIE subject,
In relation TO the public schools the message says:
The territory OF Minnesota early recognized the
| comm on school system. Hardly had the first flood
of immigration after the Organization of the ter
ritory, reached the shores of upper rivers, be-
fore public meetings were held to devise means
for securing to the rising generation the inestima
| BILE blessings OF education AT the two preceding
sessions Of the Legislature such provision
made for the maintenance of public schools as cir
| cumstanCes seemed to warrant. Increased useful.
and efficiency have been attained by the crea-
ton, last winter of the office of Superintendent of
Schools; and recommend that provision be made
by The present legislature, for fixing the compen-
cation Of this officer.
By an act, approved February 10, 1851, the Go.
| vernon and Legislative Assembly of the Territory
OF Mime sofa, are authorized Ito make such laws
| and needtul regulations as they shall deem most
expedien to protect from injury and waste, sections
number sixteen and thirty six in said territory,
served in each township for the support Of schools
| therein"
BY the same act, the Secretary of the Interior is
authorized and directed ''to set apart and reserve
from ssle out of any of the public lands within the
| Territory OF Minnesota to which the Indian title
has been, or may be extingushed and not other wise
| appropriated, qaantityo land not exceeding two
entire townships, for the use and support OF uni
versity in said Territory, and for no other use
purpose whatsoever, to be located by legal subdi-
| visions Of not less than one ontro section" This
| princely donation Of forty-six thousand acres of
land, will place the University of Minnesota, if ju-
cicious selections are made, among the best enlow-
! ed institutions OF learning in the West.
| The message aiudes to q paper currency as
| follows:-
IS an satisfied that, in staid ard settled oommu-
mites, well regulated paper currency, circulating
| on an adequate basis, is decided public advantage
But the experience of the territories of Wisconsin
| and Iowa should a6monish that in the peculiar
condition OF society in an early stage of political
existence, banking is extremely hazardous and that
| the distrust. agitation, and alarm, arising from
over issues OF paper, and improper use of banking
facilities, is more difficult to overcome and more
dangerous In its tendencies if not overcome, than
the &C tual inconvenience and losses usually incident
to an insufficient currency. | am not aware of any
disposition in this community to apply to the Legis
lature for the incorporation of bank. Until there
shall be a ger eral call of the community for such
| on institution, think its establishment would be
| premature and to be depreca ted"
The second public sale Of lands lying in the Tor
ritory Of Minnesota, was held at saltwater, in Au
| gust last 100000 acres wero offered, and 2,705
acres sold, at the minimum price Of Sl.25 per acre
All the surveyed lands in the Territory, the plats
of which have been fled in the office Of the Regis
ter are ,s,o ~ subject to private entry During the
30, 10 acres were located by military land
rants. The presumption claims filed during the
same year, covered $4,000 acres. Duting the year
1851, 80, 49i acres have been entered, OF which 49,.
720 acres we're located by military land warrants.
Claims under the pre-. emption law have been made
during said year, to 5000 acres.
Governor Ramsey devotes portion of his mes
sage to the advocacy of internal Improvement, and
argues the matter thus IL is entirely reason
able that this government, being the great land
holder in the West and in all the ne territories,
should sustain a portion Of the expense in making
the principal primary roads The owners Of the
soil. whose property is supposed to be increased in
value by reads when made, are taxed for their
construction; and why should the government be
exempt from its fair proportion OF the assessment
The case is still stronger in relation 10
rivers, which the federal authorities declare 20 be
public highways, assume jurisdiction OF, exclude
ilom the surveys, and thus prevent Thorn from
becoming private property Of the citizens, or
the property Of the States through whica
they flow. In this instance, the power Of
Improvement seems insepsrably connected with
o9i eishIp ard jurisdiction
To tae people OF Minnesota the most interesting
political event that has occurred since The organza
ton OF the territory, is the extinction, oy the
treaties OF Traverse des Sioux, Nkndota, and Penn
bna, OF the Sioux ard Chippewa title to imme
tracts Of land upon the western side OF the MissiI
sippi. These treaties bridge over the vide chasn
which could alone obstruct the advance Of Mime.
sofa to the lofty destination evidently reserved for
her.
BY the two former treaties, the Dakota Indians
reljnquish to the government their right OF use
fruct to all the country previously claimed by them
east of the Sioux Wood aud Big Sioux rivers, ex-
tending over four degrees Of latitude and FIVE Of
| longitude, and covering a superficial extent Of
| 1900 sIuare miles. This vast district nature has