The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-03-18

consulting the annual message Of Gov Ramsey
recently communicated 10 our Legislature.
From that document it appears that $4,000
acres of land have been taken up during the
past year; 1920 of which were located by
military land warrants, and 1900 claimed
under the presumption law. Hundreds are i'm
patiently waiting for the ratification of the
treaties made last summer with the Dakota
/ Indians by which 2S,OO00 900 Of acres $4,000
square miles tract larger than the State of
/ Ohio will be thrown open TO settlers. OF this
tract the Governor says:
This vast district nature has marked out
for exalted destinies. Within its extreme linn
its it may be safely asserted that there is hard
/ " II rood that is not arabic; for the wet and
swampy lands are easily drained and eyentu-
ally will be the most eagerly sought for agr-
cultural purposes Rapid streams, fed from rich
prairies, and shaded by noble forests; clear
lakes, stocked with fish; soil enriched with
the spoils of the decayed vegetation of several
thousand years, are features common to the en-
tire region. Rich veins of mineral wealth. and
an inexhaustible command of water power,
point it out as the future abode Of manufacture
ing greatness; while the boundless plains, sub
dued by the voluntary toll of freemen will be-
come the chosen abidng-place Of pastoral re-
publicanism. The whole is watered by streams
which form so many natural outlets into the
great commercial artery Of our continent the
Mississippi. These various rivers in great part
navigable. each with their own set of tributary
streams-some fed by rills which gush from
fertile highlands, others draining lakes of trans
parent clearness-form a chain of inland COM
munication, which, as a natural feature is UNI
known in the physical geography of the east
ern hemisphere. Over ALL and through all,
peryados a climate which stimulates exertion,
and is cminently favorable to health"
How is it possible that such region will
long remain unsettled and wild? Let those
who have made up their minds to move
West" come and look upon this great, rude
garden, before they decide where to fix their
abode This treaty landslies Just west of the
Mississippi; and, though hitherto it has attract
ed but little attention, it is evident that ere long
it must be occupied by numerous and thrifty
population. Truly yours, c. G. A
ST. ANTHONY, MIN. TER, FEB. II, 1852
To the Editor Of The National Era:
The principal subject of interest among ms
for some months past has becn--TEMPERANcE
Benevolent hearts everywhere will be glad to
know that the virgin Territory of the North
J west IL arraylng herself in the comelv attire Of
y sol~;asv AM r,"~-Ha, ',S~~t y.r ,.--sr :,
high aud srGthfa. s12ls;,t, i, respect to All sT-
terprse so vitality connected with her highest
interest On Newyears day we had general
convention in st. Paul, which was numerouslv
attended by delegates from the principal points
in the Territory, and which served in an emf
nent.degree the purpose for which it was call
ed, viz: to rouse the public attention to the
Importance of doing something to stay the
ravages of intemperance. A Territorial Society
was formed, and the delegates returned home
to wOrk Yesterday we had another Grand
Rally" Nearly all the Societies in the Terri
-Washngtonians, Sons, Watchmen, and
best Of all, the French and Irish Catholics
met in st Paul, marched in procession through
the principal streets, with banners. streamers
and martial music, and then repaired to the
Legislative Halls, and presented, through a
committee of their officers, their petitions,
having some more than thousand signatures,
asking that we may be protected from the evils
of the liquor traffic by the enactment of the
Maine Liquor Law, or something equivalent
then returning to the Presbyterian church.
where the procession first formed, we listened
to some strong speeches. some excellent temper
ance songs, and pledged ourselves to continue
and increase our exertions until the point is
adjustment of a temperance paper. The en-
thusasm was unbounded and who could doubt
that that earnest throng was animated by u
deep conviction and lofty purpose
Members of the Legislature assure us that
the law will pass by a fair majority but
should it fail the present session. ii must sue
coed, for the people wiH ii. The majority, |
think of our citizens are determined no longer
to submit to tyranny more debasing, more
ruinous-yes, more mathematician ever was
practiced by Russian autocrat or Austrian dos.
: pot, They regard the Maine law as holy
=. just, and good" and the only one likely t.
prove either efficient or salutary Those VIII,
! know how completely the West is deuged will
' intoxicating drinks, how their use is sanction
cd by the example of those in high stations
! and how enormous are the profits made b,
: those who deal in Them will hardly need /,
u be informed that much opposition is to be en-
: countered but such enemies as we have t.
: meet will not daunt us, for we are thrice
; armed" in having our Squared just jim
being assured that God and the worlds con.
science are on our side Moreover, we are
cheered every week by "tidings out of the
East" In the States, where public sentiment
, is less easily moved there is an awakening
why then, should we falter?
God has emlnehtly honoreu the state Oh
! Maine in permitting her to blow the trumpet
with such certain sound, to summon the
friends of humanity to the last battlefield with
our cruel foe From the Upper Mississippi,
our young Territory will echo back with an
earnest VOICE that startling signal. The evil
doer shall be terrified as it mingles with the
thunderstorm OF the uprising millions in the
intervening States, and assures the world that
with the blessing of Heaven upon our feeble
but perseverng efforts, zoe haze driven the
Tyrdnt from our shores
Yours in hope, c. G. A.