The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-01-15

State. in regard to ,authori;atively mark
ing out part Of the boundary line be-
tween Oregon and the British posses
sions, and that the President recon-
-mends to Congress an appropriation to
defray the expense thereof. on tho part
Of the United States. 1.-THE Legislature
Of Minnesota shall early represent to the
President the Importance of defnitive-
ly marking out so much OF the 49th par
aliel, as Constitutes our north lane Of
boundary Il Is very probable that both
surveys may be embraced in the same
arrangement. a as,
The agricultural colony within the
British line, commonly known as the
Selkirk settlement, with its centre at the
junction Of the Assiueboine with Red
river, in the fitch degree of north lat
itude, is a picture Of rural affiuence and
comfort. For miles on either bank OF
each ofthese streams extend, in village
like proximity, the comfortable tene-
mcnts of the settlcrs--their farms, in
closed with good fences, invariably ia
cling the river. The appearance ofgraz-
ing cattle, of wcll-built and well-stock-
ed barns, OF grain-ricks, of churches
and school houses, denote community
far advanced ia social comfort, aud sue
cessihliy employed in the pursuits OF
husbandry. The earth is fruitful, and
yields ample supplies for the use ofman
the almost miraculous rapidity Of spring
compensates the long months Of winter;
wheat, rye, oats, barley, potatoes, and
the different garden vegetables grow ia
abundance, . a.r-- 81 IN.
Ii may be well for those abroad, who,
shiyering, dream of minnesota as IN arc
tic region, and deem her climate inhos-
pitable, aud her soil churlisb, TO reflect
that this settlement lies one hundred
miles north of the northerpmost limit oil
our Territory. To such, this fact is
commended, as conclusive answer to
the objection, that Minnesota is too far
north to admit of profitable agriculture
A portion of the Territory. east Of the
Mississippi, chiefly confined to the coun-
try in the occupancy Of the Chi2pewas,
is swamp land, which will require drain
age before it will admit of successful
cultivation. With this exception, i, is
hardly sn exaggeration to assume, tha,
in the entire region, embraced within
our extensive borders, there is scarce
,lyvan acre that is not tillable. aF...
was informed by Go,e:n,r Colviile,
of Rupcrt's Land, that on Peace river,
which empties into Athabasca lake, in
latitude So deg, barley and other cereals
were successfully cultivated.
These facts are not alone Of deep IN
terest to ourselves-they are doubtless
gratifying to the friends of humanity ev-
cry where, for they carry assurance,
that large districts of this continent here
tcfore deemed sterile and repuisive, are
competent TO support in abundance and
independence, thousands of our race.
In May last, a party of Sioux Indians
on a war path, as is alleged, against
the. Chippewas, crossed the Mississippi
into Benton county, and committed a Sc
ries of gross aggressions, which resulted
nthe unproTokcd murder Of a peacea-
bic aud industrious citizen of the Terri
tory. The members Of the party were
promptly arrested, and placed in con-
finement at Fort Snelliug; but while on
their way ia trial at Sank Rapids, under
the conduct of detachment Of dragons,
they managed, most unaccountably, to
erade the vigilance Of their guard.
Every effort TO retake the Indian, whom
circumstances prove to have been guilty
ofthe murder, has, up to this time, been
unarailing; but continued exertions will
be made by officers in the Indian service
to effect his recapturc. That the very
man whose hands are red with blood
should be held criminaiiy responsible for
the act, rather than that punishment
should be meted according 10 savage
ethics of retaliation, is consonant with
our own, more enlightened ideas of JUS
.tice, and will favorably affect the Indian
mind. r r -.4 .Ffs
Within the limits Of Minnesota are
about d, 900 Indians; and but for this
instance Of brutal outrage, the first of
the kind, so far as am informed, that
has occurred since the organization of
the Territory, our relations with our Ia-
dian ,neighbors, would have presented a
pdSfuC sGontFast I'd tnoSe winch untof-
tunstely subsist in sister Territories,
where. the savage tomahawk seems ever
red with the blood of our fellow-citizens.
have confined myself in this commu-
nication, solely to subjects which have
deemed to be of interest to the Terri
tory. Minnesota occupies the relation
Of ward to the whole country, not to any
part or. section thereof; therefore. it is
with US a matter Of Just congratulation,
that the recent excitements which have
pervaded our land, have served only to
create proper estimate Of the value of
the Union, and TO FIX it mere firmly in
the reverence aud affections Of the peo-
pie. -d,gzs 7,.afi AZ sl. 81 -. ~
Allow me, in conclusion, gentlemen of
the Council and House Of Representa-
tives, to express the hope that there may
be temperance in your differences of
political opinion; aud that controversies.
which involve not only the ruin Of all
that Is usefi,l 10 pubiic conduct h,,f Of