The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-01-27
Within our borders Earring elements


Within our borders Earring elements
have been harnonized, and our wise in
stitutions, the work Of reyered ances-
tors, insured long continuance: while
foreign states have had as great reason
to honor US for our just observance OF
international rights, as they before had
to respect us for our national prowcss.
In a word, to be n constituent part OF
this great republic, is every year mat
ter of renewed felicitation to all lis mem
bers, even to US who are upon the ex-
treme northwestern verge Of its civiliza-
ton. Our remctencss from the central
government has not occasioDed our in
f FAINT commonwealth to be neglected by
those who wieid its authority. In evi-
dcncc OF this we can point to the liberia
aid for various Improvements which Min
!, ncsota, in common with other terrific
ries, has from time to time received at
the hands Of the President and Con
f gress, without being able at present TO
make any other return than the hearty
gratitude Of her hardy pioneers, than
whom, take it upon me 10 assert, in no
part OF the country is there a more pa
triotic people, or one more tondly at
Itachcd to the constitution, or 10 the elo-
ripus Union, which it originated and
ccments.
In concluding this my last annual mes
sage, permit me to observe tha, il is now
a little over three years and six months
since it was my happiness to first land
f upon the soil of Minnesota. Not far
from where we now are, a dozen framed
houses, not all completed, and some
eight or ten small log buildings, with
bark roofs. constituted the capital Of the
new territory, over whose destiny | had
f been commissioned to preside. One
county, remnant from Wisconsin ter
ritoriai organization, alone afforded the
f ordinary iucilitics for the execution oil
the laws; and in and around its seat OF
Justice resided the bulk OF our scattered
population. Within this single county
were embraced all the lands white men
were privileged to till; while between
them ard the broad rich hunting grounds
Of untutorcd savages, rolled, like Jordan
through the Promised Land. the Rive,
Of Rivers, here as majestic III It's north
crn youth, Us in its more southern ma
turity. Emphatically new and wild APP
, Dcarcd every thing To the in-comers from
: older communities; aud Il not least nov
ell feature of the scene WAS the motley
, humanity partially filling these Streets
the blankets and painted faces of In
it :.
of French roy1o urs and hait-bleeds,
greatly prcdom,nating over the less pic
turcsJuc costume Of the -Fhglo-Amcri-
can race. But even while strangers vel
looked, the elements Of Il mighty change
were worhing, and civilization with It's
hundred arms was commencing its re-
sis,Iess and bcnificcnt empire. 70 my
lot fell the honorable duty of taking the
initial step m this work by proclaiining
on the ist Of June, lSl9. the organiza-
ton Of the 'rerrit, rial government and
consequent extension Of the protecting
arm OF law over these distant regions.
Since that day, how iinpetuously have
events crowded time! The tabled magic
of the eastern tale tina, renewed pal
ace in IL single night. only can parallel
our reality oil growth and progress
In tortv-one months, the few bark
rooted huts have been transformed into
a city Of thousands, in which commerce
rcars Its spacious warehouses, religion
It's spired temples, n broad capitol its
swelling dome, and luxury and comfort
numerous ornamented and substantial
abodcs: and where nearly every avoca-
ton of lite presents rs appropriate fol-
lower and representative. In torty-one
months have condensed whole century
OF achievements, calculated BY the old
worlds calender Of proSress--a govern
ment proclaimed in the wilderness, lu-
dietary organized, il legislature consti-
tuted, i comprehensive code of laws d.
ge>tcd and adopted, our population quin-
tupiod. cities and towns springing UP on
every hand, and steam with its revolving
wings. in its season, daily frct;irg the
bosom of the Mississippi, in bearing
fresh crowds of men and merchandise
within our borders.
Nor Is that the least among TIE i'm
portant achievements Of this brief DC
rod. which has enabled us, bv cxtin
gushing the Indian title to 40, 900, 900
acres OF land, t. overlap the Father Of
Waters, and plant civilization on his
Western shore. Broad and beautiful.
by universal concession, are these new
~ acquired lands--thc very garden spot
OF the Northwest, as expl ,reis have pro-
nounced thcm--and it is scarcely sur
prfsing, though less than SIX months
nave elapsed since the ratification of the
treaties by the Senate, that the keen
eyed enterprise Of our race has within
them already planned towns, built mills.
opened roads, commenced farms, the
nucleus of many happy home.
But IT Is, however, in their initiatory
stages only, we can consider the pres
cnt growth and advancement Of our Ter
ritory III all the constituents of national
and individual prosperitv. Our hr,ef