The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-01-29

oAS"SSS vi kiCal ciioIuItl, " aIioh tAc
use of the prison to such counties as have
not within their own limits safe places of
confinement. You will have the benefit
Of the Legislation Of other States upon the
same subject, and will doubtless agree
upon suitable and economical system.
The increase of population in the re-
cent Sioux purchase, and the further in
crease which will certainly take place
prior to the next meeting Of the legisla-
tive assembly, indicate necessity for
organizing new counties upon the west
bank Of the Mississippi, and in the valley
of the Minnesota, SO as to bring TO the
threshold of each settler, so far as the
dispersed character of the population will
admit, the full protection and advantages
of county institutions. This duty must
be regarded as Of an interesting and deli
cate nature; and commend the subject
10 your early attention.
1t affords me pleasure, among other
topics of remark, to be able TO congratu-
late you and your constituents upon the
happy condition of our national affairs.
Under the just government Of the present
chief magistrate Of the Union, our rela-
tions at home and abroad arc Of the most
satisfactory character.
Within our borders jarring elements
have been harmonized, and our wise in
stitutions, the work Of revered ancestors,
insured a long continuance; while for
cign states have had as great reason to
honor us for our just observance Of in
ternational rights, as they before had to
respect us for our national prowess.
In word, to be constituent part of
this great republic, is every year matter
Of renewed fclicitation to NIL its members,
even TO us who arc upon the extreme
northwestern verge of its civilization.
Our remoteness from the central govern
mcnt has not occasioned our infant COM
monwealth to be neglected by those who
WELD its authority. In evidence of this
we can point to the liberal aid for various
improvements which Minnesota, in COM
mon with other territories, has from time
to time received at the hands of the
President and of Congress, without be-
ing able at present TO make any other
return than the hearty gratitude of her
hardy pioneers, than whom, | take it upon
me to assert, in no part of the country, is
there more patriotic people, or one
more fondly attached to the constitution,
or TO the glorious Union, which it origi-
mated and cements.
In concluding this my last annual mes
sage, permit me to observe that it is now
little over three years and six months
since it was my happiness 10 first land
upon the soil of Minnesota. Not far from
where we now are, 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 been
commissioned to preside. One county, a
remnant mINisconsin territorial organi-
zation, alone afforded the ordinary facilities
for the execution Of the laws and ir 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 and the broad rich hunting
grounds Of untutorcd savages, rolled, like
Jordan through the Promised Land, the
River Of Rivers, here as majestic in its
northern youth, as in its more southern
maturity. Emphatically new and wild ap-
peared every thing to the in-comers from
older communities; and not least novel
feature of the scene was the motley hu-
manity partially filling these streets-the
blankets and painted faces of Indians, and
the red sashcs and moccasins Of French
royageurs and half breeds, greatly
predominating over the less picturesque
costume of the Anglo-American race.
But even while strangers yet looked, the
elements of a mighty change were work.
ing, and civilization with its hundred
arms was commencing its resistless and be-
neficcnt empire. To my lot fell the honor
BILE duty of taking the initial step in this
work by proclaiming, on the lst Of June,
l849, the organization Of the Territorial
government, and consequent extension OF
the protecting arm of law over these dis
tant regions. Since that day, how impct-
uously have events crowded time! The
tabled magic of the eastern tale that re-
ncwed palace in a single night, only can
parallel our reality of growth and prog
ress.
In forty y-one months, the few bark-roof-
ed huts have been transformed into city
of thousands, in which commerce rears its
spacious warehouses, religion its spired
temples, broad capitol its swelling dome,
and luxury and comfort numerous orna-
mented and substantial abodes and where
nearly every avocation of life presents its
appropriate follower and representative
In forty-one months have condensed Z
whole century Of achievements, calcula.
ted by the old worlds calendar of pro.
gress-a government proclaimed in the
wilderness, judiciary organized, le'
gislature constituted, q comprehensive
code of laws digested and adopted, our
population quintupled, cities and towns
springing up on every hand, and steam
| 1u;fh ;fa ro,,o1,,;pcr uinus IN ;fs season.