The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-04-02

being the first day. of September, following, In
the building on Bench street, now Known as the
Central House. The Council occupied the
room on the second floor, now used as a ladies'
parlor, and the House was accommodated with
the present gcntlemen's sitting ROOM The
quarters were rather close-no room for loung-
crs and lobby members
| The Infant Labors of our North Western Gil
antess.
| Hercules, we are told, strangled the serpent
commissioned by Juno for his destruction, in
his cradle. The infant st. Paul had a more per-
ilous and laborious task. Perhaps now that her
fate is decided. and her high destiny as the
great commercial, social, religious, educational
and political emporium of the Northwest I'M
alterably fixed, it would matter little whether
she remained the capital of the Territory or
not. But it did matter, and very essentially
too, at the time the infant struggle took place
to secure this advantage. Without it. she
would never have been able to hold the conf
dcnce of those who had labOred most for her, or
attract the attention of people then far away.
who have since become part and parcel of her
most active bones and sinews. She was bcsct
by more than one Juno who endeavOrcd,
through their cmssaries, (rightfully and legal
ly. of coursc) to strangle her ere her infantile
limbs could poisc beneath her already vigorous
and rapidly developing body. During the first
session of the Legislature the contest never
reached the dignity of regular engagement.
There were several skirmishes, but the day OF
| 6po al cd fho nj np6oci1n1
The forces on both sides appeared willing to
let the matter rcst-a drawn battle. st. Paul
fought unitedly and faithfully, and, if thing,
rested upon the vantage ground.
The second Legislative Assembly convened
on the first of January, 1851. None of the old
members of the House had been returned, save
Ben. W. Brunson-Forbes and Boal, Council
lors, holding over. 1t was evident the great
struggle was to take place this session; and it
behooved st. Paul to stand up to the work, pre-
senting firm, united front Owing to violent
personal and political animosities between in
dividuals-which then existed, but have since
in great measure subsided-this she was not
quite enabled to do. But Forbes and Boal, OF
the Council, and Brunson, J. c. Ramsey and
Tilden of the House, went into the fight deter
mined to stand or fall-survive or perish with
the destiny and best interests of the people
who had honOred them with their confidence
Others may have been, and doubtless were, ac-
tuated by an equal devotion and patriotism, but
they had different and, in our humble opinion,
fatal way of showing such feelings. But let
this all pass. Suffice it to say, that the true and
loyal attachment of the representatives of St.
Paul during that session, laid immOvably the
foundation of Der future greatness. The earn
est and truthful devotion of those representa-
tives, raised them up friends from other quar-
tiers. The st. CroiX delegation seeing the flu
tility Of the claims of any point in their region
to become the capital, abandoned the pretense,
and generously came to our aid. The west
side, also, nobly put its shoulder to the wheel,
and gave us the benefit of its united influence
and votes. Let what changes and vicissitudcs
there may pass over Minnesota and our early
public men, st. Paul will never forget those
who stood by her in her darkest hour.
Until the contest for the Capital. and consc-
quent center Of political power, was decided in
/
looked upon her as no 'sure thing 1t is true,
her advantages opposition commercially would
always have made her place of considerable
note. 1t is this latter, added to the former,
which has made her what she is. and secured
to her that which she is destined to be. Meth
err could have accomplished the work separate
ly. To name one fatal disadvantage, had there
been no Capital here, ST. Paul would have been
deprived of the immense benefits of her news
| paper prcss-thOse main arteries of her present
healthtul life. At least, not more than one
would have been able to live here, and that in
acondition so weakly and sickly that its Wheel
ing and consumptive echoes would have fallen
far short of sending forth her just need of praise
and advantage in the full and clear toned clarion
notes which have been borne on every breeze
throughout the land. But the moment it was
decided that st. Paul was to be the political as
well as the commercial center of Minnesota.
new life and energy was infused into every
limb and muscle of her body She arose and
robed herself in the habiliments of strong. de-
termined, youthful vigOr. and started fairly
and fully upon her march to future greatness.
She had passed the ordeal From that hour
she was to so forward-ncvcr look back
Property Immediately advanced more than
two hundred per cent. Those who had stood
back, fearful to invest, came into the front
ranks, and gave their means to the improve
ment and building up of st. Paul. Persons
from abroad flOcked in and invested literally ;
and there was never any more doubt as to the
future. No one from that day to this has felt
any fears of the result.
Advance, Commercially.
Nothing will better partially illustrate the
steady and healthy advance of st. Paul as an
important mart of trade and commerce, than
the increase in the number of steamboat arri-
walls from year to year. The number of arri-
walls in 1918 was, as near as we can now come
at the true figure, Al; in 1S49 70; in 1850. lO4:
in 1851, ll9; in 1852, III. But, as we have
cl al 81; g