The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-11-26

OPENING OF THE GREAT WESTERN RAnROAp-
On Tuesday last the first train of cars with pas.
sengers ran over that portion of the Canadian
Great Western Railroad which is completed be-
tween Hamilton and the Suspension Bridge,
being about forty miles. There was much re-
jOicng in that part of Canada through which it
passes, over the event. The cars were to have
left Hamilton at 10 o'clock A. NJ, and reach the
Bridge at q p. NJ. There was some considera-
BILE delay in leaving which brought them with
in five miles Of their destination at about four
O'Clock, when they met with an accident to the
locomotive, which put the guests, some three
hundred in number into the evening before they
reached the Falls by carriages and on foot
During the afternoon a large cOncourse of
persons collected at the bridge to greet the ar.
rival of the train. The towers of the Suspen-
sion Bridge were decorated with the British and
American flags, and the Union Jack floated from
many of the adjacent buildings. The people
waited until nightfall, to see the train, but
they separated in disappointment. Soon as it
was ascertained that an accident had occurred,
carriages went in search of passengers, and they
were landed at the Clifton House before eight
o'clock The train arrived before midnight
In the evening Samuel Zimmerman, Esq.
now the Railway King of Canada, gave sump-
tuous entertainment at the Clifton, where some
three hundred guests were dined. After the Vi
ands were discussed by appctites made keen by
fasting and fatigue, the cloth was removed and
toasts. sentiment. speeches and songs followed
until the party had chased away all the small
hours of the night. The opening toast was the
Queen, and then followed the health of the
President of the United States which was
drunk with much enthusiasm The best of feel
ing prevailed showing that our neighbors re-
joice in their very hearts over this, their first
railroad achievement of any magnitude. The
road will be extended to London within few
weeks, and by the first of January, 1854. to
Windsor, opposite DetrOt.-Bufdlo Express.
WESTERN CHARACTER-Many intelligent per-
sons accustomed to the habits of the old East
ern States, believe that the population of the
West is not so pure a kind as that of the East,
that the masses are vastly inferior in every par
ticuar, to those in other localities that the in
crease is not calculated to morally elevate the
present or future character of the county
These conclusions are as clearly wrong as can
be, yet they seem to arise more from the varie-
ty of our people than from any exhibition OF
immoral or imbecile traits. The fact that near
ly every State and country in the Old and
New Worlds are largely represented in the
West, naturally causes people who have been
confined all their lives within the boundaries Of
their birth place, to think that mixture of all
races would produce more evil than good re-
suits. A better knowledge of human nature,
and the study of physical development teaches
differently. The union of the races has been
the secret of American success; it produced the
germ that is bringing forth new and wonder
full nationality-a nationality which even in its
youth has drawn and held the gaze, the envy
and admiration of all mankind-one which in
its maturity will stand proudly above those that
surround it.
If the national character has been thus form
ed, the West, containing within itself elements
Of the same nature, will soon possess more A.
merican characteristics than any other portion
of the country. In its development it has also
the advantage of having a continual immigra-
tion of the best men from the Eastern States,
and of the truest men of the Old World-men
who leave their early homes with determine
ton to build up fortunes and regulations ID
spite of obstacles and adrerses. They are mol
merely adventurers who enrich themselves anu
depart to forget the places Of their success. but
thew are true and honest men, who become per-
manent and good citizens. These classes are
more numerous than many eastern people sup
pose, and to their spirit and activity the West
owes much of its prosperity. The native citi-
zens of the best portions of the West have not
their superiOrs for shrewd enterprise and indus
try in any of the Eastern States. The genera
tions that will take their place, having advant-
ages for better education and improvement,
must become great and we'll known people
Nor will the West be behind in genius and
scholarship. Already has it produced men OF
great intellectually and fine learning, men OF
influence throughout the nation, and known De,
yond the Ocean. Western presses, orators ana
schools, will, in but few years command az
tention everywhere. And in the % wlde valley ,a;tS
of the Mississippi the people o. onm
in ITSELF will erect greater lndusIriai mon:-
ments than the world ever saw. The eccentri-
c;tv of Western character tends more to pro-
ere gressive greatness than to Incidence in prosper
itv and apathy in wealth. Their success in the
beoinning insures their activity to the END, and
makes them the true sons and patrons OF labor.
I-Chieago Press. .t... s..rstr
Punch inquiries "Did you ever see an actor
who did not; pronounce garden g'aTd'n' and