Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-08-08
Speeches at the Capitol, ON tho 0cca.
sion OF the visit OF the Rock leland
N ENcnrSiOn.

occasion, and DloulnS you welcome 10 Mlnnesota,
and rendering you and your companions in this
excursion, the Inequalities of our new and pros
porous city, and allow me to assure you sir, that
we now with one heart and in the name of the
whole people of the Territory bid you most COR
dial welcome; and but for your arrival one day
before we had expected You. we would have been
able much more to our own satisfaction and your
comfort to have facilitated your trip to- and around
the picturesque Falls of ST. Anthony.
We had hoped that your time would have al
lowed YOU To see more of our praires, lakes, rv-
ers, and fertile soil We feel that our Territory
has been highly honored by this visit, and we hope
that YOU have seen enough of each, to contribute
somewhat to your gratfcatlon and our future
prosperity.
cannot let this occasion pass without assuring
YOU of the high appreciation the people of Minne-
sofa have not only of your personal worth, but OF
the distinguished services you have rendered your
country. both in the councils of the nation and as
President of the United States. 1t was my privi-
lege (although differing wi h you questions for
meriy dividing political parties,) to cordially
operate with you and your administration in those
great measures in the settlement of which you
bore 50 prominent a part, and which restored har-
mony and peace to the country. 1t gives me
pleasure to bear my humble testimony to the
nrmness, prudence, judgement and patriotism of
yourself and your administration during that
eventful period in our country's history. 1t will
it should be, gratefully remembered by all
sound patriots and lovers of the Union.
Sir, the germ of our Territorial prosperity vas
planted under the auspices of your administration
and that ofyour immediate predecessor. The pubic
officers you sent here to put the machinery of civil
government in motion, performed thai duty well,
and around YOU is to be seen the evidence of their
success
but six years ago there were but three or four
Thousand Inhabitants in Minnesota, scattered
sparsly Territory twice as large as the great
State of New Iork-now they number between
twenty five and thirty five thousand souls, and in
crcasng in population with rapidly unparalleled
in the history of our country except in the case of
California. Six years ago, and this thriving city
numbered ten or fifteen frail tencmentS, now it
contains between five and six thousand people,
with six or seven churches, school houses and SEM
inaries OF learning, and It start made for colleges
and universities handsomely endowed.
Then again, in the name of the people of Min
nesota, bid you most hearty welcome.
But we still more largely indebted for this
visit to the magnificent liherality of the President
directors, agents, and stockholders of the Rock
Island Railroad company; to them, as the Execu-
tive of this Territory, now, in the name of the
whole people Of Minnesota make our most hearty
and sincere Judgements feel that words
are inadequate to express our gratitude TO you,
gentlemen for directing this excursion to the Cap
tal Of Minnesota. Its conception and execution is
worthy the cnterprising men who were the first to
connect the Atlantic with the waters of the upper
Mississippi. And we feel doubly indebted for
giving these wealthy and learned gentlemen and
ladies from the East, West, North ard South an
opportunity to see what we regard the most
hopeful and inviting region in the great North
west; you have at last chained, by iron and steam,
the great Father of Waters to the great marts of
commerce and cnpitol. You have indeed accom-
plished far more,-you have strengthened by your
energy. capital aud enterprise, the bonds Of this
great Union.
But this is not all we congratulate ourselves
upon Many of The men and women who have
adorned the literature of America, are here. The
clergy and the learned professions are here. The
men o. science and art are here. Many distin-
guished writers, statesmen, historians and pollti-
clans are here. Some Of the most distinguished
representatives of the press are here. And last,
though by no means least. the ladies, your wives
and daughters are here, without whose approving
smiles no great end has ever been accomplished.
Then in the name of Minnesota, bid each and all
a arty and cordial welcome.
/ bid the representatives of the press hearty
welcome. To you Minnesota is already largely
indebted for much of her prosperity, and from your
pens we earnestly hope that more may now be
known than ever was known before of our pros
poets and resources. Where we now stand, but
six years ago might be seen the Indian wigwam,
now we welcome you gentlemen of the press, to
this beautiful Capitol, built by the munifcence of
the parent Government. But feel that we shall
command your sympathies, when you reflect that
we Ice bound and imprisoned here four
months in the year. This should not be, and we
did hope that the General Government would
have granted us lands for railroad. and thus CIV
en- Us the key 10 unlock our prison home, when it
would cost her so little and relieve us so much
but yet it is not done. Soon, however, tie
country must be aroused to the Importance of our
trade and resources. To this end, we are gratifed
I hol Il. Poll lo.
contributed more than we should have been able
to accomplish for ourselves in years to come.
Mr.. FILLMORE rose and said in substance,
trust your Excclency will believe me when
| say that, this cordial greeting and heart felt
welcome on behalf of the citizens of ST. Paul by
the Executive of the Territory of Minnesota, takes
me wholly by surprise, and 1t adds greatly to my
embarrassment that am unexpectedly made So
prominent where | felt that Lave no claim for |
consideration beyond that of other gentlemen |
composing the large and intelligent party by |
which l am surrounded, and who Lave been my |
in this delightful excursion The |
ruth Is, that am but one among thousand |
whom you have met here this evening to honor
But there is one in this vast multitude to whom |
al honor and praise is due. One whose bold con- |
,eptions planned and more than Royal muniti-
,ence has carried out this noble enterprise. Onc
10 whom we are all indebted for the pleasures of |
his delightful excursion and the privilege of see
ng your beautiful country; and one to whom YOU |
arc indebted for our visit here to-day, and that |
man is Mr.. Farnham. His partner Mr.. Sheffield |
has, understand, shared with him in all things |
but the excursion itself and shall ever regret
hat have not had the pleasure of making his |
acquaintance Such men are seldom found but |
where they are let them be cherished. They are |
natures noblemen,-let them be honored Their |
energies move the word-let them be gloritied on |
his occasion.
But Sir, while feel that you have assigned me
quite too conspicuous position on this occasion,
can not be insensble to the flattering manner in
which you have been pleased to speak of my pub
lie services, nor uugrateful for the kind indulgence
with which vou,-a political opponent have spo-
ken of some of the most prominent acts of my
l claim no merit beyond that Of
having faithfully discharged my duty according
to the best of my humble ability. You participa-
ted in that fearful struggle, and you appreci-
ate the difficulties and embarrassments with which
| was surrounded. 1t called forth from both the
great parties Of the country, the finest patriots,
and to them, and not to exclusively, is due the
merits of quoting that fearful agitation.
But Sir, you will pardon me, for | have said
more than | intended Of myself l would say
word of your beautiful country, and of the inn
prcssiOns which it has made upon my mind. |
had heard and read something of the Upper VAL
ley of the Mississippi, but must confess that l
had ~ just conception of its picturesque beauty
and luxuriant fertility. l think must have seen
1t under the most favorable auspices-for l know
1t is wild and uncultiyated, yet ono would declare
who looked at the velvet carpet with which the
hills covered to their SUBMITS aud the scatter
ing oaks and shrubbery, with which they are in
interspersed, that the whole country was in high
state of cultivation, and that what we saw along
the banks of your noble river. were the green
pastures and meadows, orchards and parks OF the
farms that lay back. To me, Sir, the whole voy-
age has been one of surprise and delight; but IN
no Part OF my journey was more surprised or
delighted than was this morning when our steam
boat turned around yonder point in the river and
brought into full View your charming city. ex-
pected much. knew that the famed fertility of
your country had operated like magnet upon the
population Of the East. carrying hither its enter
prise and its industry. but could not anticipate