Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-15

A letter from tho Office of the Colombian
Columbus. Ohio. saws.

taDula, IN the cnalr. ne lily HAL was near
~ full Representatives from nearly half the
counties made five minutes speeches, stating
the views of their respective counties. In tho
main they were right. They decidedly indi-
cate platform Of no more Slave Territory or
States, and the entire Decentralization OF Sla-
very There is no doubt that nominations
will be made. The meeting continued till half
past ton, and adjourned till nine this morning.
! The Convention proper will organize ut eleven,
/ DELAYING till that time for the arrival Of the
ton O'clock trains. Letter will probably pre-
side. Yours &c.
| Mr.. LETTER is distinguished Democrat
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives of
! Ohio in 1S48-9-ED, ERA.
Traverse DIES Sioux, MINNESOTA,
| June %, 1854
To tie Editor Of the National Era.
| DEAR SIR Having recently received letters
of inquiry from friends at the East, touching
| Minnesota Territory it's advantages, inconve-
niences, etc., ! am prompted, for the nf0rna-
| ton Of such, as we'll as any others who may bc
turning their attention to this section of tho
| great Northwest, to beg your indulgence in the
communication Of few facts upon this subject
through the columns of your wide-read paper.
Scarcely six years have elapsed since this
| country, now known as the Territory Of Min
nesota, began to attract the attention Of the
public mind. Previously, with the exception
| Of q few missionaries, and about as many lead
ing traders, the whole country WAS occupied
by 9 the red man of the forest and prairies
II is truly astonishing with what rapidity
the savages have receded and the tide Of i'm
migration has rolled in 70 their fair but uncul-
tivated land Large and respectable commu-
Il L.. tlnJ
an order of civilized and Christian society.
| Towns and villages dot the banks of our
streams and the margins Of our beautiful lakes
| About five years and ton months ago, in the
| month OF August, addressed the people Of st.
! Paul, assembled en- massc in small log school
house, from 2 Cor, v, 10, There were perhaps
twelve or fifteen adult persons and as many
| children and youths, present. ST. Paul now
numbers her thousands Of inhabitants, and her
spires consecrated to God oyershadow great
and growing city. St. Anthony, Minneapolis,
| and Saltwater, are hourishing towns in tho
vicinity Of st. Paul Mendoza, at the mouth
| of the Minnesota, is a beautiful little village,
but was, until recently, included in the mill
| tary reservation Of Fort Smelling, and, on that
account has not advanced as rapidly as somo
other places less travelled.
! Shakopec is a pleasantly situated town on
the right-hand side of the st. Peters or Mime
sofa river, about forty miles above the mouth
of the river. is celebrated chiefly for its
limo factories or kilns; distinguished how
ever, more for the convenience and quantity,
than for the quality of the material for pIas-
tering houses. The labor and expense Of add
| ing sand is superseded by sufficient quantity
being already burnod and intermjxsd for all
! practical purposes.
r<>Sderson, small town on the north side
of the Minnesota, owing to low water this sea-
son, has been looking up bravely. Ferry boats
from the river cut TO the bluffs back of tho
city, have been unnecessary this summer !; nor
have flat-boats been occupied by the people of
Henderson this spring 30 long as they were
last season, in fearful anticipation of another
delugo.
La Leure, situated on the south bank of the
Minnesota, is beautiful town, with a flour
ishing community around it. 1t is some ten or
twelve miles below Traverse des Sioux. This
place il situated on tho north bank of the
| Minnesota. There are at present three plats
of this place. The one is called Traverse city;
the second, ie Traverse des Sioux; and, tho
third is Traverse. Adjoining these three surveys
| above, we have q new town laid out, which
am told is to be called St Peters thought,
until now, we had about used up the calendar
of saints in Minnesota. 1t is burning shame
that American citizens fostered in the cradle
Of LIBERTY and reared amid all the blcssednees
Of tho hallowed institutions Of Gods word
should thus pander to the dcpraved passion of
an Ignorant, superstitious, abject, and imbccile
remnant Of papacy-a people half civilized
and half savage in their habits of life, picus
only when at tho confessional, and then hypo-
critically so. French Catholics are not more
honest and sincere than German papists and,
| assure you that mixtnrJ of one half Dakota
does not give stability to the Canadian French,
either in morals or religion.
But am told that it is not so much in honor
Of tho saint Of old, as fur the purpose of in
PRODUCING rival to ST Paul The first three
surveys above mentioned, taken together, form
a beautiful site for city. 1t is indeed con-
fcssedly one Of tho most, if not the most, eligi-
BILE situations on the Minnesota. The steam
boat landing is good, and the land lies sloping
east and south, rising, table after table, prairie
land, for some three miles back from the land
ing. There a foe rich loamy soil is found,
every way adapted to the wishes Of the most
particular farmer. The prairies are skirted
| with timber, and numerous lakes abound, in
terspersed with beautiful islands Of fine tim
Der, available for frewood and fencing for
moro than five months in tho year for years to
come.
/ The chief advantages OF this plaoc and Vi
cinity are tho fertility of the soil and the OIL
most unlimited extent Of country lying north
and west Of us, now open to settlement. Ex-
cept 10 the spring Of the year, when the waters
are unusually high, Traverse dos Sioux must
be regarded rs the head Of navigation The
boats have not passed this point half dozen
trips this season Hence, supplies for the In
dian Agency at Red Wood and Fort Ridgely,
United States army, and also for Eureka and
Mankato aud Kasota, email towns above US
on the Minnesota have been shipped to this
point, and stored to DO transported by land
The supplies for all the trading posts Of tho
| Minnesota valley and tho Pembina country
north, arc shipped TO this place. while their
peltrics arc brought in and forwarded from
tb,a ~ &y,a C,r,fharn and Eastnrn ,narHo4o