The weekly Minnesotian., 1854-02-11
Governor Stevens Arrival and Reception in
in Washington Territory.

Gov. STEVENS SPEECH AND FIRST PROCLAMATION
tFrom the Olympia Pioneer, Dec. 81
Governor Stevens arrived at this place on
Saturday last through drenching rain, hay
ing completed one of the most arduous and tri-
umphantly successful explorations ever pcrfor-
med since the organization of the federal Gov
ernment. Six months devOred to incessant toll
danger and the overcoming of what seemed to
be almost insutfcrable obstacles, has brought to
our new Territory Il governor and with him. as
we believe, the ground work of the Pacific rail
way Other routes may be reported n.:c::;ca-
BILE, but we believe Gov. Stavc.1s can illustrate
the &c. .r:.nnern one to be doubly so. No pains
have been spared by him to ascertain all the facts
connected with the country over which he has
traverscd, and it is to be expected that Con-
gress will deliberately and impartially weigh
all the claims and advantages of the route cu,-
bodied in the report of Gov. Stevens, and act
according to the evidence before it In the prem
ises. new territory set apart and organized
within one year and favorable report for
railway from the Atlantic States to the Sound.
Who can anticipate the future of our territory.
A committee of arrangements has made some
preparation to receive the Governor in some
thing like formal manner. which to some eX-
tent was superseded by his sudden, and, at the
time, unexpected advent. On the announce
ment of his arrival, however, national salute
was fired. the national banner at once was drawn
to the top ofthe liberty pole the flag of the Ken
dali Company was made to fiutter in the breeze
and waving all ceremony, the Governor was
received almost literally into the arms OF warm
hearted, patriotic people. in the rough garb of
a bold and adventurous American freeman.
The large room of the Washington Hotel,
(whither he had been conducted.) was soon
crowded, and to relieve him from the embarrass-
ment of conversing with all Individually, it was
suggested that he be specially welcomed to this
territory as our future Governor, which duty
was performed in few words by the editor of
this paper upon which the Governor replied
as follows -
Fellow citizens of the town of Olympia-I
have been mingling freely with you since my ar
rival here half an hour since. and can in reply
to your warm expressions of welcome, do little
else than repeat what have stated in CONVEX
saton After my six months experience of the
plains and the mountains. feel that have now
reached home-a home soon to be cheered by
the presence of my wife and children-and to be
the scene of the labors of my future life. You
have reason to complain OF the great delays
which have occurred in the organization Of
your territory; and was prepared to bear pa
tiently any expression of dissatisfaction you
might think proper to indulge in. | did not
doubt you would recognize the general bearing
of my labors upon your own prosperity, and
that on the whole it would be conceded that the
territory would be gamer by my coming over
and in charge of the railroad exploration. l.
did not look forward, however, to the universal
policy which have found wherever have been
that no serious detrment had occurred to the
public service and your best interests had been
most effectively promoted by my course. 1t is
nv pleasant duty to be able to report the COM
plete success of the exploration, and that rail-
road is eminently practible from the head Of
navigation of the Mississippi to your own mag
nilicent Sound. The exploration has covered a
wide range OF territory and has developed at
least two pusses in each of the three mountain
ranges-the Rocky Mountains. the Bitter Root
Mountains, and the Cascade Mountains. Good
routes connect these passes. The country pass
ed over is well watered and abunds in grass. A
small expense will open excellent wagon roads.
The mountains abound in granite and marble,
and are covered with luxurient forest growth.
| have been favored with associates of uusur-
passed zeal, energy and ability, and with most
admirable body of employees. No serious diff
Guilty has occurred on the whole route, and the
Indian tribes have welcomed us into their coun-
try and assisted US in our march. The parties
are now at Vancouver, and will in few days
reach this place.
| Gentlemen have seen much of our territory
and am commenced that it is to play no secon-
dairy part in the future progress OF our country.
Its position on the northern Pacific is august
and makes it the great outpost OF the western
coast. Its fisheries of cod yet to be developed
and its fisheries OF salmon will be nursery Of
the leaven of its future commerce. Its resour-
ces in lumber are inexhaustble. Much OF its
soil on both sides of the Cascades is rich and
we'll adapted for cultivation. can speak al,
visedly Of the beautiful st. Mary's valley just
west OF the Rocky Mountains, and stretching
across the whole breath of the territory; OF tht
plain fifty miles wide bordering the south bani
Of the Spokane river to Colville; of the Ceul
Id'Etieue prairie Of six hundred square miles
the Wallah Wallah Valley. The Nez Perce
Icountry is said to be riehas we'll as the country
bordering on the Yankims river.