The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-01-12
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Fello,c Citizens Of the Council
and House oC Re,rpe

most suitable measures to be adopte,
tor the promotion Of the general goo,
OF the country.
Since your last meeting, a chang
IN the administration of the Genera
Government, has produced chang,
In the Executive Department of the
Territory. And | may be allowed tc
hope, that by your cooperation we may
be able to so direct the Legislation o
the country, that its varied resources
may be developed; and new impetus
given to its prosperity. Aud allow me
to congratulate the country upon the
advent Of a new National Administra-
ton, which has inspired new hope in
the people, that our national honor will
be indicated, our resources developed
our commerce extended, and our con-
stitutional obligations to the States faith
fully kept.
During the year that has just closed,
it has pleased the Great Ruler of the
Universe to continue his blessings to-
ward us individually and collectively,
and especially to protect us from the
ravages of such epidemics as have
scourged other portions of the Union -
The great cause Of agriculture has been
blessed and our farmers have gathered
an abundant harvest. The moral, So
cial and political condition of the peo-
pie has been improved, population has
poured into the country with unparal-
led rapidhy, and every branch of indus
try has been richly rewarded.
The short time that | have had the
honor TO preside over the Territory,
and the unprecedented amount Of labor
that has devolved upon me, from the
day | landed on your shores, up to
within few days before your meeting,
has precluded my giving that attention
to our laws and institutions, which, un-
der less pressing duties. it would have
been my pleasure to have done, will
give you ample apology | hope, for my
not going into more detailed review
of the necessary future legislation.
The maxim that that government is
best which governs least" has much
wise admonitionto State in its infancy.
The laws for the government of plain
republican people, should be few, SIM
pie, and with uniform application to
every section of the country, and bear
ing alike upon all, leaving to each in
dividual the largest liberty consistent
with the good of the whole. Capital all
ways comes forward with the largest de-
mands upon the Legislator, whilst labor
is more humble in its pretenslons, and
stands yet far more in need of your foster
ing care. hope We may all profit by an
principles which lie at the foundation
of all Legislation, Therefore, should
it be your pleasure during the present
session, TO incorporate companies for
the development Of our resources, |
recommend that they be SO guarded
with restrictions as to keep them con-
stantly under the control of the people S
representatives. Population and COM
merce Will command capital, and with
out the aid of Legislative protection,
that capital concentrated, will command
power enough for ali legitimate purposes
as to give those who have seen them,
ample cause for congratuIating them
selves on most hopeful future. In
June, lS49, His Excellency, Governor
Ramsey, issued his proclamation for
organization; then this beautiful city,
now of near 5000 souls, had scarcely
emerged from the dominion of the saw
age: then but a few small houses COM
posed the now fourlshing city of St.
Paul, and scarcely could a white man
be found except upon the St. Croix,
save the adyenturer to the Indian ira
ding posts in the bosom of an uninhab-
tied and comparatively unexplored will
derness Then from Prairie du Chen
to Crow Wing there was scarcely a
village to be found to dot the advance
of civilization Now Prairie La Cross,
Winona, Wabashaw, Rolling Stone,
Red Wing, Point Prescott, Point Doug
las, Hastings, kaposia, Red Rock, St.
Paul. Mendoza. St. Anthony, Manomin,
Anoka, Itaska, Sauk Rapids and Wa
tab, are aourishipg pionts, and mark
the advance of commerce and civllza-
ton on the Mississippi River No less
prosperous are all the villages on the
St. Croix and Minnesota from the mouth
of each to the Indian country, and pop
ulation is spreading into the interior,
upon our lakes and Prairies. The fine
fourishing settlements on Lake Mime
tonka. deserve especial notice. The
lovely valley of the Minnesota is now
fast filling up with a hardy and indus
trious population who are opening farms
and building villages, with rapidity
unparalIed in the Northwest.
This fall, the Dakota or Sioux tribe
of Indians have been permanently re-
moved from their old homes on the
Mississippi and lower Minnesota Rivers.
leaving that beautiful country free fol
settlement and cultivation. No event
has transpired since your last meeting
that will tend in higher degree tC
promote the prosperity and growth o
the Territory when the fact is knowr
to those who may desire to locate with
in our borders. The laws for the pro
tection of the richts and enforcement