The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-04-14


iections made cannot fail to give general sat
isiaction. 1t will be seen that the Minnesotian
wasre-elected as the official paper of the city
While feeling duly thankful to those Aldermen
who favored US with their support, we have only
to remark, that we shall endeavor to keep the
Minnesotian in the position which has won this
fAvor-the leading journal i'll point Of circula-
ton, advertising patronage and devotion to
true home Interests in the CITY.
The Westward March of Empire---The New
State Of Superior.
Westward the course of empire takes its
way" are the often quoted words of a poet
uttered long ago. That poet was undoubtedly
prophet without knowing it; as men are often
little without being as we'll informed on that
point as their neighbors; and sometimes grea,
without being conscious of the divinity tina,
stlrs within them, until accident Hedges the
young eagle aud sends it heaven-ward. The
extent to which genius is under the control Of
accident for its proper development, is exem
plliled by the achievements of Christopher Co
lumbus. To find a new continent was the leas,
among his thoughts when he turned the prows
OF his three small vessels westward across the
untracked Atlantic. His genius had only evolv
ed within him the conviction that the world
was round; that it might be sailed around: and
that therefore by launching his barque sunset
wards on the waters, the golden Indies of Asia
might be easiest reached from the western
shores of Europe. He met "a lion in the path ,
lie stumbled on Continent. Not the old bu,
new India met his astonished gaze. Not q
segment OF old Asia, but whole, new and
before unknown ,oorld unexpectedly rewarded
his daring and enterprising genius. The star
Of empire thenceforward radiated its light ,cest
,cardly upon human progress. Before the
wondering nations of gray Europe and hoary
Asia, then arose America, suddenly as it were
from out the sea; born, like the Grecian Venus
Aphrodte and the North American Indian
mother OF men, of the " foam Of the watci So
collossean in size, and OF her forehead written
Empire! 1t was the Atlantis of classic fable
sprung from its ocean tomb. and Minerva-lke
already fully armed for the conflict.
On the borders of our Atlantic the battle was
long ago gained. Empire upon empire, state
upon state, rim and jewel its shores, Back in
the dark primeval woods; along the silvery
Ohio; by OntariO's cataract-crowned flood, and
Erie's white-capped waters, and where break
the waves of stormy Michigan; new nations are
swelling with the muscle of giant manhood
Mississippi's father waters are decked on
either hand to the coral islets of Mexico's Gulf
with Gordon of young states already glisten-
ing in the light of empires star significant Of
latent power as the urim and thummin on the
breastplat Of Judah's high priests; while
away on the calm Pacific side, see golden Cali
ornia and sturdy Oregon and enterprsing
Washington looking out upon the ocean wa
tiers, with still westward gaze towards Cor
mus and the Ind = videttes of empire: outposts
awaiting the main armies of civilization that
arc pressing steadily westward in irresistible
career. Kansas and Nebraska, New Mexico
and Mormon Utah, are already mustered in the
centre column of advance but Minnesota .is
as yet alone in the van Of the northern line
of progress towards the setting sun. She will
not be long alone. The light of empire, with
an aurora CLEAN, begins to illumine al the
coasts of Superior's inland sea. Ere many
years have rolled around we hope to see the
sister State or sister Territory of Superior, in
column by our side.
This is no dream of the night, nor vision from
spirit-land. 1t is practicable, tangible reali.
ty. 1t has for years been a favorite project
with many of the eminent men of the North.
west. If any one will glance at the map they
will observe that the State of Michigan, whose
proper boundaries east north and west are the
lakes of st. Claire, Huron and Michigan. has
been most unnaturally, not to say unjustly, ex.
tended across to the shores of Lake Superior
embracing all the rich mining region from the
Sault st. Marie to the Wisconsin line coun-
try of little worth, comparatively, for agricul.
ture, but teeming with copper and iron in guam.
titles and quality unsurpassed in the world.
The growing population of this metallic region
have not had and never will have interests in
common with the Lower Peninsula that forms
the principal portion of the State of Michigan
and have long struggled to obtain the assent Of
its rulers to dissolve partnership, and let them
set up as a nation for themselves.
Long deaf to their entreaties, the people oil
lower Michigan have at last turned gracious
ear to their petitions. Our intelligence from
Detroit IS, that the General assembly of the
State has just legislated in .fauor of the separ.
alton. This removes the only stumbling block
to the success of the measure: to the formation
of the new Territory or State of Superior, EN-.
bracing all the south shore of the great Lake
and the country for nearly hundred miles
south therefrom. Wisconsin has already spo
ken in favor of the project. Two years ago her
assent was formally given by her Legislature,
to the REIMBURSEMENT for the proposed new
State, of all her territory on Lake Superior,
and all north of certain line, commencing on
the Mississippi at the mouth of the Chippewa
river; up this last named river until it strikes
the United States Correction Line between town
80 and 81. and then following that line east to
Green Bay, which it intersects near the mouth
of the Brule river of Green Bay. This
would throw all the country on the st, Croix
into the proposed new State; fine agricultu-
raj region, which would find its account in be.
ing connected politically with Superior, espe-
cially as the scrub oak and sand-hill desert in
tervening between them and Southern Wiscon-
sin is nearly as potent as the great gulf be-
tween Lazarus and Dives, in preventing their
IN IL