The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-01-25
d that Americans, at least are capable of SELF

that Americans, at least are capable of SELF
government. Is
The Congress of the United States in their
wisdom and patriotism, have proventhe sounI-
ness of this principle, in extending our insttu-
tions from the line of the Northwestern Terri
tory to the golden shores of the Pacific. Wher-
ever Americans are found, there this great
principle is recognized. By the wisdom o
Congressional enactments within the past six
years, one State and seven Territories have
sprung into existence each of which are daily
giving proofs of the wisdom of this policy
and this intelligent audience assembled around
this festive board is another evidence of it,
The honorable President before reading this
toast, alluded to one principle contained in the
act organizing the Territory of Minnetota, by
proving any act of our Territorial Legisa-
ture. need only say, that if l were in the
Congress of the United States, and the propo-
sition was made to reserve to Congress this
veto power upon the acts of her children,
1 should vote against it. Power is as safe
in the hands of the people of the Territories
as it would If it had been in their hands before
they left their old homes in the States. l have
yet to learn that we have less sense ard judg-
ment while residing in Territory, than while
residing with the "old folks at home" We
brought with us our primers and spelling books;
and our fathers and mothers carefully deposited
in our care the Bible. We have here our
schoOl-houses, and our churches, and all cher
ish as highly here as we did at home, the prin-
ciple that man is capable of self government.
! We may err individually or collectively, but
no sooner do we discover that error than we
set about to find an antidote fer the poison.
This festive occasion is fraught with great
interest, much more so fear than you seem to
appreciate. was deeply impressed with the
Importance and magnitude of the wirc-suspen-
sion bridge connecting St. Anthony and Nil :
neapolis. 1t struck me then, rs it does now,
as an event transporting in the great west, and
on the very confines of civilization, worthy OF
the most marked mention; and consequently
l took occasion to bring it before the country
in my late official message, which | was per-
mitted to deliver to the Legislature of our Ter
ritory, now in session.
1t is now complete, and Minnesota men, and
Minnesota capital, and Minnesota enterprise,
now claim the honor of being the first to span
the great king of rivers. This is wonderful
enterprise, when we consider that we are
standing at the Falls of st. Anthony, 22OO
miles from the mouth Of this great river, and
when but yesterday, as it were, we were cross
ing its morbid waters ina log canoe, and push
ing as with the palm of our hands the red man
OF the forest and prairie farther and farther
back from the habitations of civilized man.
Let not the opportunity pass you of making
known to the Congress of the United States,
the accomplishment Of this great work. Point
them to the fact that it is upon the line of the
Northern Branch of the Pacific Railway.
Who knows but this mighty structure may yet
bear the weight of the commerce of the Pa
ci6c, as it mingles with that of the Atlantic?
This is no Utopian idea for the country that
has people whose enterprise constructs such
noble specimen of art, deserves the attention
OF the National Congress. Saint Paul, with
all her population, capital and commerce, has
permitted Minneapolis and st. Anthony, to
snatch the palm from her. And you deserve
the honor. Do not let your apathy lose you
the prestige your capital and enterprise has
won.
These festive occasions are both interesting
and instructive. They bring together our peo-
pie, who thus become known to each other per-
sonally, politically, and socially. In this new
country, we are surrounded by ladies and gen.
tlemen' OF varied sentiments, sympathies, edu-
cation and association, and here we are able
by forming each others acquaintances-to
disabuse ourselves Of prejudices that, without
occasions like these, might exist for years.
l cannot let the occasion close, without ten
dering my sincere thanks to the highly accom-
plished engineer, whose scientific skill planned
and executed this great structure of art Nav
his life be prolonged many years, for the bcne-
fit of his country, and may this festive occasion
pc productive Of much good to this Territory.
(To be concluded)