Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-01-30


-efri .s.ai sos .am3 .s 20 a-. ofI
ton with no intention of speaking, but as II. NJ.
Rice was well khdwn to the people Of Minnesota,
he did not deem it a hard matter to say some-
thing on the OCCASION. Mr.. Rice had worked
hard and energetically for the interests of Mime
sota-his interests were theft interests and
throughout the territory he was known and es-
teemcd. But notwithstanding this, II. NJ. Rice
had his faults but those faults were errors of the
head and not of the heart. We have had others
who have done much for the tcrritory-Mr. Siblcy,
we all know how faithfully he worked for US in
the Councils of the nation, and then there is Mr..
F. Steele, whose whole energies have been d.
rected towards the growth and prosperity of Min
nesota. So with Mr.. Rice, each and every one
knew how much he had accomplished. In some
things he had failed, but as has already been sta
ted, these failu es arose more from an error Of
the head than the heart. The Wire Suspension
Bridge was among Mr.. Rice's earliest projects
Even when the speaker considered it gas on the
part of the st. Anthony people, he was foremost
in pushing forward the enterprise and predicted
it would be built in FIVE years. Its completion
would give him unfeigned qualification. But he
deemed it unnecessary to alude to the acts of MIR.
Rice; they were before the people, and he felt
sure the people would sustain him. Music.
6. The GOuernor of Minnesota.
j. Trav' 8 Rosser, ESQ.,, was expected to res
pond to this toast, but not being present, Mr..
Goodrich, of the Pioneer, was called upon, who
stated that he would cheerfully respond, if he
was in the habit of responing to any toast, but
as he was not, he wished to be excused.
7. The Legislature Of Minnesota. t
There was no response to this toast.
8. The future State of Minnesota destined to
be the North Star in the Constellation of Liberty.
Oscar F. Perkins, ESQ.,, responded to this toast
in q neat and excellent speech. ., f.a.e.
Mr.. President-Ladies and Gentlemen:
rise to respond to the sentiment just proposed,
with no little emotion, for find myself in the
midst of large and enthusiastic assembage and
know for what purpose they are convened.
reflect that the festivities of this occasion are the
pomp and circumstance of glorious peace, to COM
memorate an important era in the history of the
arts of peace. reflect that it has been reserved
for Minnesota, the home of my adoption, to usher
in the memorable epoch, and feel exultent with
the rest. In the infancy Of her existance with
the sinews of her strength scarcely developed at
all, she has succeeded to accomplish an enterprise
of distinguished and permanent consequence to
the whole country. She has Bridgcd the Missis-
sippi, the great "Father of Waters," the pride,
the glory of America, and has made it like the an
cent prisoners of war, to pass under the yoke.
Who will say, in view of this achievement, that
the acclamation of JOY, which have made the heav-
ems ring to day, are not pertinent and proper?
We rejoice in the success of the past and from
it draw deep inspiration Of hope for the future.
That Minnesota is destined to be of the bright
est stars in the galaxy of Liberty, the intelligence
and capability of her sons as evinced by the re.
cent triumph, wo arc now engaged in celebrating,
assure US is no sickly chimera of an ovcr-heated
fancy. The signs of the times arc eminently pro-
pitious. ,-... -......-... ..-- .,..,-f I'D,
If correctly interpret the sentiment, it does not
base its prediction on the ground of the northern
latitudna position of the s'future state,' for in
that respect we hope it is not destined long at
least to enjoy the appellation of the North Star.
An immense region of country, every way worthy
to be blessed with freedom sreaches still farther
onward towards the north and waits only the pro-
gress of events to emerge fiom the dark domin-
ion of despotic power into the complete cffulgence
of popular liberty. In our aspirations for free
dom We know no geographical boundaries, we
recognize no impossible limits to the spread of
Republican Institutions, nor should we ever cease
peacefully to propagate them, until every part of
c0;1 k1on ae Il 4
by the rod Of despo.ism or the curse of slavery.
The propounder of the sentiment evidently in
tended to express simply that when Minnesota
comes to take her position in the constellation of
American States, the North Star is not more brill
liant than will be her career, nor more immova-
BILE in its xedness, than she will be as the repre-
sentative of the principles of human liberty. In
the sentiment as thus cxpounded, am sure there
is not ono present who will not most heartily con-
cur. Her broad map dazzling ths Imagination,
the peculiarity of her position rendering it NOR
ally certain that great thoroughfare from the
Atlantic to the Pacific will pass ut no remote time
directly through her ccntrc,-her unparalleled
growth thus far--her natural advantages in re-
spect to agriculture, commerce and the manufac-
turing arts, the three principal elements of dis
tinguished character, all seem to point as with a
finger to glorious future, while the abundance
of her mineral resources, and her piner;es vastly
augment the sources of her wealth. Her gen.
erous soil vics in fertility with the beautfu
tropics,-the falls of St. Anthony, by an eternal
roar proclaim themselves competent to drive as
many wheels Of manufacturing industry as any
other power on earth, while the peerless Mssssip-
pi, the great artery Of inland commerce itself,
bears away her products to foreign markets,
bringing back in return whatever can administer
to the necessities or luxury of her people. There
can be no doubt that these noble physical charac-
teristics if properly developed, will conspire to
render the future State of Minnesota as resplen-
dent as the Polar Star. But will she be as con-
slant as the star in her advocacy of human rights
and her denunciations of human wrongs? Can
the oppressed of all lands lift up their voices to
her in the full assurance that their supplications
for sympathy will not be contemnedY will she
prove to be an incorruptible defender of the I'm
ion, upon the pcrpetuity Of which the very exist
ance of liberty depends? These are questions Of
grave import which can only be responded to by
the expression of hope. If however, do not
mistake the present predictions Of the people Of
Minnesota, If do not mistake Their character OF
the impulses that sway them, the protection Of
human rivhts the redress of human wron0s-tho