Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-06-14
SHALL WE BECOME A STATE.

SHALL WE BECOME STATE.
MANKATO, BLUE EARTH COUNTY, M. T.
| FEBRuARY s, 1856.
To the Editor Of the Times. st. Paul,-As
have seen no report, or any appointment by the
Legislature, of a committee to report on that
part of the Governors Message which "suggests
the propriety and public policy of our remaining
a Territory few years, the undersigned with
your permission) would take the liberty to re-
port, not only to the Legislature, but to all the
people--that he has had the subject under con-
sideraton and respectfully begs leave to report
avcrse to the recommendations Of the message Of
the Governor, because such ''propriety and pub
lie policy" would be opposed to common sense;
| would suspect the wisdom and integrity of the
people now here, and those who are expected
soon to come here, and would squint directly
back at the Honesty of his Exccllency in making
such recommendations.
The Governor says in his mcssage-.We know
from census taken the past season, in pursuance
of law, and from statistics gathered from other
reliable sources, that Minnesota this day contains
| fully seventy-fve thousand souls-an increase in
1855 of forty thousand, being more than one
hundred and fourteen per cent" Should this
ratio of increase continue for two years longer,
the population of the Territory or State, will be
over three hundred and forty three thousand
and should such result continue for three
years, population would reach the
astounding number Of seven hundred and thirty
| FIVE thousand souls.
The Governor says in his Message, ssOur pro-
gress is rapid, but he ,lthy AMI permanent, and
we can afford to be called political infants, while
we are enlarging and developing the bone and
muscle which are to give us energy, vigor, and
power when we arrive at manhood.''
Now the Governor is mistaken. We can af-
ford no such thing. Freedom is too weak for
Slavery now, and Minnesota can't afford for the
sake of being called fat baby by Il step mother,
to lose four votes in Congress and the aSpellaton
to which she would be entitled, of being ssquite
a Lady," If few years, means three wears.
according to the Governors own reckoning.
Minnesota would have population greater than
eighteen of the States severally had in 1850, and
probably greater than fifteen now have. As n
few years cannot possibly mean less than two
years, the Governor shows in that time, that
Minnesota will have population of over 443 900
souls-a population three times greater than any
Territory Of the United States, when admitted
into the Union-a population which would give
four Members in the House of Representatives.
And should Minnesota wait two years before
seeking admission into the Union, q contingency
might then happen that she would he obliged to
wait another year. Does the Governor mean to
be understood as recommending the propriety
and public policy of Minnesota congratulating
herself with being called political infant, until
she is an old maid? Or, at least, until she is one
of the largest Sisters in the whole family? IIy-
pocrsy sticks ont ga fect'' here, AMI Honesty is
out of sight. If the Governor was step mother
to one of our ''dark- haired Sisters,'' woulI he
recommend such propriety and public policy? p
| don't believe he would.
| II dark-haired Sister should have popnla-
ton sufficient to eDtitle her to Member in tine
House of Representatives, the propriety and
public policy recommended to her, would be, to
| put on the bonnet and shawl az once, and seek
an Introduction and admission into the family
| of Sisters, and be lay. The Governor has
shown, to the qualification of many, AMI to the
| satisfaction of all, that Minnesota has 20 ua-
ton day sn lie ent to ensite h,rt one Mem
ly to be admitted into the Union-ani if the
Legislature should now proTlde for the calling of
ii Convention to form Constitution, and fix rs
early d,y rs pra;tc tbie for it's rattle lton by
the people, and provide everything necessary for
an admission into the Union at the next Session
of Congress, before ali this could be done the
the population would exceed by thousands the
population OF any Territory ever admitted Into
the Union, and yet contingency might happen,
after doing all We could, that we shoud be
obliged to wait another year. Is it wise then in
usto wait $40: Il few yelrs' before asking for
an a mission into the Union? Is it common
sense to wait? Can't We take care Of ourselves
without step mother, with population of one
hundred and sixty thousand five hundred inhabi-
tants, rs we'll other Territories with half
that number? Aside from the preference of
having four Votes in Congress over one D ee-
gate, the undersigned would submit the following
reasons -
The five per cent on all the lands sold in the
State after we are admitted into the Union, it is
believed. would greatly exceed in amount the
annual appropriations made by Congress to the
Territory. This was the case in Wisconsin, and
II for year or two it should not, the quicker we
become State we secure the 1--WE per cent. on a
large capital, or quantity of the Government
lands to be sold. The five hundred thousand acres
| given to each Territory on becoming Il Stite, to
be selected in two years, would be worth many
thousand dollars more, than they would be to
delay such selection for a few years longer.
The undersigned would recommend to the
Legislature to make the preliminary ARA nge-
ments for the Territory to become State, at
the next Session of Congressman to the people,
TO look about item and be prepared to select
such men to represent us in Congress, and all the
Offices IN the State, are reliable for freedom,
integrity and ability. All of which is respectfully
| submitted.
| ISAAC ANDRUS.
Co rerron jence he Times
| MINNESOTA VALLEY.
| r