The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-02-07
INTRO RY.
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Mr.. President Ladies and Gentlemen.
In the note from the Secretary Of this As
ISOLATION, inviting me to deliver the annual
address, there was contained an intimation that
the state Of the country now comprised within
our Territorial lmits-from the year 1919
when o military post was first established 81
the confluence Of the Mississippi and Mime
sofa rivers, until ls49, when Congress gave to
Minnesota distinct existence and name
would be On appropriate subject. have acted
upon that suggestion in part only-not having
confined myself TO the particular period raferrc,l
to-nor have attempted anything like con,
tinuous narrative Of events On the contrary
have picked up waif here and there, as fur
nished from memory or otherwise brought
within my reach, and have enunciated some
opinions Of my own, which will BE- found not
70 accord with those generally entertained by
the community at large.
ANrE-HIsroRIc PERIOD.
While reviewing what is usially termed the
early history of Minnesota, has ref
erents TO u time subsequent to lis discovery BY
white men-the mind is naturally he'd To spccn.
late upon the condition of things. as they exist.
ed at much more remote pcriod. and beEore
the present races of red men acquired POSSESSION
Of this country. That the entire west was in.
habited by a more civilized people than the In.
dians We do not learn from tradition. nor have
we the testimonials even of rude bieroolvphics
which NAV he decipberc,l sooner or faicr nv
the antiquarian. Nevertheless. there IL otl,rr
evidence of the fact OF nm ipdisnutab,c cbarac.
o.L, - - - IL ,.c 80 49,
ea,n nj. y,,.,I..,r,. IS -. -.
and implements of labor ma,lc from conncr-
other articles never fashioned NV Indian hands
together with the proof, of mechanical skill in
the Conner Mines of lake Spn.r;or lateIv dis.
covered where masses oC that metal oI manv
tons weight. have b.,en r,is,J from tbs;, hcd.
and vooicp supnorts introduced hc,eath thor,
with a view 10 their remoynl.~, these arc a s.w
Of the evidences which satisfy 80, An. a, ;s,nco
of r,.oe long since. in the region now occun;ed
by ne. who were Gar sune,ior IN the Indian
tribes, but whose fate il len entirely ~ con;cc
ture
Fancy may n;cture IN IA communities NJ
simple anil ;nd1str;ons naonle unwa,l;Lo In
Their charpcter bannv IN ITO ,,o.ess;on or !.
G,rtiIe and beout;6,I Country .,i I.I.sso, it'll
all the comforts of M, snLlrIv and sncc.ss.
iyelv invaded overwhelmed ami ey,er,n;o.tsa
by hordes of merciless sayaoes leaving hch;nd
them NO other trace. of their history than ore
afforded by few specimens OF their inornuitv in
the mechanic arts The mvsterv wh;ch erv,i.
III a. 'I,I ~. "".
day some record which has hitherto bailled the
dilligent search of the historian.
THE INDIAN CHARACTER.
The character of the wild race who succee,l-
them in possession OF the Mississippi Valley, is
well portrayed by Alison, in his martial. but el
oquent " History Of Europe" He describes the
North American Indian as neither the child
Of Japhet. daring, industrious, in.lefatipablc ex
p'oring the world by his ENTERPRISE and sub,lu-
ing II by hsexertions nor the offspring of Ish-
mael. sober, ardent, enduring. trayersing the
desert on his steess and issuing forth nj appoint
ed intervals, from his soitudes 10 punish and re-
gencrat. mankind He is the hunter of the for.
est skilled to perfection ia the craft necessary
for that primitive occupation but incapabIc Of
advancing beyond il. Civilization in vain en-
deavors TO throw its silken letters over his
limbs he avoids the smiling plantation. and
flies In horror before the advancing Ratchet of
the wools,nan. lie does well TO shun the M.
proach Of the Euroman race: he can neither
endure its ftigucs nor withstand its temptations:
and faster than before the sword and bayopet,
his race is melting under the frewatcr. the first
gin and last curse Of civilization"
tribal CONDITION oF THE INDIANS.
II ia M, s.,v ;ntcn,;o, to .x,a,;o,o q, l.n,,h
upon This tonic Rut in me animal ,ddrcss If
your society. a passing glance nav be nerm;,.
ted at the tribal condition Of that people who
have so long roamed through our forests and
our prairies, and who are now disappearing I'M
der the operation Of the samc influences which
long since SWEPT their eastern brethren from the
earth.
The subdivisions Of the respective Dakota
aud Algonquin stocks have bern opposed 10
each other for centuries. Tradition, as well M
the testimony Of the carly writers upon this
country. informs us that active hostlitics have
existed between them from time imrnemorial.
except when an occasional temporary trace has
beer agreed upon by the parties Sometimes
il has happened, that some Of the olrshoots from
the parent stem. had combined with it, enemies
against it, Thus. the Assinebones a revoltnd
tribe Of Dakotas. have allied themselves with
the Chiprwas against them On the other
hand. the Sacs and Foxes. or Algonquin eS-
traction. were formerly on such friendly terms
with the Dakotas, that, with them, they malr
furious war upon the Chippewaa Thse were,
however. hut signal exceptions to the general