The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-06-05

An Address delivered boiore the Historical soe.sty Of
Minneso,s TERRITORY. by iosArrs DosssLis, Of fhii
sdslphis, May 81. lSo.
| remember. when first reading the works oi
John Adams, being forcibly struck with his
Journal or diary. II commenced prior to the
commencement of his political career and &c
companied him through all the changes OF his
early life, and ceased only when his biography
became part Of the history Of his country. To
Minnesota this Association will be what that
diary was TO John Adams While the early
history OF every other nation on the face Of the
globe is wrapped in obscurity and darkness.
the first days Of Minnesota win he, on the rec
oris Of this society. preserved in clearness and
precision, And how important is such record.
We have the bepiuning here. but who shall
fortel the end This great land is now, for
the first time, open to the influence Of civilizs-
tion the plough Of agriculture and the con-
munications OF commerce now break upon It
for the first but that which Nature kept des
olate for ages man will not permit again to I've
neglected. The great natural advantages Of
this country having once been brought 10 light,
may be subjected to the many mutations Of the
future, but we may fairly infer that they never
90 back to the condition from which they are
now being taken. And how proud thought
it is, that amid all those changes which time
will naturally bring TO everything on earth
amid all the alterations Of condition, circum
stance, power, wealth, perhaps people and gov
ernment, to which this country will be subject
ed, the record Of this young Society. now co
temporary with its infancy and childhood. will
90 on side by side with its every advancement
the register Of its rise its prosperity its wealth
the herald Of its glory in arts. in science, il
arms--the journalizel history OF it, whole VA
red existence.
Nor will the record OF the Association bt
valueless to the world. No person can trave
in this Territory and question the iact that u
will yet play an important part IN the grea'
drama Of human advancement. II is not m,
place TO fatter, nor is II necessary 10 recoun
matters well known 10 you all ! hut pro
nounce an universal sentiment among the IN
formed on tina, subject when ! say that no por
tion Of our great coniederacy has ever yet start
ell with greater natural or social advantages
Minpesota il the only State above the Maso'
and Dixon's Line having the N ississippi run
ming through the heart of her country. Sh
stands at the bead OF the navigation Of tb
wonderful natural channel Of communication
uneouallsi in the world BY means OF II. h.
roince is borne through thousands Of miles
by an uninterrupted conrse, to the Gulf OF Mex
ico. On her northeast she is bounded by tn
frst and greatest Of the chain OF great lake.
lake Superior From that point she can con
muuicate with the rich country along thsi
hanks. with the Canadas, with the country
the st Lawrence and. finally, with the Atlal
tic Ocean and with Europe. Her whole wes
eru boundary Is formed by the Missouri rive'
another great outlet 10 the Gulf Of Mexico. an
draining from the west and northwest cour
try vet TO bear its tribute Of wealth 10 MInD'
sota, while, TO the north, runs out the Red m
er from the heart Of her territory, opening
communication with the great bays OF Csnafi'
Che Il thus, ~ II were, the centre rom whic
rsdistes the greatest water courses OF the co'
tipeut. She gives birth TO the Mississippi ~
,r, She heads the great chain OF fresh ~at'
lakes-the inland seas Of North America ~
gives rise to one Of the greatest triba'ar'es
the Cansdas spd she supplies grsst Par
the volume OF the turbid Missouri. thus cas-
west, north and south, she has ready na'gr'
communication with the external world ~
s il II vas not water enough to supply u
and abe is still more generoasly gifted II o.
slIl take the man. be- will find Minnesota 5c
ted over with an infinite multitnde OF lakes,
all sizes and forms. absolutely sprinkied os
the FACE n the country We have heard
sAid tha, astrooomers are Of opinion that !
uumerous small bodies lately discovered sae
ter the otbsr in the beaveus. are the frAgDrs
Il zoe large plan, oDee existing. bat diss
ersi by sOne rude couvulsson of nAtnre &C p
hap- the pieces from which Ptaoe' vas
have been iorned IN scattered and unco''ects
10 ike manner. IL We glance ct the map
will almost coucluds that bere IN The 'nns1s''
tie small lAkes Of Minnesota re IND tne ru
ments or the rnsins Of sone large lake. !
bad of the gres, chain OF AXE hrst N 70
t.oa and d arr BESIDE ~hieh superior s0'
appear dwindlei. BE tbs theory IS It ia
hese lakes have made Minnesota the Ereau
~s,er county in the void Thy have :,
Piled hez, In The most abundant qaanufy Vi
.ha. tryf blsssirs Of iif. iresA. pure -,