The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-12-20
From the Minnesota (Aiinneapolis) Democrat.

when Shall Minnesota be a Statea
a. We are already committed in favor of the
immediate admission of Minnesota into the
Union as State, and for the reason that the
best interests of the Territory and its inhab-
itants demands the contamination of so dcsi-
rable an object. Before entering upon the
presentation of evidences within our immedi-
ate observation in favor of the proposition,
the readers attention is called to the views
entertained of US in the States. The Phlla-
delphia North American says:
"While all are talking about the admission
of Kansas as State, with its sparse popu-
lation and unsettled condition of society and
government, it seems to be entirely forgotten
that Minnesota has been kept oct of the Uni
on until she has reached population of no.,
600. 1t does not matter much. however, for
as the Territory is bound to be admitted
pretty soon, she will make he larger figure
at Washington when she does come in. By
the next time the national census is taken.
Minnesota will be entitled to some four or
five representatives. How will it help the
South to counterbalance such States as this
in the Senate; and yet find hersl If in a con-
stantly Incl easing minority in the House? At
the present. tin e, Illinois is known to have
population enough to entitle her to some fif-
teen repre- sentatives and Iowa to five or six.
which in few years must be gra ted to
them. And if it should be deemed necessa-
ry to keep Minnesota out of the Union, by
dividing it into three or four territories, we
think the North would best serve its own i'll
terests by aiding the movement"
What the North American SAYS Of our
strength and population is an accurate delin-
cation of facts. Minnesota has more popula-
ton than any of the new States could boast
OF when they were admitted, and twice the
ability to maintain State governments; and
yet we hear OF a few who prefer the terrltori-
al relation. But the North American intro
dnces a suggestion at the close of its para
graph which deserves a rebuke. 1t leaves US
to infer that it would favor the crushing out
OF the best interests of Minnesota provided
1t could thereby promote the interests of the
States. To divide Minnesota into three or
four Territories would cripple her power for
ever. The growth and prosperity of each
would be cripple if not destroyed. There
can be but one division of the Territory that
would answer to the demands of its citizens,
or advance their commercial and political I'M
.portance, and that division we have hereto
fore pc nted out in the follown l.nguage:-
This Territory will make two states Of res
pc table and convenient size and form, pre-
ser ling natural and easily defined boundaries
TO each, If it is divided by Line commencing
on lis northern border in the centre of the
annel OF the Red River, thence running
>outh up the channel of said river 20 the
mouth OF the Bots dc Sioux river, and down
the channel OF the same to the northwest
corner of the State of Iowa. All that por-
ton OF country lying east of this line should
form the new State Of Minnesota Its dilnen-
sions would be 3Sa miles in length from north
to south, with an average breadth of from Us
to 100 miles, containing about 69.OOu .cuarr
miles. of which at least 3 900 are Covered with
the waters OF its numerous lakes and river
|,OOO are embraced IN swamps and pineries
which are unfit Tor agricultural purposes, and
at least 0,uOO square miles in tie northern
and northeastern portions are too rough,
broken and mountainous to be of much val
ue. Indeed, with this apparently large ter
ritory our agricultural resources can never
equal Illinois, Iowa or Wisconsin. 1t is ap-
parent to every impartialsobserver that we
must rely, IN some measure, upon our COM
mercial, mining and manufacturing resources.
How important. then, will it he t, secure a
commercial outlet unon the lakes. What
Lake Michigan is to Illinois, Lake Superior
will be to the State which secures its north
western shore. No uninterrupted navigab'e
waterprojectS SO far into the interior of North
America. TO lose this would forever pa,al-
we our commerce and throw the profits of
our agricultural industry into the lap Of our
more sagacious neighbors. With a State hav-
ing such boundaries the roople of Minneso-
Ia could well afford to take care Of them
selves, and we are glad to know that our
views upon the subject meet with very GEN
eral approval; indeed, no one has had the
courage to raise an objection except by cum
ning, secret management. Joseph r. Brown
who Is stlg'natized the Jugg!eT, is reported to
be in favor of division by an east and west
line, running somewhere between Minneauo-
lis and ST. Cloud, to further which he is cx-
ertng his chlcanery to the utmost. Wer: it
possible for him to succeed, lie would prove
to be an everlasting curse to the people who
have heretofore confded in him. But what
care such men for the public good, if they
can only promote then own rdid interests?
The evidences in favor Of the earl est pos
>ible admission of Minnesota to the Union.
or N"hy dEtutiit@dtillT. he congress On3l
Committee OH Territories, as rly as some
time during the Last session, notified our Del
egate, that they would not recommend any
more appropriations for US. All lding to the
circumstance, the Washington correspond
ent of the New York Herald, says:
minnesota has now population which
would cntitle her to two members of Con-
gress, besides her two Senators-and vet,
rather than dispense with the patronizng aid
of the General Government in defraying all
the expenses of the Territory, she prefers t,
content herself with the delegate in the House
OF Representatives, who has not even vote
IN the legislation Of tie country. Bat Min
nesota cannot carry on that game any longer.
Her delegate was notified last session, by
the Committee on Territories, that they
would not recommend any more appropria-
tons for her; and so she has no choice but
to form her State Constitution and apply for
admissi n into the Unio". 1t is doubtful.
howeve', whether she will not try to bluff
1ff Congress for another session..