Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1857-01-17
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTAL n
VA MlNNEsorA TERRrroRY. rs X
Gentlemen ofthe Council and Houss of y 70.

~ mas pleased Divine Pr0videuCe to p6s1ni
you again to meet Mt the CapitolStD consider til
measures necessary to be adopted for the futur,
welfare and general prosperity of our Territory
The year which has Just closed has been one Of
the most extraordinary prosperity to Minnesota
every element o. wealth has poured in upon us
from the States with such rich profuson as to as.
tonish the most hopeful in our futurej .devblop,
ment. The agricultural products of tie pas
year have more than doubled those Of any former
one; the increase of cash capital has, more thar
'tfebled; the quantity of land entered BY actual
settlers has far outstripped that of any former
year; and our population, the only sure founda.
ton OF real wealth and greatness, has more thar
doubled. These and other evidences of a healthy
and prosperous growth, are attributable to thu
goodness of a kind Providence in blessing u.
with a healthful climate, good soil, and a re.
markably intelligent and enterprsing .p0pula.
ton. 1t has also been the administrative policy
OF the Territory, to secure peace and quiet among
the people, and thus TO avail ourselves of the cap.
itai, enterprise and population, that would 9th.
erwlse have gone elsewhere in the great West
1t is but Just to the dignifed character and
standing OF Minnesota to say, that her prosperity
has been greatly promoted by the careful avoid
ance OF internal strife about questions of Nation.
al policy; and even in her own internal affairs
free expression of opinion has been tolerated
with a forbearance and good sense that may be
pointed to with pride and satisfaction in all time
to come. -} fta. an3
From sources deemed reliable, / am able to
state the population of the Territory at about
one hundred and eighty thousand souls, and feel
justified in saying that this is rather under than
over the estimate made by many who have ia
ken some pains to inform themselves on the sub
ject. f........,. Il. g..i.,I !.
1t Is proper to state that the taxable property
in the Territory amounts to between thirty and
thirty-6ve millions of dollars, ever at the low
rate OF, assessment made by the officers appoint
ed for that purpose. The returns made by twcn-
ty-four counties, show an assessment of twenty
four millions of dollars. ~
In view Of our population and wealth, it seems
to be matter of necessity that steps be taken to
throw OF our state OF dependence on the Nation
al Government, and assume the mantle of State
sovereignty. Even should the most speedy or.
ganisasiOn be made to this end, our population
must run up to two hundred or two hundred and
fifty thousand people and our taxable property
reach fifty or sixty millions of dollars at least,
before Congress will admit us into the Union. il
is necessary to examine this question with some
care, and to exercise that prudence and sound
judgment characteristic of our intelligent fellow
citizens. The only advantage we derive from
remaining a POLITICAL ward of the National Gov
ernmeps, is, the annual appropriation made by
Congress to pay the expenses of a Governor, Se-
cretary, three Judges, the Legislature, and the
the incidental expenses thereof, amounting in all
to about thirty thousand dollars. The Marshal
and District Attorney will continue, under a
State Government, to be appointed and paid as
at present. t".%H e'-'
, If, therefore, the present tax levied and colec-
ted for Territorial purposes of ten cents on each
one hundred dollars valuation, be continued with
out the least increase, it will raise a fund of
more than thirty thousand dollars, enough to pay
all the ordinary expenses of a State organization
1t is manifest that our present tax of ten cents
on each one hundred dollars valuation, is as high
as need be to support a State Government, if the
collecting and disbursing officers faithfully per-
form their duty, which, it is very likely. they
will berequired to do, when the people have to
bear the evil and burden Of their neglect. Then,
the Legislator will be held to strict and just ac-
countability to his constituents for every dollar
he votes out of their pockets, and we shall thus
secure amore rigid system of economy in pub.
lie expenditures. ,. -,
In addition to this, we may fairly calculate up
on the increase OF the value of taxable property
from year to year, and therefore avoid any neces.
sity for increasing the per ccntage Of tax to be
levied for ordinary Sta e purposes. 'hf
In this connection am forced to the necessity
OF asking you to scrutnize the subject of Terri.
torial taxes, and especially the disposition of the
Auhuo "4.SA nave uecu lAdue lrOh year 10 year
for Territorial purposes. The last assessment
amounted to more than twenty-three millions
which will yield fund of about twenty
three thousand dollars at ten cents on each one
hundred dollars valuation, while every draft or
the Treasury will not amount to eight Thousand
dollars. This tax, under proper construction
of the law, must be paid to the Collectors with
out deduction, and with very little delinquency
under our tax system.
Many counties seem to increase their indebted
ness from year to year without any apparent
cause. trust that all faithful Representatives
of the people will give this matter their atten
ton. ar s1gT rev - 'pt-'F ESQ"
l am satisfied that under State organization
public economy will take the place of that seem
ing neglect, engendered especially under a system
of government dependant on foreign support.
1t is necessary to proper understanding, tt
| inquire what hope there is, that the Congress O
the United States will ever again IN Ike Apr
priations sufficient for our support,
| consider myself authorized in saying tina
| there is great reluctance on the part of tn
present Congress to grant us much further aid a.
a Territorial Government, because we have a lar
ger population and more Internal resources fol
self-support than any former Territory at tn
time Of its application for admission as State
and because it is expected of every Territory t,
ask admission when its population is sufficient t.
| entsie u, II, State; to one Representative il
Congress. sol Il adEiitSed into the Union thi
dag, we would be entitled, according to tho pre-
sent ratio of Congressional representation, to n
least two Representatives, and before anothc
year elapses, (which must necessarily happen be
fore Congress will again convene,) will most like
ly have population enough for three.
| The ratio OF Congressional representation il
noy fixed at about ninety-three thousand. d As
sumipg oqr population at present to be one hun
! dred and eighty thoisand, il the increase is il
the same ratio for the ensuing year as for last, i
, will then reach three hundred thousand souls
...-iT'''l pretend that the coming yeal
promises less than the p p. a}aa o. .;soa ,b,.
1t is therefore no longer to be hlsg~.-l ,i-'7 !,
movement for State Government is forced upv.
US by public opinion abroad, and candor compel,
the admission that self respect and, perhaps a
proper sense of propriety, bid us to assume Stat,
sovereignty at as early day as the nature o.
our Government will allow. paof H'ni'o ''4'
. 1t is usually charged that scheming politicians
desire to hurry on the organization Of a Stat'
government for their own aggrandizement. b. Blu
this appeal to popular prejudice cannot be fairl,
made against the public men Of Minnesota, a
all of them up to this time have carefully re
Trained from agitating the subject, until on
Delegate has been embarrassed by Congressiona
sentiment even to thwart his success in matters
ordinary appropriations, 8 fsBna. fsri 7iadl
When we arrive at that point where our strength
makes us weak in the demand for Territorial sup
port by Congress, it would seem to be tile part o
wisdom and dignity to place ourselves in a posi-
ton to send Representatives to Congress to de
mand for our manhood what has heyetOfor beer
granted to our infancy. 80
The influence of two Senators and perhap
three Representatives, with authority. to speaI
and vote, will surely secure more favorable legis
ton than can be expected from Delegate, how
eyer faithful aud efficient he may be in his capac