The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-06-03
inaugural Address Of Gov. sibley.

On w eGnesGay, ooln Iousos VI tnc iNg-
islature convened, bu, there being no quo
rum present, adjourned.
This morning Thursday at II o'clock,
Gov. SiBLEy in the presence Of both Houses,
assembled in Joint Convention, delivered the
following
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
FELLOW CITIZENS:
Minnesota has, at length. been permitted
to take her place in the Union upon an
equal footing with the original States Con
gress, by solemn act of legislation, approx
I'd by the President has recognized her Us
sovereign and independent member OF the
Confederacy--iree, hencelorth from the tram.
mes Of Territorial vassalage, and bound 10y
no allegiance to any earthly power outside
OF her own limits, except TO the Federal
Union, TO the extent prescribed by the Con
stitution OF the United States.
To Almighty God should we express our
gratitude, that we have been preserved in
our transition from Territorial to u State
G0vernment-irom the anarchy which has
afflicted the people Of sister Terri tory un
der like circumstances. Within our borders
there have been no assemblages of armed
men banded together TO oppose or to enforce
existing laws--no drop Of human blood has
soiled the pages Of our brief political histo-
ry, and we now assume the responsibilities of
sclfgovernment. united as fervently trust
and believe, in the determination 10 maintain
unblemishcd the character and public credit
of the new State of Minnesota.
= hut. Tfifir il ~ Il sa6jrcr OF roifg1atrta-
ton that Minnesota is now a State in the
Union. she has just ground Of complaint
that her admission has been SO long delayed
The Enabling Act OF Congress contained u
distinct pledge of the public faith that, up
on her compliance with certain conditions
precedent therein contained she should be
received into the Coniederacy. Those con-
ditions were accepted without change or
modification; constitution republican in
its FORM framed by her delegates, and adopt
ed by nearly unanimous vote of her peo-
pie was presented % Congress nj an early
period Of the session nevertheless, she has
been compelled to wait for months at tie
doors OF the National Capitol, before they
were reluctantly orered TO admit her. \
spirit OF enlarged patriotism would have
prompted an immediate and welcome rcccp
ton by Congress OF hourishing and popu
lous State, which had not only been ever
distinguished for her obedience TO law, but
had complied with each requirement Of her
Enabling Act. II is not strange that the
neglect to admit Minnesota for so long a
time should have excited the regret, no less
than the indignation Of her citizens.
II his iDjuriously affected public and pri-
vate credit-checked immigration, and par
alyzed, to some extent, the energies Of her
population. Capital, always sensitive, had
ceased to seek investment in our midst, Ow-
ing to the uncertainty Of the action Of Con
gress in our case, and the possible risk Of
los in a community where the protection OF
law might be supposed to be weakened 10y
the anomalous situation in which we were
placed For this state of things Congress
Is responsible. Having followed the course
pointed out to us with scrupulous exactness,
we had organized our State Government, a.
we were expressly authorized 10 do, and We
presented ourselves to the National Legisla-
ture with full confidence that the pledges
made us would be faithfully redeemed. How
was our application received? Oar Sena.
tors and Representatives were repulsed-
our expostulatons were unh.ded--and the
humilla,ing spectacle has been presented to
the world, for the first time in our political
history, OF State against who's admission
not single validsohjection could bc urged,
being kept out of the Union for many months,
not because oiany fault Of her own not that
she merI,ed punishment for characterization
or resistance to law-bu' simply because it
sIbseIved the purposes Of Congressional
politicians TO allow her to remain suspended,
Tor an indefinite period, like the tabled coffin
of The false prophet, between the heavens
and the earth.
II was in view Of the unsatisfactory state
Of our affairs in Washington, that the IT.
gslature Of Minnesota, during the present
session, rejecting most truly the sentiments
Of their constituents throughout the State,
provided for an amendment to the CoDstitu.
ton, which empowered the officers elect TO
qualify on or after May |, 1855, without
longer awaiting the action Of Congress.
The people, by an imposing majority, en-
dorsed the recommendation d their repre-.
senta,ives, thereby administering deserved
rebuke u all who had bscn instrumental in
delaying the admission Of the State. !, is
fortunate that the bill admitting Minnesota
has become Il law, for otherwise grave ques-
tions would. doubtless, have arisen, involy.
ing the RICH, ftbe General Government 10
exercise Jurisdiction within the limits Of
State, which could not consistently ackn0wl.
edge such pretsnsion, and ii is far from i'm.
probable that serious consequences would
have resulted from any attempt to enforce
the laws Of the United States within our
boundaries. The overwhelming majority in
favor Of the bill On the fnal vote, in both
Houses Of Congress. il the most conclusive
evidence Of the utter friyol,y q the objec-
tons urged against the measure. Ia the
Senate, ~ out Of 81 votes, and 10 the Hou-e
Of Representatives. l3s on, Of lyG yotes.
were cast for the admission Of Minnesota.
The hostility Of some Of i's oppOnen.s