Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-06-05
The old settlers, Associ.tion.

|
The annual meeting of the Old Settlers
Association was held at the Senate Chamber
Oh the Capitol Tuesday afternoon.
II. II. SIBLEY, the President of the Asso-
citation, called the meeting to order, and sta-
ted its objects.
On motion OF Judge GOODRICH, the Asso-
clatl0n proceeded to the election of officers
for the ensuing year.
The election resulted in the choice of the
following persons.
H. II. SIBLEY, President;
M. s. WILKINSON and MAuIos B1AcK.
Vice Presidents;
A. L. LARPENrEuR, Secretary;
VIM. II. FORBES, Treasurer.
The President on taking the chair, made
appropriate remarks, returning thanks to
the Association. He urged upon the men,
bers to carry out its objects, by every means
in their power.
The President announced the following Ex-
ecutive Committee AARON Goodrich, II.
N. SETTER, J. P. OWENS, WIN. II. FORBES
and JOHN DEWEY.
| On motion of L. A. BABcoCK, Esq a reso-
luton was adopted, requesting the members
to furnish such facts or incidents pertaining
to their settlement in Minnesota, as they may
deem of interest the same to be delivered to
the Secretary, for the purpose Of compilation
in the annals of the Association.
On motion, the meeting adjourned to meet
at the Merchants Hotel, at M.
THE SUPPER.
About half-past nine o'clock, a numerous
company of cold Settlers" sat down to a
sumptuous repast, prepared by Mr.. E. G. BE-
LorE, the we'll known caterer of the Mer-
chants Hotel, in honor of the first Annual
meeting of the Old Settlers.
The table was presided over by Hon. H.
| II. SIBLEY, the President of the Association,
assisted by the officers of the Society.
Among the "Old Settlers" present on the
occasion, we noticed Gov. RAMSEY, Lieut..
Gov. HoLcoMBE, Judge GOODRICH, Judge
COOPER, j. w. Bass, DR.. BoRup, MAHLoN
BLACK, DR.. PoTTs, j. P. OWENS, L. A. BAB-
COCK, WIN. FREEBoRN, WIN. P. MURRAY, M.
S. WILKINSON, W. H. FORBES, G. 81. CAKES,
H. L. Moss, A. L. LARPENrEUR, G. d. Ell
EELT, N. MYRIcK, j. G. RAMSEY, W. G. NOR
RIsoN, SOCRATES NELSON. and many others.
After the eatables had been disposed oil, L.
A. BABcocK, ESQ.,, toast master read the first
regular toast
The "Old Settlers" of Ninnesota-The Pioneers
| of Western civilization-by their energy, enter
State was securely built. May their lives be long
| spared as witnesses of the prosperity they have
| originated.
Responded to by NJ. S. WILKINSON, Esq,
of Mankato.
Mr.. W. said that under ordinary circum-
stances an occasion of this sort would prepare
him for one of his best efforts, but he regret
ed that he was not so prepared. This was
the first anniversary of the Society known al
the "Old Settlers Association" Our pros
peritY during the infancy of our State ha
been unequalled-our advancement in al
things tending to make US great State ha
been without parallel in the history of tn
other States.
On the lst of June, 1849, nine years ag
to-day, when the machinery of our Terrific
rial Government was first put in motion,
large portion of the now cultivated portion
of the State, was one vast waste, uninhabite(
except by indiana. There were a few clus
ters of settlements on the East side of thu
Mississippi only. But what revolution ha!
been brought about in those nine short years
When l came here in 1847, continued Mr.
w., Saltwater was the only settled place o.
any note. In 1S48, tho State of Wisconsin
was admitted, whereby we were entirely Sc
parated from all connection with any lawful
jurisdiction. But the people enjoyed the best
of government, for they were a law unto
themselves. The early settlers here howev
er, did not come for the purpose of getting
out of the pale of civilization, as was the
case of many Of the early settlers Of Indiana
and Illinois. Mr.. W. then related an Incl
dent in relation to the trial, conviction and
execution of an Indian for the murder of q
white man at the Falls of st. Croix, by the
then settlers, and its salutary effect towards
maintaining peaceful relations between the
Indians and whites. The jury which con-
victed the murderer was the most intelligent
one he had ever wit messed and the trial was
conducted in the mcst orderly and impartial
manner. He then passed most deserved
culogy on the early settlers of the st. Croix
The people of Minnesota early directed
their attention to the great objects which
make a great State. The first Legislature, q
number Of the members of which, he was
glad to see before him tonight made provis-
ion for the protection Of school lands, and
levied tax for the support of schools. There
was not another instance of this kind in the
history of any Of the other States. The
school lands were held as a sacred trust by
the old settlers, and had never been robbed
till the ruthless hand of speculation first
seized upon the people.
Mr.. w. then referred to the first Legisla-
ture of the Territory, the action of which
was not controlled by any midnight party
caucusses. The people were not partisans
and no man was prescribed for his political
opinions He aloo roforrod to oarly oeenee
connected with the bar.
Mr.. w. continued There is one person
who was leading member of the first Leg
islative Assembly whose name has been di-
rectly associated with the early history Of
Minnesota, who is, through the dispensation
of Providence, prevented from forming one
of this circle of old Settlers tonight it is
DAVID OLMsrED, who was the President oi