The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-04-22


region of the Lakes, hundreds OF " courcurs
des bois' had yenturcd into the distant
Northwest. The absence of so many from
regular pursuits, was supposed to be dsas
trOus to the interests Of the colony. aud
measures were taken by the French govern
ment to compel them to return, which re-
suited in only partial success.
Du Chesncau, Intendant Of Canada, was
worried by the lawlossncss OF the rover',
and writes to the Minister of MarinelGl and
Colonies of France
BE pleased to bear in mind my lord, tina,
there was n general complaint the year pre-
vious to my arrival in this country, that the
great TaaG.is,-cs Irurir-w no 'can,,- tu '1ursv-
for peltries to the Indian country, ruined the
colony, because those who alone could i'm
prove it, being young and strong for work,
abandoned their wives and childrcn the cul-
tivaton of lands, and rearing Of cattle; that
they became dissipatcd; that their absence
gave rise 10 licentiousness among their wives,
as has often been the case, and is still Of
daily occurrence that they accust omed
themselves to loafng aud vagabond life,
which it was beyond their power TO quit #;
that they derived little benefit from their Ia
bors, because they were indaccd 10 waste in
drunkenness aud fine clothes the little they
earned, which was very trilling, those who
gave them licences having the larger part,
besides the price Of the goods, which they
sold them very dear, and that the Indians
would no longer bring them peltries in such
abundance to sell 10 the honest people, il So
great number OF young men went in search
of them TO those very barbarans, who DE-.
spised us on account Of the grca, cupidity
we manifcstctcd'
At one period. three fourths of the revenue
Of Canada was derived from the fur trade
Only twenty-five licenses were granted
each year. and when poor gentleman
"old officer did not wish TO 90 West, he
disposed OF his permit, which was valued ut
six hundred crowns, TO the merchants Of
Quebec or Montreal. Each license allowed
the poSscssor TO send two canoes into the
Indian country. Six "voyagcurs" were en-.
ployed for the canoes, and were furnished
with goods valued at one thousand crowns.
with an addition Of fifteen per cent.
THE FRENCH IN MINNESOTA.
Although Du Luth and IIeDnepin had Wis.
tied Minnesota, France laid no formal claim
to the country, until the year 1859, when
Perrot, accompanied by IL Sueur, Father
Marcs,, and others, planted the cross and at.
fixed the arms Of France.
I he first official document pertaining TO
Minnesota is worthy Of preservation, and
thus reads -
Nicholas Pefrot, commanding for the
King, at the post Of Nadoucssioux, com.
mis5ioned by the Marquis DenonvilIe, Gov.
ernor and Lieutenant Governor Of all New
France, TO manage the interests Of commerce
among all the Indian tribes and people Of
the Bay dcs Puants(1l Nadouessioux, ~
Mascoutins and other western nations Of the
Upper Mississippi, and take possession in the
Kings name OF all the place. where he has
heretofore been, and whittier he will 90.
We, this day, the eighth oi May, one
thousand six hundred and eighty nine, do,
in the presence af the Reverend Father Ma
rest OF the Society OF Jusus, missionary
among the Nadouessoux Of Monsieur dc
Borieguiliot,(J) commanding the French in
the neighborhooI Of the Ouiskobchc. fl0j on
the Mississippi; Augus'in Iegardeur, -
quire, Sieur de Caumonn, and o. Ncssleurs
l% Sucur, llebcrt. Lemirc and Blcn:
Declare 10 all whom it may concern,
that, being come from the Bay des PuaDts,
aud to the Lake of the Ouisk0nchrs, and 10
the river Mississippi, we did transport our.
selves to the country of tb. Nadone~sionx,
on the border Of the river 81. Croix. | abd
at the mouth Of the river st. Pprre,n2l on
thc bank oi which were the Mantautans.l l3t
aDd, further mp 10 the interior 10 the north
east Oi the Mississippi, n lar IA the Men
cb0Hat0nI, IA with whom dwell u majority
OF the S0ngeskitOns. and other Nadouessioux
who are " the bortbeas, OF the Mississippi,
TO take possession for, and in the name Of the
X ing Of the countries and rivers inhabited
by the SAID tflh~-s. ard Of which they axe
proprietOrs. The present act done in our
presence, signed with our baud AMI nib.
scribed. "U5l
The first Frsch establishment in Mime.
sOta wa On the west shDre Of Lake Pcpin,
a short distance above ,hs entrance. On a
map Of the year | 100. il wa calle'l Fort Bon
secoars ,hro, years later il 1as marked
Fort le Sgeur, and ohandoned bni IN a
much later map IT is correctly called Fort
PcrrOt.
1he year tha, Ierrot visited Minnesota.
IrmDuac who had bern recalled sven
ar i.fore, was recommixiouei a. Gov
ern0r Of Canada. he issued orClr. tha,
tie frenchmen in the upper Mi-.issippi
country .louh return 70 MAckinaE
Frootensc vas dtgmatic and ycrts-ariny,
,hoagh deeply ut'rztsd 10 the EXTENSION Il
the power Of France. During the iirs, term
Of Once be bad opIs~ed the eces~lastic.,
who deplorel the III efIects o rum and H.
cautious "ooareurs DE bols" upon the ms-
ais Of the savages, and desired 18th er-
claded from the c0gn,ry. lie had no iutr.
ssf in nhri.fianitH. AID stll sxs cfnf,der.fe 10