The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-11-04

DELIVERED BEfoKE
The Dakota County Agricultural Association,
AT NIXIN0ER, OCTOBER 8,


AT SISINGER, OCTOBER 8, 1858.
FsiiOc Citizens Of Dakota County;
We have met together for the purpose of
celebrating the formation of a permanent
Agricultural Society in our County. Some
feeble efforts have in years past been made
in the same direction but they failed Of pro-
ducing any good results, in consequence of
the sparseness and comparative poverty of
the population. The organization of this
Society is another land mark to indicate
the onward march of civilization, as it en-
croaches more and more upon the domain of
the savage, and forces him reluctantly to re-
tire before the white settler. To me. who only
afew years since, roamed through the region
which now constitutes the populOus counties
Of Central and Southern Minnesota, in
quest OF the buffalo, the elk, and the bear
and the crack of whose rifle met with no
response from the weapon or the voice Of
civilized man, the change which has taken
place seems little short OF miraculous.
Thriving villages and cultivated fields are
to be found on every side Of the soil which
was then untrodden, save by tho footsteps
OF the hunter or the trarper and Of the
beasts they sought TO say The wild ami.
mails and the equally wild Indians have dis.
appeared, or are but rarely seen, and the
magnificent country, so lately the hunting
grounds Of a few scattered bands of savagcs,
has passed from their possession forever,
iRto that Of more vigorous, enterprsing
and intelligent race.
A striking picture Of the transformation
effected by the whites Of new country, is
furnished by Chateaubriand. Beside an
ancient cypress tree Of the desert is to be
seen the spring Of infant cultivation the
golden ears OF wheat wave over the fallen
trunk OF an oak and the harvest Of a sea
Everywhere are to be beheld forests deliver
ed over to the flames, sending forth clouds
OF smoke into the air and the plough slow
ly making its way through the roots land
surveyors with their long chains are meas
uring the desert, and marking out the first
divisions OF property arblters settle the
disputed merits the bird abandons its
nest the rowing place Of the wild beast
is converted into log house; and the
buthto VI tbt uh' tiit iu-t NouuuS WHICH
are repeated by the echoes, which are them
selves perishing with the forest which pro-
duced them
The rapidity with which our country has
been settled is beyond an example in the his
tory Of the world. The exiles who fed to
the New World in seach OF home where
they might enjoy religious freedom-w were
the germ Of that mighty nation which now
holds front rank among the powers Of the
world. The Pilgrims of New England, the
Cavaliers Of Virginia, the Catholics OF
Maryland, and the Hugenots OF Carolina,
confined at first 10 few settlements on the
shores Of the Atlantic, pushed their way in.
land gradually but surely, and the expan-
sion thus commenced has continued. until
thirty.two States and six organized Terri
tories, with q population Of nearly thirty
mllioLs Of souls, are now 10 be found under
the folds Of the American flag. A little
more than two centuries has elapsed since
the landing at Plymouth Rock. and has
sLfiiced to bring about this wonderful change
OF these Fathers of the American people, it
has been well said, that they carried with
them into the wilderness the powers Of art,
and the industry Of civilization; English
perseverance, in their character; English
order in their habits, and English fearless.
ness in their hearts, with the axe in their
hand, the Bible in their pocket, and the I'm
cyclopedia by their side"
The trials and sufferings OF the first set.
tIers-their struggles for existepce the pro-
cess by which the forest and its wild ten
ants were in due time subdued--the passage
Of the Allegheny Mountains by the sdven.
tnrers, who, half hunter and half farmer,
we're attracted equally by the abundance Of
game, and by the fertility OF the soil. To the
valleys Of the Ohio and It's tributary streams
the conflicts Of the Dark and Bloody
Ground" OF Kentucky, where the red skin
poured ou, hs best blood TO save the graves
of his kindred from the dissertation of the
white man q presence--the unAyalllng eiiOrt-
OF the savages elsewhere 70 stay the pro
gress Of those they might vel regard a. the
most formidable enemy OF their race--tbe
steady and resistles advance Of civilization
TO the Mississippi aud far byoOd It-tbe
discovery Of gold on the Pacific coast and
ia instrumentallty in attracting enigratIon
TO that remote region-in a word the entire
history OF the American people down " The
present. time, when Minnesota has doomed
up so suddenly into the fall proportions oi
sovereign state constitute a chapter In the
annals Of mankind of more true subimi,y.
and Of more deep and thrilling interest. than
were ever grouped together IN the pages u
romanoe. To all bot the hardened skeptic.
the hand OF the Almighty is as distinctly
visible in shaping the desinies 0f our people
and nation. as if the eioud by day, snd The
pillar Of FIRE by night, had APPEARED and
contInnei 10 direct their cour.e from the
beginning. Wha, may be the missiOn Of
our favored country, and shrihyr we shall