The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-24
The Anniversary Of washinssen's Birth.
Day.
From our Daily o February m

To day, One hundred and twenty-six
years ago, WAmIsoros was born--the
type-mao Of the American Republic-the
incarnation Of the Revolution. At the an
niversary Of bis birth the nation assemblies
to hang gaFlaDds on bis tomb--to PROSTATE
itself at the American Mecca, and 10 bring
its sick, and MANNED, and blind, its dissen.
sions, and its ieuds, TO be healed by the mi.
raculous touch Of his sacred shrine. II Is
the Christmas day Of the political dispensa.
ton. The spell Of q holy calm rests over II.
No loud huzzas or boisterous cannonades
shall celebrate il. No bonfres will Gil the
heavens with lurid phantssrns and ghastly
shapes Of ill-boding fame The peaceful
brow OF the sleeping infant il commemo-
rates, should be the emblem Of the day, and
We should 60 to bis cradle o. the wise men
OF the East TO Betbehem--and like them
cast our gifts, in fear and reverence, at the
feet Of the savior Of his country.
Nowhere does the love of WASHINGTON
pulsate stronger in the veins of the Ameri.
can people than along that /" Great River +"
whose political importance he was among
the first to seize and whose future be was
among the first to predict. Minnesota, too,
has local interest 10 WARRINGTON. it will
be well TO bear In mind. There is an emo.
bling sentiment at the bottom Of the desire
which all men feel to associate their own 10.
calitics with the great names whom genius
or virtue has made immortal and even the
frivolitis Of antiquarian research are more
than vindicsted in the popular favor, il, per.
chance, the Elusive clue to which he dedi.
Gates his midnight oil, shall seem to link
our own soil with some deed, or word, or
wish OF the honored dead. g
To know that we claim for Minnesota an
interest in the ashes Of the Father Of his
Country, more even by the remotest indi.
rectness Of association-than our common
country or common humanity can claim IL
solAce to our local vanity for which we
would willingly exchange the most precious
relic OF any other name which history con.
meets with our soil. 1t is something, then.
to MS that the ground upon which we stand
was part Of that Virginia which rocked
the cradle and enshrined the ashes of Wash.
ISGTos.
Another historic link, too, connects
the early days Of Minnesota somewhat indi-
rectly, 1t is true, with the beginning Of
WAsHTsoroSs public career. II was from
La GARDEuR DE Sr PIERRE, a French off.
Ger, and a friend Of LIZ SuEuR, from whom,
according to Mr.. MILL, the Riviere
De st. Pierre (St. Peter river, )--latterly
changed to Minnesota--was named.
The name Of 81. Pierre was also attach.
cd to one OF the FIRST trading posts, or
forts, ever built in Minnesota, and under
the control Of ST., PIERRE, in the last decade
OF the 18th century. Its ruins were discov
cred by CARVER in l776, on the shore of
Lake Pepin. This gallant captain (Sr.
PIxRRE) figures conspicuousIy in the early
annals Of Minnesota. In 1853, while war was
raging throughout the Northwest, between
England and France, Capt. ST.. PIERRE
commanded small post in Erie county.
Pennsylvania. The hero Of Minnesota
and Virginia here came in contact. WASH.
iseroS' then just entering into manhood,
was the bearer OF q letter from Gov. DiS.
wippiE, Of Virginia, to Sr. PIERRE. The
incident is glanced at in Mr.. NElLLs His.
tory, An incident which connects what
GscrE would call one of the "eponymous
heroes Of Minnesota with the early hls,o-
~ Of the Father Of the Republic, will not
be without interest to the relic hunters.