, 1859-03-04

orally. The character Of the meeting gave
evidence Of q response to the call which
proved that our people were alive to the
Importance Of the great movement which
the meeting was called to accelerate.
VIM r. Marshall, Esq, President Of
the Board Of Trade, called the meeting to
order, and nominated bis Honor
Norman W. Kittson, Mayor of St. Paul,
as President.
The President having taken the Chair,
the following gentlemen were chosen as
Vice Presidents:
Lieut.. Gov. VIM. Holcombe;
Col D. A. Robertson;
Hon. Aaron Goodrich;
WIN. r. Marshall, Esq;
J.,W. Bass, ESQ.,;
J. w. Selby, ESQ.,;
j. r. Irvine, Esq.
J. Jay Knox and WIN. F. Wheeler,
Esqs., were appointed Secretaries
On motion Of ExGov. Alex. Ramsey, a
committee of seven was ordered to draft
resolutions expressive of the sense of the
meeting, and u memorial to Congress, urg-
ing upon that body the establishment of a
semi-weekly mail between StaPaul and Pu
get Sound.
The Chair announced the following gem
tlemeD as the committee:
Hon. Alex Ramsey;
Dwight Woodbury., Esq;
E. F. Ely, Esq;
W. L. Banning, Esq;
G. L. Emerson, Esq;
j. G.. Burbank, ESQ.,;
J. W. Taylor, Esq.
During the absence Of the committee, the
meeting was briefly addressed by Geo. L.
Becker, Esq, VIM. r. Marshall, Esq, and
Lieut.. Gov. Hocombe.
Mr. Becker alluded to the fact, that enc
of our Senators in Congress had recently
introduced Pacific Railroad bill, looking
to the establishment Of three routes 10 the
Pacific. lie Mr. B. regarded this as the
wisest and most practicable plan that had
yet been devised; and it was the interest
and duty Of Minnesota to urge forward the
route in which she was most deeply inter
ested. He spoke Of the growing commerce
Of the Pacific, and our recent treaties with
China and Japan. He called attention TO
the startling increase Of communication
across the Isthmus made in the last ten
years, and showed the necessity Of more
speedy mail communion through the north
ern part of our country. He advocated
the extinguishment of the Indian title to
the laud on a northern middle and south
ern route, which should be opened to pre-
emption, and that they should be placed on
on equality, and time would demonstrate
the best route for mails and for railroads
After few further pertinent and elo-
quent remarks, the speaker concluded by
observing that he came there to listen and
not to speak. His whole heart was in the
great enterprise, for the consummation oi
Which the meeting had assembled.
Mr.. Marshall made brief statement as
to the objects Of the meeting, and gave O
sketch full Of interest, touching the letting
of the Southern or Butterfeld contract
and its workings He urged, that having O
shorter and better route to the Pacific than
the one now in operation, we should, al
least, be as well treated by the Govern
ment. 1t was our duty, and the duty oI
those who represented US in Congress- tc
see that we were as well provided for as
other portions of the Union.
Gov. Holcombe referred to the character
Of the country over which this proposed
route passed; said that it was on an arabic
country. and susceptible of sustaining q
dense population over its entire extent
This was fact that had been well estab
lished by Gov. Stevens aud others who bad
traversed it. 1t was time that the citizen:
of our State were awakened to sense oi
the rights due them at the hands of the
Government; and he was rejoiced that SO
much interest was manifested in the matter
as was displayed by this meeting.
The Committee on Resolutions and Ne
mortal then making their appearance,
Gov. Ramsey, the chairman, stated that
the following Memorial had been agreed
upon, which was read by its author, j. w
Taylor, Esq: