The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-06-16
The Insernasienal Question.

The International Question.
We commend to the attention Of the De.
mocracy, here and elsewhere. Mr.. TAyLoR's
views Of current and impending political
questions, as expressed 10 recent speech at
Winoua.
That portion Of his remarks which is
devoted to the international relations Of
England and the United States, in the nor.
thern districts Of this continent, cannot fail
to receive the concurrence Of all Mime
sotians, however our Republican friends may
dissent from the South side Of the policy
advocated. In this connection, we deem it just
to the speaker to append an extract from
his late Toronto speech, in which the subject
Of an international mail service is discussed.
All these topics are closely related to the
exploration and description Of the regions
northwest Of Minnesota, which now arrests
so large share Of public attention.
The extract above referred to occurred in
review Of the measures undertaken by the
people of Minnesota during the past year,
for the development Of the Northwestern
areas, and is as follows:
With the approach Of winter, the agita-
ton Of the subject Of continental communi-
cations TO the North Pacific was resumed.
First in order, the citizens Of st. Paul urged
the Federal Government to revise the Over
land Mail Service, so as to include a semi
weekly mail from st. Paul to Puget Sound.
An appropriation Of 5000 900 for q semi
monthly service passed the Senate-was
sustained in the House Of Representatives.
and only failed Of enactment because the
general Post Office Appropriation Bill itself
failed to become law. One of the first
acts OF the new Congress will be to pass the
Bill, making the above provision and if so,
and If the English Government shall grant
subsidy Of an equal annual sum for q semi.
monthly service, why, it may be asked with
reason, should there not be a combination of
interests-an international arrangement, by
which the aggregate amount OF 100000
should secure to the people OF the North
west, no matter whether English Provinces
or American States, the advantages of
seml-weekly, instead OF O sem-monthly
mail service! Let the mails traverse
Michigan, Wisconsin and Mnnesota-the
American section of the route-and from
Pembina be transported through the valleys
Of the South Saskatchewan and the Koote-
nais Pass to British Columbia, with arms of
connection to Washington Territory and
the State Of Oregon. II such arrangements
have become matter Of course between
New York and Michigan across the PENN
sula OF Upper Canada, why should not o
similar cooperation exist between the
oceans? The people Of Minnesota have an
extreme climate, yet our mail service is never
more perfect than du ring the winter months.
The Russian mail route through Siberia is
far more exposed to interruption, yet its
greatest speed lit is always regular) is when
the mean temperature is below zero; and
entertain great confidence that the Governor
General Of Canada will represent, in reply
to any inquiry from the Home Government,
that Selkirk Settlement alone could furnish
in twenty.tour hours, men, animals and sp-
pointments which would constitute an ample
guaranty for the regular transmission of the
mails from Fort Garry to Fort Langley at
all seasons OF the year know that parties
in Minnesota would give the fullest security
to accomplish the route in eighteen days
from st. Paul to Puget Sound. / repeat
accomplish it without interruption from
SHOWS in the mountains. From Pembina to
Kootonais Pass is as easy as it was Eve
years ago from Dubuque to st. Paul, over
the prairies Of Northern Iowa and Southern
Minnesota and when at Kootonais Pass
there is evidence that it is only three days
on foot, one on horseback, over q timbered
divide to the Kootona;s Lakes 1.-THE source of
the Columbia where, according to Father
De Smet, the well known Catholic Bishop
Of Oregon, and the author Of" Oregon Mis-
sions," " the extremes Of heat and cold are
seldom known, the snow disappearing as it
falls in short, q Pacific climate, and
which De Smet characterises as delight
full" An expenditure Of 100000 per an
DUN, with right to occupy mail stations
every twenty-five miles, would result within
twelve months in establishing route for
mails, passengers, and the telegraph, as sat-
isfactory as nine-tenths OF those operated in