The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-04-07

The Minnesota Historical Society, IN in
original organisation, contemplated nothing
further than the collection and preservation
Of such historic debru a. had aoated up to
our time from the great gulf Of the past,
and to afford q convenient repository Tor
the arrangement and classification Of the
current history Of the present.
The traditions and customs Of the Indian
tribes which arc passing away before the
peaceful armies Of civilization which brings
them nothing but poison and decay, the re-
cords OF carly explorations 10 the North
west, entombed 10 the archives Of France
and England. and which have found their
way by tho lsbov Of ooPyist and histor.
isns, INTO the scattered Libraries OF our own
country, the vague Indications Of arsce An
teccdent To the savages found here by
Europeans, which the antiquarian traces in
mounds, and skulls, and other remains, and
which form the yagne data, on which the
archaeological or ethnol0gist bases bis geDer
slizstious, affords u broad and not uninter.
satiog field Of enquiry.
But Il may be doubted 1.-THE score Of the
Institution might not be enlarged without
detriuent 10 its original objects, and at u
large gsiu 10 Ito practical utility. Tho or.
ganixstioa embraces many, perhaps most, OF
the leading minds in the State--m Of su-
perior cultivation aud enlarged information
10 special departments. but whose tastes and
mental habits, To say nothing Of their OPP
portunities, prevent them from contributing
10 the special objects Of the Society, ~ at
present limited.
With such machinery II Is obvious that
the sphere Of the institution might be en-.
largcl to embrace Investigations in every
department Of scientific enquiry. Instead
OF being dedicated to specially. Il should
be On organization Of special,ies
The truth 10. there IRE hundreds OF men
In the community. boiling over with iofor-
nation IN particular channels, who. there Is
every reason to fear, will explode IN some
manner disastrous to tho public interests, il
some such convenient escape for their re-
dundast steam is not provided-mcn with
hobbies, who are riding their hobbies over
each other aud everybody else, and want an
arena like that wo propose to cooperate
with efficiency and without jostliog.
The plan. for the outlines Of which we arr
indebted 20 an eminent citizen, himself con-
splcuous for the particular hobby OF working
for the public interests, without much re-
gard to his own. Ia with this enlarged field
Of operations, To place each department Of
investigation under the control VI some gen
tlcmau conspicuous for his attention to that
particular branch Of enquiry.
A better plan II seems to us would be to
distribute the membership Of the Society in
standing committees, upon particular sub
ects suitable 20 their own fluctuations, with
q chairm,n whose leisure or abilities would
permit him 10 be designated to the control
Of his department. Thus the Archeologi
cal and chronological department, would ma
turally be- entrusted 10 ID. A. RonyRrsoS
Esq, while the Geology of the State might
DO aasgrel 10 the Rev. Mr.. MArrocSs. WHIT
IA said 10 hc devoted 10 that fascinating
science. Rev. Mr. NsiLi., by his laboriou'
researches aud invaluable Contributions I,
the archives Of the Society has yindieatce
his claim to the Chair OF llis,ory--~hil'
tho interesting department OF Fhysica
Geography and its wide relations woul,
fall toJ. w. TAyLos, Esq, who would tinc
an invaluable aux iIiary TO bis gcneralila
tons in the data accumulated under the col
lateral departments OF metcoroogy' geology
botany. agriculture, miucrology each nndc
its chiei. and working with an eilieicn
stsff-scattere,i over different districts o
the State or Of adjoining States.
The results thus obtained n om a wide an'
varied tieh Of observation collected into on
reservoir, where the mass Of facts might b
grouped and classified by leading minds
would be Of invaluable local service, 10 50!
nothing OF the heuetit which physical sc'enc'
would reap from the accumulation OF spcclh'
facts from u wide ara Of observation. W.
have not row time TO enlarge upon pro
position which IS fruitful OF interesting sug
gcs,ions, but have perhaps sald 'nongh II
this carsory examination Of the subject, tt
dir,ct attention to the lesding iea,uos Of I
plan which promises, il Carried cut, to Civ
10 the Minnesota Historical Socic,y.
carer, Il less illustrious in the names 81
its catalogue, or in the extent OF its service
70 science, at least as USEFUL within the pre-
scribrd limits Of It's OPERATIONS, ard rs hon