The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-24

The Northern Minnesota Frontier.

The Northern Minnesota Frontier.
The following memorial to the Congress
of the United States, upon the National
Defences OF the Northern Minnesota From.
tier, was introduced into our State Senate by
Hon. R. j. BALDWIN OF Hennepin west,
and will undoubtedly be adopted by both
Houses, as the expression of the sentiments
of the people of Minnesota in relation to
the importance OF military post on the
frontier, treaty with the led Lake In.
dams, an increase of mail service to that
section, and their sense of the injustice of
purchasing supplies in ST. Louis for posts
on the frontier, when they could be fur.
nished much cheaper at home. The Memo.
rial reads:
To the Congress of the United States:
The Legislature of Minnesota would respect.
fully ask the cooperation of the National Gov
eminent in measures of military necessity upon
the frontier between Minnesota and the Eng.
lish settlements at Selkirk in Central British
America.
1t is now well known that north of latitude
49a. and west of longitude $40, there extends
to the Rocky mountains, a district which may
be properly styled Central British America.
This region, at least to latitude 54a--fve de.
grees of latitude in width, and eleven degrees
of longitude in lengths connected with Min.
nesota by internal river and lake navigation,
and is capable of sustaining as dense popu-
lation as the States of Michigan, Wisconsin
and Minnesota. The climate and soil invite a
rk ry;<l
population of 10000 souls, Immediately ad.
joins Minnesota, and is the key to the future
occupation and development of the fertile val
legs and navigable streams, which converge to
Lake Winnipeg. One of these streams, the
Red River of the North, is navigable for 400
forming the Northwest boundary of Minnesota.
it was favorite policy of the Derby Minis
try, and especially Of Sir Edward Bulwer Lyt-
ton, Colonial Secretary, to organize q Grown
Colony of Central British America, with the
seat of government at Selkirk. A draft of
bill for that purpose has not been pressed dur.
ing the Palmerst0n administration, greatly to
the dissatisfaction of the people most inter-
ested. r
Meanwhile the revenue and postal system of
the United States has been extended to Penn.
bina, and beyond, and, with the aid of steam.
boat navigation, transferred to the Red River
from the adjacent sources of the Mississippi,
v
has rapidly removed former preiudices to com.
mercial and even political association with the
United States. 1t is not too much to say that
if England shall not Immediately take measures
in behalf of the Red River and Saskatche wan
districts, by political organization, and effec.
tive measures of colonization, that the Ameri
canlzation OF a grain region as large as six
States of the size of Ohio, canaot long be
postponed.
Hitherto the people of Minnesota have de.
sired no other relations with their northern
neighbors than the concord of international
treaties. They still seek no other, satisfied
with the political frontier entrusted to their
keeping. although claiming to be central to a
vast division of physical geography.
With these preliminary observations. pur-
p0sely emitting many considerations which
late events would suggest; but upon which it
may be inexpedient to enlarge, your memo.
riaists proceed to an enumeration of a few
topics, which seem. at this time, essential to
the relation of Minnesota to an important al
though hitherto isolated, portion of British
dominion on this continent
/. We urge the immediate construction and
occupation of Fort of the United States near
Pembna, on the international frontier. The
merit of this suggestion is enforced by an ap.
preparation of $50 900 at the late session of Con-
gress, although the expen 1iture for that pur.
pose has been temporarily postponed. Such
fortress would powerfully contribute to the
suppression of the hereditary feud between the
Chippewas and Dakotahs. The Red River of
the North is the boundary, not inaptly called
the Red River, which separates these implaca-
BILE foes.
II. The extension of settlements to Otter
Tail Lake, to Georgetown on the Red River,
and other points, renders it highly expedient
to close treaty with the Red Lake bands of
Chippewas, removing all impediments to the
transit of mails, merchandise and emigrants on
the routes between the settlements of the Up.
per Mississippi river and Lake Superior, the
American community at Pembina, and the
English settlements at the mouth of the Red
River of the North. On this subject the Legis-
lature heartily accOrds with the recommends
tons of Hon. Clark W. Thompson, Superin.
tendent of Indian Affairs for Minnesota, and of
the Governor OF Minnesota, in his annual
message of January 9, 1862.
Ill, Besides the advantages of the present
mail service in the valley of Red river to citi.
zens of Minnesota, there is abundant evi.
dence sthat the intelligent community of Sci
kirk, and the occupants of trading posts
through the interior, estimate very highly the
benefits thus conferred by the Government at
Washington. BY present arrangements, their
communications are firmly established twice
each month"; these were made weekly, the
favorable IMPRESSION would be proportion.
ate. The Congress can readily anticipate the
bearing of these facts, when we allude to the
further circumstance that neither Canada or
England have sustained any effective or regu.
lar system of mails to the inhabitants of Cen.
trail British America. In view of this neglect
by the Home Government. we respectfully
suggest the enlargement of our American ar.
rangements.
Nv. If circumstances shall give Importance
to military preparations and movements on the
Minnesota frontier, the present system of for
warding supplies to our outposts from st.
Louis. would not certainly be persisted in. 1t
is respectfully suggested that this State has
now attained position, by agriculture, manu-
features and commerce, which justifies
change of existing regulations in this respect.
We therefore urge that the supplies for mill
tary and Indian use shall henceforth be pur
chased, as far as possible, in Minnesota mar.
kets.
Your memoralsts, for further considerations
and statistics enforcing the points of the pres.
ent memorial, beg leave to refer to their Sen,
ators and Representatives now in attendance
upon the Congress.