The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-09-29
TO THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

~
If you honor Mr.. RIoE with an election
to the gubernstorial chair. be will once
more enter your service and take up the
great works that he struggled to initiate
for the good of his State, and push them
forward to completion. Mr.. RIcRs sole
desire for success rests upon the belief
that he can accomplish much towards re-
storing prosperity to Minnesota; that he
can suggest policy that will turn large
portion Of the enormous emigration ROW
seeking our country, into our own State,
and thus enhance it's landed values. within
q few years, millions of dollars, and make
Minnesota what her climate and the rich
ness of her soil eafitle her, to be, viz:
one of the greatest States in the Union.
We would call attention to the unpar-
alleled land grants, given by Congress to
our railroads, basis of credit to obtain
capital for completing them, but little APP
preciated and but little understood by
ourselves, or even BY the people who in
vest in railroad property. Congress gave
us altogether twenty-five thousand square
miles of soil unsurpassed by any in the
globe; system of railroads has been
laid out, 80 wiseia system that it has no
equal. All OF our roads are important
lines; no route interferes with another,
but on the contrary each line tends to
strengthen the whole; and as they pro-
grsss the farmer is brought daily nearer
market. These land grants and this
splendid system Of railroads Mr.. RIoE
struggled for, and ten years of experience
has taught him that if he is aided now by
the people, all can be carried out and that
car day Of unexanpled prosperity win
dawn.
We appreciate the difficulties that we
have had to encounter, such as the loss of
credit oocasioned by the crisis of 1867
and 1890, but have we any excuse now
If we neglect our great and tried men and
elect, on immaterial grounds, those whom
We know but little about in connection
with our material interests? #
Our lands yield thirty bushels of wheat
to the acre, worth over thirty dollars in
market d; they yield over three tons ofhay
Per acre, worth an equal sum. Is it not
an imperative duty then for US to place at
the head of affairs man who viii adopta
policy that viii raise these lands to price
that shall bear some relation to the annual
income from, them, and thus relieve our
selves from such onerous taxes and secure
the wealth that we have labored 80 hard
for? - .as
Nearly Ill the States east of us have
lfiaished their railroads, and instead Of
using money, they are daily swelling the
volume Of capital by their payments Of
interest and principal created in building
said roads,. The national debt must keep
shape that will Increase the capital Of
the country to q great extent. viii not
these influences soon make money so
abundant, that we, if in proper credit,
can finish all our great works and bound
ahead to prosperity ia speed that shall
make up for our hitherto GLOW paoea
Viewing our resources from Mr.. RIoE's
stand point, We can bat think that our
duty now lies at home. The country is
at peace our gallant soldiers have won
imperishable glory for us; President
.JoHNsoN has, by his matchless conduct of
affairs won the hearts of our Southern
brethren and they now stand ready to
prove their loyalty with more love than
ever for the old flag. Shall we then
weaken ourselves on remote subjects, such
as the right of suffrage for the Freedman,
and put men in power who will take up
these in preference to cur home interests ?
Is it wise to legislate hastily on the most
profound subject that has yet been before
the people of the United Statess
Would it not be best to clear up the
wreck of the war first, and then take up
the grave question, with a deliberate de-
termination to do justice to all citizens,
keeping in view "the greatest good to the
greatest number"a If we hastily give
the freedman all the rights of citizen,
viii we not have to do greater wrong
than retaining them for time, by refus-
ing the right of asylum to the three mil
lions Of blacks of the West India Islands,
should they choose to come to Us in large
numbers? In the Island of Cuba, only
eighty miles from Florida, there are q
million. Suppose our philanthropists
inaugurate emigration from Africa, to
ciyilize the negro on our soil, could we
deny them our country, when portion
of their race were living with US with all
tho nr;v;lonoa If white citize MS. without