Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-10-25
GEN. Fl. III. Shirley. of St. Paul. made

Gen. IL. ii. SIBLEY, OF st. Paul, made
some very interesting illusions to the
early history of Minnesota recently, in
some remarks which he made at the cere-
mony of placing the browning stone on
the tower of the new Capitol building
Gen. Sibley is probably the earliest white
settler living in the state, and one of the
very best of men, and we publish what
he said, knowing his remarks will be read
with interest by every one:
Gov. Hubbard: am thankful to you,
governor, for the invitation to witness
the ceremony of placing the browning
stone on the tower of this new capitol
building, which has arisen from the ashes
of the old structure with marvellous rapid
ity, under your wise and energetic super
vision. was present when the former
was commenced. in early Territorial days
its walls as the first governor of the State,
and looked sadly upon it as what was COM
bustible of the structure was consumed
by the flames. 1 am rejoiced that the
| venerable pile has been replaced by far
| more commedious, elegant and stately
editice. In this presence, and on this &C.
casion, it may not be amiss to revert to
some of the facts connected with the
original location of the capitol at this
point I was the delegate in congress re-
presenting that portion of the Territory
of Wisconsin lying east of the Mississippi
river not embraced in the State of that
name when admit ted into the union.
My chief duty was to endeavor to pro-
cure the passage by congress OF an act
for the organization of Minnesota Terri
| tow, II tho rnnarn1 6qSirQ Of NV
not oyer numerous constituency that st.
Paul, St. Anthony and Saltwater, they
being the only villages then in existence,
should be designated, in the order men,
toned, as the sites for the capitol. the
university and the penitentiary respective
w. The bill was drawn and introduced
in the senate by Senator Douglas. chair
man of the committee on Territories, at
nv request, as wished the prestige OF
its passage by that body. l was astound:
ed to find when the bill was reported
back to the senate by the committee, that
Mendoza, where I resided, had been sub
stituted for St. Paul as the capitol.
fastened to Senator Douglas to have the
error corrected I found him not dispos:
ed to make the change. He said he had
visited this region in person, and had
fixed on Mendoza, at the confluence OF
the two rivers, as the proper place for the
capitol, and that he had selected Pilo1
Knob, which is commanding elevation
back of Mendoza, for the public build
ings. 1t was only after earnest remon
STRANGE and entreaty on my part, that h
and the committee assented to reinstatt
St. Paul. The bill was got through boil
houses with the efficient aid of Hon. H
NJ. Rice, Franklin Steele and others.
From the lofty tower can be plainly
seen the village which so narrowly es
capped being made famous, and the stonl
which is the oldest private dwelling il
this State.
1 will not detain you longer with re
) miniscences of the distant past. Coming
: here as did when a mere youngster, il
1884, when there was not single Whit
settler in what is now Minnesota AMI
Northern Dakota, have lived to take 1
; more or less prominent part in all tn
phases through which Minnesota has pas
, sed; to thank God that she has redeemed
her injured financial credit before tn
: world, and to participate in this last &C
: which testifes to the people OF the STATE
that their officials will soon take posses
sion Of new and completed capitol build
ing. St. Paul is grateful to the legisla
l ture which appropriated literally to tn
r object, to ex.Gov. Pillsbury tor p!
p friendly offices in her behalf, and to Hi
Excellency L. F. Hubbard for the energ
and determination he has manifested ii
, Fastening the completion of the structure
: Let us unite in the hope and expectation
g that whatever legislation may be enacte
or public business transacted within thi
building in the years to come, may ten
to the advancement of our noble State il
the element of moral and material wealth