St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-06-12
Some Instructive Historical Points of In
terest to People of the
Territory.
The Extent of Minnesota Territory and
Its Final Admission as
a State.
The Great Measure Proposed by Hon.
III. M. Rice to the u. s. Sem
ate In 1850.
A Prosperous Future Predicted For
The People who Seek Homes in
Dakota.
nakota,s Admiss5on.

ganization Of Minnesota and other West
ern states will be of special interest to
Dakotians in their demand for admission
as state into the union:
u. S. Consulate, Winnipeg, Dec. 6, 1880.
Geo. 3. Winship, Esq, Secretary Old
Settlers Association, Grand Forks, Dakota
Sir: l have waited until the last moment
before answering your obliging communica-
ton inviting me to attend the reunion of
Old Settlers of the Red River Valley on
the Sth inst. in the hope that circumstances
would allow me to be present, but regret
to state that it will not be in my power
to join in the pleasant greetings of the
occasion and in the welcome to the dis
tinguished citizen of Minnesota, Hon.
Henry III. Sibley, who is announced
to deliver the annual address.
/ have spoken of Gov. Sibley as citizen of
Minnesota, but there was time when he
was known to the country as Hal of Da-
kota." Under that designation he contrib
uted to the Eastern press graphic series
of letters, describing the natural features
of the Land of the Dacotahs," with the
few stirring incidents of personal and hunt
ing adventure which constitute the earlier
annals of the vast district beyond the Falls
of st. Anthony, whose exploration he
shared with Lewis, Clark, Pike, Cass.
Long, Nicollet and Fremont. Let us hope
that there is an autobiography of Henry
Hastings Sibley in manuscript which will
htly perpetuate those memorials of the
dawn of Minnesota and
DAKOTA HISTORY.
I observe that the discussion upon the
state organization of Dakota, and in the
event of division of the immense domain
now organized as territory, that some en-
barrassment attends the name. Neither Of
the proposed divisions seems willing to give
up the name of Dakota, which, in addition
to its historical significance, has become a
synonym for the maximum of success in
the production of the most important of
cereals. If an additional geographical term
is needed, pardon the suggestion that Chip
pewa or Ojibwa-a relic of the most numer-
Gus and powerful of the Algonlan tribes
is yet unappropriated in the roll of Ameri-
can states. But why not retain the name
of Dakota by simpler process-by accept
ing to the fullest extent the responsibilities
of state sovereignty, and by wheeling
the territory of Dakota bodily, with
out division or diminution, into
line with Texas, Missouri and
Minnesota, the Southern, Central
and Northern Stalwarts of the Mississippi
valley? This was my argument at Grand
Forks July 4, 1877, and 1 beg to be in
obliged in further discussion of the topic.
On the goth of December, 1916, the republic
of Texas became state of the American
Union, and among other irrevocable condi-
lions of admission, it was stipulated THAT
new states, not exceeding four in number,
in addition to said state of Texas, and
having sufficient population, may hereafter,
by consent of said state, be formed out of
the territory thereof, which shall be en-
titled to admission under the provisions of
the Federal constitution" This guarantee
OF five state organizations was not I'M
reasonable-the total area of Texas being
274, 356 square miles, and each of
the five subdivisions (54.471 square
miles, exceeding the area Of New
York al, 900 square miles-but as, by the
terms of the joint resolution of annexation,
these prospective states would then proba-
bly, have ,been slaveholding, a Northern
counterpoise in the senate of the United
States and the electoral college was sought
by the anti-slavery sentiment of the coun-
try, if not in the original territory north
west of the River Ohio" still in the new
Northwest beyond or west of the Falls of
ST. Anthony. I was then citizen OF
Ohio, and, in 1854, addressed communi.
cation to W. r. Marshall of st. Paul-pub-
lished in Columbus, o., and st. Paul-ad.
vocating timely provision in connection
with the organization and
ADMISSION OF MINNESOTA
as a state for future territorial organiza.
tions north and west of latitude 43 degrees
80 minutes-the southern boundary of Min
neSOta-which should secure the desired
equilibrium between the North and South
The territory of Minnesota then extended
to the Missouri, with an area of 141, S3G
square miles; and it was proposed thai
Minnesota, bounded on the north by longi
tude SO degrees (instead of an average of 81
degrees, as at presently, and on the north by
latitude 46 degrees, with an area of 81, 43(
square miles, should be admitted as state
that ltasca territory should embrace the dis
trict thence extending to the internationa
boundary, containing So, 722 square miles
that the valleys and tributaries of the Mis-
souri, river, from latitude 43 degrees 80 min.
utes to 40 degrees, and from the western
boundary of Minnesota and Itasca to longi-
tude lob degrees, with an area of 1888
square miles, should be constituted then OF
afterwards as the territory of Dakota, and
that the upper Missouri valley and the Vel.
lowstone valley, divided on latitude 46 de-
grees, each extending from longitude 10;
degrees to the Rocky mountains, should be
recognized as future territories OF
states, the Northern with an area of 6S, STE
and the latter of 7S, 296 square miles. Here
therefore, would have been a full compile
ment of five Northwestern prospective
states for the contingency of an equal num-
Der of Texas creations-the aggregates be-
ing $50, 407 and 274, 356, or a difference il
foUAr Of tho SOJ,fh nf
Notwithstanding this personal record
when I became citizen of Minnesota Ter
ritory in 1856 concurred in the policy O.
extending the future state to embrace thu
| great strategic interests of the limits o.
navigation on the Mississippi river, Lake
| Superior and the Red river of the North
| with boundaries and area as now consti
tuted. The territory westward to the Mis-
souri, was relinquished and, among othel
| purposes, with a view to sucf
| an adjustment of territorial organizations
| as would contribute to some satisfactory
| settlement OF the imminent sectional issue
whose direful presage of civil strife huns
darkly over the councils of the nation. Ii
| this connection, and as tribute to the sa.
gacity and patriotism of the first senate
from Minnesota, beg indulgence for
| further historical Renaissance. In th.
gloomy winter of 1901, Henry NJ Rice
| than whom no man was ever more instinc
with
PRIDE IN THE WEST
| or zeal for Western intereSts-proposed tt
the United States senate great measure O.
abdication and even sacrifice. for the pur
pose of securing an equilibrium of the sec
tons in the senate. He proposed that til,
chief contention of the day, the territorial
question, should be altogether eliminated
! by merging the whole nationa
domain in existing states; that the state O
Oregon should absorb Washington terri
tory, with its Eastern boundary resting OF
the Rocky mountains; that the western
boundary OF Minnesota should be extended
to the Rocky mountains; that the states OF
Kansas and California should likewise NEE
upon the great divide of the continent
that New Mexico, extended northward t,
Southern California, should be promptly
admitted as state; and that Texas SHOULD
| ha Forth