The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-23
NOTABLE PUBLIC CAREER
OF GOV. RAMSEY
Continued From First Page.

Continued From First Page. 49,
member of the Utah commission which
he held from 1881 to 1886. After the
commission dissolved he came back to
the state that delighted to do him
honor, and for the remaining seven
teen years of his life he showed that
he could be as great as a private eiti-
zen as he was great as public OIL
cial; that the luSter of his name was
not dimmed by retirement but shone
with the steady effulgence of star
that is fixed.
History will relate that it was these
things that made Alexander Ramsey
great; that he was the first territorial
governor of the state of Minnesota;
that he was the first governor to tender
the state troops to President Lincoln;
that he was the last and the most Re-
nowned of the war governors; that he
filled many offices of national import
ance and that he was a cabinet officer
during the administration of President
Hayes. But Alexander Ramsey's neigh
bors and friends-and these include all
Minnesotans, young and old-knoW
that he was great because he was
brainy man, an honorable man, brave
man and a kindly man.
Alexander Ramsey was the finest
specimen of physical man in the
Northwest, ex-governor. eX-United
States senator, eX-secretary of war.
eX-secretary of the navy-TFas man thor,
oughly posted in human nature. and
man of the most joviai, bluff. Off
hand, friendly characteristics. No
matter whether these elements Of
character were affected +ef genuine,
they were, as matter Of history, part
of the man, and made HIM What he
really was-one of the mostS popular of
the old politicians and the old set
tiers. =|S'-=ss-sssssse9.s,
One of the strongest points in his
character was his nom committalisfff,
especially before election. When call
ed upon, however, to declare upon
great state or national questions, he
never shrank from the ordeal. and de-
cided in a bluff. off-hand manner,
which in early years gave him the
name of bluff Aleck." He was ex-
ceedingly cordial in his ways. making
everybody think him personal friend:
avoiding any remarks which might
give offense. In case of a sudden rum
pus, you would find him missing.
When he got into trouble, however,
he was like a steamboat He backed
out gracefully. He was a man Of
strong, solid common sense; cool, col
lected,. self-poised. He always looked,
on the sunny side of life.
Was Philosopher.
Gov. Ramsey was a philosopher. and
believed what is to be will be. He-was
liberal in his religious views, and while
temperate in his habits. was broad
gagged in his ideas, Of human life
Many interesting incidents of the
method Gov. Ramsey adopted to quiet
ly slip through the world with the least
possible friction might be given. He
had busy, useful life, and very just.
ly can be classed as pre- eminently
among the very first men of the
Northwest. He left behind him a good
name and pleasing recollections of
genial, kindly nature, generous man
ners, a hearty, greeting, an esteemed
friend, a popular citizen.
During the time he held office, Gov.
Ramsey's salary never paid him for
the amount Of money he expended in
entertaining the legislature. Out Of
his own salary he assisted once in pay
ing the expenses of the winters ses-
sion. OF this the governor said, face
tiously: In the old days the members
consumed an enormous amount of
food
Gov. Ramsey always responded lib
orally to every public enterprise which
affected the growth of the city.
Gov. Ramsey had been married only
short time when he was commits
olOhCo SONCA iOl VI Tic lcEf1lOTy OIL
Minnesota. He came to st. Paul on
the 9th day of May, 1S49, and de-
clared the territory organized on the
1st of June of the same year.
His Early Experiences Interesting.
In conversation ne gave very inter-
esting account of his landing at the
levee; of the wild condition of the
surroundings of his location; the
dense trees; the running brooks and
ravines which met his view, and the
sad feelings which came over him as
he strolled all alone and marked what
was to be the city of his future life.
The house that had been secured for
him was made of boards and belonged
to the Minnesota Outfit" having been
renovated by the company, to receive
his gracious person. Mrs. Ramsey, not
knowing anything about the condition
of the country, desired to go to house
keeping at once, in the unique place
on Third street (Which she had not
yet SEEM, but the governor. in his off
hand manner. advised her to wait a
short time, and so they accepted Gen.
Slbley'S invitation and made his hospi-
table residence their home for one
month, when they removed to their
new house, which formerly stood
where his present residence now
stands The visit with the Sibleys rec
oncfled Mrs. Ramsey to frontier life in
| the West.
The room in which the first procla-
nation of the governors was written
| was small but well lighted by a case
ment of 7x9 glass and sundry openings
between the logs. There were no
chairs in the apartment; there was no
! space for chair; the apartment was
| in strict architectural keeping with
the window-it was just 7x9. It's fur
niture comprised one bed (upon which
| the judge slept at night, one stand
and two trunks. The governor sat
upon trunk and wrote his procla- :
nation upon the stand. or small t. e'e
! these articles are still in existence)
| and this proclamation written on the
| 1st day of June, 1S49. set in motion
the territorial organization which had
been created in congress.
| There is an amusing account of a
| threatened burning in effigy. in which
| the worthy governor of Minnesota wac
the principal figure.
! Would Not Be Burned in Effioy.
| 1t seemed that the governor would
! not comply with the demand of a GER
| tain party to do a certain thing. SC
| they threatened to burn him in effigy
/ ana ramsey declared that they Should
not do 1t. So he marshaled his friends
and armed them and armed himself
and waited for the contest. Ramsey
was In the prime of life then, and his
1 Scotch a n