The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-05-01

from politics, for the following year he
was chosen chairman of the whig state
committee. during the important cam
RRaign which resulted in the election Of
This campaign also affected Mr.. RAM
seys. destinies to an important degree,
for, in March, 1s49, shortly after Presi-
dent Taylor came into Office, he appointed
Mr.. Ramsey governor of the Minnesota
territory, then recently established.
The appointment was accepted, and Mr..
k3 RAJ tSsrs at % on %aS came me, to St St; Paul; arriy.
afterwards: the other territorial officers
having arrived, he issued a proclamation,
declaring the territory organized
convened in two small rooms of a hotel
on the banks of the Mississippi in st.
I. The governor read his first message to
~twenty-seven members in all, assembled
in the hotel dining-room.
Among the first acts of Governor Ram
tinguishment of the Indian titles by
treaty and the negotiations made at Men
d dotaa OBJ ana ~ Tra w rse nd de Sioux in 1851
now the most valuable portion of the
state, into settlement.
He was elected mayor Of st. Paul in
1855. and when Minnesota was admitted
mated for state governor by the repub-
lican party, but was not elected.
Two years later he was again nomi-
mated and received a handsome majority.
He entered his office on Jan. 2, 1860. At
that time the state was in debt and the
treasury was empty, taxes were difficult
culties connected with the administration
of SO young a state in war time, but the
admlnlstratlon was successful.
Go a. 3nS f Rams OF tH %a1 FAN III 3 T. fGGt sumt or
official business. Upon seeing the neces-
slty for troops he at once called upon
President Lincoln and rendered him a
regiment of 1000 men from Minnesota.
Governor Ramsey was reelected in the
fall of 1861, and his second term was
more important and trying han the first.
There were repeated calls for troops
from the government. and five regiments
were recruited in 1852.
In the middle of this activity occurred
the Sioux massacre in the southwestern
lied Governor Ramsey. he organized a
battalion 6a tall to GO to the front to the relief
In January 1853, Governor Ramsey was
elected United States senator from Min
nesota.. and in 1869. at the close of his
term ne was reelected for six years
His service in the senate was marked
b}1, the ntrGd9ction Of many important
provement of the Mississippi river, aiding
of the Northern Pacific Railroad, the RE
peal of the franking abuse, and various
A1edouIeS tOI lIe cement or the north
west. Being chairman of the senate
committee on postoffices. he was espe-
cially interested in postal reforms.
For a few years after the close of his
congressional term he enjoyed a period of
rest from his official life. but on Dec. 10.
1879. President Hayes rendered him the
portfolio Of secretary of war. This posi-
ton he filled with much honor during the
remainder. of President Hayes admins
tration. Under the "Edmunds law"
which created a commission OF five 10
control the affairs of the polygamists in
Utah, Senator Ramsey was appointed. in
1882 to serve on this board, and was
elected it's chairman. -
He filled this position for four Years.
resigning in 1886. It was his last public
service. #
During his long and active life as a
public man ir Minnesota, Governor Ram
sey has been active in many movements
for the benefit of his city and state not
connected with official affairs. Since 1919
he was one of the most. active members
Of the Minnesota Historical Society. He
was president and director of the st. Paul
public library and a leading membe al
the Old Settlers Association. and an hon
ored member of&the Minnesota commands
ery,@LOyal Legion.
married Miss Anna Earl jerks, a daugh-
ter Of Michael II. jerks, Judge and
congressman OF Bucks @county|Pennsyl-
syania:S They had two sons, bcih 81 whom
Sdled IN infancy, and one darghtar.sMr ~.
Charles e.