The weekly Minnesotian. [volume], September 04, 1852, Image 2

About The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
THE MINNESOTIAN.
sl. Paul, Minnesota.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 4,1852.
rOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
GEN. WINFIELD SCOTT,
or NEW JERIET.
FOR VICE PRESIDENT.
WILLIAM A. GRAUAM,
Or NORTH CAROLINA.
Pig’s Eye Bar.
The citizens of St. Paul are requested
to meet at the Court House, on Saturday
evening, September 4th, to take measures
for the improvement of navigation at
“ Pig’s Eye’’ Bar.
Cathcart & Tyson, Winne & Cooley,
Rev &. Farmer, Curran & Lawler,
S. H. Sergent, Wait & Milburn,
A. L. Larpenteur, Wm. H. Forbes,
C. W. Borup, F. B. Sibley,
Chas. H. Oakes, F. Steele,
J. W. Simpson, W. H. Stillman,
L. Marvin, R. Marvin,
John Dewey, N. Barber,
B. Presley, Stees & Hunt,
Hichcox Si Axtell, F. E. Collins,
H. E. Buel, H. Bud,
J. E. Fullerton, J. McCloud, Jr.,
R. O. Walker, LeDuc & Rolirer,
Wm. R. Marshall, W. S. Combs,
C. D. Elfelt, A. S. Elfelt,
John Farrington, Geo. Irvine & Bro.,
C. R. Rice & Co., C. D. Bevans,
Edmund Rice, Win. Heely,
A. D. Robinson, D. A. Robertson,
Owens & Moore, Alex. Ramsey,
Alex. Wilkin, W. 11. Jarvis,
Wm. D. Phillips, Alden Bryant,
J. C. Ramsey, M. S. Wilkinson,
B. W. Brunson, W. Freborn,
Jos. R. Brown, L. A. Babcock,
Thos. R. Potts, 11. A. Lambert,
Spencer, Kirkpatrick & Markley.
Navigation—-Low Water—Bara and
Rapid, Grneralljr, and Plg’a Ere ” Bar Par
ticularlf.
The success of an infant commercial
city depends much upon the good name it
establishes at the outset of its career.
Not only must the moral character of its
people be good, and the integrity of its
business men, like the chastity of Caesar’s
wife, “above suspicion,” but its position
•■ a commercial point—its facilities for
ingress and egress—must be thoroughly
established beyond the possibility of suc
cessful controversy.
This is a season of unusual low water
all over the West and South. The foun
tains of the great Father of Waters ap
pear to have been almost dried up, and
beds of streams, far interior toward the
mountain sources, have become as arid as
the sands of Arabia Deserla. This is
nothing surprising to “an old settler,” or
to a Western man not yet past the prime
of life—or for that matter, to the boy of
Bight or ten years. In us it excites no
Unusual wonder. Born within fifty yards
of the water’s edge of a considerable
tributary of “La Belle Riviere,” and
having spent our infant days in chasing
ducks over its shallow ripples, and drag
ging “suckers” and “mud cats” from its
•haded pools, and having lived West and
South all our life, low water in the Wes
tern rivers is no stranger to us.
But Minnesota, politically speaking, is
only three years old. Nine-tenths of the
“new comers” since its organization arc
from the East, and know little of the
uncertain character of navigation in the
West, bound down as it has been for
years with the contracted fetters of
“Democracy” of the New Hampshire
•nd Alabama creed. Since they have re
sided here, the rivers, until now, have
kept well up. They landed here upon a
•welling spring or June tide, and think it
awful that water will run out into the
Gulf of Mexico in diminished quantities
each day, at times when the supply is cut
Off at the fountain heads. A boat is
•ground at Pig’s Eye,—where, at this
moment, pilots tell us there is one foot
more water than on the Des Moines Rap
ids, six hundred miles below us—and one
of our worthy Eastern citizens (who we
will suppose to reside at St. Anthony)
comes down in the “yaller stage,” or the
“red coach,” wishing to take passage be
low. “Du tell! I want to know! Well,
these pesky Minnesota editors have called
this a navigable river—what a tarnation
•et of liars they are! No use of living
•hove Galena.” And off he goes with
the idea that St. Paul, and Minnesota
generally, are the only points on earth
that are now suffering by low water.
Again : Here comes an honest and thrifty
German farmer, who, at the time of his
migration from “Fatherland,” took the
car* at New York, and made his way
•traighl into Minnesota; and consequently
know* nothing about the general character
Western rivers for boats and naviga
tion. He has purchased a farm in the
vicinity of St. Paul at what he deems a
high price, but expects to be remunerated
in the unsurpassed fertility of the soil,
and the high price of produce. “Mine
Got! mine Got! how te. people, lied to
me about der Mississip river!”
Now, friends of all nations and coun
tries, we’re going to prove to you that
there ha* been no lying in the case. We
(all the editors) have said that the por
tion of the Mississippi above Galena was
a* good a stream for navigation as the
portion between Galena and Keokuk, or
the Ohio river, from mouth to head. We
are here prepared to show that it i* bet
ter. From the “river news” of four or
five daily numbers of the St. Louis Re
publican of recent dates, (the most relia
ble commercial paper on the river) we
have extracted, promiscuously, the follow
ing paragraphs. There is other news of
interest blended with them, but the state
of the rivers is the main item:
The river opposite the city continues
to fall slowly. Boats up yesterday, re
port but six feet scant on the principal
bars between this city and the mouth of
the Ohio.
The officers of the Dr. Franklin, No. 2,
report the Ohio river low and falling, with
but three feet water on the principal
bars.
Ohio River Items. —The Louisville
Journal, of the 17th, says : On the Falls
yesterday there were fifteen inches of
water in the “eighteen feet pass,” which
is just fifteen inches more water than wc
had at the lowest stage of the river last
year. The lowest point the water fell to
last season, was “no water mark” on the
Falls, on the 22d of Sept., and continued
at the same stage until the Bih of the en
suing month.
The lowest water ever known in the
Ohio river was in the years 1838 and
’39, in Sept., when the water on the Falls
was eight inches below the water mark.
The steamer Brunette arrived last
night from Keokuk. She was detained
several hours on her upward trip by get
ting aground.
The steamer Iroquois, from New Or
leans, bound for this city, is reported
hard aground at Buffalo Island. The
Buena Vista, on her way to New Orleans,
is also aground at the same place. We
learn that she was compelled to drive a
portion of her stock overboard in order
to lighten her up.
We learn that the steamers Dubuque
and Wisconsin have been laid up. The
latter at Montrose, and the former at
Rock Island.
A Light Boat. —lt is stated that Capt.
Davis has recently completed a boat at
Nashville for the Cumberland river trade,
which draws but eight inches water. A
few such boats could be profitably em
ployed in the Illinois river at the present
time.
The Dr. Franklin, No. 2, lighted the
Uncle Sam over the bar at Buffalo Island
by taking ofT a portion of her cargo, con
sisting of railroad iron.
The officers of the Cumberland Valley
report the steamer E. Howard still aground
at Hat Island, and the Shelby at work a
longside with a fair prospect of soon be
ing able to get her afloat. Her cargo had
nearly all been taken out.
We are informed by Mr. Boardman,
agent of the Keokuk packet company,
that on the return of the steamer Belle
Gould from Louisville, she will be placed
in the line between this city and Keokuk,
in place of the Regulator, now running
in that trade. The Regulator will leave
on Monday evening next and take her
freight and passengers all the way through,
and then continue in the trade' between
the Rapids and Galena for the balance of
the season in connection with the daily
line below the Rapids, which will consis't
ot three of the best passenger boats above
this city, viz: the John Simpson, Belle
Gould and Kate Kearney. The freight
and passengers taken to'Keokuk by the
steamer Golden Era will be transferred
to the Keokuk packet company’s boats,
the J. McKee and Regulator, on arrival
at Keokuk. When this arrangement is
completed, passengers can rely on going
through without detention in the lowest
stage of water.
The steamer Regulator left Keokuk on
the 18th inst. Met Greek Slave at La
grange ; Brunette, below Louisiana; had
been aground tor live hours; four feet
scant on Louisiana and Cincinnati bars
and river still falling; left Shenandoah
aground on the Rapids.
The steamer Planter is aground at the
head of Piasa Island, with a large number
of wood boats in tow.
The Missouri river boats are compelled
to coine out with very light cargoes, on
account of the low and falling state of the
ri\er. The J. M. Clendcnin. down yes
terday morning, brought 70 bales of hemp
and 125 lihds. of tobacco.
We learn from the officers of the steam
ers Regulator and Golden Era, in yester
day from Keokuk,that the Shenandoah is
still hard aground on the Lower Rapids,
with but little hope of gelling off until a
rise shall take place in the river. She is
said to be in a dangerous condition.
The officers 0 r the Cumberland Valley,
in yesterday from Cincinnati, report the
Ohio river still falling, wilh scant three
feet water on New Albany and Rising Sun
bars.
The little steamer Movastar arrived
last night from Liverpool, 111. river, with
a cargo of 2,621 sacks of grain. Her of
ficers report the river still falling, with
twenty inches water on Beardstown bar.
They left the little Missouri aground at
that place ; Dan Hillman aground on Na
ple’s flats; and Beardstown also aground
at Little Blue. The steamers Gossamer
and Yankee had got over Beardstown
bar and were on their way up the river.
The steamer Shenandoah, aground for
several days on the Lower Rapids, ar
freight^ mornin 8 wilh a large
The Edward Howard.— When the
Editor passed up, this boat was still on
the bar at Hat Island, with the Shelby
alongside taking off her freight. There
appeared to be a fair prospect of relieving
her speedily, and it was thought she
would be set afloat without further in
jury.
The Edit or reports the Ohio still aground
at Buffalo Island.
Steameu Lamartine Sunk. —We
learn trom the officers of the Brunette,
down yesterday afternoon from Keokuk,
•at they passed the Lamartine at Portage
nevAn'f * w ' t h her stern in about
a har • Wa, * r > an d her bow resting on
the channel - Her offi
cers, with the exception of the mate
'l*® Brunette, and rSi
that on Sunday night, between 11 andl 2
o’clock, while heading down stream, she
struck a snag or log some three hundred
yards above where she now lies, and
stove a hole in her bottom on the larboard
side near the bow. which caused the
water to rush in with such force that she
immediately commenced sinking. She
was immediately rounded to and run for
a bar near the shore, but went down as
soon as as her bow touched the ground.
When they left she was lying with her
bow up stream and resting on the bar,
while her stern had settled down so as to
allow the water to flow over her deck
through the engine room. It is thought
she will scarcely be raised. She had on
board a heavy cargo, consisting princ pally
of grain, nearly all of which will be lost
The Lamartine was owned in Dubuque,
hut by what parties we did not learn.
Her passengers were brought down by
the Brunette. The Lamartine was com
manded by Capt. Harlow.
The Upper Mississippi continues fall
ing. The pilot of the Brunette reports
about two feet water on the Lower Rap
ids.
The James Rood. —The officers of the
Patrick Henry report that the James Robb
was obliged to throw overboard a large
quantity of freight, near 100 tons, while
aground in Plum Point Bend on her down
ward trip The Patrick Henry met her
under way at Helena. The Robb left
this port for New Orleans on Saturday
wilhagood trip, and I hough shegrounded
several times before reaching Cairo, met
with no serious accident until she ran on
a bar in Plum Point Bend, when she
stuck fast, and being in imminent peril
was obliged to lighten by throwing freight
overboard in order to insure the safety of
the boat.
There you have, in full, a concise ac
count of this perplexing incident of the
year 1852. Wc will just remark that
Plum Point, mentioned in the last para
graph, is two hundred and fifty miles
below the mouth of the Ohio. We will
also state, that pilots on our packets in
form us that the bar at Pig’s Eye is no
worse than the one at Gultenburg, below
Prairie du Cliicn, and that it (Pig’s Eye)
is now better than it was when the West
Newton and Ben Campbell stopped run
ning. There was full three feet in the
channel when the Martha came up Tues
| day ; and bear in mind that you have just
! seen from the Republican, fifteen days
! ago there was but /wo feet on the Lower
j Rapids.
We think we have succeeded in estab
lishing :
Ist. That this is a season of unusual
low water throughout the West.
2d. That wc have a better river be
tween St. Paul and Galena than from Ga
lena to Keokuk.
3d. That while wc arc suffering, Ga
lena, St. Louis, New Orleans. Louisville,
Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and every town
and place on the Mississippi and its trib
utaries, are suffering with us. As Rob
Roy McGregor's wife said on a certain
occasion, “If we wail, others must wail
with us.”
Let us hear no more against the unas
suming bar at Pig’s Eye, which hides its
modest head one foot beneath the jagged
rocks of the Des Moines, and six inches
under the sands of Guttcnbiirg.
Thf late Col Goodlme and the Pioneer.
In a beautiful tribute to the memory of
Col. Goodhue in this week's Pioneer,
from the pen of Rev. Mr. Neill, the fol
lowing paragraph occurs:
“ In looking back upon his life, lie saw
much to regret. He acknowledged his
unworlhiness in the sight of Heaven, and
hoped that lie had placed his trust in his
Redeemer. He was desirous to live in
order that he might show to the world,
that he had determined to act upon new
resolutions. To the last he felt an inter
est in Minnesota, and hoped the day
would never arrive, when a majority of
citizens could be found at the ballot-box.
in favor of a repeal of that law in our
Statute Book, which makes a groggery a
public nuisance. During his sickness,
he was patient, and freely forgave all his
enemies.”
The acting editor, I. N. Goodhue, Esq.
makes the following announcement in re
lation to the future course and disposition
of the Pioneer:
“ The Pioneer will be published, as
heretofore, under the same motto, and
with tho same devotion to the interests of
Minnesota. The paper will be the pro
perty of tfie heirs of the late proprietor.
At ihe earliest opportunity, such editori
al talent will be engaged, as will best sus
tain the past reputation of the Pioneer .”
“You come to fill Mr. Franklin’s
place,” remarked the Prime Minister of
France to Mr. Jefferson, when he was
sent to that court as American Ambassa
dor. “No, sir,” quickly replied the sage
ol Monticcllo; “ I come to assume Mr.
Franklin's place—not to Jill it.” So well
may say the man who succeeds James M.
Goodhue in the editorial chair of the Pi
oneer ; not but there are plenty of men of
equal talent, but where is the man of just
such peculiar and suitable talent ?
The Presidency.
Baltimore, Aug. 12, 1852.
Senator Dawson, of Georgia, has come
out in favor of General Scott, and will
address the Whig meeting at Cambridge,
in this State, on Monday next. Messrs.
Morehead and Stanly, ol North Carolina,
will also speak.
Congress. —A motion to go into the
election o( public printer, was recently
decided in the negative in the House by a
tie vote.
The Atlantic Disaster —The last
accounts make it probable that not over
130 lives were lost by the above disas
ter.
Facts and Fancies.
We publish the communication from the
St. Anthony Express, signed Benton, as
a matter of information concerning an im
portant part of the Territory which we
hove never visited, and not to please the
writer, who is a man that would oppose
and misrepresent us were wc a saint
above. We hope he will not take the
act as a personal compliment to himself
or his talents as a writer or lawyer.
We learn by telegraph from Mr. Sibley
that Judge Allen Pierse, of St. Paul, and
Jonathan E. McKusick, of Stillwater,
have been appointed Register and Receiv
er of the Land office at Stillwater, vice
Messrs. VanVorhesnnd Wilcox, removed.
These appointments will receive the ap
probation of all branches of the Whig party
in Minnesota, and the people generally.
The attendance at Col. Goodhue’s fu
neral on Sunday last was very large. We
have never seen a more general feeling of
gloom pervade a community than on this
afflicting occasion. All appeared to feel
that Minnesota had lost one of the best
and most useful friends she ever had.
An excellent and touching discourse was
delivered on the occasion by Rev. Mr.
Neill, who perhaps had seen and knew
more of the deceased since his residence
here than any other person outside his
own family. Col. Goodhue came to Min
nesota three years ago as poor a man as
any of us. but by his energy and industry
has left his family in comfortable circum
stances.
Mr. Sibley telegraphs that the Reserve
bill lias passed the Senate in the shape it
went from the House—that is. no provis
ion giving claimants privileges over other
people. Well, we rejoice that the Re
serve is off at last, no matter in what
shape. Claimants will take care of them
selves.
We regret to announce that there is
scarcely a probability that Chief Justice
Fuller will return to the Territory. The
Senate being largely opposed to him po
litically, wish the vacancy to remain until
the Presidential contest is decided, hoping
| there will then be a chance to fill it with
i one of their own party. This is a small
i business, but exactly to the taste of modern
Democracy. The President, now that the
j Senate has adjourned, will be compelled
to appoint some other gentleman for liie
, time being. He will probably be a New
York or Minnesota man. If it is possible
to prevail on Judge Fuller to accept a re
appointment, Mr. Fillmore will do a great
favor to the people of M nnesota bv en
deavoring to do so. But we fear the
Judge’s determination is peremptory to
the contrary.
Since our residence in Minnesota, litres
steamboats have attempted to navigate
, that portion of the Mississippi between
Fort Snelling and St. Anthony. These
; boats were the Anthony Wayne, Lamur
, tine and Dr. Franklin No. 2. A singular
| fatality has attended the subsequent ca
j reer of all of them. Neil her of them ever
afterwards made money for their owners,
although previously they had been profit
able boats. They have all since sunk or
blown up, causing more or less destruction
of human lile. Really, it would appear
it is death on a steamboat, and ruin to her
owners, to attempt to “ navigate ” that
rocky channel.
The new sawmill at Prescott, Wis., is
now in successful operation. The village
gives unmislakeitblc signs of going ahead.
The Greek Slave, the boat recently
purchased by our enterprising fellow-cit
izen, Captain Louis Roberts, arrived in
port on Thursday morning. She is a
good substantial craft, only two or three
years old, and well calculated for this
trade. During low water, she will run
between here and Galena, making regular
weekly trips. Capt. Roberts takes com
mand of her himself, assisted by an effi
cient and attentive set of officers, among
whom wc are pleased to sec Jo. Arm
strong, well known as one of the oldest
and most skillful pilots on the river. It
is perhaps not generally known among
our citizens of more recent residence, that
Capt. Roberts is an old river man, and no
way* “green” at the business he has
undertaken. Such is the fact, however.
In this enterprise of owning th t first St
Paul steamboat, we trust lie will be sus
tained by our people. We hope he is but
the pioneer of others who will find it to
their advantage to invest in home steam
boat stock. No town on the Western
waters can ever amount to any “ great
shakes ” unless she controls her own car
rying business. We commend Captain
Roberts and his boat to the attention of
the traveling and shipping public.
Passengers who have traveled upon the
Martha, recommend her as one of the
most comfortable of boats in every respect.
The fare is excellent, and the officers at- j
teutive and obliging- The Martha is very
regular in making her weekly trips be
tween Galena and St. Paul.
Certain politicians here are already
quarreling about the distribution of the
loaves and fishes under Pierce's adminis
tration ! Wait awhile, gentleman; old
Chippewa may have a word to say about
this matter.
The removal of a public officer by his
own political party always implies that he
has not done his duty. It is rather hard
in the case of Major Van Vorhes, the
la<e Register of the land office at Stillwa
ter, who is a gentleman advanced in life,
not in easy circumstances, and with a
family dependent upon him. We have
known him for the last twelve years, and
can say with (ruth that no man in the
State o!' Ohio stood higher as an honora
ble and upright citizen and devoted,
working Whig. He was in the Legisla
ture for six or eight successive years,
serving wilh great credit in both the
House and the Senate. In that capacity
he was looked up to and consulted as a
man of (he greatest discernment and judg
ment, by his fellow-legislators, composed
of such men as Alfred Kelley, Robt. C.
Schenck, Jos. M. Root, David T. Disney,
Edson B. Olds, and others whose names
and fame are not cuinfincd within, (he
boutularics,of Ohio. In his new home of
Minnesota, by his upright character and
fine social qualities he has “ won golden
opinions from all sorts of people,” and
surrounded himself, by no effort what
ever, with troops of friends. How such a
man can have an enemy on earth we are
at a loss to imagine. We are well assur
ed that no effort was made among mem
bers of his party here at St. Paul to re
: move him. In fact, we arc informed that
the removal was entirely from considera
tions immediately connected with the
General Land Otlice : but what they were,
wc have not the slightest knowledge.
If one boat per week can get to St.
Paul, so can a dozen or fifty. We don't
exactly see the why* and wherefores of
the matter; but ever since the West
Newton was compelled to leave the trade
on account of low water, there has been
no regularity in the arrival of the mails
from below. We have not complained
of this as yet, but it can’t be expected
we are to stand the grievance forev
er. The company contracted to deliver
three mails per week on certain days*
which they can do as well as to deliver
but one. The Dr. Franklin was here
with a mail last Sunday. Until this
morning at daylight, no other made its
appearance this week. The whole com
munity, so far as we have had an oppor
tunity of hearing them, arc justly com
plaining of the little interest the contrac
tors appear to take in the matter. Wc
do not wish to be considered captious or
given to unnecessary fault finding; but
we Jo think that Messrs. Campbell & Co.
are not doing exactly the “fair thing” in
allowing the important item of transport
ing tlie mail to become so entirely subser
vient to other business considerations.
If wc had five or six thousand such
women in Minnesota as the one who
writes on our first page from Ilorieon,
Wis., we would not exchange them for
all the gold in California and Australia.
We hear it rumored about (own that
the Pioneer is to pass into the editorial
charge of Major Jacob J. Noah. The
Maj or is a spirited writer, and with prac
tice and experience will inuke a good
editor.
Bio Melons.— Mr. S. P. Hop son, who
lives on Muscatine Island, a mile below
the city, has been feasting us on water
melons and niuskmelons the past week.
Two melons which he brought up Mon
day measured ten inches in diameter
and thirteen in length. He says lie has
“many more of the same sort” and lar
ger, too, in his patch.— .Muscatine Jour
nal.
Wc “lay over” your Mr. Hopson up
I this way. Our friends of the Groveland
settlement, Messrs. Mappa, Ford, Baker,
Quinn, &c., have more melons than they
can haul to market; and those of so small
a size as yours they would leave to rot in
the field. Mr. Ford had one, the other
day which weighed twenty eight-pounds,
and another delicious one which lie had
the discrimination to present to the Min
ncsotian office, weighed twenty-three and
a half pounds. This latter is no uncom
mon size for melons upon the soil oT that
neighborhood.
The dysentery has been prevailing as
an epidemic at St. Paul, in many instan
ces proving fatal. Mr. Goodhue, of the
Pioneer, has been dangerously ill, but wc
arc glad to learn, by late advices, that lie
is somewhat convalescent.— Burlington
Telegraph.
The above is one of the thousand-and
onc stories set afloat in regard to sickness
here. Wc have enquired of our physi
cians since the above met our eye, and
can hear of no single case of dysentery
that has proved fatal this season. Col.
Goodhue did not die of dysentery, al
though that was the cause of his first
sickness, w'hich he contracted by expo
sure to the heat of the weather and other
unusual hardships in attending to his fer
ry. Neither is there any other sickness
or alarming epidemic of any kind prevail
ing here—no cholera, no fever, or any
thing of the sort. St. Paul and vicinity
were never more healthy than at this pre
sent moment.
John Tapper, the Charon between Nic
ollet Island and (whatis the new
name?) has returned from his matrimo
nial tour, and is at his post, ready to do
the honors to travelers, parties of pleas
ure. and the “ rest of mankind.”
We are informed by letter, that sick- (
ness prevails to a most distressing extent;
in Wabash county, in this state. The
cholera prevails to some extent and all
diseases prove alarmingly fatal. We
hope ere this that the malady is arrested,
and that old Wabash which up to this
season has been justly termed one of the
healthiest counties upon the Wabash
river, has been relieved from the dreadful .
scourge.— Shawneetown Volun/eer.
Paragraphs of this kind meet our eye
in Western papers by every mail. The
cholera has this season left the large cities,
and spread itself throughout the country,
prevailing more or less in almost every j
neighborhood in the States immediately ,
below us. How thankful should we all :
feci, that the season has passed, and Min- !
nesota has again escaped the visitation of
this blighting scourge! But it is amusing
to hear an editor in the Wabash country j
talking about the health of any portion of i
that region. What they call healthy \
there, is when one person to a family is
able to crawl to the sick bed of the oth
ers, who are past moving, and hand them
a cup of water. So long as one remains
able to do this, it is not considered very
sickly. We have seen quinine and calo
mel hauled through that country in two
horse peddling wagons, and fed to chil
dren and adults at meal time instead of
potatoes and bacon. Why don’t you all
come to Minnesota, stop shaking, and get
enough flesh on your bones to cast a
shadow ?
Steamer Greek Slave.— Another
light drought steamer, about the same size
as the West Newton, arrived here yester
day afternoon, and is intended for the St.
Paul trade. She was puchascd by Louis
Roberts of St. Paul, who is to take com
mand of her.— Galena Mv.
Wc arc glad to learn tlie Slave is a
“ light drought ” boat, having had other
most positive evidence up here that the
drought has been long and heavy. It is
certain, however, that our Galena neigh
bor is not far out of the way, for the
drought ended, and we were visited by
copious and refreshing showers, immedi
ately upon the entrance of this boat into
the Territory.
Rev. Mr. Rihcldaffur has gone East on
business connected with his church. lie
expects to be absent some five or six
weeks.
We hope the editor of the Dubuque
Spike will keep his nasty little “dirt
c irt ” off our table. We exchange with no
such a gross and libelous concern. A
man that can deliberately call Gen. Scott
a coward and a thief, can do almost any
thing else. Will our Postmaster please
put the Spike directed to the Minncsot ian,
under the table, and not into our box?
The finest potatoes we have seen this
season were hauled through town on
Thursday by John Bell. John himself
never saw their equal this side the Green
Isle. They were raised upon Gov. Ram
sev’s farm near town.
The Elephant “ have nrriv,” and in a
few days a whole menagerie of seasona
ble dry-goods will grace the shelves of
the World’s Fair. Curran was warm's
welcomed home by his lists of friends.
A post-office has been established at
Le Seur, and John W. Cathcart appointed
Postmaster. Good all round !
The Guards meet Thursday evening at
Spencer’s warehouse for drill. Mem
bers should be impressed with the fact
that they can never become good soldiers
unless they are strictly attentive to their
duty. Be on hand !
rivers and ii in non*.
I Wc know nothing as yet whether or
I not the “Democratic” Senate condc
j scended to pass the River and Harbor
bill before its adjournment. We care
nothing about it politically, but commer
cially wc care, and the people care, a
great deal. If they have passed it, the
act was owing to the people's indignation,
and not to carry out a principle ; for
their recorded principles at their late
Baltimore Convention arc right in the
lace and eyes of this measure— dead
against it. If they have passed it, they
knocked a plank from the centre of their
platform in doing it. But let no one so
lar stultify himself as to believe the poli
cy will be continued hereafter, if Pierce
is elected. Look at his votes upon great
National measures of this kind while he
was in Congress ; look at the votes of the
New Hampshire delegation upon the
present bill, and then judge whether the
West can trust men of such narrow and
bigoted views. Had even the policy of
Gen. Jackson’s administration in regard
to this question—which Mr. Pierce, on
all occasions voted against—been carried
out until this day, we would now have no
Des Moines or Rock river Rapids—no
snags, rocks or bars between here and
St. Louis. The following remarks of the
Galena Advertiser are sensible and ortho
dox :
It is contended for the democratic par
ts', in localities where the doctrine of
River and Harbor Improvement is popu
lar, that that party is as friendly to such
works as the Whig,. Then, why have
they not in the last sixteen years passed
the bills for such improvements? With
but a trifling exception, they have had
the control of one or the whole three
branches of the government. The Whigs
in Congress, as a party, have never placed
themselves in the wav—thev have at wavs
stood ready with a helping hand. No
Whig President has snubbed the nose of
the doctrine in his messages, nor had his
veto ready to club it to death the moment
a bill had passed both Houses and had a
prospective existence. Those bills have
not passed for this reason : It has become
the settled policy of the Locofoco party
to oppose the doctrine at all limes and in
all places where public sentiment does
not compel them to sustain it. And so it
has been done. For this reason they con
nived together to talk the River and Har
bor Bill to death in the Senate last year,
well knowing that Mr. Fillmore would
sign it. If they pass the small bill be
fore the Senate this year, it will be, be
cause they dare not venture to brave and
defy public opinion. We believe lull} - in
jthe manly doctrine of the Land Reform
ers, to hold the party in power fully res
ponsible for its acts. When the majority
1 pass these bills they shall have full cred
;it for what they do. When they defeat
I them they are opposed lo them. All pre
] tension to the contrary is miserable sophis
i try, from whatever source.
"While on this subject, the following
analysis of the vote on the present River
and Harbor Bill, as it passed the House,
may not be uninteresting or inappropriate.
The vote stood 103 to 75. Nearly every
Whig Representative voted “aye.” Of
the Democrats, every one from the South,
except Penn and St. Martin, of Louisi
ana, voted “nay.” Of the Northern
and Western Democrats, about one half
voted with the Whigs. Of the remaind
er, some few bravely breasted the anger
of their constituents and opposed the
bill, but the majority were taken with a
“ stampede,” and dodged the test. The
“ayes” consist of about 70 Whigs and 33
| Democrats; the “nays” of about 70
Democrats and 5 Whigs. The latter arc
Messrs. Cabell, Gentry, Williams, 11.
Marshall and Clinginan.
Latest!
The Nominee arrive! this morning,
bringing the mail. We find little of in
terest.
The Senate has extensively amended
the River and Harbor bill. It had not
passed at last accounts.
The abominable Insane Land bill has
passed botli Houses.
Positive Saf-'ty of Capt. Marcy and Men.
New Orleans, Aug. 17.
The Picayune has received a dispatch,
dated Memphis, Tcnn., 1(i h inst., con
laining advices from Fort Smith to Aug.
3d, which brings the cheering news of
the positive safe’y of Capt. Marcv and
his command, and adds that the whole
party have arrived at Fort Arbucklc.
STEAMBOAT •• ACCIDENTS.**
The chapter of accidents on the West
ern lakes and rivers since our last, is un
usually large. Wc give all tilt particu
lars in our possession :
From tli- <1 v. lind IKraM.
Simmer Atlantic Slink-Some -JOO Llrcs Lout:!
The O'Reilly Line brings us llic fol
lowing account of a terrible catastrophe
this morning on Lake Erie. The Og
denshurgh left this port yesterday I'orOg
densburgh. The Atlantic runs from Buf
falo to Detroit, and was bound to Detroit.
Erie, Pa., Aug. 20.
Propeller Ogdensburgh run into the
steamer Atlantic off Long Point, this
morning about half past two o’clock.—
Atlantic sunk soon afterwards. A large
number of lives lost—perhaps two hun
dred. Propeller Ogdensburgh just ar
rived with Atlantic s small boats and pu t
of her passengers who were saved.—■
More particulars soon.
E.atrr-Fnrlhrr rortlmlara.
At two o’clock this morning the steam
er Atlantic came in collision with the
propeller Ogdensburgh, about six miles
above Long Point.
The steamer ran across the bows of the
propeller, striking her forward of the
wheel on the larboard side.
I lie propeller’s engine had been re
versed some ten minutes before the col
lision. 1 lie steamer continued on her
course until she had run some three
mi'es from the place of contact before her
engine was stopped, which was caused
hy the water extinguishing her tires.
As soon as the damages of the propel
ler were ascertained and fixed, she start
ed lor the steamer, and found her sinking
\cry last. The lake was covered for
miles with floating fragments and persons
clinging for life.
Every exertion to save the suiferer*
was resorted to, but we have no doubt a
great many were drowned. The clerk
ol the Atlantic did not save his trip
sheet, and therefore cannot tell how many
;tfc lost. J
He judges there were from 500 to (>CO
p.issengeis on board, a large portion of
whom were emigrants. The propeller
picked up and look from the wreck some
over 200. It is impossible to say liovv
many are lost.
Still I.ntcr and Further Particulars.
Erie, Pa., Aug. 20—3 1-2 P. M
The clerk of the Atlantic has saved
null ing. He thinks there were from 500
to 600 person on board—a great part of
which were emigrants and between decks.
» cry nearly all the cabin passengers
were saved, together with all the crew,
except two or three waiters. The pro
filer picked up nearly 300 persons from
the wreck, but the exact number lost can
not be ascertained. Below wc give
the name* of a few of those saved:
w u*’ 11 Harris, Detroit; D. S.
VValbridge, Kalamazoo; Rich’d M. Smith,
Icnn Yarn., N Y.; Walter Osborn,
Montreal; A. Reed, Farmington. 111.;
Abner C. Ellis, Sandwich, C. W. ; Mis,
Myers, Utica; E. G. Everett,Greenfield,
Mass.; Mr. Brockway, Kenosha ; Capt.
Turner, Oswego; Alfred Clark. L. D.
Crippen Cold Water ; Mrs. Lester Buek
rJi’ .® altlc Creek, Mich.; A. Calkins,
Belv.dere, 111 ; J. L. D. Bissel, Mobile;
J ; J. Brown, do.; R. Graves and A. Col-
Ha ™ b ":S h ’ N - Y.; J. Shawber,
Clifton, N. Y.; James Ru.sell and lady,
Strasburgh, N. Y.; Geo. Hortiey, ii
!? e ’ JU* > White and wife, Orwell,
V V, } W. J. Hall, Albany; G. E. Bush
noil, Greene co.; N. Y.