The Weekly Minnesotian. [volume], August 06, 1853, Image 2

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

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

                
THE MINNESOTA.
Saint }laul, Satnriioij, august 6, 1853.
//Direct Communication with Red River.
St. Paul is now the acknowledged centre of
trade, not only for Minnesota, but a large por
tion of adjacent Wisconsin. The position she
has assumed she can keep—must keep—will
keep. She is the farthest point north on the
Mississippi reached by steamboats from below,
und, as a matter of course, all commercial inter
course carried on north of her must go by some
'other conveyance, save that which, after a port
age of nine miles around the Falls of St. An
thony, for a few weeks each year, can find a
channel, by means of small steamers, as far up
the Mississippi as Sauk Ilapids—seventy-five
miles. Westward, we have the Minnesota ri
ver, the most navigable tributary of the Mis
sissippi above the Illinois, and quite equal to
that, with the exception of early spring ami late
fall. JVbrth-westward lies a vast producing
region, hundreds of miles in extent, which we
must reach, partly at least, by artificial means.
It will not do to await the building offrhe Pu
get's Sound Railroad, for that may never ha]>-
pen,—especially as the first reconuoisamse of
the route appears to have fallen into miserably
inefficient bandstand if it should happen, it
will be a long while, comparatively, after this.
We want some direct and easy communication
with the Rod Rivor Valley, and want it now—
os soon as it can be opened.
llow can it be opened ? This is a question
wc are now about to consider, briefly of course.
During the rcceut visit of the Red river tra
ders to St. Paul, we learned that the project is
seriously entertained of building a steamlioat j
to ply between the bead of navigation on that j
stream and lower Lake Wiunepeg, the reccpta- 1
cle of its waters. Lake Winnepeg is one hun- j
Cred and twenty miles below Pembina. It is a '
largo lake, it will be remembered —too large
perhaps for navigation by ordinary steam eratt,
suitable for our Western rivers. Rut here, at
the mouth of Red river, we meet the commerce
of Hudson’s Bay, which comes up through Nel
son river, and across the lake. Here, also, we
are in the very centre of the Hudson Bay Com
pany's operations; and we have also full com
mand of the vast farming region within the i
British border, along the banks of lied river,
including the Selkirk Settlement—a sett lement
already of five or six thousand agriculturists,
and rapidly increasing.
Now, let us come over upon American soil.—
Red river, ascending from the parallel of forty
nine—our northern boundary—is navigable at
least five months in the year for steamboats
drawing three feet water, to a point within six
ty milts of the head of navigation on the Min
nesota, as attained by our packets the present
season! Allowing—which we must—that llie
Minnesota is uncertain of navigation up to that
high point more than two mouths in the year,
we can fall back upon another certain and sure
route. A good road, over high and dry practi
cable ground, can be opened direct from Fort
Snelling, one hundred and fifty miles only, to
the head of navigation on Redriver! These
are facts which it behooves St. Paul to think of
now, when she is looking to the extension of
her trade throughout this vast north-western
region. jWhat have we to do with opening land
communications to the South, on the west side
of the Mississippi—what have we to do with Du
buque or any other of the meddlesome one-horse
towns below? What do wc in the South when
we should serve our interests In the North ? If
they want us, let them come for us.J We want
ed the trade of the West, up the valley of the
Minnesota—wc went after it and procured it,
and must, as a natural reward for our energy
and enterprise, hold it. We now want the en
tire trade of the North—extended as it will be
through the facilities of steam navigation
and we must also go for it.
Did any one ever stand upon the eastern bluff;'
skirting the Mississippi opposite Fort Snelling;
measure the elevation from the water; the short
distance to the opposite bluff—almost of exact
corresponding height—and calculate the vast
advantages here afforded of bridging the riv
er? It can all be seen at a glance, without the
practical eye of the engineer. Here is the
point, then, for our Red river road to cross,
so far above high water mark, that the tallest
cbimueyed steamers on the river can pass up
to Meeker s Landing, three miles below St. An
thony, whenever they please. Thus we will
have no quarrel with our neighbors on that
head. This should always be avoided, as a mat
ter of course, if possible.
The beneficial influence of even the present
small land trade, annually carried on between
St. Paul an ,i the Red river Valley, is sensibly
e t in our midst. The aggregate amounted
thii year to perhaps lorty or fifty thousand dol
ars on y. By the channel of communication
VC have pointed out, it is capable of being in
creased to almost any extent.
One of the graat<rsfT£liJort^' es that has ever
befallen St. Paul, or Minnesota since its organ
ization as a Territory, was the defeat of tbe
Pembina Treaty, in the Senate of the United
Slates, last year. Its defeat on the ground of
goiernmental economy was an exceedingly
penny wise and pound foolish ’ operation
nothing more. It will have soon to be negotia
fir t°'« r agalD ’ atmueh greater cost than at
nwt. But if defeated, as we really believe it
»as, from motives of personal interest or per
sonal Bpitei whlch acluatod the brcagtg of goine
ZT Ca ’ Zen ’ s lhe act vas sinful as well
Be “** Mof I’Ub
hc transgressions, the whole people are destin
edto abide the disagreeable consequences.-
Bnt let us rather endeavor to remedy the er
rors of the past hv prompt and decided action
now, than to fold our arms and be content with
fault-finding.
MlaaeMta la the Crystal Palace.
Our Commissioner, W. G. LeDuc, Esq., deserves
the thanks of the Territory for the zealous and
efficient manner in which he has discharged his
trust. The Minnesota Department is receiving
qni as much attention from visitors as any
other , c the Palace A , ady friend
* ?' BtanC V ow vlsitin K New York, writes ns :
I was quite taken with the furs and curiosi
ties on exhibition from your distant land It
may be, that hearing so much of that new re
gion, weekly when at home, through the ‘Min
nesotian,’ called my attention more directly to
the‘Minnesota Department,’ as we leisurely
wandered from one attraction to another, or
for the reason that the articles are rare and
unique; but sure it is, at no time upon fu
ture visits to tbs great exhibition— great it cer
tainly is—will I neglect to call on Minnesota.”
The New 1 ork papers have as yet been able to
notice very few of the departments in detail.
Minnesota, however, comes in among the first
of these notices. The Herald of the 25tb ult.,
speaks particularly of the ‘ English Depart
ment’ and the ‘ Minnesota Department.' We
give annexed what is said of the latter :
Thk Minnesota Department.—As you enter
the Palace, on Forty -second st., and turn to the
left to go up stairs, in one of the most conspicu
ous places in the building is a part or the con
tributions from Minnesota, consisting of Indian !
curiosities and furs. Almost every variety of
furs is hero represented, from the Americau >
sable to the buffalo rolie. Minnesota is the ;
great fur producing country of the continent,;
and has been for more than two hundred years.
The fur trade during the past year, amounted
to more than S6OO,(HR*. Of the furs exhibited,
a set of six martens, from R. Crooks, Esq., of
the American Fur Company, are exceedingly
fine and valuable,equal to the best ot Russian sa
ble; superil otter and fisher, and three singu
larly contrasted mink, and a well preserved
pelt of the industrious beaver, with other fine
furs, are bung in close proximity, and will re
ceive many an envious glance from the luxu
rious fanciers of fine furs. A yellow bear skin,
exhibited by Donald McDonuld, is a very sing
ular and rare fur; but perhaps the greatest cu
riosity ami most valuable thing in the collec
tion is the magnificent silken buffalo robe ex
hibited by Mr. Sanford; a robe of such extra
ordinary fineness and beauty we bad not con
ceived of, anil learn that they are not met with
once iu many years. The Indian curiosities at
tract the attention of every passer by. Among
other things, a pipe-stem, knife-scabbard and
tobacco-pouch, exhibited by Capt. Todd, of the
U. S. A., are evidences of great inginuity and
no small taste in the arrangement of colors
and materials. The knife-scabbard is worked
with porcupine quills, brilliantly colored, and
resembles the finest embroidery. A coat fring
ed with the long scalp-hair from the heads of
nine murdered Indians, horrifies the tender
hearted and gratifies the curious. While ma
king notes of these productions of Minnesota, it
may be well to notice those of a less showy
character, and which occupy a less prominent
place, among the agricultural productions. The
corn, oats, and barley of Minnesota compare
favorably with any exhibited; and although
specimens are few, yet they prove to a demon
stration, the fallacy of the notion which seems
to have possessed to some extent the public
mind, asfollows:—“ itis too cold for corn," says
the farmer as he looks at the parallels of latti
tnde; “ can't rise corn or wheat up there.’’—
Here is tangible proof, however, that these
grains have grown and can grow and ripen, in
the highest perfection in Minnesota. We see
also, a new article of food among the grains,
viz., mauomin, or wild rice, which is said to
furnish subsistance to thousands of Indians, as
early as any other of the grain of this climate.
Let some of our cooks try their hands at it;
samples will lie furnished by the commissioner,
Mr. Le Due. Wo are glad to see the products
and curiosities of the country so well represen
ted, and hope they may draw that attention to
the fertile region which its agricultural aud
mineral importance demands.
facts and fancies
Removal. —The coming week the Minnesotian
office will be removed to the large brick build
ing, recently erected by Judge Lambert ou
Third, between Minnesota and Cedar streets.
The rapid and continued increase of our busi
ness has made this step absolutely neerssary.
Advertising. —We take this occasion to in
form tlie business community, here and else
where, that we adhere strictly to the prices
for advertising entered into heretofore by
the publishers of the Pioneer, the Democrat
aud ourselves. We are aware that Death has
unfortunately called one of our contemporaries
from among us, and the force of circumstances
has driven the other from his old post; but all
this docs not affect the ‘ price of putty ' —or
rather the price of advertising, with us. Our
present neighbors may afford to work for noth
ing, but we cannot. We claim to understand
the business we follow, having served a life ap
prenticeship to it, and can assure all wishing
to advertise, that the prices are down to the
lowest living standard. And we here take oc
casion to remark, that we are in hopes the new
publishers of the Pioneer and Democrat con
sider themselves bound by the old compact.
Circumstances which have come to our knowl
edge within the past week, make it our duty
to thus • define our position' at this time.
Some of the greenest of our folks imagined
the Editor of the Democrat would not support
H. M. Rice, for Congress. They knew very
little of the man. He always acts on prin
ciple. It was principle which induced him
once to publish a Whig paper, to secure his
own election to Congress ; and principle in
duced him to sell his claims to H. M. Rice, and
vote for Mitchell, a Whig ; and principle now
prompts him to go it strong for the man, who,
however high he may stand in the estimation of
his fellow-citizens, he (the editor of the Demo
crat) has repeatedly denounced within the last
month, as one unworthy of public or private
confidence. All this is from principle!
One, to read the Pioneer, would suppose
that the small specimen of humanity who scrib
bles editorials for that sheet, under the name
of James M. Goodhue—(shade of Minnesota's
great editor!) —one would suppose, we were
about to say, that the little ‘critter’ had more
‘friends’ than there were voters for Gen.
Pierce at the last election. Every paragraph
commences with ‘our friend’ this and ‘our
friend ’ that. Dan. Webster remarked in bis
great speech, of March, 1850, which broke down
the swelling tide of Northern and Southern fa
naticism, and secured the passage of the Com
promise measures, that it would be a great
wonder, when the disunion convention assem
bled at Nashville, if the bones of Gen. Jackson
did not raise from their coffin. It is almost a
phenomenon to the people of Minnesota, every
time they read the Pioneer, these days, that a
similar uprising of the dead does not take place
in this vicinity.
The understood responsible editor of the
Pioneer, it is hoped will not let his little
dagger man cut his as well as his own throat.
We would respectfully inform both gentlemen,
that onr * attack ’ upon Maj. Murphy was based
upon information obtained from a member of
the editor's family.
The Democrat accuses us of once, in the
columns of our paper, advocating the charter
of banks iu Minnesota. In plain words, this is
simply false, and we challenge the Editor of the
Democrat, or any other man, to the proof.
Chartered banks, in States and communities
where they are needed, and where the bill-hold
er can be well secured, we do not object to •
but in Minnesota there has not been heretofore
any necessity for them. It is a fact, however,
which the Legislative journals will show, that
the Whigs, almost every session, have success
fully stood between the people and wild-cat
bankers.
Richard Henry Lee, editor of the Cincin
nati Commercial, it will be noticed by a news
paragraph elsewhere, died in that city on the
!tlst ult. Mr. Lee was one of the ablest writers
connected with the Western press, and a gentle
man universally esteemed for his generous social
qualities. He was the direct descendant of his
namesake who signed the Declaration of Inde
pendence, and inherited the noblest virtues of
that illustrious man.
The Scb-Trbasubt Law. —It is fresh iu the
minds of all in this community, that a late of
ficer of the Government, not a disbursing offi
cer, was last winter villainously assailed and ar
raigned before the public for a violation of the
Sub-Treasury law. The charge was, aud is still
regarded as a miserable humbug by every man
who is familiar witli the transaction of business
connected with the transfer of money from one
extreme of the country to another. The pres
ent administration, it would seem by the fol
lowing, which we find in the St. Louis Republi
can, lias gone a step beyond, aud issued an
order which is really—strictly speaking—a vi
olation of a plain provision of the law :
Important Okiiek kkom the Tueascuy De
partment.—lnstructions have been issued from
the head of the Treasury Department at Wash
ington, to the Assistant Treasurers at Boston,
New York, Philadelphia. Charlestown, St. Lou
is and New Orleans, “ to receive from all dis
bursing officers oil ileposite, the public money
in their hands, and permit them to check out
tlie same at such times and in such sums as the
public service committed to their care may re
quire.” Tliis is a very important order," and
one which, although not strictly in compliance
with the law, yet finds its justification in the ne
cessity of the case. Hitherto, ever since the
adoption of tlie Snl>-Treasury system, the im
portunities of Disbursing officers to lie allowed
to keep accounts with the Assistant Treasurers
have been refused. If they had a draft for
SIOO,OOO to be disbursed in small sums and at
different points of the country all they could
do was to draw out the whole sum, and keep it
at home, or iu the bank, or in the broker’s. It
was not a very pleasant responsibility to have
such an amount of money iu their own offices,
and they were forced to violate the law, aiul to
place their money on depositc at the places we
have mentioned. The new instruction will re
lieve them from this responsibility, at the same
time that it will impose a very great additional
lalior njion the Sub-Treasurers, for which the
present compensation is wholly inadequate.—
Now that this invasion has been made upon the
system, it is ho]>ed the next Congress will set
itself to work to make such changes as experi
ence has demonstrated to be necessary.
Chicago Editors Coming. —Commodore Smith
of tlie Packet Company, lias been doing the
agreeable to the Chicago editors, by inviting
them to take a trip up this way. We look to
have Father Dutch, Dick Wilson, ‘Long John,'
Brother Bross, and the whole of them upon us
by the Nominee, tliis evening. They will, no
doubt, bring with them that ‘ good time,’ which
lias been so long coming. In behalf of Minne
sota, we here, ill advance, extend to them the
freedom of our ninety thousand square miles of
territory.
Pigtaii. Suit. —An honest old Democratic cit
izen brought a suit before 'Squire Simons the
other day, against a neighbor for cutting off
three pigs’ tails. Tlie action was based upon a
clause in the statute, making tlie maiming of
cattle a penal offence. Tlie tails were brought
into court, but the pigs were not, in order to
try whether the severed spinal elongations
would fit the stumps. Thus was left out an im
portant link in the chain of testimony, which
could not be supplied. So the 'Squire dismiss
ed the suit for want of evidence, and upon tlie
ground that the whole affair was too contempti
ble to adjudicate upon. The plaintiff thought
the decision based upon Whig principles, and
left in rather bad humor. What will tlie poor
Whigs have to stand next?
Tub Express Business. —The system of Ex
pressing goods, by safe and quick conveyance
from one point to another, however distant, has
grown up from one of the mercantile necessi
ties arising in this age of rapid motion. A few
years ago, it amounted to only a small business,
and was confined to the great Eastern cities.—
We can well remember it is not more than ten
years since the first Express was projected to
carry packages across the Alleghenies. In tlie
multiplicity of busiuess which was even then
crowding the groat lines of conveyance, it was
found unsafe to rely solely upon the agents of
the transportation companies to deliver valua
ble packages, or such articles as merchants and
traders wished in a hurry. The business of ex
pressing was undertaken to supply this defi
ciency. At first it did not pay extravagantly
well, but those at the head of it persevered;
and as railroads multiplied it liecame a vast
medium of quick, responsible and safe transpor
tation. Now, it would lie a great detriment to
the business of tlie country to do without ex
presses. Almost as great an amount of goods
—not in bulk but in value—is now sent from
East to West by Express, as by other means of
transportation. Those long and rapid trains
upon the lines of railroad, known as “ Express
Trains," take tlieir name from the fact that up
on them travel tlie messengers of the American
Express, or some other company, having in
charge, perhaps in three or four cars, a hundred
thousand dollars’ worth of fine goods, and
much larger amounts of money, belonging to
different individuals. The difference in this
and other modes of transportation, aside from
the rapid transit, is that the Express Company
becomes responsible, in all cases, for the safe
delivery of tlie goods and money. Messengers
always accompany the freight through to its
destination, and see that it is safely delivered.
We notice the American Express Company has
recently extended its trips to Galena, and form
ed a connection continuing thus far with Bur
bank's Express. This places Minnesota in safe
communication with the whole world ‘by Ex
press.’ A package of money sent by mail is
not entirely safe, as the mail may be robbed,
and there is no remedy. A package of goods
may be lost by fire or water under such circum
stances that neither the transportation compa
ny nor the insurance company is responsible,
although you may have the receipt and policy
in your pocket. But when you have the re
ceipt of tlie Express Company, you have a ‘sure
thing.’ We hope to see Mr. Burbank more gen
erally encouraged in this Express business than
heretofore, although he has made a very good
beginning.
Dr.T.T.Mann, generally understood tobe
the author of the ‘ Sauvage ’ letters published
in the Democrat last winter, has been appointed
by Agent Murphy, Sioux physician. Wc learn
from some of the traders whom the Doctor so
unmercifully—and of course we believe unjustly
—lashed at the time, that the appointment is
entirely satisfactory to them. Well, if so, we
are sure it is to us, for, professionally, the ap
pointee is fully qualified for the post, even if he
should ever happen to have any professional
business to attend.
Notwithstanding the dull season is now
upon us, and farmers busy in their harvest
fields, business appears fair and good in St.
Paul. Our market is now supplied with the fi
nest vegetables from the farms and gardens ad
jacent.
New Goods.— Judge Tullis, of the firm of Da
vis & Co., Rice House, has returned from St.
Louis with a fine assortment of goods in their
line of business, which are to be sold at the ac
customed low prices of that establishment.
The Chaxceß ok War. —Late arrivals from
Europe still leave extreme doubts as to tbc final
result of the question between Russia and Tur
key. England lags, and France is not as
prompt in backing the Porte as was at first im
agined. The London Morning Post, however,
says, that orders have been issued to the seve
ral commanders, to place the Naval forces of
England and Franco at the command of the
Sultan, the moment hostilities commence be
tween Russia and Turkey, to proceed wherever
he directs. At Paris, on the 15th July, the ex
change was firm until near the close, when a
panic arose, in consequence of a rumor that
Admiral Douadtz’s squadron had been ordered
to the Baltic. Letters from Russian officers in
the Principalities state that as the army would
spend the winter there, the officers would send
for their wives aud families. The fact that
Austria has also marched an army into the
Turkish provinces, tends to increase the gene
ral alarm.
Poster's Patent Rifle. —This is one of the
inodera implements of death, of the same order
as Colt's revolver, but intended to be more de
structive. It is loaded at the breech, and is so
constricted as to be capable of discharging nine
times n quick succession. A circular piece of
metal, some three inches iu diameter, contain
ing around the edge nine cavities, in which the
charges are deposited, revolves, by the act of
cocking the gun. bringing each charge in suc
cessive order within the breech of the barrel.
The invention has been patented, and is said by
those who h»ve tried it to work with the desir
cd effect. This weapon, it would appear, might
lie introduced with propriety into the military
service of the country. Tbc one we examined
was brought to the Territory by Hugh Tyler,
Esq., upon his recent visit, and may be seen at
the counting-room of Hon. 11. 11. Sibley, Men
dota. It is, upon the whole, rather an ingeni
ous affair, aud worthy the attention of sports
men and military gentlemen.
Pixe Logs and ‘ Democracy.’ —We find the
following in the last number of the La Crosse
Democrat. Gentlemen Democrats of Minne
sota, please turn back to tlie files of the Pioneer
and Minnesota Democrat, fifteen months agone
—overhaul the subject, ‘-and when found make
a note of" :
“Hon. J. B. Estes, P. S. Superintendent of
public lands for Wisconsin, north aud west of
the Wisconsin river, lowa and Minnesota, has
been in town for several weeks, and as this is a
convenient and central point for the perform
ance of the duties of his station, he will be here
frequently during his term of office. Capt.
Estes is an old resident of our State, well known
and much respected, liy a large number of our
citizens; and we can safely say that a more
suitable or popular appointment couhl not have
boon made. Although lie has the right to in
dict all who have trespassed upon the lands be
longing to the Government, by cutting the tim
ber. we learn that he is willing to compromise
on receiving a reasonable allowance for stump
age. This, we understand, will be satisfactory
to the lumbermen, and the whole tiling can thus
lie arranged without trouble or unnecessary ex
pense. Quite a number of persons had previ
ously settled with a U. S. Deputy Marshall,
who had the matter in charge previous to the
appointment of Capt. Estes. As tlie accounts
of the Deputy Marshall have not lieen satisfac
torily arranged with tlie government, all per
sons having receipts from the Deputy Marshall
referred to, are particularly requested to bring
or send them to Capt. Estes, that he may be able
to report the fact to the proper department.
Capt. Estes can lie found at tlie Tallmadgc
House, in this village, where he will be pleased
to see all who may have business with him.”
The Democratic Platform. —The following
are the resolutions, save one or two merely of
a business character, introduced by Mr. Hollins
head, and unanimously passed at the Democrat
ic Territorial Convention on Thursday of last
week. We give them merely as a matter of
present information and for future reference:
We the representatives of the Democrats of
tlie Territory of Minnesota, in Convention as
sembled, do resolve, as follows:
1. We rejoice exceedingly that now onr par
ty- here is fully organized, and that a Conven
tion composed of delegates from all parts of
the Territory, freely and fairly chosen, has met
for the purpose of giving united and effective
expression tu the DemnortUle will of Minneso
ta.
2. That we arc grateful for the spirit of con
ciliation and patriotic devotion to the princi
ples of onr political faith by Avbich the contests
leading to our present harmonious action have
been so eminently marked and distinguished.
3. That we extend to our Democratic coun
trymen, everywhere, our most hearty congrat
ulations upon the recent National triumph,
giving to our brethren, as it has, the control
of the powers of the Government, and evinc
ing as it does, the soundness of our Democrat
ic creed.
4. That we most cordially approve, and will
to our utmost sustain, the policy of tlie Admin
istrtion of our present excellent Chief Magis
trate, as developed in his Inaugural Address,
and his subseqent official acts. And that we
regard the wisdom and expediency of onr pop
ular institutions as entirely vindicated by the
brilliant entrance of General Franklin Fierce
upon the discharge of his high aud momentous
trust.
5. That we commend to our constituents,
and will practice ourselves, dispositions of con
cession and agreement which, forgetting the
merely personal auimositics of the past, shall
seek solely the union of our friends—the Demo
crats—in opposition to our ancient and natural
political foes—the Whigs.
6. That w-e ask for Henry M. Rice, the unan
imous nominee of this Convention for Delegate
to represent this Territory in the Congress of
the United States, the cordial support of every
Democrat, he having lieen selected by a just
expression of tlie will of the people, and he be
ing, moreover, in all respects, and in tlie high
est degree worthy.
Flag Staff. —The public spirited citizens
over about the Central House, have raised by
subscription some fifty or sixty dollars, for tbe
purpose of erecting a flag staff upon the bluff'
thereabouts, two hundred feet high. The work
has already commenced. Some of the St. Paul
ladies have volunteered to make a large and
elegant flag, which is to wave from its peak on
extraordinary days and occasions. Raising next
Friday.
A gentleman who was at Le Sueur this
week, informs us that the crops in that vicinity
arc in a much more forward state than about
St. Paul, and look remarkably fine. The Min
nesota Valley will have produce to sell, even
this, the first year of its accessibility to set
tlers.
The SuENAxnoAn. —This popular steamer paid
us a visit Thursday evening. She has been
thoroughly overhauled, painted and renovated
throughout, and looks just as good as new.
She comes into the St. Paul and St. Louis trade
to supply the place of the Franklin, No. 2. She
is a good low-water lioat, and will no doubt be
needed by our shippers the remainder of the
season.
Tbe report of the burning or the Dr.
Franklin, No. 2, at St. Louis, was correct. She
took fire and communicated the flames to two
other steamers, which were partially destroyed
—she entirely, together with books and papers.
The Franklin was owned by Mr. T. Levins, of
Dubuque.
Banking. —Some of the two-penny Locofoco
politicians about town must think it a matter
of vast importance to have us placed in a false
attitude before tire public, in regard to the ques
tion of banking. They say we are occupying
Democratic ground. We are well aware of
that; but at the same time have no desire to be
understood as occupying their exploded and
impracticable ground of ‘hard money ’ exclu
sively. The Whigs all over the Union, now
as heretofore, stand opposed to all manner of
wild-cat and shinplaster banking. Our views
upon the subject are well embodied in the fol
lowing extract from tlie St. Anthony Express:
“The Minnesotian speaks out very decidedly
in denunciation of certain self-constituted bank
ing institutions which have lately sprung up iu
our Territory. Our citizens know us much
about the Merchants’ and Mechanics’ Bank of
St. Anthony as we do, and all our readers have
been informed of its irresponsibity and unwor
tliiness of public confidence. More recently
another establishment of a similar character
has made its appearance in St. Paul, and is
styled the Central American Bank. The peo
ple of St. Paul give no countenance to the con
cern, as onr people have utterly refused to
have anything to do with tlie issues of the Mer
chants’ and Mechanics’ Bank of this place.—
This is right. It is right both that the press of
the Territory, as faithful guardians of the pub
lic weal, should raise the alarm upon the ap
pearance of anything which threatens danger,
or disturbance to the settled current in our
midst, and that the people, being forewarned,
should withhold their confidence and sternly
oppose all such unsafe concerns ns banks of tliis
nature must necessarily lie. The question of
Banking has been made a subject of agitation
and investigation in most of the States east and
south of us, and tlie old system of corporate
institutions, with mere nominal securities, thor
oughly repudiated and abandoned. Tlie Free
Banking system, is now generally adopted in
the States. It permits an individual or compa
ny to issue notes on their depositing with the
State Treasurer, or some other State officer de
signated, an amount of collateral security,
equal to the whole sum of the bills issued, aiid
which may he readily convertible into money
for tlie redemption of these notes, in case of "a
failure to meet their obligations at the counter.
By tliis system the bill holder is safe beyond all
contingencies. He is not obliged to rely on
tlie individual integrity of those who have the
immediate control of the institution. The de
posits, dollar for dollar, of all tlie issues of ev
ery bank thus organized, are ample security
for the ultimate redemption of its notes. This
system has been adopted in Wisconsin, also in
Illinois, and a general confidence is everywhere
reposed in it. By it, shinplasters and ail kinds
of worthless paper have been driven out of tlie
avenues of trade, and money shavers, who live
by loaning money at from 30 to 75 per cent.,
are compelled to abandon their heartless occu
pation by tlie improved currency thus crea
ted.”
A Goon Time. —Some sixty or seventy edi
tors of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, re
cently accepted (of coarse they would accept—
the lucky rascals) an invitation from certain
railroad and steamboat companies, to take an
excursion to Niagara Falls. It need not lie
written that they had a jolly good time of it,
particularly after they got afloat upon the
waves of‘old Erie.’ The sprightly ‘local’ of
the Cleveland Herald, who was one of the par
ty, thus‘docs up, - that night's and the next
day’s proceedings :
Fun and frolic had a place in the recent ex
cursion. An Ohio river Captain coming on
board and seeing the crowd, but not wishing,
when he was busy, to call upon Capt. Mcßride
for attention, strolled forward and finding a soft
spot on the deck, laid himself down, with a coil
of rope for a pillow. He had slept but half an
hour, when, as he says, “ the boys smoked me
out. and I found the rope was tarred, giving
me half an hour's employment in loosening my
hair.” He soon found that they were hound lie
shouldn't sleep, and he “declared war upon the
boat. ’ Armed with a bell and lantern, lie pro
ceeded, about three in the morning, to the low
er cabin, making the loudest kind of a eall for
tickets. Shaking a certain high official, lie
shouted in his ear—“ Have you a ticket, sir?”
“ No,’ was the short reply, “ what do you want
of tickets at this time of night ?” “ Bad hour. I
know, sir, hut crowd alioard—no time in
mnrnin'—must cnllcot now—ticket, sir ?"
“ Haven't got anything but my invitation.”
“ That won't do—sorry to disturb you, sir, but
you've no business in a berth, without a ticket
—must go to the clerk's office and get one.”
The “ gnest,” annoyed, turned out. mt.bed his
eyes with one hand, pulled on his boots with
the other, aud started for the office, w hen the
“Collector" called him back and looking close
in his .‘ace, sympathizing!}- said—“yon look
tired, young man. and. seeing it's you, you may
turn into tlie berth and sleep just three quar
ters of an hour.” “Sold!” sliouud the guest,
as he joined in tlie laugh against himsclb and
then turned in again. The moment after, he
pulled a earjiet bag from under a sleeper's
head, which came upou the floor with a “ bang,”
as tbe collector demainicd, “ What the deuce
are you doing with my carpet hag?” Then ex
amining it closely, he said, “I beg your par
don, I thought it was mine: it isn't,” and re
placed it. lie next approached a liertli, the
ocoupant of which informed him that he had
“ waked up the wrong passenger,” and bade
him “ go away," and when he didn't, planted a
foot in his stomach with such three as sent him
staggering to the other side of the boat. The
collector's wind soon returned to him, as did he
to the side of the berth, witli—“Now, that's
what I call mean—didn't wuntyou to foot your
bill—everything's free on hoard—only wished
your ticket.” The bystanders and by-liers
were convulsed, and tbe kicking passenger
joined the “ guffaw." A committee appointed
to examine the foundation of the Falls, and if
found to lie of brick, to take measures for tbeir
removal to the Crystal Palace—reported that
the Falls hud rocks in their boots, and asked
further time to report upon their removal. A
Clevelander was introduced with much formal
ity, to the Mayor of Toronto, and of course
called a bottle of champagne, and, as the con
versation progressed, another, and a third.
Prompted by the convivial feeling engendered
by the wine, the Mayor extended to the Cleve
lander an invitation to visit Toronto, as the
city's gnest; and drawing from his pocket a
map, which he presented to his new made friend
pointed out the location of tlie Mayor's office,
the churches, hotels, places of amusement, Ac.
“Take this man, sir,” said he. “con it closely,
and when you visit our city, it will he like‘a
home to you.” The invitation was accepted,
and the Mayor and his guest parted. Soon af
ter, in a crowd, the “invited” was expatiating
upon the generous hospitality of tlie “Ken
ueks, and o! tlie Mayor of Toronto in particu
lar. “ Sec, said lie. “he gave me tliis plain
map ofliis city.” The crowd examined it; the
first locality found was the “City Hall;” the
second “ Broadway ;” ami the third, the “ Bat
tery !” Two minutes after, tlie coat tail of the
Clevelander was seen projecting from the plat
form of the rear car of a train w hich went whiz
ring by for Rochester. An inquiring •• guest,"
w ho after tw o changes of ears was asking everv
body—“ Sir, what road is this?” became satis
fied when a venerable segnior blandly informed
him that it was—a Rail Road.
The board side-walks about town want re
pairing badly. Holes sufficiently large to ad
mit one's foot are of frequent occurrence, and
in many places the boards have become loose,
and are very apt to trip people when they step
upon them.
We protest against the course of tbe Minne
sotian. and trust its future career will lie more
in keeping with that of a high-minded gentle
man than a mere pot-house politician.— Pioneer
Dagger.
Yes, sir; we’ll try and obey ; but then one is
continually reminded, when reflecting upon
your depressed proportions and hollow dimen
sions. that you are the pot, minus the bouse.
The Democrat lias a sneer at the Whigs of
Minnesota, alluding to them as 1 pillagers.’ We
think this in miserably bad taste, taking into
consideration the serious charges which that
sheet made against 11. M. Rice, a lew weeks
ago.
Mr. Middaugh (not Meadows as the Pio
neer has it) and Mr. Lauver, took down to Red
Wing this week a raft of 175.000 feet of lumber
from Oakes & Co.'s mill. Tliis looks like going
aiiead down that way.
“ What are the Whigs going to do?” is a
question which greatly puzzles some of our
Democratic friends at tliis time. All wc can
say is, that they are going to do just as they al
ways did—precisely as they please.
Fort Riogely. —This is the name by which
the new military post on the Minnesota river
has been baptized—very appropriately after
one of the heroes of the Mexican war.
llecnan desires us to say, that things at
the ‘ World's Fair ’ are precisely as he repre
sents them in his advertisement. Not necessary
at ail to make the statement.
Religions Notice. —We are requested to give
notice that Rev. Mr. Wuterman. of Galena, will
preach in the First Presbyterian (Rev. Mr.
Neill's) Church, to-morrow morning and eve
ning-
(’orrespondence of the Minnesotian
Fourth of July in the “Old Dominion,”—Deca
tur’s House —Foreign Men-of-War —The Penn
sylvania—Naval Curiosities.
Norfolk, July 18tb, 1853.
Tlie Fourth of July was patriotically kept, as
it generally is, throughout Virginia, and par
ticularly in this place, where so many relics of
the Revolution dwell within its precincts.
There were parades of the military and fire
men ; speeches, dinners, and a grand exhibition
of fireworks at Old Point, or l’oint Comfort;
where no less than five thousand visitors as
sembled.
Tbc mansion in which Decatur lived is still
standing—of course mordernized aud improved.
It stands upon the water’s edge, commanding a
full view of the surrounding scenery—sea, skv,
and w ooded isles, —a combination of the beau
tiful. The gentleman who is now its fortunate
possessor, lias adorned it to tlie greatest extent
of its susceptibility. The arch of the gate is
formed entirely of the jaw-bones of an immense
whale, and ornamented by the sword of a verit
able sword-fish ; be has also two peculiar, yet
picturesque seats, beneath blooming crape myr
tle trees, formed of two bones of tbc vertebra
of tlie whale.
Off this- lovely place, for two weeks, has been
anchored two Prussian vessels of war. on their
way home from Buenos Ayres, put in here for
fresh supplies and water. The water, accord
ing to usage, was sent from the Navy Yard in
tanks, by Commander Breese. Tbe officers of
tlie Prussian frigate and sloop are ferocious
looking men, with German faces, mustached
and epauletted to the highest degree. Todd's
Point was a great place of resort, f rom six, l’.M.
to eleven. At sunset tlie drum on the larger
vessel beat a reveille, the band played a na
tional air, a Prussian “ God Save the King,”
and down came the Hag. amidst a burst of mel
ody. The moonlight played upon the rippling
waters ; little crafts, like white-winged birds,
glided noiselessly by, and when on tbe fitful
breeze the music came, now with a burst of joy.
now faint, low and sweet as an Euliau harp,
one almost imagined themselves in “faery
land," and enjoyed a scene of tranquillity and
peace, only to lie found on onr Atlantic shores.
One token of our superiority in naval skill
I noticed on the arrival of the foreign vessels.
In firing the national salutes, the Pennsylvania
fired thrice to one return of tlie foreign, and the
latter fired from both sides, w hereas it is forbid
den on tlie former, it doing too much damage to
tlie Navy Yard windows. Our national pride,
according to John G. Saxe, “is subject to irri
tation,” hut sometimes it is not only natural,
but just.
We paid a visit to tbe Pennsylvania, a week
or two since. She is a mammoth ship, well
built, in a good state of preservation, but used
as a receiving vessel. We were shown there
water nine years old, like brandy in color, but
clear ami sweet to tbe taste. Some they bad
kept nineteen years, still good. Tlie water
tanks (whose dark resting-place we explored)
were seventy feet below water.
In the “curiosity shop," we saw waters from
the Jordan, clear and pure as “ tbc lilies on
Siloah's banks." This lias been used to bap
tize the infants of some of the officers. It was
brought iiorne by Lieutenant Lynch ; and in the
Navy Yard wc saw the portable boats, (tbetwo
Fanny's) used by him in bis explorations of tbe
Dead Sea, so well known to readers.
This Navy l ard is said to be the finest in the
States, and the dry dock is in itself a curiosity.
Here while the vessel is repairing, you descend
the steps, and walk under seventy feet below.
Here we saw the trip-hammers, with ponder
ous weight, crushing an incredible bulk to
atom;, and tbc shears of Atropos, cutting a
piece of iron, an inch in thickness, with tlie
same case that one would cut paper. This is
all done by steam power, and seventeen en
gines are supplied by one fire.
We also in the cabinet of woods saw the
subtle sea-worm that destroys to so great an
extent the bottoms of vessels. Some of them
are eight inches long, and on examining their
heads through a magnifying glass, theirmoutlis
arc found to be miniature augurs, with which
they perforate the wood scientifically. They
appear to enter tlie wood through minute pores,
but when taken thence, measure two inches iu
circumference. They are supposed to be form
ed from (he action of salt water upon wood.
Here we were shown an old piece of the fri
gate Macedonian, and specimens of different
woods, latiellcd and placed in different acids,
to test their durability. We were also shown
the wings of a ftying-fish, transparent as gauze,
and wehbcd witli tlie traceries of a leaf. The
gentleman who holds this important station is
in every way equal to it. Wc saw several
fungi there, and he thinks the fungus is a min
iature tree in form, of tlie real tree to which it
belongs.
Tbe weather has lieen c.xcessivelv warm here
as elsewhere, but not one day lias lieen entirely
calm. The deliciously cool sea-breeze is a ze
phyr during tlie day, and a gentle Boreas when
tlie sun goes down. Let the foreign-loving talk
of Italian sunsets. I do not believe the Medit
erranean can boast of sucli clouds of snow,
goldcn-cdgod, a blue sky, veiled with silver and
crimson tints, rose-colored above, deepening
into orange, ns they reach the glorious orb)
sinking like a I’lnenix on its funeral pyre. '
JEANNIE DEANS.
CVn-cspoiKli-nce the AtlimesotlsD.
Traverse des Sioux, July 23rd, 1853.
Well Gentlemen In my last, I told you
about our Temperance movements, which still
continues to increase in interest, and at our
last meeting a vote of thanks was tendered to
( apt. Humberstone, for bis promptness iu clo.v
Tlie old bar-keeper has sold out and re
tired from the inglorious traffic. But lam told
tbe new one lias lieen seen selling at the hack
door, but I presume he will not try it again at
our wharf.
More good news wc have is, that we have a
line subscription raised to improve tlie road be
tween this and the New Fort, and one of the re
sults is, that the gentlemen appointed liy the
County Commissioners to examine the route
have succeeded in finding a good dry road, so
as to avoid the big slough entirely, and they
have now gone again to make further examina
tion, feeling confident that they will succeed in
finding a North-W est Passage,” all the wav
«me. “ n<l ~“ e rCf ‘ UU y °“ W ‘ n kno "' in
Tho , improvements are still going on here ;
more families coming on continually, and seve
. , ure i ß ‘ rp now. who have not bouses to go
°' ‘jcveral more good residences are going
up. 1 Here are some good cash jobs for plaster
ers-ltme and lath on hand, but no plasterers.
We w-ould like to know where all the prepar
ations for moving the Indians? We thought
* ro ® I" 0 Governor's talk, when here, that we
would not be troubled long with them; but
they are worse and more of them, numbers in*
creasing rapidly, and already they are begin
ning to dig up the young potatoes; and lam
afraid there will be trouble yet among them
and us.
Wc do hope here, that the Governor will take
some active measures to effect their removal
soon.
I know him to lie a determined, resolute'
man, and can do it if he will, and am confident
he would, if he only knew the necessity for it-
The mail, or the post office, is in a deplorable
situation here, —no postmaster at all. and no
regularity in carrying the mail. Our accom
modating, I’. M., at St. Paul forwards it
every opportunity, but there is only one bag,
and sometimes it is sent on the Tiger, where it
is opened before it gets here, and the last time
several letters extracted, according to tlie way
bills. We are glad to have them sent, but fur
nish us a bag if you can.
Respectfully, G-
Correspondence of the Minnesotian.
Traverse, July 25th, 1853 T.
Friends Owens A Moore ;—I see some of thy
correspondents, M. N. Adams and G. have been
writing to thee from this place, on various sub
jects ; but they have never told you even where
it is situated, —I will then first try to tell thee.
It is on tbe Minnesota, about thirty-five miles
below Eureka, and twenty-live above Hender
son. and if thee were here, thee would tiiink it
would soon become a smart little village—a
village where 165 carts can be seen at a time,
loaded with tbe imports from tbe North. Thee
would also think it will soon overtake the other
two towns named,-only for inconveniences some
of the “professional gentlemen,” who traver
continually on the boats, and on the Clarion ii>
particular, have taken great pains to inform the
public of. They will “ tell tales out of school.”
They say we have no one here who will sell
them liquor, though they die of thirst. They
say we have no timber, to make our firewood,
or fences, and but little water. Now friends, if
thee will say nothing about it, I will confess
tbe whole truth. We have no whisky sold here ;
we have no timber on the prairies, but all the
other ground has timfier; we have not as much
water privileges as thy neighbor has at
Henderson ; nor. it is true, as much timber as
thy nearest neighbor lias to build his two mills
of, nor have we as many musquetos, to make
music to gladden our hearts, w hen we cannot
sleep o’ nights. Neither are we so independ
ent us our neighbors above and below ; we had
to have our town-plat recorded, so that tbe pub
lic might know where it is; but they can act
independent of all thy law ; thinking, I suppose,
they are safe in selling without, or that they will
never sell enough to pay the expenses.
1 wish, friends, thee would, in a sly kind of
a tray, say something to bring our little place
into notice.
Thee knows I never try to put any place
down to build ours on, but 1 would like for you
to try to get the boats, at any rate, to pass by
hero, as they go up to Eureka, and let travelers
know that tliere such a place as Traverse.
I have but little time before the lioat starts
to write, and thee will have to excuse me this
time. {Mum.)
EZEKIEL.
For Mm? Minnesotian*
Congregational Association of Minnesota.
A inecting uf the Minivers
of Minnesota, was field at St. Anthony, July
!ttb, 1853, at 10 A. M., for the purpose of organ
izing an Association.
Rev. S. Hall of Crow Wing was called to the 1
chair, and Rev. 11. M. Nichols of St. Anthony 1
appointed Secretary. ’
Rev. Charles Scccombe of St. Anthony. Rev. '
R. Hall of l’oint Douglass, and Ker. S. Hall of
Crow Wing, were appointed a committee to
prepare a Constitution and By-Laws for the As
sociation. Rev. N. Chapin, of the Wisconsin
Convention was invited to join in the delibera
tions- An interesting report ot the state of
religion in the different fields of labor, was giv
en by each member, presenting iniieli encour
agement and hope for tlie future to tbe heart of
the Christian. J
At the afternoon session, the committee re- J
ported a general symbol of faith, w ith a Con- M
stitution and By-Laws, which being adopted, ■
the association was permanently organized ui»-
del- the same, bv the choice of Rev. S. Hall,
f Moderator, and Rev. C. Seccomlie, Scribe,
j Rev. C. Scccombe, Rev. <’. Galpin, Rev. R.
; Hall, Charles King. Esq., of St. Aulbeay, ami
W. C. Hurd. Esq., of Sauk Rapids, were appoin
ted a committee to take charge »f the
apportioned to Minnesota from the sst>.m)t) fund
lately raised for lmilding Congregational chur
ches at the West.
Rev. 11. M. Nichols, Rev. Charles Galpin of
Minnetonka, and Rev. R. Twit-bell of Anoka.
.! being appointed a Committee on Resolution*,
reported the follow ing Resolutions which were
unanimously adopted.
social and rouncAr. limes. 1
Resolved. That we believe tbe morality of 0
the Gospel extends to our social and political
us well as our religious duties, and that we are
thereby as really reqnired to use tbe power
rested in ns as citizens against the sin* at Hie
age, as we are to pray against those sins.
Ht-AVERY.
Resolved, That we regard slareholding as a
sin against God. and a crime against wan ; and
we deem it eminently the duty of the Church
of Christ to stand aloof from all connection
with this sin. anil protest, by every Christian /
means, against the principle of property in
man. k
TEMPERANCE. ■
Resolved, That fully believing in the justice
and expediency of the principles of the I'rohifs
itory Liquor Law. as enacted by many of the
States, we w ill do all iu our power ns Christian
citizens and Christian ministers to secure the
enactment of a similar law iu this Territory.
observance of the sariiatii. |
Resolved, That ns the sanctification of the
Sabbath is one of the firmest safeguards of So
c|ety, as well as one of the highest require
ments of Religion we will use especial effort to
promote the public and social observance of
the Sabbath day.
After the transaction of several other items
connected with the organization, the Associa- .
tion adjourned to meet at I’oint Douglass, the
last Thursday in January, 1854. A
Thus has jiassed the fi'rst semi-annual meet- ▼
mg of the Minnesota Congregational Associa
tion ; an occasion of much pleasure aud inter
est to the Miui&teVK assembled, many of whom
had lieen separated (or years from all, except a
casual intercourse w ith their ministerial bretb
. 1° this season of mutual interchange of feel
ing not only were the minds of the ministers i
assembled, strengthened and encouraged to la
bor amid all the trials and privations neces
sarily- attendant upon the work of planting the 1
Church of Christ in a new country, but a new
impetus was given to the aggressive power, of
that portion of the Church of Christ represent- a
ed by tin* Association. While so much remains «f
to lie accomplished for the cause of righteous- W
ness in our Territory, it is believed that no \
teeling of jealousy will arise among other de- ’
nominations, and that the Association and the
churches connected with them will never allow
tlie interest of sect to cotne la-fore the claims of
our common Christianity, but llmt our labors
may mutually strengthen eucli other, and the
cause of God advanced throughout the Terri
torT- 11. M. N.
Thk Air Link Railroad. —Two thousand men
are now at work on the St. Charles and Missis
sippi. Air Line Railroad la-tween Chicago and
St. Charles, and the most active preparations
are making to extend tlie work beyond. a
Goon News for tiie Upper Country Wo *
have the pleasure of stating that a contract has
lawn let for carrying the mail from this place I
to Stillwater, twice a week. The contractors
are Messrs. Dofrees and Nichols, of l{i>nnd l’rai
r,'e - »K|»ny U over at last, and the people I
of Bad Axe. La( rosse, Chippewa, and St. Croix
counties, are once more placed in connection
w-ith the rest of the civilized world. The hard
ships and inconvenience to which they have
long been subjected are finally overcome. Tho j
contract we believe, is made'with sureties of '
the original contractor. Service commenced
yesterday—regular days of leaving this office 1
are, for the present at least, Wednesdays and zl
Sundays. —Prairie du C'hun Courier. r