The Weekly Minnesotian. [volume], February 11, 1854, Image 2

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

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

                
THE MINNESOTIAN.
iaint Jteal, latartaj, /rbrnat? It, IBs*.
The New Emigrant Rente.
By tat the most important public meeting
•rtr held in Minnesota, took place at the capi
tol on Wednesday evening. The proceedings
will be found in the Miunesotian of to-day. We
■ay it is the most important ever held, because
If the project which it contemplated prove suc
cessful, it will do for Minnesota in two years
what could not otherwise l>e accomblisbed in
t«n or twenty. Aside from the vast amount
of money which it will throw into the pockets
of our farmers, merchants and mechanics, it
will result iu what is of far more importance to
our happiness as individuals and our prosperity
sta a State. It will develop speedily the vast
resources of that portion of our country lying
between the Mississippi and Missouri, and peo
ple it, as if by magic, with tons of tbousauds of
happy and cuergetic yeomen. It would be en
tirely absurd for us to even attempt tlic con
templation of the immense benefits which would
result to this north-western country, were this
emigrant route to the Pacific once opened to
the world.
That tho route is entirely feasible and prac
ticable—that it is shorter, more healthy, over
a country more fertile, better w ooded and bet
ter watered than the route by St. Joseph and
the Platte, there is not the slightest room of
doubt. We have the fuc'.s from honest, sensible
men, thoroughly aequaiuted with the couutry,
whose verbal assurances are as good as their
bond. All we ask is to give our route a fair
trial, and none of us arc afraid to risk the re
mit.
It will be seen that a committee was appoint
ed to raise funds to facilitate the great object
contemplated by the meeting. We have no
doubt the committee will attend to their duty ;
and we hope there will be no manifestations of
a niggardly or half-way business on the part of
citizens. But the enterprise and liberality of
our people are too provervial to admit of tho
entertainment of such an idea for a moment.
The trifling sum named to be raised, expended
In the manner contemplated, will yield an enor
mous interest if the measure succeed, and our
men are sufficiently shrewd to see it all.
We have no fears that Mr. Nobles will not do
all that mortal man can do in connection w ith
his mission. lie is thoroughly conversant with
the business he enters upon, aud withal sanguine
almost to a fault of success. Take an cuergetic
and untiriug man with these attributes, aud
there is no knowing what he will accomplish.
He should be invested, as we believe he is, with
the entire confidence of the community, and
thus sent forth, we have great faith in hisentire
success.
The SUiupleilcr War.
Thepublic prints of St. Paul this week show i
clearly that we still have shinplasters among
us. It appears that our denunciations, last
summer, of the St. Anthony and Central Amer
ican frauds—for the performance of which pa
triotic duty the citizens of St. Paul, in public j
meeting, through Chas. 11. Parker, thanked the I
Minnesota Democrat, which bad never opened j
its mouth upon the subject—have done but lit
tie good ; aud that the eagerness of mankind to
get hold of any thing that can bo palmed oil" as
money, arrests entirely in our midst all at
tempts to drive hence a large quantity of the
most worthless trash that ever a community was
eursed with.
Our OpilUOQ upon all operations
i* of recortl. We have not changed it, nor do we
intend to, let Borup & Oakes and all the most
wealthy and responsible men on earth, go into
the business. But so considerable a number of
our people have not the moral fortitude, or the
business independence, to staud up against the
pressing tide of sbinplasterdom, that our disap
probation amounts scarcely to the weight of a
hair. One man resolves to take a certain spe
cies of sbinplaster in business; his neighbor
says he must also take it for self-protection ;
and so the matter runs all over the country.
And in view of these fact3—this practical state
of things —we would a thousand times prefer
the circulation of certificates of deposit, where
men of the means and business integrity of
Bornp & Oakes, doing business immediately
here in our midst, are held responsible for tbc'.r
redemption, than to encourage the flood of
trash from abroad which other gentlemen
bankers have helped to scatter broadcast over
the Territory. If wc arc to have sbinplartcrs
—and we consider that matter decided—let 11s.
for heaven’s sake, lie allowed to know the men.
and their business standing, who issue them.
We give place to a communication from Mr.
C. H. Parker, touching ihis matter. With the
merits of the controversy—which wc consider
purely a matter of personal business with him
—we have nothing to do. Mr. P. is as much to
us at Borup & Oakes. He and they nre bank
ers and money dealers—respectable and honor
ble men iu all their transactions, so far as we
know— but all of them striving their best to
‘ make money’out of the community. This is
natural and not improper, in a business sense,
among men. The Borup Arm will therefore ex
cuse us if we do not admit—and they have not
asked us to— that they issue their certificates j
purely for the public good ; and the other if wc
deny that he is actuated in his war upon them
by an entirely disinterested zeal for the people’s
welfare. Mr. P. defends himself well from the
Issue made in this week's Pioneer ; but scarcely
escapes the charge of having violated the prin
ciple be denounces others for having forfeited
-5 JS2S?«-? ear Sir :—I am under
great obligation to “a subscriber’’ who nrn
pounds to the editor of the Pioneer certain
10 a r tificatcof Sit
rffn J- 7 . ’ , d b - v a relation of a few tacts
the character* P !'' ,lic miD,l in Nation to
, .* r * Cttr . of transaction, and show to
t? ’ that frbmtb « time I waschair
committee appointed by a public
R ?wr*T, l ? c cour « of action ot
Messrs. Richards A Clark, of Central American
Bank notoriety, to the present moment I have
*’ and bim - ‘be impotence of the
y^‘ < *"F*®* ntwb 'e h be fancied the display
°f Baid certificate would furnish I
tobeHevetl i* Cbar ‘ ta,,lu towards him, and
Of the slmi h h * ~ UP,)O 1 bavc been guilty
•dootedTbv o^h mp *f ter at,empt - which, when
!w« hU intern"’ 1 ? 0n,1,lm ‘- I will first an
what be was doubtleMawur./'to i
“no* the ••unKite
Which I referred, and which the people consigned
toa wall-merited and timely oblivion,’’ and
which’™" 0 OD * ° f my Cheat!ng device « with
T« the fact*. A month or so after the indie
nation meeting referred to, a gentlemen in bu
nnew in thin city came into my office and in
formed me that he bad on band a lot of 25 and
f® blank certificates of deposit, which he
had obtained in New York city, and remarking
• ** WM ver 7 ecarce - Proposed
that Ithoiihl sign and let him hare $lO of them
*° “W’ * n part, what he conceived to be a
business want. I did bo. and he paid iu the
money for them at the time. One other indi-1
vidual came in and de]>osited $5,00 in gold and
took the same amount in certificates. Will any
one contend that t...s conduct is it all anala
goua to the conduct I condemn in others. I
never offered one to any person at my counter or
elsewhere, as the representative and substitute j
of money, or in the place of money, nor did I
ever offer to loan them and take individual pa
per, with or without interest, in exchange there
for. But on the other hand I issued them at
the special instance and request of the party I
receiving them, and for his own business con
venience, and as the evidence in his bands of!
au actual and bona fide deposit of an equal i
amount made at the time.
Now. sir, the system I condemn is this: and 1
to illustrate it, I will take a home cxetnplilica- 1
tion of it. viz : the cirtilicates issued on the de- i
posit of Theodore Borup, (and I do not refer to
them in any offensive sense.) I will suppose
that he deposits with Messrs. Borup A Oakes i
SI,OOO. and received such certificates as we see !
in circulation, and then deliver them back to i
Messrs. B. A ().. and they put them in circula- 1
tion as money ; is the community benefitted ;
by the substitution of such certificates for the i
gold on deposit in their safe! Has any want
been supplied that would not have been satis
fied with the gold, had that been out instead of
the certificates! Is there any more money in I
circulation! Is the community relieved! If;
they are careful and prudent men they have :
fortified themselves by withdrawingjnst as much
gold from circulation as they have shinplasters
out, which are to be redeemed.
But some one answers that when they get the
confidence of the community, they can issue
more than they have gold in their safe to re
deem : and if they have $50,000 in circulation
and only $5,000 in the sate, it is all right, the
overplus is made debtor to confidence. Then
of course, says this financier, we have increased
our money $15,000 : and for this $15,000, which
cost them nbout two cents on the dollar, they
have obtained our citizen's notes drawing in
terest at tlie rate of two pet cent, per month.
And this is all through confidence. That fellow
Confidence, surely, is a clever chap, when he
can be duped into a scheme whereby one man.
for bis fancy pictures in the similitude of dol
lars, but in fact costing only two cents, and
without giving any security or guaranty to the
community tiiat they will be redeemed, can ask
and obtain of his fellow citizens their promises
for bona tide dollars, backed by good endorsers,
or their farms and homesteads in exchange for
such trasli! But I will not prolong this article
i further. More anon. C. 11. I*.
FACTS A>D FANCIES
There have been several arrivals from Lake
Superior since our last, including Mr. Bullcn
and Capt. Pettys, formerly of St. Paul, and Mr.
Emmett, father of Lafayette Emmett, Esq., of
this place, a gentleman of extraordinary vigor
for one of bis age. lie having performed the jour
ney on foot at this inclement season.
Incsea.se or Representation. —Mr. Brown :
has introduced into the Council a bill to increase '
the representation in the Legislature, by adding 1
three to the Council and six to the House. It
provides that this additional representation
shall all be taken from the west side of the Mis- i
sissippi; thus: Hennepin and Sibley counties
shall, at the next election, elect one Councillor ’
and two Representatives; Dakota and Scott,
one Councillor and two Representatives: and
Nicollet, Pierce, Blue Karth, LeSueur, Rice,
Goodhue, Wabasha and Fillmore, one Council
lor and two Representatives. As we under- •
stand the bill, it provides, in short, that the
next Legislature shall consist of twelve Coun
cillors and twonty-oue Representatives, After
| that period, the old sixth council district which
1 Mr. Brown now represents, will die by limita
tion of existence, leaving the Council a body :
I of eleven, or rather test and the head and body 1
I of an eleventh—the legs, feet, Ac, of the pres- •
■ ent fourth district (Freeborn’s) being cut off
and tacked to the loins of one of the new dis- 1
trteta. In -slew of the alrendj comparatively
large and rapidly increasing population west
of the river, it is certainly right and proper to
increase the representation : and if the present
bill does entire justice to all interested, it should
by all means become a law. The rapidly set
tling county of Fillmore, however, being re
mote from central influence and central prolec-
I tion, should look out that she is not ‘skinned’
in the operation. We know the other counties
have strong influences here, which will take
care of their affairs: and Fillmore should remem
ber the great game is, “to take care of number
one.”
Christening of the Sintomine. —On Thurs
day evening the proprietors of this spacious
hotel—which is entirely finished—threw open
the lower apartments to the enjoyment of their
friends, who had been invited to participate in
the pleasures of a dance. Although the hotel
is not yet furnished, temporary arrangements
were made for the full and and entire aceommo*
dation of the company. About one hundred
ladies and gentlemen assembled in the large
dining hall at an early hour, aud proceeded to
make themselves and those around them, happy
and agreeable, after the St. Paul fashion. The
dance was kept up til! the usual hour of retir
ing. when the company separated with many
hearty wishes for the future success and long
prosperity of the Sintomine and the enterpris
ing gentlemen who have added so elegant and
useful a structure to the public buildings of
our city. It was one of the parties of the sea
son.
Ax Emigrant Agent. —We are ])leased to
! learn there is talk in influential quarters ofnp
j pointing an Emigrant Agent for Minnesota.
| whose duty it shall be to reside in New York
and other Eastern cities, and see that emigrants
are duly informed in regard to the advantages
our Territory affords to those seeking new
homes in the West. We have long been in fa
vor of this measure : and can see no way in
which twelve or fifteen hundred dollars per an
num could be more judiciousiy expended than
for this purpose. If our people generally are
too poor to be taxed therefor, there are men
who are abundantly able to pay voluntarily
the salary of such an agent, and gain largely
by the investment. Wisconsin, as a single in
stance, has experimented in this way. and finds
that the numbers added thereby to her popula
tion annually, compensates her a thousand
times over for all that the agency costs her. A
person should be selected for this purpose who
is thoroughly acquainted with the leading Con
tinental languages of Europe, and the manners
and customs ot the people there, and one who
is a gentleman of good address and scholarship
in other respects. Such we hat e full bcliefcau
be found among our citizens; and tt e hope be
fore the Legislature adjourns measures will be
taken to carry out this suggestion.
Le Scecr. —Our Lc Sueur correspondent
gives a flattering account of the progress and
future prospects of that flourishing town. We
understand Mr. Myrick contemplates building
an extensive saw-mill at Le Sueur the coming
season. A good mill stream runs near the
town, and plenty of excellent timber for sawing
is found close at hand. The place will make
extensive headway In all kinds of improvement i
next summer.
Mixvesota in Coxo&ess. —We are under obli
gations to Hon. 11. M. Rice, from time to time,
for documents and valuable information touch
ing our Territorial affairs in Congress. lie is
actively engaged, and appears determined to
have all his measures liefore the two Houses at
a day sufficiently early to ensure their delibe
rate consideration long before the rush and
confusion incident to the last moments of the
session. This remark is particularly applicable
to the early introduction in both Houses of his
important and highly satisfactory bill for Rail
road grants, which we published in full two
weeks since. Mr. Rice appears to have been
equally fortunate with his predecessor in secu
ring the hearty co-operation of members of
both Houses, and botli parties, from llie West
and Northwest in aiding him through with his
important local measures. Among other dis
tinguished names, wo uro happy to find that of
Senator Shields, of llliuois, who has assumed
charge oi our land bill in the Senate, and will
devote the whole of h'ts influence and energies
to secure its passage. We copy from the pro
j ceedings of ‘bills introduced’ oa the 17th ult.,
i the following:
Mr. SHIELDS asked and obtained the unani
mous consent of the Senate to introduce a bill
! (S. 138) to aid the Territory of Minnesota in
; constructing a railroad for military, postal and
i other purposes; which was read the first and
| second times by unanimous consent, and re
' ferred to the Committee on Territories,
In the House,
By Mr. RICE : a bill making further appro
priations for continuing the construction of
roads in the Territory of Minnesota, in accord
ance with the estimates made by the War De
partment.
Also, a bill to purchase the Sioux half-breed
reservation on Lake Pepin, in the Territory cf
Minnesota.
Also, a bill to establish additional land dis
tricts in tho Territory of Minnesota.
By Mr. LAMB : A bill grantiug lands to the
States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas,
Missouri and lowa, and to Minnesota Territory,
in aid of the construction of a road from New
Orleans to St. Paul.
The same day. Mr. Douglas introduced a bill
providing for the early sale of the lands lately
included iu the Fort Snclling Reserve, which
was referred to the committee on Military Af
fairs.
Low Dresses axi> Chivalry. —The dilapidated 1
old capital of Spain has recently been the scene '
of several duels between certain of the‘nobility
and gentry’ thereof, on one side, and our Amor
iean Minister, Pierre Soule, and liis son, on the :
other. Ten days since it was reported that the •
elder Soule had fallen in a third contest, but :
the report is not sustained. The affair raises a
doubtful point,for tlie first time in that country
since old Cervantes proclaimed ‘-the days of
chivalry were gone.’’ These affairs all grew
out of the indiscretion of some minx of a French '■
milliner, who cut and manufactured one of Mrs. i
Soule's evening dresses the breadth of two or
three threads too high in the neck to suit the
iliiitante of Queen Isabella’s court. A friend
suggests, that as Secretary Marey is ‘some’ in
all matters o( wardrobe, even to tlie patching
of the same, and inasmuch as he has already
| given orders concerning the style our gentle
man diplomats shall dress in abroad, it may not
be improper, in order to prevent further diffi
culties, that the female portion of Young Amer
-1 ica’s court household lie also brought within
a prescribed standard touching the cut of their
‘dry goods.’ If our taste in the matter be worth
auy thing to the Secretary, ’ u » can bars the
benefit of it. It will be proper, we think, to
make a physical discrimination in regard to the
. propriety of different ladies’ dress in the par
\ ticular out or which grew these Madridian con
! tests. It should firs;t be decided whether the in
dividual lady appears best with bare neck and
| shoulders, or whether she is less attractive in
j this style than would she he with tlie upward
: addition of a few inches to her dressing iuate
• rial, outwardly extended by the concealment
underneath of a few pounds of the great raw sta
i pic ofMr. Soule’s State, vulgarly known as—cot
ton. Experience teaches us all Hint some do,
and some do not.
Methodist Suiter.— The ladies of the Metho
dist church acted wisely. They waited until
the other churches had given their entertain
ments, took items meantime, and introduced
sundry improvements, w hich must have left the
happiebt impression upon the large company
present. The entertainment came off at the
City ltall, on Thursday evening: notwithstand
ing the large party elsewhere, the spacious room
was crowded almost to suffocation. At least
three hundred ladies and gentlemen were pres
ent, w ho appeared in the most happy and social
mood imaginable. How could it be otherwise,
while seated at a board literally overflowing
with the good things of tlie land 4 It wasagrand
time, and w e trust a profitable one to the church
under whose nuspices it was given. Some ex
cellent music tended greatly to enliven the fes
tivities of the evening.
Col. D. A. Robert son returned from Wash
ington Thursday evening. We understand he
considers the success of the Northern Pacific
Railroad ‘a sure thing.’
—Me find the following paragraph in the
W all street N. Y. Journal of 21st ult:
The-Etna Insurance Company of I'tica lias
issued a notice, stating that owing to numerous
and severe losses during the last ninety days
it will be impossible for it to meet its liabilities,
at present.
I. O. O. F.—At the session of the Grand
Lodge I. O. O. F. yesterday morning, the fol
lowing officers were elected :
A. J. Batlin, Grand Master.
L. 11. Barron, Dcp. Grand Master.
I>. 8. Curran., Grand Warden,
S. A. lliedma, Grand Treas.
J. B. Kellogg, Grand Sec'y.
C. Billinghurst, Grand Rep.
h. Metcalf, Grand Chaplin.
The session will probably close this evening.
—Milwaukee Sent. 20 th ult.
Bisi.vkss Change. —A. 11. Cathcart hag as
sumed the entire responsibility of business at
the establishment on Roberts street known as
the Crystal Palace. lie expects to receive a
continucnce of old friends and customers* pat
ronage, and will keep up his sloek upon the old
level. Industry, gentlcmenly department to cus
tomers, honorblc dealing and cheap goods, are
characterises of the Crystal Palace.
Vermont. —The Vermonters are justly proud
of their State. The Rutland Herald breaks out
as follows:
i b “‘ ?ne city in the Slate and not
v e have nw theatres or mobs.
S n<l no * R murdcr has been
in tbm State within the last ten
years, n e ha\ eno museums, opera-houses nor
hL ' s U ‘ We have homes, genuine
homes, that are the centre of the world to its
inmates, for which the father works, votes and
talks—where the mother controls, educates la
bor* and loves—where she rears men, scholars
and patriots.
Downer has opened a branch of bis family
grocery in Winslow's Hotel.
Tn« Late Wat.vb Treaty.— Were anything
else wanting to prove the disagreeable dilem
ma in which his present Excellency has gotten
himself, through his twisting and turning
i touching his first great Indian measure, it can
he found in the disparity of agreement between
I bis two St. Paul organs, the Democrat and the
j Pioneer. We have charged the Governor of
; falsely accusing his predecessor and the former
j Winnebago Agent with attempting to bring
about a treaty of the same character, and wish-
( ing to cede to tlie Indians tlie same lands. The
| Democrat attempted to prove the Governor
, correct iu this accusation, but it fizzled out with
the treaty, while, on tlie other hand, the Pio
neer asserts that he —Gov. Gorman—has never
made sucli accusation, and defies us to the proof
us follows :
“ There is not the slightest evidence that
Gov. Gorman ever intimated that those gentle
men [Ramsey ami Fridley] did contemplate
giving the Winnehagoes ‘ a home on the .Mis
sissippi brloic their old location,' and we defy
the Minnesotian to show anything upon the re
cord, even hinting at such an intimation.’’
Now, persons who do not understand this
game of brazen, impudent falsehood which the
Pioneer has been indulging iu since it took up
the cudgels for tlie sinking cause of Germanism
>u Minnesota, will be surprised to find in his
Excellency's noted report of the 14th of Sep
tember, 1853, wherein he “ knows what he says
and means what lie says,’’ the following rc
( marks upon the Watab treaty :
| “In the annual report of the Winnebago
agent, for 1852, ho strongly recommends ttiis
exchange of country, and appeals to the pledg
-1 ed faith of our government, made iu the ;id ar
ticle of the treaty of 1840 : depicts the calami
ties and difficulties consequent upon its not be
ing done before thou : but now, uuder a new
jantl different administration, be and some
friends affect to oppose it. Gov. Ramsey re
, commended it strongly.”
; This is about the strongest “ hint at an intim
ation" wc ever saw. The Pioneer had as well
: give up. It flounders about, week after week,
in its new vocation, very much after the fash
ion of a blind puppy in a frog-pond.
Railroad Matters. —Tlie Great Western Rail
way, extending from tlie Detroit river, imme
diately opposite the city of that name, to Nia
gara Fall", was opened on the 17th ult. There
were appropriate celebrations and ceremonies
on tho occasion at Detroit and Hamilton, C. W.,
where Yankees and Canadians vied in doing
the agreeable toward each other. This route
through Canada is the one which will he tra
veled most by people goiug East from Chicago,
especially while the Erie interruptions con
tinue. It is not. however, the shortest route to
New York, as has generally been supposed.
The following comparative figures of the dis
tances upon the two great routes, are from tlie
New York Times, aud are doubtless correct:—
Mile*. <
Jersey to Dunkirk is . . . . 4.58]
Lake Shore Road to Cleveland is . 112
Cleveland and Toledo R.R. to Toledo is 112
Michigan Southern aud Northern In
diana R. It. to Chicago is . . . 242$
Total 955$
Hudson River Railroad to Albany . 144
j New York Central Railroad to Niagara 305]
I Great Western Railroad to Detroit . 228
Michigan Central Railroad to Chicago 283
Total 900]
The following paragraph from a late number
of the Chicago Journal, gives but a single in
; stance from numerous others in regard to what
railroads are doing for that city :
i Foil Cincinnati. —We are informed by the
| Superintendent of the New Albany and Salem
It. R.. that arrangements are soon to l»o mado
whereby passengers will lie enabled to proceed
■ from this city to Cincinnati iu the short space
| of fifteen hours. Leaving here in the moving
j and taking tea in the Queen City. The New
! Albany and Salem R. R. extends in almost an
air line from Michigan City to New Albany on
j the Ohio river. It is finished and in use about
; 150 miles on the north portion, and some dis-
I tance on the south section. On the first of May
i next the whole road will be completed. It is
i built in the most substantial manner and nian
] aged admirably. I’pon a recent trip over ibis
| road, on our way from Cincinnati, we met seve
! ral gentlemen from Louisville, Kentucky, aud
J many from Cincinnati, who were bound for St.
! Louis, ami found that much time was saved by
i coming around by R. R. through Chicago.
| Our ncighbors'ovi rat Green Bay are moving
jin the matter of a railroad to St. l’aul. The
j following is an extract of a letter from a citizen
! of that place to the editor of the Galena Adver
; tiser :
V e are making an effort to out off your Min
nesota trade, by tin* construction of a railroad
from here to St. I’aul or Stillwater. Present
indications favor the hope that something will
lie done in that direction before long. The Bos
ton and Canadian railroad interests are w ith
us, and we have now the promise of substantial
aid from both quarters, sufficient to carry the
project through immediately. The misfortune
for the country is, that the charter is in the
hands of speculators, who expect a donation of
lands from the Government to enable them to
make a grand speculation out of it. The work
upon our river improvement is progressing
slowly. In one year we confidently expect to
lie in communication with the Mississippi, by
steam. The high price and increased demand
for lumber, has stimulated that interest in this
quarter to an unprecedented degree. Prepara
tion* are making to manufacture ami send for
ward. the coining season, a greatly increased
amount over previous shipments. At the pre
scut prices, this vast interest is in a most pros
perous condition.*’
Latest from Ei rope. —The New York Herald
of the 25th, received yesterday contains the
follow ing:
The European intelligence received by the
steamship Niagara, which arrived at Halifax
yesterday morning, is of the highest importance.
It fully confirms the impression that a general
European war is inevitable. The different na
tions on the continent are evidently preparing
for the struggle. In England the utmost indig
nation Ims been aroused against Prince Albert,
who is openly accused of betraying the secrets
of the Ministry to the Czar of Russia. In France
it is officially announced that seventy thousand
soldiers are ready to proceed to Turkey, and
that in case of necessity one million and a quar
ter of men are in readiness to enter the (field
should a general war take place. Austria de
sires a new loan, w hich is another ominous fore
boding, and Sweden and Denmark have given
| notice of their intention to remain neutral. The
! report received by the Europe, that Minister
Soule had been killed in a duel with the Duke
de Ailia, proves to have been eroncous. There
is now. however, another rumor that a duel be
tween Mr.Soulc and Lord Ilowdcu, the British
Minister, who acted as second to the French
Minister, waaonly deferred by a death in the
! family of the latter. England. France, and the
| other countries had been visited by the heaviest
snow storms experienced for years, and, as a
consequence, the railroads were blocked up
and travelling almost entirely suspended. The
increased prospect of war had caused a great
decline in consols. Breadstuff* lind run up be
yond precedent since the Irish famine. Flour !
advanced during the week prior to the Niaga
ra's sailing, two or three shillings per barrel,
and wheat and corn in like ratio. The cotton
markets continued firm, but without change in
quotations.
The matrimonial market has been brisk
the past ten days. A large trade is shown by
reference to the proper corner of our paper.
New Emigrant Rant* to the Pacific—Large
4 Meeting of the Citizen* of Minnesota.
At a large and respectable meeting cf the cit
izen* of the Territory, held in the Hall of the
Hoiihe of Representatives, in St. Raul, on Wed
nesdfrr evening, February, 7, 1854,
The meeting was called to order by Mr. E.
Rice, and on his motion. Hon. Judge Chatfield
was appointed President of the meeting.
Joseph R. Brown was then appointed Secre
tary of the meeting.
Hon. W. R. Murray and Hon. N. C. D. Taylor
were appointed Vice Presidents.
S. R. Fulsoui, Esq., was then appointed Asst.
Secretary.
Mr. Rice, in a few brief and pertinent re
marks, explained tlie object of the meeting, and
then called upon Hou. Wm. 11. Nobles, who
gaiea full explanation of the feasibility and
advantages of an emigrant route through Min
nesota aud by way of the South Pass, and No-
Ides’ route to California and Oregon. During
his remarks the utmost interest was manifested
by tlie audience.
Mr. Nobles having resumed bis seat,
On motion of Mr. Wilkinson, a Committee,
consisting of Messrs. Wilkinson, I*. Olmsted,
Owens. Rice and Marshall, was appointed hv
the Chair, to draft resolutions expressive of the
sense of this meeting.
During (lie absence of the Committee. Messrs.
I.e Due, Masterson and Ames severally spoke
with much eloquence upon the subject of the
different routes for railroad and emigrant tra
vel between Minnesota and tlie Pacific, and the
general advantages which these routes would
confer upon the commercial prosperity ol this
Territory.
Mr. Wilkinson, from the Committee appoint
ed to draft Resolutions, reported the following
preamble ami resolutions: —
IVhereas. The vast emigration which is con
tinually pouring into that portion of our Repub
lic lying on the Pacific ocean, is constantly sub
jected to the most unexampled hardship and
suffering, from the want of a well-defined, direct
i and easy emigrant route from the Mississippi
; river westward across the plains, and through
the vast mountain ranges over which they are
i obliged to pass. Anil tchereas. Tlie several
| routes which have l»ecn traversed by emigrants
! heretofore, present obstacles of an almost in
surmountable character, having been located
; more with reference to the cupidity of those
j who seek to profit by the great tide of cmigra
, tion than to the comfort and advantage of the
| emigrants themselves. Amt whereas, it appears
that a route leading from tlie head of naviga
tion on tlie Mississippi river, to Fort Laramie
1 and across tlie plains, would furnish greater fa
j eililies to emigration to California than any
i route now known : therefore be it resolved.
Ist. That this meeting humbly solicits tlie
aid of the Government of the United States in
establishing an emigrant route in Minnesota, by
tlie way of Fort Ridgely, Fort Laramie. Soda
Springs. Nobles' Pass, the Ilumbolt Valley and
the Willamette Valley to the Pacific ocean.
2d. That by rendering aid to this enterprizc
the Government itself w ould greatly promote
its own interests by establishing a military
road between important military posts, and by
greatly facilitating travel between points now
deemed remote from each other and extremely
difficult of access.
3d. That tlie great tide of emigration which
is continually flowing from the United States
across the great American plains, in justice de
mands, anil has a right to expect that some
feeble effort at least will be made on the part
of the Government, to render their emigration
to the distant Pacific as easy and direct as pos
sible.
4th. That should any railroad communication
be effected between the two great Oceans, the
great length of time which .must necessarily
elapse belore its completion, still leaves it ne
cessary that something should lie done to open
a wagon road route for the lieuefit of (lie gov
ernment anil lor the protection of the emi
grant.
5. That tlie route known as the Nobles' emi
grant route, leading from Saint Paul, on the
Mississippi river by I lie most direct and eligible
line to Fort Laramie, and from thence via No
bles' Pass of the Sierra Nevada mountains to
the Pacific, presents inducements to emigrants
and travellers pa-sing from the valley ol tlie
Mississippi to California and Oregon, on ac
count of the facilities afforded on tlie route,
the healthfulncss of the climate, and tlie short
nrss of tlio ilistn oo *’? " liivli arc unrivalled by
any other known line, and deserves the especial
attention and patronage of tlie citizens ot Min
nesota and the inhabitants of tlie valley of tlie
Mississippi generally.
Mil. That for the purpose of carrying out
the objects of these resolutions the Hon. Will
iam If. Nobles is hereby appointed as tlie agent
of liiis meeting to proceed to the city of Wash
ington. and to take such steps as to him shall
seem advisable to effect the objects and purpo
ses herein contemplated.
7th. That W. G. f.ellnc. Edmund Rice, Benj.
Thompson, Charles ll.Oakes, It. F. Hoyt. Louis
M. Oliver, R. P. Russell, and John Rollins be
appointed a committee to raise SSOO, to defray
the expenses of Win. li. Nobles in carrying out
the objects of this meeting.
The question then recurring on the adoption
of the preamble and resolutions reported by
the Committee, Messrs. Wilkinson and Rice, in
eloquent language, advocated the measures
contained in the resolutions, as having unim
portant hearing upon the prosperity of this
Territory.
Hon. Martin McLeod also made a few very
pertinent remarks, during which he gave a very
flattering description of that portion of the
route lying between St. Paul and the Missouri
river, over which he had frequently traveled.
Tlie preamble and resolutions were then
unanimously adopted.
On motion, tlie proceedings of tlie meeting
were ordered to lie signed by the officers, and
published in the several newspapers of the Ter
ritory. and also that a copy lie forwarded to
Hon. 11. M. Rice, our Delegate in Congress.
On motion, the meeting then adjourned, sine
die.
A. G. CHATFIELD,
President.
W. P. MURRAY.
N. C. D. TAYLOR.
Vice Presidents.
JosEm R. Brown. Secretary.
S. P. Folsom. Asst. Secretary.
Cou Mitrs, Jan. 21.
At a Railroad Convention held at Columbus
; on the 18th inst.. twenty-eight Companies were
'■ represented. The following resolutions were
passed w ith hilt one dissenting vote, Gen. Rob
| inson. or A. & P. R. it.
! Resolved, That this Convention regards the
j recent proceedings of the citizens of Erie, as a
gross violation of the privileges of the Railroad
Companies and eminently injurious to the rights
and accommodations of the public: and that in
the opinion of this Convention, the interposition
of the executive of the United States is indis
pcnsihlc to secure the necessary protection.
Resolved. That the President of this Conven
tion communicate this resolution to the Presi
dent of the United States and to the Ohio dele
gation in Congress.
Qr vu.s.—These delicious birds arc now serv
ed up at our eating houses. Calder, who is
never behind in such matters, has a supplv bv
every arrival.
Goons nr Express.— llecnan of .the World's
Fair received a consignment of the latest styles
by the last Express. His advertisement tells
the whole story.
Mr. Murray has a bill licfore the Legisla
ture confining the right of suffrage in the Ter
ritory to citizens of the United States.
Methodist Chcrch in Georgia. —In the Macon
Citizen we lind some interesting statistics of
the Georgia Methodist Conference. From them
we learn that the Church is increasing very rap
idly in that State. The present nunilierjof white
members is 40,8f>9;0f block do. 19,589—lieingan
increase, during the past year, of nearly 4.000
members. The number of preachers is 522—an
increase of 14 since the last annual report.
James Clapp, Esq., who studied law in the
office of Aaron Burr, and was his confidential
clerk at the time of his duel with Gen. Hamil
ton, died on the 9th ult., at his residence in Ox- j
ford.Chenangocounty,New York.aged 88 years '
(Correspondence of tlie Minnesotian.)
Items a boat Le Sueur.
Le Sceir I'rrr, Feb. 1, 1854,
Mu. Editor:— We have recently been carried
by the Birds of Paradise, viz.. Eureka and
Slmkopee correepondents, toMaliomedan heav
ens.—each presuming to control the hoc that
dipt the “ head of navigation.” Now, reader,
the Eureka family being out. and the old lady
not anticipating the results of this sad occur
rence, when suddenly the head, hoe and hair
slipped from her fond embrace, and the head
lias since been apprehended at Le Sueur City.
It w ill tie duly embalmed and placed in the
care of Capt. Dana, in the month of May next, at
Fort Ridgely. We earnestly request that some
poet may volunteer his services to write a re
quiem for the deceased. No reward was offer
ed for its arrest, yet your Shakopee correspond
ant has made a desperate attempt, and I think
there should be a small appropriation made for
liis services.
Now. Mr. Editor. I will make a few brief re- 1
marks for the benefit of the readers of your val- \
liable paper, who intend to emigrate to this
beautiful valley during tlie coming season. 11
you (I address the reader) should think l>est to
come to Le Sueur, you will find this point cn- '
tirely übpve high water-mark. In addition, we '
have a lengthy lauding, a well graded levee. !
and thousands of all kinds of the best quality of
timber adjoining the town plat, for present use I
and for centuries to come. It is a county seat,
situated on the neck of a beautiful prairie, of
excellent soil. In addition we have an excel
lent mill stream running broad side of our tow n
plat, with at least three valuable mill privi
leges, aud with a sufficiency of water at all
times, and not under the necessity of using a
particle of gas from the fountains of Eureka.
The traveler will find here a flourishing town
situated on tlie Minnesota river, about eighty
miles from our great commercial emporium, 1
St. Paul—a suitable distance not to have the
interests of one conflict with the other; also a
suitable distance up the river to avoid tlie
streams that make to the Mississippi. Ten
months ago, nothing save tlie Indian tepee and
one log cabin graced our city,—now a number
of business bouses and dwellings till their place.
The buildings as vet are tw o story frames, neat- •
lv got up of the best of material and painted, j
We last season had forty-eight arrivals of steam-!
boats, comprising ten different boats, all of
which landed at our levee, and not yet near
enough to do the business. Mechanics of all
kinds will find this a good point. A good
plow manufacturer, to make prairie plows, will
find sale for his work to any amount; a fanning
mill maker may here become rich by industry ; j
a good brick maker can find at this place good
clay, sand, water and timber at hand, and could
find ready sale for more tliau could be reason
ably made, at good prices. A” blacksmith is
much needed : cabinet makers, carpenters by
tlie dozen, stone and brick masons, plasterers,
, merchants, grocers J-e., can here find one of
! the best openings for future wealth that can he
found in the whole Territory of Minnesota.
| But perhaps it would not be amiss for me to
! point out the course to pursue : —First, secure j
I a lot or two while they can he afforded at rea- j
j smiable prices, and when you can’t get work to
i suit for others, work for yourselves on your
' lots, in that way you will soon have you a
i good home. If I thought it advisable to call ,
names. I could point you to two or even three
’ carpenters now resident in this town, who had
not fifty cents in money when they arrived at
our place. They have since paid board, pur-;
chased two or three lots each, and each have i
built a tw o story frame building on their lots
and worked it ail out ; and tlie buildings and
lots they stand on are now worth at least fifteen
| hundred dollars. All this has been done the
past year, and their property is still improving.
Others may do likewise if they are of the pro
j per materials.
As regards roads, wo have done much. The I
! Le Sueur boys are good for what they under- I
take. They have cut a good road around the
Big Hill, which leaves us an excellent road
through the woods some fifteen miles. This
wood is composed of all kiudsof timber natural
to a timbered country. About three milesfrom
this place, on this new road, is a small prairii
of excellent soil, and plow land sufficient for a
colony of forty families. Each eau have eighty
1 acres of prairie and eighty of excellent timber
adjoining: and to tin-best of my judgment, a
j depth of fifteen feet will bring abundance of
water at any place on said prairie.
I We have al-o looked out, marked and cut
several miles o r the T.ake Pepin and Fort
Ridglev road. This line runs east of Le Sueur
City, touching Alexander FarribaultV trading
post. 1 cannot here explain to you the beau
ties of this route, passing through the best coun
try I ever saw. with excellent watering sta
tion? once in four and five miles; excellent tim
ber and tho best foundation for a road for tlie
; distance I ever saw. I would suggest the pro-;
prioly of putting on a stage line even this sum- ,
mer from St. Paul to Traverse des Sioux or
Mankato: also another from Reed’s Landing, j
i Cannon River. Le Sueur City and Fort Itidg-!
ley. A good terry will be found at tills place. I
Travelers w ish to see some land as well as j
water.
One.word more to the agriculturist touching
the line of this Cannon River Road. About
two miles from this city there are yet as good
claims to lie made as the United States nfjbrd,
and any amount of them on the entire line.
This line 1 consider an important one, as it runs
the entire length of our county, and shows to
the traveler the material it is composed of.
The traveler w ill observe on this entire line
tluit the country is excellent for a railroad,
w ith not the first obstacle in the way : a grade
only of about five feet in eighteen "miles, and
excellent timber on the track to build the road.
Arc you a farmer, and desire to suddenly tum
ble into a fortune? Bring plenty of cows and
yearlings, one hundred or more, and if they
don't soon make your purse swell, I will stand
arraigned for high misdemeanor. I speak from
experience, having brought a small stock of
cattle from below : paid Sfi.2s for yearlings, sl2
to S3O for cows, two years ago : and fatter cattle
1 never saw than they are at this time. The
heifers are now worth to me S4O. 1 killed a
cow tin other day that gave me lti3 lbs. of tal
low : ami in truth 1 now assert that I have not
fed anything but salt. Where now is your New
England, Arkansas, or Texas that can beat that ?
As for grain of all kinds, we can raise a bet
ter quality. The ■ nine w ith all kinds of fruit,
save peaches. This is alsoan excellent country
for hogs. Plenty offish lakes, cranberry marsh
es, plumb groves, crab apples, grapes, Ac.,
abound here. Finally, we all live up here at
home. Come and see, and we will endeavor to '
show you all we hate written.
’! Cou Washington.— The New York Times
1 ! thus notices Brevet Lieut. Col. Washington
1 who was lost from the San Francisco : ’
- : Major and Brevet Lieut. Colonel John Mar
shall V\ ushingtoii of the United States Army.
’ i was swept from the deck of the San Fran
‘ . cisco soon after her troubles commenced, was
' | one of the most useful, as he had made himself
| one of the most distinguished artillery officers
. j belonging to the service. He was a native of
. ; \ irginia, and must have attained the age of
fifty-eight nr sixty years. He graduated as a
cadet at West Point in the class of 1813; was
commissioned Third Lieutenant in the Artillery
| in 1817. and rose rank by rank, to i is majority
iiiii the lhird Artillery, in 1847. February lti.
> 11 "eck from this promotion lie won his* lire- ,
i as Lieutenant Colonel, by gallant and mer
| itorious conduct on the hotly-contested field of
lot Buena \ ista.—lie wasa thorough tactician in
| the Artilery service, and as early as 18<4 , vas
made instructor in the Artillery School fur -
i practice at lurt Monroe.
After the battle of Buena Vista, and at the I
close of the Mexican War, in 1848. Major Wa-li
mgUm was appointed to command an expeli
tum across the plains of Mexico, via El Paso to
the l ? Cl J ail, ‘.which he accomplished amid-t'
of the d‘mat? IJ ir" diffic " ltie, ‘’ “"•» tl »‘ rigors I
militarv e, »M ~B. C mT “ ,Kl *« to the ninth
. ii i‘i “ o l >ar,nu ' r >t, and from October 1848
to October, 1849, he acted as the Military Gov
beeuVhieflv" Ile has * in ce, we believe
cifir ■; attac, '«l to the service on the Pa
i ArtillcrvfL WftS , C 1" cllar K'‘ ofanaildtional
ihni i destined for that distnnt region
I, ~ e l°st his life, on an clement and by a ca
| lamity sc> diflerent from the scene* of danger in
hicb it had been hi* pride as a soldier to risk.
(treat Exclteiaaat la New Y*rk—M. Bedial
New York, Jan. 21.
Considerable excitement attended the de
parture of the Baltic to-day, owing to a rumor
that M. Bedini was going out in her. Several
thousands assembled at the dock, hut nothing
was seen or heard of the Nuncio. It was sup
posed that he had gone to Boston, hut a des
patch from Baltimore says it is reported that he
is in that city, and will preach at the Cathedral
to-morrow.
A meeting of the committee having iu charge
the funds collected to aid the San Francisco
rescuers, was held this morning, when the Trea
surer announced that the total amount sub
scribed was $17,000. The following disposition
was made ofit: —To the captains of the Three
Belle, Kilby and Antarctic, $2,500 each and a
gold medal, and silver pitcher, or tea service.
To each of the mates. $250 and a gold medal ;
to the 2d mates, S2OO each and a gold medal;
to the petty officers, SIOO each and gold medal ;
to the seamen, SSO each and silver medals.
The captain of the Lucy Thompson, a service of
plate, valued at SIOOO and a gold medal; to
the officers and crew of the L. Thompson, each
a gold medal and sums varying from 250 to 25
dollars. Lieut. Murray, a service of plate;
to Capt. Watkins, a service of plate valued at
SIOOO and gold medal ; to Mr. Marshal, chief
engineer of the San Francisco. SSOO and medal;
to assistant engineer, $250 and gold medal; to
2d mates, S2OO and gold medal.
A resolution was adopted that the committco
would continue to receive contributions to meet
similar cases, to be appointed to the Benevolent
Associations.
The Committee was instructed to pay the
award to the sailors and to call a pnblic meet
ing for the presentation of the testimonials to
tlie officers.
The Committee of the Common Council ten
dered to Capt. Creighton the thanks of the city
and invited him to meet the citizens in the Go
vernor's room. The invitation was accepted,
and Capt. C. appointed Thursday next.
Horace Greeley's Onxiox of Chicago.—
Horace Greeley writes as follows to the N. Y.
Tribune :
Chicago I had seen but once before, wlien at
tending the River aud Harbor Convention held
there in 1847, w hen “ circumstances” were more
propitious to several thousands of ns than to
Gen. Cass. Six years and a half have sinca
elapsed, and Chicago is not quite four times as
large now as it was then. I lielieve its first ci
vilian’s house was built in 1532 : and in 1837 it
was still so insignificant that the President of
the United States (Mr. Van Boren) did not
know where to locate it, hut addressed a letter
to “ Chicago. .Michigan.’’ Its first census was
taken in 184(1—thirteen years ago—and its
growth since that time has distanced all par
allel.
And, if it meet no drawback, it is likely to
add 15,000 to 20,000 per annum for the next se
ven years, and to have a population of at least
150,000 in 1800, When I was there in 1847, no
railroad whistle had ever been heard within a
hundred miles of the place ; two years ago a
single track of thirty miles was all on which
ears ran into Chicago, now nine run daily
freight and passenger trains (74 in all, I lic
lieve) into the city, connecting her with De
troit and Toledo on the East, while these and
others will soon connect her with with Milwau
kee and Green Bay on the North. Madison and
St. Paul on the North-West, Galena and Du
buque on tlie West, Springfield. St. Louis and
Cairo in the South-West and South, Lafayette.
Indianapolis, Peru, Columbus, Dayton and Cin
cinnati in the South-East. Two years more of
reasonable prosperity will probably see all
these connections completed, and though some
of them might perhaps have waited a little, l
think they will all pay an average of eight cent
net auuual income oil their actual cash cost.
The Railways of the Workd. —The Boston
American Railway Times, of the sth inst., con
tains a list of all the railways in the United
! States compiled by a gentleman of that city,
from w hich it appear? that the number of miles
of railway now in opperation on t lie surface ot
the glolie is 55.201, of which lli, 180 arc in the
! eastern heniisplu re. aud 1G.084 are in the west
ern—and w hich are distributed as follows : In
the United State? 17.811 miles—in tlie British
Provinces 823 miles—in the Island of Cuba 358
miles—iu Panama 51 miles—in South America
; OOiniles—iu Great Brittain 0,975 miles—in Ger
many 5.310 miles—in France 4,480 miles—in
Belgium 552 miles—in Russia 432 miles—in
; Sweden 75 miles—in Italy 190 ntih-s—in Spain
00 miles—in Africa 25 miles—and in India 100
: miles.
The longest railway in tlie world is the New
j York Central, w hich with its branches is 021
; utiles in length. T lie number of miles of rail
way in tlie l nited States exceeds the rcstofthe
: wnrhl by 358 miles.
The total number of railways completed in
the L nited States is 204—number iti course of
construction 134—number of miles in operation
17.811. constructed at a cost of $308,588,038
number of miles in course of construction 12.
898.
It is the opinion of one of the most disting
’l'shed physicians ol New England, that the fear
ful increase of cases of paralysis is owing to tlie
use of stoves in closed rooms, particuinrlv in
sleeping apartments. There is reason in this
opinion.
Compliment to the President.— Ex-Senator
I*oot. of Mississippi, made tiie following remarks
in relation to the President in his recent speech
at W ashington :
*‘My friends will not charge the President
with bail motives. Let others judge of the mo
tives—we know the acts. I don't think he's a
fool. I think lie is a man of keen sense and nice
discernment. God grant that hisoncc generous
heart may open itself to ail the noble impulses
of his nature. < «od grunt that he may see in time
the misehiet into which he lias plunged the peo
ple. God grant that lie tnaT not slc'op in the
Presidential mansion as James the Second slept
in the monarchial palace of London, till the
population drove him forth to some distant cor
ner of tiie land. This is niv desire. I have spo
ken plainly about this matter The W’ilmot
roviso is not settled—it will come up in tiie
lull tor the organization of the Nebraska Terri
tory during this session of Congress. I dare to
say tlmt tin* present course of proceedings be
< arr.eil on till lßofi tiie election will be carried
on that question, anil some Free Soiler elected
I resident, and that will be the death blow of
the confederacy.”
1 resident Pierce avd the Fii.ijßr.sTEtts.
The President lias very properly issued the fol
lowin proclamation against the filliliustcring
expeditions in California and elsewhere. It
should have appeared sooner, however :
K. K. P.
W herons, information has been received bv
me. that an unlawful expedition has been fitted
| out in the State of California, with a view to
j invade Mexico—a nation maintaining friendly
! relations with the United States—and that oth
er expeditions are organizing within the Unit
ul States, for the same unlawful purpose. And
whereas certain citizens— inhabitant* of this
country—unmindful of their obligations and
duties, and of the right* of a friendly power—
! ,a 'f participated, and are about to participate
in the enterprises so derogatory to our national
character, and so threatening to our tranquilli
ty. and are thereby incurring the severe penal
ties imposed by law against such offenders.
i •" L Franklin Pierce,President of
the l luted States, have issued this my procla
mation, warning all persons who shall*conduct
themselves witli any such enterprise or expedi
tion that the penalties of the law denounced
against sucli criminal conduct will be rigidly
enforced. And 1 exhort all good citizens, as
they regard our national character, as they re
spect our laws, or the law of nations; as they
value the blessing* of peace and the welfare of
their country, to discountenance, and, bv nil
law ful means prevent such criminal enterprises.
And I call upon all officers of government, ci
vil or military, to use any efforts in their power
to arrest for triul and punishment everv such
offender.
Given under my hand and the seal of the
United Slates, at Washington, this eighteenth
day of January, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, and the
seventy-eighth of the Independence of the Unit
ed .states.
t * be Preftidont - FRANKLIN PIERCE.
L. Marcv. Secretary of State.