The History of Minnesota and Tales of the Frontier — John Shaqi
The History of Minnesota and Tales of the FrontierFlandrau, Charles E. (Charles Eugene)
History
The History of Minnesota and Tales of the Frontier
Flandrau, Charles E. (Charles Eugene)
Frontier and pioneer life -- Minnesota; Minnesota -- History
"I would advise you, therefore, that your legislation should be
such as will guard equally the rights of labor and the rights of
property, without running into ultraisms on either hand; as will
recognize no social distinctions except those which merit and
knowledge, religion and morals unavoidably create; as will
suppress crime, encourage virtue, give free scope to enterprise
and industry; as will promptly and without delay administer to
and supply all the legitimate wants of the people--laws, in a
word, in the proclamation of which will be kept steadily in view
the truth that this territory is designed to be a great state,
rivalling in population, wealth and energy her sisters of the
Union, and that consequently all laws not merely local in their
objects should be framed for the future as well as the
present....
"Our territory, judging from the experience of the few months
since public attention was called to its many advantages, will
settle rapidly. Nature has done much for us. Our productive soil
and salubrious climate will bring thousands of immigrants within
our borders; it is of the utmost moment that the foundation of
our legislation should be healthful and solid. A knowledge of
this fact will encourage tens of thousands of others to settle
in our midst, and it may not be long ere we may with truth be
recognized throughout the political and the moral world as
indeed the "Polar Star" of the republican galaxy....
"No portion of the earth's surface perhaps combines so many
favorable features for the settler as this territory,--watered
by the two greatest rivers of our continent, the Missouri
sweeping its entire western border, the Mississippi and Lake
Superior making its eastern frontier, and whilst the States of
Wisconsin and Iowa limit us on the south, the possessions of the
Hudson Bay Company present the only barrier to our domain on the
extreme north; in all embracing an area of 166,000 square miles,
a country sufficiently extensive to admit of the erection of
four states of the largest class, each enjoying in abundance
most of the elements of future greatness. Its soil is of the
most productive character, yet our northern latitude saves us
from malaria and death, which in other climes are so often
attendant on a liberal soil. Our people, under the healthful and
bracing influences of this northern climate, will never sink
into littleness, but continue to possess the vigor and the
energy to make the most of their natural advantages."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account