NB.URY
AMERICA
IL B. MASSER, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
OFFICE, MARKET STREET, OPPOSITE THE POST OFFICE.
SI iFamfly iittuspaprr Dcbotca to Jjolftfts, aftcraturc, iWovalftij, jForcfrjn nun Domrstfc dittos, Scfci.cc avto the arts, aortculturr, marltcts, amusements, &c.
SUMIURY, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY. PA., SATURDAY, JUNE 1, I8.0.
HEW SEMF.S VOL. 3, N. 10.
OLD SERIES VOL. 10, NO. 30
ft.
TERMS OF THE AMERICAN
THE AMERICAN in publi.hcn every Hnturdny it TWO
I0UI.LAH8 per annum to be puitl half yearly m advance,
N. paper di.eontinued until all arrearage, are ,''
All communication, or ii iicr. un , ' ' --
K.a M iu.iire attention, must be 1'LIS 1 1 AIU.
-flice, M
TO CLUBS.
Tares conic, to ona acldre..,
Sevan P
.-. iirt Do
psoo
IUlr
SOtlO
rnieeil ... f it,ri. vur'. .illiKfrilv
Fiva dollar, in buvuik.- pj - r
lion tu ilia American.
Oa Smiate of 16 line., 3 time., flW
,,y .uu.equent ni.crliun,
t Square, 3 month.,
Six month.,
BMinea'carrla of Five line., per annum, 3 01)
Merchant, and other., ndvcrti.ins l.y the
rear, with tbeprivilcpeot inserting d.l
ferent advertisement, weekly. 1000
(y Larger Advertisements, a. per agreement.
H. B. MASSES.,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
EDHSUHY, PA.
Business attcnilctl to in tbe Counties of No
ouml.erlanu, Union. Lycoming nd Columbia.
liefer to I
P. & A. Rovodiit,
1,0 w mi & Bahhos,
Nomkii. &. SHUiiottAss,
Pv.m McKaklakh iV Co.
'J
NprniNO. 'Soon & Co.,
I5AXK NOTE T A BLE.
CORRECTED WEEKLY.
PENNSYLVANIA.
f ITT O. eillLAllELPUH
MAS.ACAi:SBTTS.
All aolvent banks 3 dn
HHODK ISLAND.
All aolvent banks 3 ''"
cDNNKtrricrT.
All aolvent bunk. J di.
XKW YOHK.
city.
All aolvent lunks J di.
I'. S. Bunk nolea IS dis.
AU .olvenl bunk. P:
rol:TKY.
flank of Clinuibr.biirr 1 di.
M.nk of Chester Co. Pr
ll.ak of Del. Co. Chester pur
llankof (ieru town pnr;
Hank of liettvsbnrc
di. IVllk note, under So J on
ltank of Lewistowil
Hunk of Middleinwn 1
Montiroiuerv (' Hank p irl
llmk of No'rlliniiibeiTnd. pm
Hnnk of I'ittsliurj; I 'lis
U.nk of D.triville l'r
CnCNTllY.
All aolvent. brink. I o'
N i:S- JEHSEY.
Helvnlere Hunk 2 '
t'oliunt-rciul Hunk ii dl.
Fur. HMiik .Mont Holly par
Carlisle lt:nik
Columbia Il k A 1!
Dovelstown Hunk
E.aton II. mk
1 lis I' . A M. .MMMlclmvil i i. I"
e Co ir
.M4-Clriltll'H' UK. .M'wum
Meeh. Hk of Hiirliinrton jWir
Mccb. It .Mini. Ilk Trent par
Morris Co Hunk 'be
iwir,
chanR 11'kPittsbure I ,,.!Vw.rk Hk-a A In.. Co . ,.
Kxcaanje H'k. Mrnncl. 1 dl.' 'riiujt- Hunk 8 "
Farmer;' H'k. Hucksl'o pur' -ople . Ilk 1'iitci.on dm
Erie Hank
IIS Morns v.o
Fanner.' Hk, l.nieuster par
Princeton Hank
pur
pur
F.rm. Hk Seiiuvikill Co par;Seiueriet Co Hunk
.. I . . i , ,liu St:itp llioik nl Cnmdcil
l t in- 1m, ,in iL-iraieiu iiauKiiez s
1,1,.
FrJiilin Hk. Vah'ii lIdis!Sm,e Hk Elizabelblon di.
Harrishurs Hank 1 dis lule I l"N''"",rk.. . j
.l'.!,r
Hone1nlc Hank 1 d.s e-late m. """'"" I-V
t,..i. SiiKm-t Lank. Newton l di.
P-"
Lebanon Hank pari
Trenton Hnnkinir Co
Mereh. tc Man. Hank I ills
Miner.' H'k. Pottavillo per
Monongiibela Hnnk 1 dis
T.rlorsv'e Jcl H's Cu 13 ills
I'liion Hank. Dover J di.
Ynrdlevv'IcV Del Or Co l.'idl.
n? Hk'uole under r?."! J di.
DELAWARE.
West Branch Hank pur
Wyoming: Hk, Wilkosh'e. par
York Hank, I 'lis
r'llilict' note. I dis
MAINE.
Itoiiknf Whet lock Sdi.
Hank of Delaware far
Hank of Smvrnn ir
Delaware Citv llnuk par
Hk Wilmjr'll i Hrnudyw. pur
Fanners Hk St Delaware par
I'liion Hank. Wiliuiugtoiiinr
Mercantile Ilk. Hiinor llldis
4 M icilvent bank 3 di.
E I'ndcr S.V J us
lilllii.
All solvent kinks 9di.
'"'Hk notes under .Vs 1 di.
NOKTII CAItUI.INA.
All solvent banks -Jibs
I'llder ."'s, 21 dl.
NEW IIA.MI'SIIHII
All aolvent banks dis
vr.imoNT
Hank f St AlUni. i d
All aiilveiit banks 3 dis
A CALL TO HOUSEKEEPERS
At the Cabinet V avc Kooim of
SE1VX 110UPT & CO.
Market Square,
Also at the corner of Faint street Sr l.'tf Railroad,
SL'NKURY, PA.
Thankful for the patronise of his fiicmls and
cn.tomcra durinp the 17 yours he hits liccn m Iuiki-
i .i,i nlaee. he Bolii-itrt IVom the public a con
tinuance of their tuvont. Dt.rini; this period he
. i.,,-reil to keen un with the improvements
of tin (lav, ami hns tid'oriliuirly cxtciidrd his lisi
ne. in n'vcrv branch and aricty. The public arc
tberelore invited lo the attention of the present
stock of
CABINET WARE AND CHAIRS,
MAN'.'KACTIRF.U by
;SF.ASTIAIM HOUPT & CO.
M the Old MhmI,
Where in addition to their former stock f tho
catablishmcnl tlny now niunuliicturc
Mahogany, Walnut & Cane-Seat Chairs,
Larqe Spring Seat Rocking Chairs,
Dressing Bureaus, Centre Tables,
.Marble Top Wash Stands,
and a variety of other
new style and
rasJiionable Furniture.
Ilavin; secured a Hearse and made the neces
aarv nrruntreenents for flic purpoee, they ore now
prepared for I'ndertakinu; in til its brunches, in
this vicinity or ut any coincident distance.
Ye ninids and mispresses, and luislmnd. too,
Here's furniture at every style and hue,
From ide boirrda down to kitchen tables,
From rocking chair, to tockius; cradle.
Should yoo not have tlte ready Jons lo pay,
Ve'll wait awhile for a brighter better day,
Or take potatoe., oats, corn, wheat and rye ;
Dark, hoop pole., .laves, or lumber wet and try,
Or any thing but yoke, and threshing Hail.,
From pig. and turkiea down to little quaila.
Come on then friends, come one and all,
Keep trade a moving, so "goes on the ball."
Hr" Orders from distance promptly attended
o and work of all kinds delivered with dispatch.
Sunbury, March 0, 1850. tf
" REFORM YOUR, HABITS.
Come ye, with garmesit. Imre and .eedy,
Y bach'lom, wiilo'er. and ViuBlmnd. too,
If, in the outward man you'r needy,
We aoon can make you a. good a. new.
THE subscriber respectfully informs his friend"
and the public, that '.e will commence in this
place, on the 8th of April next, tho
TAILOUIXU mJSIA'fcSS
in all its branches. He will be careful to see thHt
his work is made up in the best manner, and he
flatten himself, that he will be able to (rive entire
satisfaction in point of cut, tit and style, as well
as in price. He therefore respectfuljy solicits his
friends and the public gencrully to call and give
him a trial.
His shop is a new building in Fawn street be.
low Weaver's Hotel.
JACOB O. BECK.
Sunbury, March 30, 1850. 6m
EDWIN 1LVLL,
(lata or Tai Firm or Watkiksos &, Hall,)
JVb. 24 South Second Street,
Philadelphia,
OESPECTFULLY informs his old friends and
a-V customers, as well as tbe ntihlic. oenerallv.
that he has opened an entire new stock of elegant
style, oi
Spring; & Summer Dress Goods.
Hie assortment constats of the latest and most desi
Table styles of English, German, French & Ame
rican Goods. Such ae Delaine.'. Tissues. Bera-
gee, Bilks, Lawns, M uslins, Shawls, HdkfTs, Gloves,
and evsry variety ol Ureas and Fancy Goods.
FkibW. Marrh 1, IO.-It
SELECT POETRY.
I LIKE AN OPEN, HONEST HEART.
1 like an open, honest heart,
Where frankness loves to dwell,
Which has no place for base deceit,
Nor hollow words can tell;
But in whose throbbinps plain are seen,
The import of the mitui,
Whose gentle breathinirs titter nought,
But accents true ami kind.
I scorn that one whose empty act,
And honied words of art.
Betray the feelings of the soul,
With perfidy's keen dart :
No more kind friends in such confide,
Nor in their kindness trust,
For MucA; ingratitude but turns
Pure friendship to disgust.
Contempt is but a penile word,
A feeling far too mild,
For one who confidence betrays,
And guilt has sore beguil'd ;
That hate which hellish fiends evince,
When in dark torments toss'd,
Is not moro loathsome to the soul,
Than uno to honor lost.
Then rrivo me one with heart as free,
And gen'rous as the air,
Whoso reaily hand and greeting kind,
(iive proof that fntCA is there.
Whose smiling countenance well shows,
Affection warm is found,
And springs pure as saints, whose notes
Through Heaveirs vaults resound.
itlinncsota (temtorn.
Frmi the lVunsylvunia Telegraph.
ORIGINAL SKETCH
OF THE
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY
or
MINNESOTA TERRITORY.
BY DK. THOMAS FOSTER,
Number 1.
On the 3d of March, 1849, the Congress of
the Union, by law, set olTa portion of the dis
tant regions of the North-west, into a seperate
government, under the designation of the
Territory of Minnesota; and the restless tide
of emigration, eveiy ready seemingly to seize
on new avenues for its progress, is already
flowing in that direction with so strong a cur
rent, that it has been though that a brief
sketch like the following, of the geography,
history and resources of the new Territory,
would be useful, and not uninteresting.
tlOl'NDARIKS.
The now Teiritoiy contains about 166,000
square miles, (as calculated by Mr. Darlev,
tho geographer;) nearly four times the size
of Pennsylvania. It is situated west of Wis
consin, and immediately north of Iowa
commencing at latitude 43deg. 30 min. Like
Louisiana, it lies on both sides of the Missis,
sippi river ; and while the former possesses
its mouth, Minnesota includes within her
boundaries, the country around all its head
waters, to the farthest source of the Great
River in Lake Itasca. The entire north-western
shore of Lake Superior, is embraced
within the territory; it is only limited on the
extreme north by the international boundary
line, separating us from tho British Posses
sions; and it reaches west to the impetuous
Missouri, and, from the western boundary of
Iowa, as far up the stream as the White Earth
River, u tributary flowing into it from the
north.
THE NAME AND ITS OHIUIN.
The name of tho Territory is pronounced
as if spelled Min-ncc-su-tah. It is derived
from the Indian name of the St. Peter's river,
the principal local stream of tbe countiy. The
Dakota or Sioux who live on its banks, thus
call it, on account of tho 'different appearance
of its waters from those of tho Mississippi.
At iho junction of I ho two streams, the wa
ters, of the last named river may be observed
generally tinged of a chocolate color, derived
Irom the extensive tamarack, ami pine
swamps towards the north, in which it partly
has its head springs; while the waters of the
Minnesota are entirely different in appear
ance, being light colored and clear. The
name is compounded of two words, niiiine,
meauing water, and sot ah ; but the exact sig
nification of the last word is somewhat ob
scure. arious authorities render it whtlitli
or turbid or cloudii, or cloudy, or srati, and
even muddy ! Mr. Nicollet, of the U. S. Ex
ploi ing Expedition, says that blear is the pro
per interpretation. Hut the Rev. Mr. Pond,
for many years resident missionary among
the Dakotas, the principal collector of the
Dakota Vocabulary, and acknowledged the
highest authority on questions of Dakota phi
lology, expressed to the writer lh opinion,
that sky-colored mote clearly and precisely
expressed the meaning of sotali, in this con
nexion. Min-ne-so-ta, therefore, Is literally
"Tlu Territory of the Sky-colored IVater."
This poetical designation receives additional
ornament in the Dakota name bestowed on
the junction of the river with the Mississippi
that of Mendota, or mingling of the waters
This is also the appellation of the Indian
trading town at the mouth.
EARLY HISTORY.
The early history of Min-ne-so-tah is in
volved in much obscurity! though Father
Hennepin in 1680. and Baron La Hontau in
1689, both Frenchmen, visited it, but subse
qtiently gave narritives to the world,
strangely intermixed with truth and seeming
fable, that little reliance waa placed upon
their statements.
tt would seem on investigation, that for the
last several hundred years, the possession of
the land has been fiercely contested by dif.
ferent Indian nations; mainly between the
great tribes of Dakotas or Sioux, and the Al
gon'Hiins or Chippewa. Th teller) f:om
their more eastern location on Lake Superior,
about the Falls of Saint Mary, and earlier
intercourse with the French fur trailers, be
came first possessed of fire-arms, which gave
them a superiority that enabled them to drive
the Dakotas from the rich midland hunting
grounds, rice and fish lakes, in the country
about the head waters of the Mississippi.
The dispossessed bands of the Dakotas
moved west want, sweeping in their progress,
the Shians, the lowas, and other tribes from
their lands; until in tho course of time, the
fugitive Dakotas of the Upper Mississippi,
have become Iho fiercest lords of the vast
buffalo plains of the Upper Missouri.
By a treaty negotiated under the protection
of the United States, at Fort Crawford, near
Prairie ctn chieu, in 1825, between all the
different tribes of tho North-west, their re
spective boundaries were defined; and thence
forward comparative peace ensued among
'hem. The history of thewarsof these tribes
of the North-west, their legends, their shift
ing geographical relations, their migrations
and derivation, is n rich mine for the future
historian.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRITORY.
Previous to the erection of Iowa into a
State, all that portion of Minnesota west of
the Mississippi, was included in Iowa Terri
tory, and that part immediately on the river,
was embraced in the County nf Clayton. The
organization of Iowa into a State, threw all
noith of 43 deg. 30 min. without the bounds
of any organized government. Little, if any,
inconvenience resulted to the white inhabi
tants in tho excluded portion, as it was en
tirely Indian country, and under tho control
of the United States laws "regulating trade
und intercourse with the Indians "
But in 1848, Wisooniscon was admitted in
to the Union; and her boundary on the North
and North-west, being tho St. Croix, cut off
tho principal portion of two organized conn
lies of the Territory of Wisconsin viz: St
Croix and Ltpointe. comprising a consider
able population, one county seat, and impor
tant interests engaged in lumbering and tra
ding. The people of this portion of the "Territorv
of Wisconsin," thus suddenly deprived of a
judiciary, ami the means of a proper admin
istration of the laws, as the only remedy for
the threatened evils of such a state of things,
met in convention, and resolved, that inas
much as tho law establishing Wisconsin Ter
ritory was not especially repealed by the
erection of Wisconsin Stale, that their coun
try was dc facto, said Territory; and the ac
ting Governor of Wisconsin, Hun. John Catlin,
Secretary of said Territory, coinciilinir in thin
iew, issued his proclamation for the election
of a Delegate to Congress.
An election was accordingly held in 1848.
and resulted in the choice of Hon. II. II. Si-
bly ; a gentleman of talents and education,
and for many years an Indian trader in the
Territory, as a partner of tho American Fur
Company.
The people also memorialized Congress in
regard to their condition ; and instructed
their Delegate to ask the erection of a new
Territoiy to beculled Minnesota, with boun
daries pretty much as at present constituted.
Mr. Sibley was, after some objections, ad
mitted by courtesy to a seat on tho floor of
Congress. Through his unwearied exertions.
with the especial interest taken in the project
by several prominent members of Congress,
the Organic Law, directing tho organization
of the Territoiy, was at length passed, on the
3d day of March, 1849, tho very last day of
the session. Among tho members of Con
gress who mainly contributed to this success.
may be named the Hon. S. A. Douglass, nf
Illinois; Thomas 11. Benton, of Missouri : John
M. Clayton, of Delaware ; and John Davis,
of Massachusetts, all of the Senate; and Hon-
Caleb B. Smith, of Indiana; Robert Smith,
of Illinois; Truman Smith, of Connecticut;
and Julius Rockwell, of Connecticut, all of
the Houseof Representatives. To lleniy M.
Rice, Esq., a principal and influential citizen
of Minnesota, who was until recently a part
ner of Mr. Sibly in the Indian trade, and his
unsuccessful opponent tor Delegate much
credit is likewise due for his ancient labors
at Washington during the session, lo secure
the organization of the Territory.
TKRKITORIAL OFKlCr.RS APPOINTED.
Immediately on the passage of the law of
organization, President Taylor made Ilia
nominations for the public officers of tho
new Territory, which, wiih some other alter
ations subsequently, are now as follows:
Governor Alexander Ramsey, of Pennsyl
vania. Secretary of the Territory Chas. K.
Smith, of Ohio. Judges of the United States
Courts Aaron Goodrich, of Tennesee, (a
native of Michigan,) Chief Justice; and Da
vid Cooper, of Pennsylvania, (a native of
Maryland, ) and Bradley B. Meeker, of Ken
tucky, (a native of Connecticut,) Associate
Judges Marshall Col. A. M. Mitchell,
of Ohio, (a native of North Carolina.) United
States District Attorney Henry L. Moss, (a
native, I believe, of Ohio.) Besides the offi
cers in the Territory are appointed by the
National Government : N. Griene Wilcox,
of Illinois, Receiver of the Land Office at
Stillwater, and A. Van Vorkees, of Ohio,
Register of 6aid Land Oflice. Nathaniel
McLean, of Ohio, (a brother of Judge Mc.
Lean,) Sub Indian Agent, for the Sioux, at
the mouth of St. Peter's river. Gen. Flech
er, of Ohio, the Agent of the Winnebagoes
was appointed by President Polk.
In addition to the above, Governor Ramsey
has made the following appointments of prin
cipal Territorial officers, "by and with ihe
advico and consent of the Legislative Coun
cil," viz: Lorenzo A Babcock. of Lnton
county, Attorney General of the Territory.
Jonathan E. McKi'sick, of Washington
county, Territorial Auditor. Calvin A. Tut
tlf., of Ramsey county, Territorial Treasurer.
The emigrant will find all these officers
pleasant, agreeable men, well qualified for
their respective stations, and ready to afford
advico and assistance to strangers whenever
required.
To German emigrants especially, Minneso
ta, along with other inducements, presents
that of n Governor, whoso mother tongtio is
German. Gov. Ramsey is a Pennsylvania
German ; a man of ability, of very social,
affable and familiar manners, and one w ho
takes a deep interest in all, but particularly,
in German Emigrants, giving them a hearty
welcome into tho Territory, and the best ad
vice as to their pioper location and settlement
I'ROtJRr.SS of organization.
On the 27lh of May, 1849, Governor Ram
sey arrived in iho Territory, and on 1st of
June following, he issued his Proclamation,
declaring the Territory organized from that
late.
During tho month of June, the census of
white, and civilized population of the Teiri-
tory, was taken by order of the Governor, in
pursuance of the requirements of the organic
aw, and found to be 4,940 souls.
On this return he based a division of the
Territory into legislative districts, and issued
a proclamation, dated July 7th, 1849, direct
ing an election to be held in said districts, on
the first of August following, for oi:e Dele
gate to Congress nine Members of Council,
and eighteen Repiesentiitives.
In pursuance of this proclamation, the elec
tion was held, and a Delegate and Legisla
turo elected, lion. II. H. Sibly was neaily
unanimously chosen Delesate to Congress,
without distinction of party. Tho Council
lors and Representatives, also then chosen,
convened at tin; Central Hotel, in St. Paul,
on the 3d of September; and continued in
session sixty days, during which period
they passed numerous laws, many of an im
portant and fundamental character. Among
them was one orgonizing nine counties, esta
blishing three judicial districts and assigning
the Judges thereto.
population of the territorv.
The following exhibits the result of the
lirst census, along with the vote cast for the
Delegate lo Congress on the 1st August, IS 19
arranged under the counties, into which the
Territory was subsequently divided by the
first Legislature :
County Seals. Counties. Male. Females
Vote for Del.
273
215
IS
7.)
70
33
St. Paul, Ramscv, 970 594
Stillwater, Wushingt'n. H."l
Sank Rapid. Denton, 49
Mcndotuh, Dnlikotalt, 301
Wnlmalituh, 311
Wa ubu shaw Wu ul ntsliaw ," l 0
l'embiuah, I'eiubinali, 295
IliiAcah, 1
.Mulikaltto,
291
108
107
182
84
312
5
3253
10S7
1687
Total vote 1st
Total pop. June 30, '49, 4911 Aug. '49 082
The above includes all classes of population
who are civilized in their habits; though
some of the . half-breeds of the Red River of
the North, are as dark as Indians; but they
live and dress like whites and are a valuable
portion of the population. In the lumbering
regions, the emigrants are mostly from Maine
aid other New England States, while the
Canadas, Hudson's Bay Possessions, New York j
Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois and ,
Wisconsin, principally contributed lo make i
up tho remainder. The half-breeds, or per- j
sons of mixed Indian and while blood, who
have adopted civilized habits, are by law enti- !
tied to vote; as well as every whito citizen '
of the United Stales, for six mqnths a resi-j
dent of ihe Territory, and every foreigner ,
who has declared his intention to become a
citizen, before a proper court of record.
After the census was taken, however, the
main body of the immigration last year ar -
rived; and consequently, if a census had
been taken in the fall, it would have shown ! broad, deep, still and handsome sheet of wa
a large increase over that of June. All Ihe ' ter. These are the two principal of lh mi
signs indicate a heavy migration lo Iho Ter- : nor rivers.
ritory during the spring, summer and fall of
1850.
the Indian population.
Besides tho whites, Minnesota embraces
within its extended boundaties, a very large
Indian population, variously estimated to
number from 30 to 40,000 souls.
Thee are tho Chippewas at the North
around tho heads of the Mississippi
The If innebagoes located west of that river
and immediately south of the Chippewas; the
Waiab river bounding the Winnebago coun
try on the south.
And tho great Dakotah Nation, generally
known as Sioux, who possess the country
from ths Mississippi lo the Missouri, and
north-west to the utmost limits of the Terri
tory, These are a nation of themselves, and
are divided into numerous independent bauds
or patriarchates; though but a small moiety
of them are in near contact wilh the while
settlements.
The Menominees of Wisconsin, a branch of
the Chippewas, are under treaty to move in
to the Territory during the spring and sum
mer of 1 850, on a tract of country lying just
north of the Winnebagoes.
The Indians in the Territory may be set
down in numbers as follows:
Dahkotahs or Sioux, - 15,000
Chippewas, .... 6,000
Winnebagoes, ... 2,500
Menominees, .... 3,500
27,000
The Sioux are not all in the Territory se
veral thoiifanH roaming west of the Miseouri
rtvr.
I The tribes enumerated are all peaceable ;
I and the government system of annuities of
I money and coocls paid to them tends in a
i
high degtee to keep them so. Any damages
or outrages committed by individual Indians,
are assessed and paid for out of tho common
fund ol ths whole tribe, thus making it their
interest, jointly and severally, to keep the
peace; besides which, the conviction now
pervades the Indian mind, universally, in re.
gard to the immense, irresistable power of
the w hites, and tho hopelessness of any con
test with ns.
The 71' dc-mikan-t'van bands of tho Sioux
occupy the west bank of the Mississippi,
from the Iowa line. Thoy are in constant
intercourse with the whites, but are noted as
good nntured and respectable Indians, com
pared with some other tribes. Parties of
them visit St. Paul, the capital, almost daily,
and are on friendly, and even familiar, terms
with the citizens.
face of the country.
The surface of Minnesota presents a high
ly varied aspect. There are no mountains,
strictly speaking. The Hills of the Prairies,
commonly known as the Cnteau des Prairies,
in the western part of the Territory, dividing
tho waters which flow into the Mississippi
from those that flow into the Missouri; the
Heights of Land about the head waters of
the Mississippi, and those of the St. Croix;
with occasional knobs or mounds near tho
rivers ; Ihe blulls of the Mississippi ; and tho
rolling hillocks near some of the lakes ; make
up all its mountain features.
Minnesota is emphatically a country or rol
ling plains, woods and fertile lake mrudows.
In the extreme North, beyond the reach of
ordinary settlements, tamarack swamp, and
pine marshes, cover the face of the land ; va
luable as they are for many purposes, and
containining the elements of much future
wealth, it is not expected that whito migra
tion will for many years, if ever, tend far in
that direction.
rivers and lakes.
The Mississippi and Missouii, the princi
pal rivers of the Territory, are well known.
The Missouri rising in a mountain region,
flows with a rapid current, about four miles
an hour, is very turbid and muddy, and sub
ject to great floods. It constitutes the wes
tern boundary line of Minnesota.
The Mississippi rises altogether in Ihe
Territory, in a flat country, amidst numerous
lakes and marshes, and is in length 2896
miles, reckoning from "its utmost sources at
the summit of the hauteur de U'rre, or divi
ding ridge between the Mississippi and the
Red River of the North.'' It emerges from
the Territnrry in its southern progress, at
about the Upper Iowa river, a tributary flow
ing from the West, and which partly forms
the boundary between Iowa and Minnesota.
This point if 918 miles from it sources. Tho
great river (lows over a wide bed, and be
low the Falls of St. Anthony, is confined be
tween high blulls. is generally a clear nnil
limpid stream, and rarely rises moro than
about ten feet.
The secondary rivers arc the Minnesota or
St. Peters river, tho St. Croix, Red Rum, Crow
Cannon, Crow Wing, Hokah or Root, Upper
! Iowa, St. Francis, St. Louis of Lake Superior,
James, De-Moines, Sioux, and Shian rivers,
I The St. Peters rises in a region of lakes at
the head of the Coteau des Prairies, and flow
ing south west, enters the Mississippi in hit .
44 deg. 52 min., about eight miles below the
Falls of St. Anthony. The whole lenglh of
its course is 470 miles ; and it is navigable
for light steamboats, in a full stage of water,
120 miles to Patterson Falls, and at all times
for 43 miles lo tho iirsl rapids.
Tho .S'f. Croix has its extreme sources near
the same lakes which are the heads of the
Burnt Wood and Moskeag rivers flowing into
j Lake Superior. It is navigable from its junc-
i lion with ihe Mississippi for 80 miles from
1 its mouth lo Ihe Great Falls. It is known as
j hiu'h up as Stillwater, as Lake St. Croix; a
j Tbe Lakes are numerous and important.
i Xhe extreme north shore of Ltiic Superior,
! of its jsadsto the British line, are in-
i eluded in the Territory, and will be valuable
j for its mines and fisheries; Lake Pekin, a
i beautiful widening of tho Mississippi, 118
I miles below St. Anthony's Falls; iitg Stone,
I and Lac qui Parle, at the head of St. PetetSj
Sandy Lake, Mtlle Lacs, Mtnni Wakon, Cass
Luke, Red Lake, and Otter Tail Lake; are
some of ihe first class lakes. But ihe whole
country in fact, is coveted wilh these delight
ful sheets of water, wilh pebbly beachesi
wooded points, and lawned-like shores. They
abound in the finest fish of different species ;
bass, muskilonge, salnion-trout, white fish,
perch and pike ; besides several species of
terrapin and turtle, some of which latter at
tain to an enormous size.
THE I't'BLIC LANDS.
The pulic lauds of Minnesota in market,
and subject to private entry or to pre-emption
at Ihe land otlice in Slilwaler, are
First : the rich delta in the angle formed
by the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers, and
extending up on the east side ef the latter
river to the Indian country, over 100 miles
above St. Paul. It is a rolling country, well
watered, and sufficiently timbeied.
Second. A treaty was made last fall, With
the Sioux Half Breeds, by which was pur
chased, a tract of over 200,000 acres, on the
west side of the Mississippi, at Lake Pepin
It undoubtedly possesses great agricultural
and commercial advantages and is said also
to abound in lead ore or galena. This treaty
will confirmed bv the Senate this e snon ;.
; and tho wave of population will undoubtedly
j soon roll in upon tho New Purchase.
Plenty of choice locations can ba found,
not yet taken up, within 3 and 5 miles of
all the principal towns, and main rivers. Land
warrants can be bought for SI 36 to SI 30
which will secure 160 acres of land certain
ly a very reasonable price for superb farm
laud ; and if a settler is ready to purchase at
once, he can make a location, put up a small
improvement, and have a year's credit on
his pre-emption, before he will be required to
pay for it, in cash or with a warrant.
It is expected that a treaty will bo made
the present summer with the Sioux, for the
whole of the rich country on the west side of
the Mississippi, and extending baok for 100
miles. They are anxious to sell; and Gov
ernor Ramsey is already appointed Commis
sioner to treat with them for the purchase
This, when made, will open for settlement
some of the finest mid richest land on the
globe.
The Military Reserve around Fort Shelling
has been an obstacle to improvement, in that
portion of tho Territory. It embraces some
of the finest lands, and choicest sites on both
sides of tho Mississippi, to the extent perhaps
of 100,000 acres. This is understood will bo
offered for sale at vendue the present spring,
or summer ;. affording unexampled opportu
nities of obtaining choice lands.
(to pe continued. )
Ml i: SCTM'Tl HE.
The following exquisite lines, which we
copy from ihe last number of tho Missionary
Herald, are evidently from the pen of Bishop
Doane. Exchange.
This is a mistake. The lines are the pro
duction of G. W. Doane, jr., a son of the
Bishop. Ed. American.
Chisel in hand, stood a sculptor boy,
With his marble block before him ;
And his face lit up with a smile of joy,
As an angel-dream, passed o'er him :
He carved the dream, on that shapeles
stone
With many a sharp incision ;
Wish Heaven's own light, the sculpture
shone,
He had caught that angel vision.
Sculptors of life, are we, as we stand,
With our souls, uncarved, before us,
Waiting the hour, when at God's com
mand, 1
Our life dream shall pass oer us.
If ivc carve it then, on the yielding stone,
Wiih many a sharp incision,
Its heavenly beauty shall be our own,
Our lives I hat angel-vision !
Burlington College, March, 1850.
K.NOIlAMIi I LMiLAM.
Taking the whole of Northern Europe
including Scotland and Franco and Bel
gium, (where education is at a low ebb,) we
find that to every 2J of the population, there
is one child acquiring tho rudiments of know
ledge ; while in England there is only one
such pupil to every fourteen inhabitants. It
has been calculated that there aieat the pre
sent day in England and Wales nearly 8,000.
000 persons who can neither read nor write
that is to say, nearly one quarter of the
population. Also, that ofal! the children be
tween five and fourteen, moie than one half
attend no place of instruction. These state
ments would be hard to believe, if we had
not to encounter in our cvery-day life de
grees of illiteracy which would be startling, i
if we were not thoroughly used to it. Wher
ever we turn, ignorance, not always allied to
poverty, stares us in the face. If we look in
the Gazette, at the list of partnerships dis
solved, not a month passes but some unhappy
man, rolling, perhaps, in wealth, but wallow
ins in ignorance, is put to the operimentum
cruris of :his mark.'' The number of petty
jurors in rurals distiicts especially who
can only sign with a cross, is enormous. It
is not unusual to see parish documents of
great local importance defaced with the same
humiliating symbol by persons whoso olllce
shows them to be not only "men of rank,''
but men of substance. A housewife in hum
ble life need only turn to the file of her
tradesmen's bills to ditcover hieroglyphics
which render them so many arithmetical
puzzles In fact, the practical evidences of
the low ebb to which the plainest rudiments
of education in this country have fallen, aro
too common to bear repetition. We cannot
pass through the streets, we cannot enter a
place of public assembly, or ramble in the
fields, without the gloomy shadow of Igno
rance sweeping over us. Dickens' House
hold Words
Powder Mill Explosion. The following j
wo clip from the Tamaqua Legion, Schuyl
kill county, Pa., of the 18ih ull :
Yesterday afternoon, at about 3 o'clock wo
heard a loud report or fxplosion, and imme
diately the smoke was seen ascending over
Sharp Mountain, in iho direction of Heilner
& Morganroth's Powder Mill, which is about
one and a-halt miles below this place. The
intelligence was soon brought that tho mill,
store house, and dry-house were blown up,
totally demolishing the latter. There were
two persons in the building, but who most
miraculously escaped with their lives. Henry
Stout was rather seriously injured, and Win.
Scheaffer slightly. Mr. Fastnaught, who
superintended the mills, had left but a few
moments before for his dwelling, which is
several hundred yards from the mills. We
learn that 164 kegs of powder were in the
dry-house at the time of the explosion. How
the powder caught is not known. Loss
about one thousand dollars.
lr it be wrong, don't do it, if untrue don't
av it F lhi vour rule
A UKi FOOT.
We heard to day of a laughable "Antcdott
of a man with a big fool." Ho was a Buffa
Ionian, who must bo living now, for a man
'with so good a bold upon the ground is not
likely to "drop off" in a hurry. He stepped
one day into a small shop of a boot-maker's,
in the flourishing capital of old Erie, and
asked Crispin if he could make him a pair of
boots. Looking at his long splay pedal x
Iremities, and then glancing at a huge uncut
cow-hide that hung upon the wall, ho said-
"Well, yes, I guess so."
"What time will you have them done? To
day is Monday."
"Well, it'll depend on circumstances; 1
guess I can have 'em done for you by Satur
day.'' On Saturday, therefore, the man called for
his boots :
"No, 1 haven't I couldn't; it has raiatd
every Jay since 1 took your measure."
"Rained !" exclaimed the astonished pa
iron ; " Well, what of ihat? What had that
tu do with it !"
"What had hi.t to do with itl" echoed
Crispin ; "It had a good deal to do with it.
When I make your boots, I have to doit out
doors, for 1 haven't room in my shop, and I
can't work out doors in rainy weather V
It was tho same man of "large understand
ing" "vvhomo the porters use to bother so,
when he landed from a steamer. They would
rush uplo him, seize hold of his feet, saying!
'Where shall I takn vour baggage, sirt"
"Where's this trunk to go, sir?"
Tu k Rose that Ai l are Praising. Tha
Utica Gazette, under the above significant
head, describes Ihe beauties of an enormous
and productive Rose Tree. It says!
"We saw last evening, in the green houss
of Ambrose G. Howard, Esq., of Whitestowni
a whito rose bush, which measures forty-two
feet in length, and upon which there a ret
now, more than one thousand roses and buds
just opening into bloom. There ara mora
than seven hundred blossoms fully developed.
It is a magnificent specimen, and wo chal
lenge the world to beat it."
TltOl'DI.E BETWEEN A YANKEE SlOOP AND
the Swedish Sloop-of-war Najadin. The
sloop Xvon, of Gloucester, Capt. Plummer.
bound from T wharf to Snow & Rich's wharf,
this morning, was drifted by the tide along
side the Swedish sloop-of-war Najadin, car
rying away the Najadin's foretopsail yard.
Afler tlm Avon had got cleur, tho officers of
the Najadin proceeded with their boat, man
ned by a crew of about twenty men, on board
the Avon, and demanded Capt. Plummer'e
papers; Capt. P. informed the officers that
he never surrendered to any foreigner, and
his papers could not be taken from his ves
sel. After a short interview, in which the
Najadin's officers were somewhat enraged)
they left the Avon, Capt. Lillichook and his
oliicers aited upon harbor-master Tewks
bury in reference to tho affair. Mr. Tewks
bury iufoimed Capt. Lillichook that no blame
could be attached to Capt. Plummer or his
vessel, and no recompense for the yard could
be recovered of Capt. Plummer. Boster
TravclUr.
Fkoh the Falls of St. Antiionv. The
steamer Lama'tine, Capt. Marsh, arrived
niuht before last, from the Upper Misiissippi
We learn from the oliicers on board that the
L. has ascended, during her present trip, the
great Father of Waters a few miles further
up than a steamer had ever gone before.
Shu went to Steel's landing, situated imme
diately at the foot of the last descent in the
great falls, a distance of seven miles and a
half above tho town of St. Paul, and directly
in what is termed the Caldron. The L. was
un a pleasure excursion from St. Paul, wilh
a large party on board, and the scene is de
scribed to us by one w ho was present, of the
most sublime and beautiful ever witnessed.
When the boat had reached the highest
point to which her powerful engines would
cairy her against the w hirlpool of a current)
a four inch hawser was made fast to a cliff
of rocks, and, by means of the capstan, a fewf
moie lengths were gained towards the at
tainment of a feat never performed before,
and for several moments the beautiful little
steamer was forced up the billows of the
mighty cataract, where boat, bark or birch
canoe had never floated before. The descent
is described as being like the flight of an
arrow, und with which tiller wheels and
steam had but little to do. However, it waa
safe, and highly amusing to tha gay party
assembled on board. Besides the reputation,
Capt. .Marsh obtained the piemium of $200
otlered by the citizens of that vicinity to any
steamboat that would ascend to Steel's Land-
ing. He more than won the prize, which
was promptly paid, and perhaps it will be
many years before the hoarse voice of old
St. Anthony is again hushed by the shrill
whistle of a steam engine, right under his
nose. St. Louis Republican, 10th.
A Socialist Bonaparte. M, Napoleon
Bonaparte, the cousin of the President of the.
Republic, has been an active supporter of Ms
Eugene Sue. The remonstrances of hit fa
ther, Jeromo Ronaparte, (who is at present
on good terms with tha President,) failed in
inducing him to abstain from taking part in
favor of the Domociatio candidate, From
this it is evident that an entente tordialt doee
not yet reign in, the Bonaparte f-mi,ly.
"What I admire in ChrUtopryr. Coluwi
bus," says Turgot, "is not his having disco
ered the new world, but his having gen
seatih fot it en the faith of an epinion "