USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 22
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About noon of December twelfth, 1855, a four- horse vehicle was seen driving rapidly through St. Paul, and deep was the interest when it was announced that one of the Arctic exploring party, . Mr. James Stewart, was on his way to Canada withi relics of the world -renowned and world- mourned Sir John Franklin. Gathering together the precious fragments found on Montreal Island and vicinity, the party had left the region of ice- bergs on the ninth of August, and after a con- tinued land journey from that time, had reached
127
PROPOSED REMOVAL OF THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.
Saint Paul on that day, en route to the Hudson Bay Company's quarters in Canada.
EVENTS OF A. D. 1856.
The seventh session of the Legislative Assem- bly was begun on the second of January, 1856, and again the exciting question was the Minne- sota and Northwestern Railroad Company.
John B. Brisbin was elected President of the Council, and Charles Gardner, Speaker of the House.
This year was comparatively devoid of interest. The citizens of the territory were busily engaged in making claims in newly organized counties, and in enlarging the area of civilization.
On the twelfth of June, several Ojibways entered the farm house of Mr. Whallon, who re- sided in Hennepin county, on the banks of the Minnesota, a mile below the Bloomington ferry. The wife of the farmer, a friend, and three child- ren, besides a little Dahkotah girl, who had been brought up in the mission-house at Kaposia, and so changed in manners that her origin was scarcely perceptible, were sitting in the room when the Indians came in. Instantly seizing the little Indian maiden, they threw her out of the door, killed and scalped her, and fled before the men who were near by, in the field, could reach the house.
EVENTS OF A. D. 1857.
The procurement of a state organization, and a grant of lands for railroad purposes, were the topics of political interest during the year 1857.
The eighth Legislative Assembly convened at the capitol on the seventh of January, and J. B. Brisbin was elected President of the Council, and J. W. Furber, Speaker of the House.
A bill changing the seat of government to Saint Peter, on the Minnesota River, caused much discussion.
On Saturday, February twenty-eighth, Mr. Balcombe offered a resolution to report the bill for the removal of the seat of government, and should Mr. Rolette, chairman of the committee, fail, that W. W. Wales, of said committee, report a copy of said bill.
Mr. Setzer, after the reading of the resolution, moved a call of the Council, and Mr. Rolette was found to be absent. The chair ordered the ser- geant at arms to report Mr Rolette in his seat.
Mr. Balcombe moved that further proceedings under the call be dispensed with; which did not prevail. From that time until the next Thursday afternoon, March the fifth, a period of one hun- dred and twenty-three hours, the Council re- mained in their chamber without recess. At that time a motion to adjourn prevailed. On Friday another motion was made to dispense with the call of the Council, which did not prevail. On Saturday, the Council met, the president declared the call still pending. At seven and a half p. m., a committee of the House was announced. The chair ruled, that no communication from the House could be received while a call of the Coun- cil was pending, and the committee withdrew. A motion was again made during the last night of the session, to dispense with all further pro- ceedings under the call, which prevailed, with one vote only in the negative.
Mr. Ludden then moved that a committee be appointed to wait on the Governor, and inquire if he had any further communication to make to the Council.
Mr. Lowry moved a call of the Council, which was ordered, and the roll being called, Messrs. Rolette, Thompson and Tillotson were absent.
At twelve o'clock at night the president re- sumed the chair, and announced that the time limited by law for the continuation of the session of the territorial legislature had expired, and he therefore declared the Council adjourned and the seat of government remained at Saint Paul.
The excitement on the capital question was in- tense, and it was a strange scene to see members of the Council, eating and sleeping in the hall of legislation for days, waiting for the sergeant-at- arms to report an absent member in his seat.
On the twenty-third of February, 1857, an act passed the United States Senate, to anthorize the people of Minnesota to form a constitution, preparatory to their admission into the Union on an equal footing with the original states.
Governor Gorman called a special session of the legislature, to take into consideration measures that would give efficiency to the act. The extra session convened on April twenty- seventh, and a message was transmitted by Sam- utel Medary, who had been appointed governor in place of W. A. Gorman, whose term of office
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EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA.
had expired. The extra session adjourned on the twenty-third of May ; and in accordance with the provisions of the enabling act of Con- gress, an election was held on the first Monday in June, for delegates to a convention which was to assemble at the capitol on the second Monday in July. The election resulted, as was thought, in giving a majority of delegates to the Republi- can party.
At midnight previous to the day fixed for the meeting of the convention, the Republicans pro- ceeded to the capitol, because the enabling act had not fixed at what hour on the second Mon- day the convention should assemble, and fear- ing that the Democratic delegates might antici- pate them, and elect the officers of the body. A little before twelve, A. M., on Monday, the secretary of the territory entered the speaker's rostrum, and began to call the body to order ; and at the same time a delegate, J. W. North, who had in his possession a written request from the majority of the delegates present, proceeded to do the same thing. The secretary of the ter- ritory put a motion to adjourn, and the Demo- cratic members present voting in the affirmative, they left the hall. The Republicans, feeling that they were in the majority, remained, and in due time organized, and proceeded with the business specified in the enabling act, to form a constitu- tion, and. take all necessary steps for the estab- lishment of a state government, in conformity with the Federal Constitution, subject to the approval and ratification of the people of the proposed state.
After several days the Democratic wing also organized in the Senate chamber at the capitol, and, claiming to be the true body, also proceeded to form a constitution. Both parties were re- markably orderly and intelligent, and everything was marked by perfect decorum. After they had been in session some weeks, moderate counsels
prevailed, and a committee of conference was appointed from each body, which resulted in both adopting the constitution framed by the . Democratic wing, on the twenty-ninth of Ang- gust. According to the provision of the consti- tution, an election was held for state officers and the adoption of the constitution, on the second Tuesday, the thirteenth of October. The constitution was adopted by almost a unanimous vote. It provided that the territorial officers should retain their offices until the state was ad- mitted into the Union, not anticipating the long delay which was experienced.
The first session of the state legislature com- menced on the first Wednesday of December, at the capitol, in the city of Saint Paul; and during the month elected Henry M. Rice and James Shields as their Representatives in the United States Senate.
EVENTS OF A. D. 1858.
On the twenty-ninth of January, 1858, Mr. Douglas submitted a bill to the United States Senate, for the admission of Minnesota into the Union. On the first of February, a disenssion arose on the bill, in which Senators Douglas, Wilson, Gwin, HIale, Mason, Green, Brown, and Crittenden participated. Brown, of Mississippi, was opposed to the admission of Minnesota, In- til the Kansas question was settled. Mr. Crit- tenden, as a Southern man, could not endorse all that was said by the Senator from Mississippi; and his words of wisdom and moderation during this day's discussion, were worthy of remen- brance. On April the seventh, the bill passed the Senate with only three dissenting votes ; and in a short time the House of Representatives concurred, and on May the eleventh, the Presi- dent approved, and Minnesota was fully rec- ognized as one of the United States of America.
OUTLINES
OF THE
HISTORY OF MINNESOTA FROM 1858 TO 1881.
CHAPTER XXIV.
ADMISSION AND ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE.
Admission of the State .- Its want of Resources .- The Hard Times,-Commence- ment of Railroad Building .- The State Railroad Bonds Discredited .- " Wild- Cat" Banking Schemc .- The Wright County War .- Failure of the State Loan Scheme .- Attempted Adjustment of the Dilemma .- Partial return of Good Times .- The Political Campaign of 1860 .- Secession Movement .- Prospect of War, &c., &c.
On May 11th, 1858, the act of Congress admit- ting Minnesota to the Union, became a law, and our State took her place among the sisterhood of republics, the thirty-second in the order of admis- sion, and had thenceforthi a voice in the national councils. On the 24th of May, the State officers elect were quietly sworn in, in the Executive Rooms in the Capitol, and the machinery of the State government was put in motion. The out- look for the little commonwealth at this time, was far from propitious. The terrible financial revulsion of the previous year had prostrated all business, destroyed values, undermined confi- dence, depressed the energies and ambition of the people, and almost entirely checked immigra- tion. There was but limited agriculture (a large portion of the bread-stuffs used being imported), little accumulated wealth, and that mostly based on real estate, now unsaleable, money command- ing two per cent. a month; no established indus- tries or manufactures, not a mile of railroad, no sound banks or currency, no system for raising revenue, and not a cent of money in the State treasury. In fact the State was considerably in debt. The loan of $250,000 authorized by the Legislature the winter previous, was not yet real- ized on. Meantime, denominational treasury
warrants, bearing interest, were used as currency, while town and county " scrip " were generally circulated among the people as money. It was under such gloomy circumstances as these, that the State began its career.
An adjourned session of the Legislature was held in July, but little or nothing could be done for the relief of the people from the financial strin- gency or other troubles surrounding them. Some relief was hoped for from the building of the land grant railroads, which were generally got under way during the summer, but there was not as much money disbursed by the companies or contractors, as had been anticipated. The direct- ors of the roads hurried their first ten mile sec- tions of grading to completion as rapidly as possi- ble, and as soon as they were entitled to bonds, according to the terms of the constitutional amendment, applied to Gov. Sibley for the same. He declined to issue them unless the roads would give the State first mortgage bonds in equal amounts, giving it a priority of lien. This the land grant companies refused to accede to, and applied to the Supreme Court of the State, for a writ of mandamus, to compel Gov. Sibley to issue the bonds, as demanded by them. The writ was issued on November 12th, and left the Executive no alternative in the premises, so the bonds were issued. Efforts were at once made to negotiate them in the New York market.
The harvest this year, althoughi a greatly in- creased area was sown, was almost a failure, and
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OUTLINES OF THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.
bread-stuffs were still largely imported. Every- body was in the most desperate straits financially* A winter of gloom and depression set in, such as has never been experienced in the history of the Northwest, and, it is scarcely probable, ever will be again. The price of labor, for such as could get employment at all, touched an unprecedentedly low figure, though, fortunately, the cost of living had declined in the same ratio. Meantime, the ne- gotiation of the bonds in New York, proceeded very slowly. Capitalists were very unwilling to invest in them, as already some journals in the State had predicted the failure and break-down of the whole scheme, added to pretty clearly ex- pressed threats that the bonds would be repudi- ated. Anxious to save the credit of the State, and prevent a disastrous ending of the measure, Gov. Sibley went to New York in person, about the close of the year (1858) and gave his best en- deavors to aid the pending negotiation of the bonds ; but the capitalists there, alarmed at the hostile tone of the newspapers in the State, finally refused to touch them at all. The only recourse now left for the holders of the bonds, and those interested in the railroad scheme, was to use them as a security for the issue of bank notes, under the recently enacted general banking law. Purported sales at ninety-five cents on the dollar having been certified to the State Auditor, he re- ceived a large number at this figure, and procured for the owners currency in like amount. Mean- time, work was progressing on the four land grant roads.
No session of the legislature was held in the winter of 1858-'9. The stringency increased with each month. The newspapers of the state which survived, were crowded with mortgage foreclosure advertisements. Taxes were scarcely paid at all, and the warrants, or scrip, of both State and counties, depreciated, in some in- stances, to forty or fifty cents on the dollar. These were soon replaced by the issues of the new banks based on the state railroad bonds which now began to flood the state, until the names "Glencoe," "Owatonna," "La Crosse" and "La Crescent," etc., were familiar words. These issues were regarded with considerable distrust from the outset. Bankers in the state received them with much disrelish, and generally at a discount, while outside the state, they scarcely
circulated at all. The Chicago papers, and some financial journals in New York, classed them as " wild-cat." Their issue was pushed for a few weeks, however, until iu the spring of 1859 over $200,000 of the currency was in circulation. There were, in addition to these " railroad banks," several based on Minnesota 8 per cents. which were actually worth par.
During the summer of 1859 the reported discov- ery of gold on Frazer River, and other points iu British North America, called the attention of the people of Minnesota to the importance of an over- land route to the Pacific, which might ultimately lead the way for a northern railroad route. Meet- ings were held, and money was subscribed, to equip a train to open a wagon road via the north- ern bend of the Missouri River. Col. Wm. II. Nobles was placed in command of the expedi- tion, which left St. Paul on June 11, and pro- ceeded safely through. Another important step towards settling the regions beyond us, was the successful navigation of Red River, by a steamer launched this season. The Minnesota Stage Com- pany also established a line to the Red River.
The " Wright county war," as it has been fa- cetiously termed, occurred this summer. In the fall of 1858, one H. A. Wallace was murdered in Wright county, and a neighbor, named Oscar F. Jackson, was tried for the offense in the spring of 1859, and acquitted. On April 25, a crowd of men assembled, and hung Jackson to the gable end of Wallace's cabin. Gov. Sibley offered a re- ward for the conviction of any of the lynchers. Not long afterwards one Emery Moore was ar- rested on charge of being concerned in the out- rage, and was takeu to Wright County for trial, but was rescued by a mob. Gov. Sibley at once decided to take vigorous steps to maintain the majesty of the law. A military force was called ont, and three companies dispatched (Ang. 5) to Monticello to arrest the rioters. The troops pro- ceeded to Monticello, reinforced the civil anthor- ities, arrested eleven lynchers and rescuers, and turned them over to the civil authorities. Hav- ing vindicated the supremacy of law and order. the bloodless expedition returned.
The financial condition had meantime been growing worse. Early in June, the brokers of the state had combined to depreciate the "Glen coe money," as the railroad currency was called,
131
ADMISSION AND ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE.
and as several sums which had been presented at the banks for redemption, were not redeemed, they were protested, and the state auditor was compelled to advertise the securities for sale. This caused a still further depreciation of the money, until shortly it was scarcely current on any terms. Meantime all work on the land grant lines had been finally and completely suspended, and $2,275,000 of the state bonds had been issued. In October, it was stated that the bonds had been sold as low as ten cents on the dollar. The cou- pons due on Dec. 1, 1859, were unpaid, and the companies holding the bonds declared in default. The whole scheme had thus been brought to a complete failure, and was now practically aban- doned, while not a mile of road had been com- pleted.
The hard times, and the failure of the real es- tate speculative era, had one good result, how- ever, which was, to turn increased attention to agriculture. A greatly enlarged area was sown, and the agricultural resources of the State began to be known as the true source of its wealth. For the first time, breadstuffs were exported, and immigration began again.
The fall of this year witnessed a bitter political fight. Two years before, the parties had been pretty evenly divided. This campaign each one spent its full force and energy, and had nomina- ted for state officers their most popular men. The election took place on Oct. 11. IIon. Alex. Ramsey was chosen governor, by a vote of 21,335, over Hon. George L. Becker, who received 17,532. The legislature which met on Dec. 7, was largely republican.
The most important work which came before this session was some adjustment of the dilemma into which the state had fallen, through the adop- tion of the loan amendment. Nearly the entire session was consumed in debating various plans of extrication without much fruit. The loan amendment was expunged, however, and a new amendment was framed for submission to the people, providing that there should be no further issue of bonds to the companies; also, that no law levying a tax to pay either principal or interest on the bonds already issued, should be of any force or effect, until ratified by a popular vote. These constitutional amendments were adopted by a large majority of votes, in the fall of the same
year. The governor was also directed to foreclose the deeds of trust given to secure interest on the bonds loaned, and bid off and purchase the prop- erty sold, in the name of the state. This was done, the following summer, and the state again secured the forfeited rights, franchises and land grants.
The Federal census taken this year (1860), showed that the state had a population of 172,- 123. The harvest was a good one, and business was considerably revived. Immigration was be- ginning to become brisk, and building in the towns and cities was perceptibly increasing, while the tilled area was receiving great additions. It seemed that the " hard times " had about ceased, and the hope of prosperous days was be- ginning to enliven all. But this gleam of sun- shine was of short duration. The memora- ble presidential contest of that year, the first in which Minnesota had a voice, was a period of un- precedented heat and excitement. The electoral vote of Minnesota was cast for Abraham Lincoln by a very large majority, he receiving 22,069, Douglas, 11,920, Breckenridge 748, and Bell 62. It was not long before the disunion cloud arose in the slave states, and the mutterings of rebell- ion began to be heard. It was a period of doubt and forebodings. The currency used generally in the state, being largely based on the bonds of seceding states, became greatly depreciated. All classes suffered much loss, business became de- pressed, real estate unsalable, and soon a condi- tion of distress ensued, almost equal to the dark- est days of the panic, three years before.
The legislature of 1861 considered the railroad question at length, and passed acts designed to facilitate the construction of the land grant roads by turning over the forfeited franchises of the old companies to new organizations, believed to be able to complete them. The Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad Company was also char- tered.
The secession movement progressed steadily during the winter, and it soon became apparent to all that war was inevitable. Lincoln was in- augurated, but his address promised only coer- cion, and coercion war. The feeble and unreal movements for compromise and conciliation all failed. Meantime business in this state was daily growing worse. Large numbers were out of em- ployment, and anticipating still further disaster.
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OUTLINES OF THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.
CHAPTER XXV.
MINNESOTA'S SHARE IN SUPPRESSING THE REBELLION.
The War Actually Begun .- Excitement of the Period .- Minnesota Called on for One Regiment .- Recruiting Vigorously Begun .- The First Regiment Mus- tered in for Three Years .- It is Ordered to Washington .- A Second Regiment called for and Recruited .- The First Engaged at Bull Run .- Contributions for the Relief of the Sick and Wounded .- Progress of Railroad Building .- Third, Fourth, and Fifth Regiments Called For .- Battle of Mill Springs .- Railroad Legislation .- Battle of Pittsburg Landing .- A Sixth Regiment Authorized .- Currency Troubles .- Expeditions to Idaho .- First Railroad Completed .- Gal- lantry of Minnesota Troops in the South .- The Seven Days Fight .- Heavy Levies of Men Called For .- The Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Regiments Ordered.
Saturday, April 13, 1861, was a dark day in the annals of our state. The telegraph brought the unwelcome news of the attack on Fort Sumter, and it was seen that war was inevitable. The bulletin boards of the newspaper offices were sur- rounded all day with an excited and anxious crowd, but courage and determination were every- where visible. The next day was the Sabbath, bright and balmy. The churches had but meagre andiences that day. All day knots of angry and excited men gathered on the streets, con- versing on the startling events of the time.
On Monday, the proclamation of President Lincoln was received, calling for 75,000 volun- teers for three months' service, and assigning to Minnesota one regiment. Gov. Ramsey, who was in Washington, had already tendered to the Pres- ident, in person, a like force. Lt. Gov. Donnelly at once issued a proclamation calling on the citi- zens of Minnesota to enlist, and Adjt. Gen. Acker issued a general order giving the needed instructions. In all the principal towns and cities of the state, public meetings were at once held, and enlistment stations opened. A fervid pat- riotism pervaded all ranks. "The war" was the sole topic of conversation. Everything else, even business, to a large extent, was suspended for the time. Never, and in no other state, was a peo- ple so imbued with warlike zeal. In four or five days ten companies, in various localities, had been raised and accepted by Adjt. General San- born (Gen. Acker having resigned to recruit a company.) Fort Snelling having been designated
by the war department as a school of instruc- tion, the companies were rendezvoused there, and by the 25th were all in their quarters, and busily engaged in drilling. The regimental offi- cers were announced on the 29th, and on that day, two weeks from the time when the president's call was received, the " Immortal First," over one thousand strong, was mustered into service, for three months, with Ex-Gov. Gorman as Colonel.
Scarcely was this accomplished, when the War Department decided that it could only be received as a three years regiment, and it became neces- sary to at once renew the enlistments on that basis. After a few days delay, enough recruits were received, and mustered in, to fill a three years regiment, and it was accepted on that basis. The War Department, contrary to the hopes of the men, at first ordered the companies to garrison the various posts in and near the state, relieving the regulars stationed there, and some detachments had already left for their posts, when the need of more troops for the Virginia campaign became imminent, and the order was countermanded and the First Regiment directed to proceed at once to Washington. The compa- nies were quickly reassembled at Fort Snelling, and, on June 22d, left that post by boat, arriving in Washington on June 26th. In the various cities through which the First passed, they were re- ceived with patriotic demonstrations of respect, and it was noticed by the press as a remarkable fact that a young commonwealth, unknown and almost without population a dozen years before, could now send to the defense of the Union a reg- iment of such stalwart and brave soldiers.
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