472 



MINNESOTA. 



MINNESOTA, one of the younger States 

 of the Union, admitted in 1858, and lying in 

 the extreme northwest of the States east of 

 the Rocky Mountains, is bounded north by Brit- 

 ish America, east by Lake Superior and Wis- 

 consin, south by Iowa and Missouri Territory, 

 and west by Nebraska Territory. The terri- 

 tory of the State is the most elevated tract of 

 land between the Gulf of Mexico and Hudson's 

 Bay ; from its central heights, its waters flow 

 to every point of the compass. It abounds in 

 lakes of every size, from those of forty miles 

 in extent to small ponds of less than a mile in 

 circuit. There are two outlets for the products 

 of the country : one by way of the Mississippi Val- 

 ley, and one by way of Lake Superior through 

 the Lake and the east. The great export of 

 the State is lumber. The population in 1850, 

 was 6,077 ; in 1860 it had increased to 171,793 

 white and 229 free colored. The ratio of in- 

 crease during the previous ten years, was 

 2,745.19 white. The vote of the State at the 

 presidential election in 1860 was : Lincoln, 

 22,069; Douglas, 11,920; Breckinridge, 748; 

 Bell, 62. The qualifications are : that they be 

 free white males, twenty-one years of age, who 

 are, or have declared their intention of becom- 

 ing, citizens of the United States, and who have 

 resided in the United States one year, and in 

 the State four months next preceding. Indians 

 and persons of mixed "white and Indian blood, 

 who have adopted the language, customs, and 

 habits of civilization, are also allowed to vote 

 in any district in which they have resided for 

 the ten days next preceding. The Legislature 

 consists of thirty-seven Senators, elected for two 

 years, and eighty Representatives, elected for 

 one year. The Governor is elected for two 

 years. The present Governor is Alexander 

 Ramsey. The people of the State, by a large 

 majority, were opposed to the movements in 

 favor of secession in the Southern States, and 

 were determined to uphold the Government 

 under all circumstances. 



The Legislature, on the 26th of January, 

 passed the following resolutions, expressive of 

 their views on the impending troubles of the 

 country : 



1. Resolved, That one of the vital and necessary 

 principles which form the basis of all free govern- 

 ment is, that the constitutional majority must always 

 rule ; and therefore, the right of the people of any 

 State to withdraw from the Union, thereby hazarding 

 the liberties and happiness of the millions composing 

 this Confederacy, can never be acknowledged by us 

 under any circumstances. We regard secession upon 

 the part of any State as amounting directly to revolu- 

 tion, and precipitating civil war, with all its sad train 

 of consequences. 



2. Resolved, That the people of the State of Min- 

 nesota reiterate their unalterable devotion to the Con- 

 stitution of the United States ; and that if its provi- 

 sions are strictly observed, it will, in its own words, 

 insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common 

 defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the 

 blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. 



3. Resolved,, That Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal 

 Hamlin, having been constitutionally and legally elect- 

 ed President and Vice-President of the United States, 

 at a general election fully and freely participated in, 



MISSISSIPPI. 



on the same day, by the people of every State of the 

 Union, south as well as north, any attempt to dissolve 

 or destroy the Union on account thereof is without ex- 

 cuse or justification, and should receive the condemna- 

 tion of every patriot in the land. 



4. Resolved, That we have heard with astonishment 

 and indignation of the recent outrages perpetrated at 

 Charleston, South Carolina, by firing upon an Ameri- 

 can steamer, sailing under the flag of our country, and 

 that we expect of the General Government the strong- 

 est and most vigorous efl'ort to assert its supremacy, 

 and to check the work of rebellion and treason. Fully 

 impressed with our duty to make every possible effort 

 to uphold the Union, and to maintain the authority of 

 the General Government, we hereby tender to the 

 President of the United States for that purpose, 

 through the Governor of this State, aid in men and 

 money to the extent of our ability. When one or 

 more States erect the standard of disunion, and place 

 themselves in military array against the Government, 

 bequeathed to us by our ancestors, we can discover no 

 other honorable or patriotic resource than to test, both 

 on land and on ocean, the full strength of the Federal 

 authority under our national flag. 



5. Resolved, That we declare to each State of this 

 Union our sincere desire to secure a renewal of that 

 fraternal feeling which ought always to exist between 

 citizens of a common country, and which distinguished 

 the history of the nation for more than half a century. 

 Especially do we express to those patriotic citizens 

 of the Southern States, who have nobly and manfully 

 exerted their utmost efforts to prevent the catastrophe 

 of dissolution, our sincere gratitude and highest ad- 

 miration. 



6. Resolved, That the most sincere thanks of the 

 nation are justly due to that distinguished patriot and 

 veteran, Lieutenant-General Wintield Scott, for the 

 prompt and decisive steps he has taken to stay the 

 tide of revolution, and lor the determined spirit he 

 has evinced in maintaining the honor of our Govern- 

 ment. 



7. Resolved, That we never will consent or submit" 

 to the obstruction of the free navigation of the Missis- 

 sippi River, from its source to its mouth, by any power 

 hostile to the Federal Government. 



The call for volunteers by the Federal Gov- 

 ernment, was responded to with ardor by the 

 people of the State. Her troops were early in 

 the field, and ranked among the bravest. Four 

 full regiments of infantry, three companies of 

 cavalry, and one of artillery, numbering 4,400 

 men, were raised for the war during the year, 

 and the formation of a fifth regiment was com- 

 menced. The Governor, in his Message to the 

 Legislature after the close of the year 1861, says : 

 " The State now sends to the protection of the 

 Union a greater number of men than her whole 

 population in 1850." 



MISSISSIPPI, one of the Southern States, is 

 bounded north by Tennessee, east by Alabama, 

 south by the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana, and 

 west by the Pearl and Mississippi rivers, which 

 separate it from Louisiana and Arkansas. Cot- 

 ton is the great staple of the State. The popu- 

 lation in 1860 was 353,969 whites, 731 free 

 colored, 436,696 slaves. Total 791,396. The 

 ratio of increase during the previous ten years 

 was 19'70 white, 21'40 free colored, and 40-93 

 slave. The Governor of the State is elected 

 by the people once in two years. The Gov- 

 ernor in 1861 was John J. Pettus. The Senate 

 consists of thirty -two members, elected for 

 four years, and the House of ninety-two mem- 

 bers, elected for two years. 



