I dare not express my sentiments regarding them and what I think of them, for fear there might be some exceptions taken. After they have retired from the sphere of action, it will be time enough then.

Before concluding, however, I will except one, you, Alexander Ramsey, our Aleck. Minnesota owes you much. You took her while in her swaddling clothes. By your wisdom and sagacity you nursed her to maturity, and then again you were called to care for her, in the nation's greatest need. By your wise and prudent judgment of men and measures, you failed not to call into your counsels the best men for your lieutenants, as demonstrated in the selection of that Christian gentleman, the poor man's friend, Gen. H. H. Sibley, capable, and honorable; and hence your administration has ever been successful. Minnesota has honored you, sir, 'tis true, but no more than you have honored her. You have always been willing to advise and confer with your constituents, and hence always will be one of us.

Your successor was somewhat different, although we all liked Willis A. Gorman. He had some peculiarities. Well, who has not? He insulted me on my first introduction to him, on the day of his arrival, when the boat landed at the foot of Jackson street, with the new governor and retinue on board. I was, like all the others, interested in seeing him come ashore, and was standing on the corner of the Merchants' Hotel, opposite to my store, when the governor came along, escorted by Col. J. J. Noah and Morton Wilkinson. Approaching me, Wilkinson said, "Governor, allow me to introduce to you Mr. A. L. Larpenteur, an old Indian trader; he is perfectly familiar with the Indians, and speaks their language; his acquaintance may be of some benefit to you." "How do you do, sir? I came here purposely to look after these Indian traders; shall see to them, sir." I thought the new governor was a scorcher, and thus the matter rested. In the course of a very short time a delegation of Indians, with Little Crow at their head, called upon the governor. Their interpreter was out of town. The governor addressed a very polite note to me, requesting me to come up to the capitol, as the Indians wished to have a talk with him. I respectfully returned his note, at the same time

reminding him of his remark on the corner by the Merchants' Hotel. Little Crow came after me, and at his request I went, and the new governor saw that man needs his fellow man, and that we are each other's keepers. We were always friends thereafter, as this little episode brought us nearer together.

Gen. H. H. Sibley was an Indian trader. Notwithstanding, when the Indian outbreak took place, you did not hesitate to call him to your aid. In so doing, the high character and integrity in which he was held by the Indians showed subsequently that you made no mistake. Had he precipitated the attack at Camp Release, as poor Custer did at Big Horn, the ninety-one hostages held by the hostile Indians would have been butchered. But, by diplomacy, the lives of all of them were saved and the hostiles were captured, without losing a man. Which of the two was the better general? 'Tis not for me in this article to say.

Minnesota, the gem of the constellation of states! I have followed your progress from infancy to maturity. I have seen you when you had to be fed as a suckling child, and ere my earthly career has closed you have contributed largely to the support of others; your hidden resources have all been developed since I saw you first. Little did I think, when stepping off the steamer Otter, September 15th, 1843, that to-day your new executive mansion would be built upon land bought by me from the government at $1.25 per acre. And again, while in pursuit of my vocation, camping with Hole-in-the-Day, the elder, at Watab, I remember casting my eyes upon those great outcrops of rock lying there, of no earthly value apparently. Yet there was a gold mine in them, and I have to-day been permitted to see specimens of this rock, artistically hewn and polished, form a part of the material out of which our capitol building is being built. It is a pleasure to me to note that our little family bickerings were finally laid at rest last July 27th, 1898, with the laying of the corner-stone of that building; but let me add, in conclusion thereto, that those who opposed the meager appropriation granted will regret their act. Within the lifetime of some of them, the state of Minnesota will contain three millions of inhabitants, and this building, large and capacious as it appears for the present needs, will

require an annex, as with our new United States postoffice building to-day.

Old settlers and fellow contemporaries, I cannot close this already too long paper, without expressing my gratification and pride, though one of the humblest among you, in being placed in your midst as one of the old settlers and pioneers of Minnesota. The brightest legacy I can leave my children is that their father was one of those who founded and helped to develop the resources of this great state. No state in our Union had a better class of men to begin its existence with. They were men of energy and intelligence,-God-fearing men, hence successful. In 1843 I found the territory of the present states of Minnesota and the two Dakotas having, if we include the soldiers at Fort Snelling, only about two hundred white inhabitants. To-day, I see these states with over two millions of people. Is it beyond the bounds of probability to say that seven years hence, "Our Minnesota" will have two millions herself? I think not.

Our climate is unsurpassed anywhere, and our winters are becoming milder every year. Those of us who passed our early days in the Middle States remember only too well the mud of early spring and late autumns, and icicles three feet long hanging from the roofs of our houses. We have none of that here. Our roads are simply perfect all the time. I look back with regret at the loss of the good sleigh rides we had here in the days of "Auld Lang Syne," which recollection at times makes us old men almost wish we were boys again.

My dear friends of this present generation, whenever you meet one of these old settlers and pioneers of the frontier, tottering toward the grave, throw the mantle of charity over him; overlook his imperfections, and remember that it was he who blazed the trees, marking out the path which made it possible for you to enjoy the blessings you possess here in the great and glorious State of Minnesota to-day.