MINNESOTA.

The area included within the present State of Minnesota was mostly einbraced within the great Louisiana purchase of April 30, 1803. The eastern portion was a part of the "Territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio river," established in 1787. On the formation of Indiana Territory, in 1800, this part came within that Territory, and, in 1809, it was included in Illinois Territory. The Louisiana part was included in the "District of Louisiana,” March 26, 1804, and in the "Territory of Louisiana," March 3, 1805. On the 4th of June, 1812, the latter name was changed to the "Territory of Missouri," and thus remained until the admission of Missouri as a State, in 1821, when the remainder of Missouri Territory was left, for some years, without special provision for its government. In 1818 the northern part of Illinois Territory was annexed to Michigan Territory, and, on the 28th of June, 1834, the region between the Mississippi river on the east, and the Missouri and White Earth rivers on the west, was also attached to Michigan Territory.

On the 28th of April, 1836, Wisconsin Territory was formed, including all of the Territory of Michigan, west of Lake Michigan, excepting the "Upper Peninsula."

The Territory of Iowa was formed from the Territory of Wisconsin, June 12, 1838, the dividing line being the Mississippi river, and a line running due north from its source to the national boundary.

The State of Iowa was admitted into the Union, December 28, 1846, including all of the former Territory of Iowa, south of 43° 30′ N. lat., between the Mississippi river on the east, and the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers on the west, The remainder of the Territory was left nearly a year without special orgau. ization.

On the 29th of May, 1848, the State of Wisconsin was admitted into the Union, and its northwestern boundary, as defined by the enabling act of Congress, August 6, 1846, was fixed, and described as "running from the mouth of the St. Louis river up the main channel to the first rapids in the same, above the Indian village, according to Nicollet's map; thence due south to the main branch of the river St. Croix, and thence down the same to the Mississippi." Provision was made for the survey of this line Sept. 30, 1850.

The Territory of Minnesota was formed March 3, 1849, bounded easterly by Lake Superior and the States of Wisconsin and Iowa, and on the west by the Missouri and White-Earth rivers.

After continuing several years under a territorial government, various projects began to be discussed for the division of the Territory, and the formation of a State. Influenced by local considerations, and an ambition to secure the location of a seat of government favorable to their interests, some proposed its division by an cast and west line, in which event St. Peter would probably have been the seat of the new State government. If a north and south line were adopted, there was less probability that it would be removed from Saint Paul, where it had been located by the organic law of Congress, and continued by the Territorial Legislature.

In the winter of 1856-7, a bill was introduced in Congress, and on the 26th of February, 1857, passed and approved, for the division of the Territory by a line commencing on the national boundary, and following southward up the main