Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - X. The Importance of the Scandinavian Element—A Swede Elected Secretary of State in Minnesota—False Rumors of Indian Depredations—The Northern Pacific Railroad is Built—Trip to Philadelphia—The National Convention at Indianapolis—Delegation to Washington—A Swedish Colony in Mississippi Moved to Minnesota—The Second Voyage to Europe
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Story of an Emigrant.
3 35
t~> take such a part in the pioceedings that at the close of
the convention, I was appointed one of a committee of five
(Gov. McCook, of Colorado, State Treasurer Smith, of
Wisconsin, Banker Greenbaum, of Illinois, and a leading
newspaper man of Philadelphia, were the other members) to draft
a law for the protection of emigrants, and to proceed to
Washington and lay the same before the president and
congress. There I had an opportunity for the second time to
meet Gen. Grant, who was then president. I spent much
time with him, and he took a lively interest in the
emigration question. The result of our work was the passage by
the United States congress of the excellent laws in relation
to emigration which still remain in force.
In January, 1871, the state legislature of Minnesota again
assembled. The senate then consisted of twenty-two
members, and was opened and organized by Lieut. Gov. Yale,
and the house of representatives, with forty-seven members,
by myself as secretary of state.
During that winter I received several touching letters from
Swedes located in the state of Mississippi. They were part
of a little colony which had gone there the previous year,
direct from Sweden. The climate w^as unsuitable; one-fifth
of the people had already died, nearly all the rest were sick,
and there w^as great distress and misery among them. They
asked me to get them away into the healthy climate of
Minnesota. They were entirely destitute of means, and had to
be placed where the men could obtain employment when
they should have regained sufficient health and strength.
The Duluth & St. Paul Railroad Company, which was
then a part of Jay Cooke’s system, upon my request, furnished
the necessary means, and sent Mr. F. S. Christensen,
heretofore mentioned, to Mississippi to bring the party to St.
Paul, wThich he did under many difficulties, in such
satisfactory manner that upon his return he received an appoint-
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