Political stumbling blocks stood in Minnesota’s path

"Features"

05/13/2007

A year before Minnesota hits the big 1 5 0, here's a look at its colorful journey from territory to state, which culminated on May 11, 1858.


Brian Leehan
Star Tribune
May 12, 2007


A year before Minnesota hits the big 1 5 0, here's a look at its colorful journey from territory to state, which culminated on May 11, 1858. The march to statehood is an example of how little has changed in human nature in general, and in politics in particular, in the past 149 years.

On Dec. 24, 1856, territorial Delegate Henry Rice introduced a bill in the U.S. House to allow the territory to hold a constitutional convention and move forward on statehood.

Back in Minnesota Territory, Gov. Willis Gorman had not been eager for statehood, preferring the independence of territorial status. In early 1857, he had a radical shift of thinking, and it seems to have coincided with Rice's push.

Gorman and Rice were on opposite sides of a debate on what the southern and western boundaries of the state should be. They also disagreed on territorial legislation to move the Capitol from St. Paul to St. Peter.

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