SAINT PAUL, Min., Feb. 3, 1855

FRIEND DOUGLASS:—Thinking, perhaps, you and your readers may wish to know some things of this young and flourishing Territory, I will, if the article is worth attention, give you a brief sketch.

The Territory of Minesota is an extensive region of over four times the size of the State of Ohio. It is bounded on the east by the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers, and the western extremity of Lake Superior; on the west by the Missouri and White Earth Rivers, on the north by the Iowa line, in 43º 30'; and on the north by the British line, in 49º—comprising an area of 166,000
square miles, or 106,000,000 acres.

This large extent of land cannot be surpassed for farming purposes by any country on the face of the globe. Its rich and rolling prairies—its beautiful oak openings, easy of improvement—and its very extensive pine regions, cannot be surpassed; and we have an abundance of heavy timber for all practical purposes. It is of every description[.]—Why this vast domain should remain untenanted and unimproved, is a mystery for your young men; and your numerous unemployed population, to solve. But please, if your influence is extended in the favor of this young Territory, keep all vagrants where you have laws to control them. We have a few of that class here. Send here hardy laborers, honest and enterprising men, and you soon will hear the voice of Minesota asking admission as a State, free from the curse of slavery. You can mark Minesota now as one more State (in futurity) doomed to free labor and free men. I would suggest that the south do now put on mourning, in view of such an event.

The effects of our rapid growth, and rapidly
increasing wealth, just now begins to be
seen and felt. Southerners, from every
direction, begin to pour in among us, preferring
our free labor system to theirs of human
oppression. Our free and pay-for labor system,
our free and general circulation of
knowledge, and our general and public
improvements, speaks to the South in a
thunder-like voice, and points them to their
unwise course of human oppression. The
institution of slavery is not only hard upon
the slave, but binding and oppressing to the
master, and inhabitants of the slave States.
They are kept within certain bounds, from
whence they dare not step. All branches of
business, but traffic in slaves, are retarded.—
The expansion of minds—the growth of
their cities—improvements in genera—all
increase of population, is prevented—as no
sensible man, with a knowledge of slavery,
that has been blessed with the privilege of
living free from its debasing and depressing
influences, wishes to become engulphed in
its vortex of detraction and misery. It is
expected that a large portion of next year's
emigration will be from the Southern States,
Virginia and Kentucky, principally.

A minute description of Minesota may be
interesting to you, with passing events; if
so, I will be happy to keep you posted.

Yours, respectfully,

T. A. JACKSON