The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-11-04

Of The Pioneer and Democrat


ton has been effected by the people of Da.
cotah Territory, without even doing the
great father at Washington the grace OF
saying "by your leave, sir" A new star
has been born into the milky-way Of Terri
tories, with no thanks to Uncle Sam, further
than the use Of strip of land which he ap
pears to have cast away as useless incum-
brance to his domain. A governor has been
elected, State officers appointed, Legisla.
ture convened, good and wholesome laws
passed, counties have been bounded, Judicial
and election districts prescribed, and all done
by authority emanating directly from the
speople," the "sovereigns" who alone are
interested in the laws 80 made, and the gov
eminent so formed This is what | call
squatter sovereignty" of the purest kind
the real genuine article.
believe mentioned to you in former
hasty letter, that Mass Convention Of the
people had been held in this place, having
for its object the iniatory steps to temper
airy organization of the Territory Of Daco.
tab, to continue in full force until Congress,
in their wisdom, should see proper to give
to them the usual more permanent form of
Territorial Government. In that Conven.
ton, provision was made for the election OF
members, to comprise Legislative As
sembly, which was ordered TO meet at the
County Seat of Big Sioux County, on the
18th Of the present month. In doing this
the speakers in the Convention found ample
justification for the step about to be taken,
the fact of their being left entirely without
laws, except those promulgated by the In
dams surrounding them, or the still worse
code as laid down by Lynch and Bowie.
They argued that Dacotah was fast attain.
ing the unenviabe notoriety reached by
Texas in its early days as the resort of
thieves and outlaws That disputes had al
ready arisen, and would continue TO arise
among community who were strangers to
one another, which would require some au
thorized and recognized system of law to
amicably adjust; the absence Of such laws
kept away emigration and materially re
tarded their prosperity. Many more reasons
were urged in behalf of the step, and to cap
the whole the course pursued by California
and Oregon similar TO the one about to be
adopted by them, were pointed to as prece-
dents.
The election was held as ordered, in due
form; nine members were returned to the
House, and five TO the Council; and on the
18th inst, the first Legislative Assembly
Of Dacotah Territory met and begun its
session in this city. Before they convened
in their hall, the stars and stripes were
unfurled from a flagstaff, in front Of the
building used as Capitol, and sauied by
thirteen volleys, fired by the Dakota Ri
fes," and cheer upon cheer by those who
had assembled TO witness the Inauguration
Of their Territory Little was done upon
ton, the authority under which they were
acting was read from the Chair. Perma-
nent officers were then elected, and commit
tees appointed. Several succeeding days
we're passed in maturing numerous local
bills, memorials, &c. On the fourth day of
the session, the Judiciary Committee report
ed bill, adopting the Minnesota Code Of
Laws, as published in 1851, with alterations
and amendments, az "a Code OF Laws for
the government Of the Territory Of Dakota"
The bill 90 introduced, with few amend
mcnts, was adopted, and is now the recog-
nized law Of the land After a session OF
six days, the legislature adjourned on the
18th inst. All their proceedings were con
duc,ed with the utmost propriety and the
body Itself for dignity and decorum might
serve as a model for some Legislatures much
farther East.
have before me the notes taken by one Of
party Of three "prospcters," who returned
to this place short tire since. from a tour
TO the james River. They Travelled entirely
by compass, and kept due Wes, course.
from the Falls OF the Big Sioux merely
extract from the "notes" a brief description
Of the country passed over by them. Ten
miles to the westward Of the Sioux lies
Skunk Lake, a small body Of water, sur.
rounded By a lew trees Of scsnt growth.
!, was here, you will recoiIect, that Ink.pa
du-tah made his headquarters, with ms fe-
smase prisoners, after the massacre Of tbe
sstters al Spirit Lake. Fiiisn miies far
! thes on. they crossed yermillion River, a
small creek, with rocky bottom, bluff banks
and entirely destitute Of timber. The COUP
try Travelled over between tins stream aud