The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-25
THE TERRITORY OF DAcorAH.

House of Representatives 10 assign good aud suii
Client organizations of Dacotah take pleas
in complying with that request and will briefly
plain the condition of the people of that Territory, and
also of the advantages il possesses worthy of
incubation TO the public.
Dacotah comprises what constituted the western
portion of Minnesota Territory Under the laws of Min
nesota several counties created and local officers APP
pointed transact the business of their respective
ties Emigration commenced its march in that direction
nearly three years ago. and there several towns
and very many farms opened and occupied along the
valleys of the Sioux, Missouri and Red River of the
North The inhabitants, predicating their opinions
upon all former precedents argued that territorial
government would be extended them, and their
rights of person and property under the constitution be
protected by law immediately upon the admission OF the
State of Minnesota into the Union unfortunately such
was not case and the citizens of that portion Of the
country subjected 10 much danger and no little ex
pcnsc from the attacks OF outawed lands of Indians,
who look upon the white man and his habits of civz,-
ton with eye of jealousy and distrust During the
last session OF Congress delegations Of various Indian
tribes within her limits met in Washington and coded
the valuable agricultural lands bordering the Sioux
and Missouri rivers TO government, with view 10 the
settlement of all existing feuds and quarrels with the cit
liens living and contiguous TO these lands The in
lbtants Of the adjoining States and Territories taking
granted that those treaties would be ratified at the
last session, crossed over in large numbers and
menced settlements and began the Foundation of val
liable and permanent improvements But owing TO
the multiplicity of business of greater importance,
those treaties were reached in executive session
AMI consequently their ratification is still pending he
FIRE the Senate 1t is believed that the interests of
a large number of most substantial citizens
qlire their immediate ratification, and the cult
,ation of aicabe relations with of the most power
fl tribes of aborgines continent am informed
that your committee recommends the organization of all
the territory lying west of Minnesota and Of Oregon
and Washington down to line running west from the
Missouri river up the White Earth river and through the
Black Hills to the Rocky mountains This may be the best
policy Of opening up that vast country at present within
the limits of Nebraska but individual citizen
of the Territory of Dacotal and speaking the
views of the majority Of her people, constrained
to raise my objections TO the extension of her present
limits. Dacotah has area of 10000 square miles
imply sufficient for State when it possesses the requ
site population 1T under territorial organiza
ton whatever since Minnesota admitted The por-
ton proposed be added constitutes part of the
Territory Nebraska and is under the territorial law of
Nebraska Why detach it from that until its population
requires separate organization Congress can much
more readily define the limits of Territory sufficiently
Il
the conflicting views of the people, at the period Of their
admission Dlcotah, proposed is bounded the
west south by the Missouri river the east by the
Sioux and Rqd rivers, and the north by the British
Posses ions Thus bounded by navigable streams soon
to become the busy theatre of commercial and
featuring operations her people accessible TO the central
point of government could more readily enforce the
laws and protect themselves from Indian foays, fire.
quent in all widely settlements the frontier
Economy and humanity both appeal equally strong to
Congress for this territorial organization, Organization
carries civilization and law with it, and civilization pre-
supposc the existence OF towns and settlements Where
settlements exist government needs no forts standing
armies 1t is only in the Territories where the Indian
title has not been eytinguishcd that military power be-
comes necessary preserve the peace This costs the
government for transportation and supplies, building
material &c. ten times much civil government
properly administered under the guardianship of Con-
gress.
1t Is not necessary to prolong this article by minute
description If the Of Dlcota Her commercial
and agricultural facilities second to other Territory
in the country Lying she does between the ATTITUDES
of 400 and 400 north commanding two routes of the
proposed railroad to the Pacic--the leading from
Like Superior and Saint Paul, through the British pos
sessions to Puget Sound the other from Chicago and
Dubuque to the South Pass and San Francisco with the
rich valleys of the Missouri and Sioux sending
their products toward road and the fertile valley
the Red River of the North contributing to the other
she needs no guarantee of beyond the fostering
hand of government, hitherto freely extended to all Ter
litorcs asking the protection of her constitution and
laws Dacotah possesses golden Visions upon which
to predicate an cphemeal fame, but the stable pro-
ducts of greatness and wealth that so far TO build
up and steadily induce emigration TO be found
nowhere else in greater profusion Coal is found
in sufficient abundance 10 variant ample revenue
and supply all demands for fuel Timber and quar-
ries Of excellent rock with clay peculiarly adapted
to the manufacture of brick, afford every facility for
building purposes that the necessities of promising
future require With n climate healthy, invigorating
and free from all Iniasmatic nhuences--wi nnumera
bic lakes aud running streams of pure spring water
with vast praircs over which the buffalo and elk have
held undisputcd sway for needs golden
sands TO guaranty her greatness
Her territorial existence having been ignored she asks
that she may bc again fensatcd under the protection
law and that her eight thousand citizens constantly in
creasng-may be recognised belonging to country
not entirely indifferent to the and happiness an
exposed frontier.
w. w. KINGSBURY.
Hon. ALEX H. srEruESc Chairman OF The House Com
mittee on Territories