Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1862-12-20
YAxkroN, Dec. 9Th, 1862.

YAxkroN, Dec. 9Th, 1862.
! The two branches of the Legislative
assembly Of Dakota Territory convened in
second session Ut the new Capitol build
ing, at Yankton, on Monday, the lst inst
The Council at once organized by the
election Of Enos Stutsman, President, and
Judge Tufts, Secretary. The Lower
House, or fighting body was FIVE day.
affecting permanent organization.
Six out of the fourteen members were
contestants, and the House sat six days
with only eight incu mb.n,s and six vacan.
chairs This body was organized on Todd
and Jayne principles, and the members
were arrayed against each other in two
equal forces, voting on tie of 4 to l for
Eve days in succession. All this time the
eight members we're engaged in DO; dis.
cussions and tie ballots on permanent orr
ganization, and deciding the fate of the
twelve contestants outside the bar Hon.
A. j Harlan and A. W. Pue, we're the op.
posing candidates for Speaker. Harlan
was put in nomination by Mr.. Armstrong
Of the Todd party, and Puet was brough,
out by NJ. jacobson from the Jayne force.
On the fifth day Mr. Puet withdrew his
name and nominated Mr.. Armstrong in
his stead. who, on the first ballot received
four votes besides bis own. out Of the
eight votes cast-he in the meantime vot.
ing for Mr. Harlan. For three quarters
of an hour Nj. Armstrong held tho Speak.
ership In the hollow Of his hand; and
when the wreath Of honors vas placed
upon his brow, he plucked it from its rest.
ing place and laid it on the table Here
was degree of self.sscri6ce and sincerity
Of devotion to his friends and party here
manifest, which never before saw evinc
ed in the early career of a public man.
Courtesy and justice. it would seem,
should have prompted Mr.. Harlan to be
stow upon Mr.. Armstrong the poor com.
plirnent Of giving to him his single vote
in return for the uhAagging support which
be had been receiving from Mr.. A Armstrong
for the last five days. The ballo, stood rs
followe: Armstrong, 4; Harlan, 3; H. 5.
Donaldson, l.
Mr.. Armstrong; own friends formed
every secret league and compact in their
power to keep him out Of the Chair and
retain his services upon the floor. Upp
him the Todd party relies as firm as the
eternal bills but it seemed to me tha, that
party were demanding a grea. sacrifice OF
their leader in the House, to require him
to yield up position of profit aud honor
for the mere purpose Of defending the
rights Of others. The House was at las,
permanently organised BY the election Of
Mr.. Harlan, Speaker, and B. N. Smith.
Chief Clerk. The Rev. j. l.. Paine was
elected chaplain. and the House 10 now
daily Fained with his morning prayers.
A huge mass Of the Norwegian populA.
ton Of Clay county emigrated to Yank,on
At the beginning Of the session, and we're
punctual attendants at the sessions Of the
House, eagerly looking for office. After
the permanent organization of the House
it WAS amusing to see the despondeut
train Of Office seekers vending their weary
way over the Vermilion road, looking u,
the midday sun and counting the hours
Of day and the miles of travel. ...
The contested seats have been reported
on by the committee Oh credentials, aid
four new members admitted-flling the
House to twelve Representatives The
officials Of the Territory are in daily at'
tendance at the sittings Of the House with
eyes and ears open to the Investigation Of
the fraudulent elections. In every district
where fraud was committed, The Jayne
men have the majority, and in every one
Of these districts there are contested seats
Some members OF the House have planted
themselves on an iMmovabIe basis in op-
position to these frauds, while others are
determined to disregard sll evidence and
vote for men BY their brands and ear
marks, or, ss member remarked--" BY
the chalk marks upon their tlcks Of TopD
or JAYNE
No business of note has yet beea trans
acted is either House, and the two bodies