Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-01-02
DAKOTA CORR EsPONDENCE OF
TIL e REGISTER. &@@ B.

VERMILLroN, Dec. 18th, 1863.
DEAR REGlsrER: The fact is to be re.
corded that our Legislature has convened
for the third time. The Council and House
organized by only admitting the members
10 start whA-those whose seats were not
contested, and the cases Of constituents
were referred to a standing committee at
once selected-G W. kingsbury being
denominated as Chairman of Committee
in Council. and W. W. Brookings in the
House. Thus the wheel was fully set in
motion, as doubtless per programme. On
the day following, Mr.. Brookings produce
ed the majority report recommending tue
ndmitlance Of certain men from Cole Bon
Homme and Charles Mix countless every
one of whom had received a majority Of
legal votes in their respective districts.
Mr.. Bookings only attempted to justify
this act Of so great injustice to an inno-
cent constituency and true representa-
tives, BY resortiug to tech"ioalties, the
justice Of which will leave to the honest
consideration Of an outraged people. Mr..
kingsbury was a little more discreet and
cautious He simply gave the facts in the
case, without making any recommenda'
tions; and I wish l could say here that
Mr.. kingsbury did not give his vote in
favor Of admitting these men. His vote is
cast. and the record will show just how
every member voted in these cases, and it
will remain never to be blotted out
AS I sat in that Council Chamber and
listened to Mr.. Kingsbury's report, my
very being was in sympathy with him.
thought l saw struggle within, between
his sense of justice and right, in opposi-
tion to the dicta.ion and long laid plans
Of unprincipled and designing men. felt
that be would lift himself far above the
base motives and trammels that encircled
him, and show to the world that he stood
an independent, upright man. But no, he
fell the trammels could not be broken
Mr. kingsbury s.aLds to day another man
in the eyes Of honest men. l can oily
poorly my wounded emotions on that oc.
casion. Mr.. Kingsbury has been my
agreeable and social companion. l had
thought him sound and immoveable on
the great principles of right aud wrong.
1t is now, with great reluctance, that am
compelled to classify him in the future rs
belonging body and soul to the party
alluded to in my last letter. / can give i,
no name better known in this Territory
than the Midnight voting -ballot-box-
s,ufling, Iowa-soldier- yo,ing-wi wild-ca,-
banking, and general-corporation-par,y,'
falsely styling thcmsel.es-to influence
the higher powers at Washington in their
favor-"The great Unconditional Union
Party Of Dakota Territory. Thank God,
there are honest men enough among our
Republicans, loyal, industrious and hard
working classes, to remove the stigma aud
reproach cast upon the very name of Re.
publican and Union in this Territory.
But in conclusion on this snbject-the
minority Legislature is running, not inde,
pendent, tu. as machine, making laws
for the government of the people. l would
not insiuuate that all the members sittinr
in this Legislature. are subject to the die
ta'on OF few intriguing, corrupt meo.
There are honorable exceptions, but they
are in the minority, and hence have no
power.
Almost the first act, after passing sen,
tence upon the eases before the Committee
on Elections, was the introduction Of a
Bill by W. W. Brookings, to entirely obi
terate the Red River district by deprising
them OF representation, and a right to
vote. This bill passed its second reading
on the day Of its introduction. On the
following day it passed the House and was
sent to the Council, and nothing from
that body need be expected better This
VII AGPllvIS sGA tuOuSNuu HAuhIE HlIt Dl
ceeded lands, and containing one Of, the
largest settlements in tho Territory Of the
right to vote or representation.
Let me say to the people Of Cole county
and other disiranchised districts, that this
bill gives you plenty Of company in your
Affections. As misery likes company. let
this be your comfort as you 60 home,
brooding over your wrongs, that you are
not the only sufferers at the hands Of men
sou could not lhiak were 50 destitute Of
principle as to deprive you of your seats,
backed as you were BY majority vote, in
some cases, two to one. We may expect
and look for still greater wrongs, but let
Us mark The perpetrators let no man for.
get the actors in this drama OF wrongs
1t has no precedent, uuless iu Kansas,