The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1876-09-15

4u41J 0iS ~ PtSASNa ~ StSliAl'oS1oA
to the Union will cease, strife and dissen
sion in the Territories will end, and they
viii enter upon careers Of progress, pros
perity and development unexampled IN
our history and impossible under our pres
ent system.
But it will be said, GLOW are all these
great results to be obtained by simply Civ
ing the people Of the Territories the right
Of election of their own oficers;' and the
answer is that you viii give the people a
government of their own, elected by and
responsible to them, identified with them
in interest which they will honor and res
pect.
The history (but recent) Of reconstruc-
ton measures in the Southern States de-
monstrates that there can be no accord
between our American people and those
sent to rule over them, or selected in any
method except by the choice of the people
themselves that they will not affiliate with
men who have no sympathies or other in
terests in common with the people they
are appointed to rule over, and who pos
sess neither the respect nor the confidence
Of their unfortunate subjects. The people
Of the South had been used to the selec-
ton Of their own officials, and any system
which deprived them of that right natural
ly excited the antipathy and resistance Of
those who thought themselves deprived of
rights which they believed of right they
ought to exercise. The consequence of the
plan pursued was anarchy, disorder, plum
der, and misgoVernment, which is to be at
tributed to the eharactas and conduct OF
the officials sent to the South more than to
any other cause.
Nor is it different in the Territories
Our people are American citizens, used to
the exercise Of the rights so dear to all.
They emigrate to the Territories not be-
cause they are the drones Of the body-poli-
tic, but very largely because they are the
most enterprising and ambitious Of the peo-
pie, and they see no good reason why their
enterprise should be punished by depriva-
ton of political rights, unless it be for the
crime of aiding to develop the national do
main and carrying American civilization
into the wilderness. If I an competent as
a citizen of one of the States to vote for
governor and judges, does my removal to
one of the Territories make me any less
competent to wisely choose these officers
Mr.. Speaker, [ venture to assert that
there is not one Territory where to-day
there is not dissatisfaction and open quar-
rel with the Federal officials they are not
of the people, not identified with them in
interest, nor possessing their confidence
and respect. They come as aliens and
strangers to perform the duties Of their Of
fees and to remain only SO long as they
continue to hold their positions, often seek
ing to subserve their own selfish personal
ends rather than the good Of the people
and the progress and development Of the
Territory. Thus feuds, jealousies, and
personal quarrels arise, tending to make
discord and disturbance, and seriously in
with the peace, harmony, pro
gress, and prosperity Of people and Terri
tory.
The present system of appointment of
Territorial officers is vicious, unrepublican
and un-American. It is one of the grand
est features of our republican system of
government, that all power comes from the
people and that no officer is absolved from
accountability and responsibility to the
people. But this most wholesome proyi-
sion has no applicability to the Territories.
A governor and secretary are appointed,
not because the people want them, but be-
cause they are to be repaid for some polit-
eal service. Often lacking every essential
qualification for the position, they become
obnoxious to the people. But what mat
5ers that and to what purpose do the peo-
pie protest and pray for change? They
owe no allegiance to the people, and the
political influence which secured their ap-
pointment is but too often willing to keep
hem in place against the will Of the peo-
pie, irrespective Of party.
The Federal patronage in the Territor-
les, which it would be necessary to sur
render in order to guarantee to them the
rights given them BY the pending bill,
would only be two appointees in each Ter
ritory, to wit, one governor and one secre-
5ary.
/ assert and believe that the present
system of government in the Territories Is
essentially bad and vicious it is un-repub-
ican. The governments do not derive
heir just powers from the consent of the
governed, and the fundamental principles
upon which our system of government is
are violated by the system Of gov
which has been established for
she Territories.
Whenever new States have been admit