Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1878, 1876-08-16

NO. 6.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRI.
TORY OF PEMBINA.
Speech Of Hon. Jefferson r. Kid.
der, Of Dakota, in the House Of
Representatives, Saturday, July
20, 1876.
The House having under consideration the bill ca.
r. No. 357) to establish the Territory OF Pembina,
and to provide temporary government therefor
Mr.. KIDDER said:
Mr.. SPEAKER: Never in the history of
this Government has the attention of the
people been so profoundly awakened to
the interests of its frontiers. The terrible
news from the Black Hills country, the
slaughter of a major-general, five colo
nels, twenty-five commissioned officers,
and over three hundred gallant soldiers,
has almost stopped pulsation in the Amer
ican heart. Historians will pause in the
writing of this epoch in our history and
tremble as they attempt to record the
horrible story. Fiat insttfia ceelam >tat.
It is at this eventful period of our nation
al history that I now ask the earnest con-
sideration of Congress to this bill. A bill
for this purpose has been before Congress
five years, and it has been reported favor
ably by the Senate Committee on Terri
tories three times The consideration Of
this bill at this moment presents an op-
portunity not to be neglected by one care
full of the welfare of his country and
mindful of the perpetuity of republican
institutions. 81,
Entertainments on the outposts are al
ways vigilantly repulsed by the skillful
commander, and are no less the study OF
a thoughtful statesman. Had wise warn
ings from distinguished Senators and
Representatives from our West been heed
ed, the disasters of this day, bringing
shame burning to the cheek of each men,
ber of this Republic: would not have oc-
Cured. Instead of prairies running to
waste, great Territories would be in ex-
istence, and in place Of scalping savages,
a brotherhood of Americans.
It is said that some unknow hand
many years ago carved on rock at Ply
mouth near where the Pilgrims landed
the lines:
The eastern nations fade, their glory ends,
And empire rises where the sun descends.
The sentiment was but paraphrase of
Bishop Berkley's lines which have been
quoted so often as to become hackneyed:
Westward the course of empire takes its way.
The gift of prophecy is given to few
among mortals, and it is doubtful if the
good bishop or the unknown carver on
fhe granite cliff realized the truth Of the
idea. We at this latter day, standing in
the centennial year of the great Repub-
lie. may feel its force, but not realize the
power that this nation shall possess when
the vast area west of the Mississippi shall
be thronged by the multitudes which it's
fertile soil and mighty stores of the pre-
cious metals have ''awaited through the
centuries"
The founders of the Republic dreamed
not of the brilliant future that awaited
their descendants. When Boston was
first laid out commissioners were appoin-
ted, so say the records, to make a road to
the West, In due time they reported
that they had marked out road westward
six miles, which was as far Gas ever would
be required
Even in 1903, when the purchase Of
the great territory of Louisiana was un-
der discussion, the territory which then
stretched from the Mississippi to the Pa
cifc Ocean, the statesmen of the infant
Republic seem to have been in doubt
whether the lands beyond the Mississippi
would ever be of value to us, Those who
read the debates in Congress on that point
will find that it was asserted on this floor
that our settlements would not extend
bepond the Mississippi River in perhaps
fve Aundred gears.
| Our political history is most beautifully
illustrated by the following facts:
ORGANIZATION OF TERRITORIES.
The territory of the Uuited States, out
side of the portion occupied by the origi-
nal thirteen States, consisted in 1857 of
s'territory northwest of the river Ohio,"
which extended west to the Mississippi; :;
in 1900, of the above and ''territory south
of the river Ohio;" in 1898 and to 1872,
besides the above, the 'sMississippi Ter
ritory;'' in 1903, besides the above, the
'sProvince Of louisiana" (which EXTEND
ed from the Gulf of Mexico and the Mis-
sissippi River to the Pacific Ocean in the
Northwest;) in 1913, besides the above,
the 'Spanish cession," (Florida;) in 1913,
besides the above, the several "Mexicar
cessions;' (extending west to the Pacifc;) }
and in 1853, in addition, the "Gadsden
purchase" south of the last before named.
These, with Alaska, purchased of Russia
in 1868, were never organized, with gov
ernments, but from time to time territorial
or State forms were given to portions Of
them.
Indiana, formed as a Territory from