Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-09-08
BLACK HILLS REPRESENTATIVES.
Plea for the l"stallment OF Rekularl,
Elected Public Servants,

Elected Public Servants.
Crook City Tribune,
The extra session of congress that meets
in October, and the regular session that
meets in December, will have before them
matters Of no more importance than the
status and relations Of the "new country"
40 extensively and substantially settled by
the people in the Black Hills during the
past year, and largely since the adjourn
ment OF the late session of congress. We
have no doubt that the disposition of con-
gress, rejecting the sentiment Of the Ameri-
can people, will be to deal justly, generously
and literally towards the Black Hills settle
n,ent, and, we should be prepared to take
advantage Of this friendly disposition
Whether it is better to ask for a new Ter
ritory or unite with the balance of the
people Of Dakota and seek the organization
of new state, are questions we do not think
it necessary TO discuss in this article, IA in
either case We should he personally rep.
resented at Washington by one or more of
our substantial bona ide residents, who have
bect me permanently identified with the
growth and future of our people, and who
should be selected irrespective n party
affiliations or partizan bias, and chosen for
and because Of their eminent fitness by
reason Of their unqucstioncd character.
superior mental attainments, shrewd and
sagacious in political craft, with the poyt
OF speech to present in an Intelligent and
coherent manner the subject matter of our
claims. Such representa- ives, selected and
chosen by the popular voice of the whole
people Of the Hills, including not only the
county Of Lawrence, but also the counties Of
Pennington and Custer, would 20 to Wash
ington clothed with the requisite authority
to demand and receive respectful and
attentive hearing by the national authorities,
and the question of state or a new ter.
ritory we could leave with them to uree
and present rs appeared most likely and
probable of success, having due regard to
the protection aud advancement of our
rights and interests. However, it is we'll to
remember that there are other interests lust
as vital and essential to our citizens. other
than statehood or territorial, now require.
ing the friendly legislation Of congress. that
would occupy their time and require their
most assiduous exertions. Our representa-.
tives should by all means have the endorse.
ment and be backed up by the popular vote
Of the Hills. This is doubty important and
particularly essential in the present instance.
II il the custom from time immemorial of
electing representatives to legislative bodies.
1t will be certain snd unquestioned census
Of the population in the Hill, Of which,
there is now throughout the country 80
meagre information and much diversity OF
opinion, and would be sufficiently large to
convince the country of our numerical
growth and our power to en,itle us to recog.
nitiziton as an integral part Of The national
commonwealth. Steps in this direction
should he taken At once and an election
called for the third week in September. the
candidates 10 submit their claims to the
popular suffrage through the columns Of
the public press and ON the rostrnm, the two
receiving the highcst number Of votes to bs
commissioned ~ our delegates. As il ia
II nothing more is done, We will be without
any authorized representatives at Washing.
ton and made ridicnlou, BY the an,ic. O
ono or two rcdascgue= Who assume the righ
OF acting ~ our Representatives, and whs
arr awkardly and foolishly, though prob
ably nnin!entionally, placing ,hems-,ve. it
the attitude OF imlndcntly and deliberately
scsk,ne to dcad-haAi the people Of the Hui
ont Of their hoard, lodging ssa pa~.sv /,
and =, the national capitol.
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