Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-05

hopes. There 10 really no expectation Of
such action, but this talk is made 10 create
false impressions and advance the new ter
ritorial scheme,
The latest form of the hostile measure i.
in the bill, i~ntroducedln the senate " s..
ator Saunders Of Nebraska by which itsia
proposed to create the new territory by di-
viding Dakota upon the Tooth meridian of
longitude west from Greenwich, leaving the
eastern part as Dakota, and forming Lin
coin out of the western part. One hardly
needs more than . connected map of the
country to see most of the inc%ongruities Of
this plan. Bismarck's ambition is to be.
come the capital of that new territory in
which it would be.
Dakota contains . little over $50, 900
square miles, is nearly square, being = little
longer north and south than east and vet
or about $50 by $50 miles. There has been
for years q constant effort to secure q divi-
sion by an east and west line along or near
the forty sixth parallel of north latitude.
By several different legislatures, for q series
of years, memorials have been unanimously
passed asking such action. Numerously-
signed petitions from both sections praying
the same action have been forwarded. Our
delegates in congress have urgedthis. A
bill for the same has at different sessions
passed both the senate and house, but never
both in the same congress. Now, therefore,
that measure which has never had no op-
ponent in Dakota may fairly be appealed to
as representing the real public opinion and
desire. This late scheme has never had any
such standing, has not been asked for by the
people of the territory, or by q legislature,
or any member thereof. What, then, is thu
origin, and what are the motives, objects,
and merits of the new plan?
When the Black Hills were opened a year
ago, the legislature had adjourned. Its aes-
sions are biennial, and it cannot convene be-
fore next January. There were complaints
soon after from the Black Hills that some
of our laws did not suit them, and that they
required certain peculiar legislation which
our agricultural" legislature had no,
given them. 1 have heretofore, in a letter
to you, clearly refuted most of these. They
are not suffering for any good Law, unless
California is, for We have the same codes,
mining and corporation laws, and excellent
courts. But there was q class of ambitious
men there, ~plaee-hunters and political aspi-
rants, who had all their property in the car
pet bags they carried with them. They
made a great noise. Some very clever gen.
tlemen have since Joined in the movement,
but none of them represents near all, If even
a majority, of the people in the Hills, and
none Of the 10000 people in southeastern
Dakota. Our delegate represents all Of both
sections.
Their first plan was to carve a new ter.
ritory out of parts Of Dakota, Wyoming and
Montana. Their demand was for 4 mining
territory where suitable laws could be made
for homogeneous interests. That the fair
est statement Of it, though there were more
special privileges, private interests, and
personal schemes in it than were consistent
with good law. But Montana and Wyom
ing beth opposed it bitterly. So did Gov
Ridder, our delegate. There were, how
ever, many here in southeastern Dakots
who desired the success of that measure, be
lieving the advantages of their separation ar,
all on our side. The writer go fully believe
now, besides deeming it right that that ricI
mining region and adjacent country SHOULD
have its own government.
Partly from fear of its success by Wyom
: ing aud Montana, and fear of failure by it
bene6c!ariea, that plan has been abandoned
and all the enemies Of Dakota outside of il
and part of the Black Hills people inside
have moved this measure, coupling will
. them, by means of an interest, Bismarck
Thus suddenly all this affection for tn
1 Hills and dislike of Yankton from all alon
: the line. At Washington are agents fror
all these places, lobbying industriously
seeking to be interviewed and otherwi.
working hard to push the acheme rapid
through.
The proposed measure violates all Ii
8 laws of climate and topography, disregard
r the uniform history and policy of tho 60
!. eminent in its territorial management, an
' opposes the best permanent interests
every section OF Dakota. 1t ignores tt
wishes and best interests of three-fourths
more of the people of Dakota at the presel
time. 1t binds together remote and oiscol
y nected parts whose interests are forevt
diverse, and separates communities natu
ally friendly and homogeneous. 1t MAKE
two territories narrow east and west, b
very long north and south. violating all tt
{ commonest laws of migration and con
$ merce. It ties the country by Sioux Cit
h L., to ttat at Pembina, near Winnipeg.
J British America, and sends the COUNT
y near and along alarge part of the Nilsson
river, Indian agencies, forts, posts, and al
i clear out to the Black Hills for their capit
j, and courts, instead of leaving them to con
. here where their manifest convenient
brings them. Think of it! They propol
to make Dakota proper as long north an
south as if Tennessee were set on end an
!, reached from Its present south boundary
Michigan, or as long as from Mobile bay
Cairo, ILL.,, or from Washington City to Il
home Of the vice president, near the mort
ern line Of New York. Every route
travel would be across this. 1t wou
dwarf every enterprise, and place embari
e upon all efforts at . community of purpos
Is that in the spirit of the great ord
r nance of 1857, the fruits of which saw
!. this nation, or is 1t In harmony with any
: the acts which organized our territories 81
. paYe c%onYenient shane to all our northXes