The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1882-01-26
PErT1GREw..oRDwAY.
Lengthy but Interesting Letter from
Delegate Pettigrew in regard to the
Fight Mt Washington.

f. Pettigrew, our delegate in congress,
concerning the Pettigrew-O Ordway contro-
versy, appeared in the St. Paul iPioneer
Press of last Saturday. It is given to our
readers in full
House of Representatives, Washington,
D. c., Jan. 20, 1882. Editor Press and
Dakotian, Yanktm, D. I. Dear Sir
The editorial in late issue of your paper
compels me, for the first time, to address
the public in regard to the Pettigrew-Ord-
way controversy To full understanding
brief resume will not prove amiss or
uninteresting. Upon reaching the capi-
tai at the beginning of the new admins
tration I was justly indignant to find those
two worthless, Gov. Ordway and Judge
Bennett, jointly assuming the duties and
functions of my Office as delegate. How
ever poorly qualified / might have been
in their profound judgments, still as yet,
the people had not called upon them to
interfere Indeed, their position, as to
one of them, at least, had been quite the
reverse. Common courtesy and common
decency, too, ought to have told that one
to retire to the shades Of private life as
unostentatiously as possible after his last
official salary had been pocketed. He did
not do it, however, but he was retired
all the same, as this history demonstrates.
It took an office to bring him to Dakota,
and before his term that was slowly and
surely waning ''by and with the advice
and consent Of the people, had fully ex-
pired, he was actively scheming for
another. 1t is perhaps needless to state
why he did not receive it, but that he did
not is worth recording. He has time and
liberty to explain. But enough of the
dead past, and now as to the living.
Ordway must understand both the meas
ure of his greatness and place of business.
He was paid salary, without question as
to its being earned, to stay at Yankton
and not at Washington, and to do his
duty as governor and not as delegate
However, he was in his own estimation
consequential enough to fill both Offices
and be at both capitals. But now to
return to the joint work Of these worthless
In every department Of the government l
find both the people of Dakota and their
delegate
OPPOSED AND MALIGNED,
personally and politically. | had the full
benefit of a similar course pursued by
them during them during the canvass and
election. There ''we three met on COM
mon ground before the masses. Common
history, as disclosed in the majority [
received compared with that Of my pre-
decessors, must tell the result Of that
meeting. There we were well known,
especially my opponents, as they were
holding the two highest Offices in the
Territory. Here they were favorably
known as government officials, while I
was a comparative stranger. There were
great interests involved greater by far
than the mere selfish aggrandizement Of
these honorable officials. In view Of the
past l could have afforded personally to
remain silent and Indifferent, but it was
not I but the whole people Of Dakota
who were arraigned Bennett, embit-
tered by defeat that was robbed Of all
hope, lent himself willingly as "a guard Of
honor" while Ordway, in defiance Of
both truth and reason, vented his coarse
harangues. Everywhere the ''guvner"
and the ''jedge,' as they were character
lied, held forth like braying donkey and
a bleating calf to the gaping crowd. This
figure may not be very elegant, but it is
truthful and appropriate. This is not
question of art, but one of mud throw
ing, and it calls for the language of the
hod and trowel The picture painted by
them was not inspiring or inviting. In
the midst Of their ribaldry l stood de-
termined to vindicate the fair name or
fame of those whom I had the honor to
represent. Our citizens first were charged
with corruption. Our Legislature was
branded as robbers, ''land sharks and
ring thieves in open business opera
tions. Against these calumnies, [ felt it
my duty to protest and to refute them if
possible While thus engaged abundant
proof came to my relief showing Ordways
corruption. [ placed on file the state
ments of prominent officials and gentle
men impeaching his integrity. To the
same end had the Ordway Monthly
published, containing exclusively sworn
statements Of responsible parties still in
federal employment, and mean to follow,
if necessary, with revised edition show
ing that if this man who deplores and
proclaims our want of honesty had his
lust dues he would now be serving the
government in
FAR DIFFERENT CAPACITY.
He knew full we'll that for these charges,
if they were not true, I was liable, civilly
and criminally. 1 have neither excuse
nor apology to make for my course in this
affair. This man, though foul with cor
ruption, held himself forth as being
possessed of supreme virtues over other
men. [ did my duty boldly and faithfully
as l felt it to be and as [ would do again
under similar circumstances. With state
hood within our reach and appealing to
our sister States for admission, we were
met upon the threshold with charges and
imputations that showed our unworthi-
ness and ..incapacity Of self. government,
standing before the nation as the governor
ofour Territory and the author of these
aspersions upon her citizens refutation
was demanded. While that was done
well and efectfully at the time, he has
within the past two months resumed his
old business. In gross and obtrusive
letter to the President he recommended
our admission manacled with abject and
menacing restrictions only applicable
to penal colony. Such a State as he
would have conferred upon our people is
both insolent and repugnant to all sense
of honor, dignity and independence.