The Press., 1883-07-05
LETTER FROM MINNESOTA.


 As all the world knows, or may know, ere this Bismarck has been chosen by the capital commission as the Dakota capital city and our school children may make 8 note of it. The exact site of the capital is the northeast quarter of section 33, town 139, north of range 80 west, and the north half of the north half of section g, town 138. north of range 80 west. The first piece mentioned is where the capitol is to be built ; and the capitol grounds are not to exceed 20 acres the remainder of the land is to be laid out into lots and blocks. Contrary to some expectations, the loca- ton of the territorial capital may hasten rather than impede the division of the ter ritory. The southern half of the territory having failed to secure decision in their favor from the commission, are now mov- ing strongly for division. There has al- ready been held at Huron convention to consider the question of division. There is to be constitutional convention to or ganize a state government and to declare that the state of South Dakota exists. It is not proposed to wait for the action o the national congress, which, it is believed, would be unfavorable. It is considered that this action would be justified by the real nature of territory and by certain supreme court decisions on record. It Is claimed that territory ''is not colony, subject to the unlimited power of congress, but a provisionary and temporary govern ment to last only until it is settled and in- habited by civilized community, capable of self government, and to be admitted as soon as its population and situation enti- ties it to admission" This certainly has a very business-ike, common sense look, and no doubt expresses the real intent of the formers of the constitution. The con- stitution provides that ''no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdic- tion of any other state nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the con- sent of the legislature of the states con- cerned, as well as of the congress-" Of course it is implied that the people of territory may form or erect a state within that territory, whenever the population shall have reached the figures specified in the ordinance of 1787: The power of con- gress to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the terri tory of the United States ceases the mo- ment that territory is erected into state. It is no where assumed that the general government has the power to hold a terri tory permanently as such. When terri tory is fit for state, by the number of its population, by their patriotism, by it's in- dustrial condition, or whatever other qual- iticatlons 1t may, by common custom, re- qulre, the general gouernment has no mor- al or constitutional right to keep it out of statehood, or to refuse it a place in the Union with the other states at least, so 1t appears to me. The people are back of the general government, and cannot allow their rights to be interfered with by its unjust partisan action The people of South Dakota make out strong case, and have no hesitation in affirming their mor- al and legal right to erect themselves into 8 state. In population they have, without the slightest question, double the required number. For one, I strongly favor every movement of the people to break down, and utterly smash the partisan spirit which is so dominent in our political life. It is hardly possible to introduce any measure to overthrow that that is worse than it is itself. But this movement Is justifable one on many grounds.
 There passed Sleepy Eye station, on the Winona and St. Peter branch of the north western, during the months of March, April and May, 4, TAB cars of immigrants movables- all going west, and most all for Dakota. In this is not included passenger, or lumber, or fuel, or merchandise, or any other cars. Ten years ago there was run over this western line one mixed train, each way, day. How great the change
 The development of the northwest, at this present time, is an astonishment to those who have long been in this part of the country. Great are the responsibii- ties resting upon us. O. P. CHAMPLN.