Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-05-29
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THE STATE.
MORE AUTHORITIES QUOTED AND FURTHER
EVIDENCE OFFERED IN BEHALF OF OUR
RIGHT 10 GOVERN OURSELVES.

MORE AUTHORITIES QUOTED AND FURTHER
EVIDENCE OFFERED IN BEHALF OF OUR
RIGHT TO GOVERN OURSELVES.
I quote further from this author the
following strong statement, coming from
an unwilling scource:
Undoubtedly, if congress- were. with.
out cause, to refuse. upon any condi-
tions. to admit territory entitled to
admission, such refusal would be an
abuse of power. and if persevered in to q
length, might justify or neces-
state revolution" Illinois constitution.
al convention. page 166.
The historian Ven Hoist ON the subject
of the power of congress over the terri.
tory says:
"The United States have outside of
the constitution no legal existence. The
relation Of the union to the territories is
therefore legal relation in and under
the constitution, which is wholly indie.
pendent of the legislation of congress, of
which it is in fact the basis.
"Thus, though the territories are pos.
sessions Of the United States, We shall be
obliged to concur Internationally with
the supreme court, which in contradic.
tion to Webster in later decision repeat.
edly designates them also as q part" of
the United States.
"And equally incontestible Is its further
declaration, that the powers of the fed.
eral government with regard to the per-
sons and property Of the citizens of tho
territories, cannot be other or greater
than those granted it over the citizens of
the state"
Constitutional history of United States
vol. 8. p. AS, Won Hoist.
In the case of California, President
Taylor took the same view on the powers
OF the people as the supreme court of
Michigan, and acted with the same high
regard and profound respect for the con.
stitutional rights of the people of the
territories.
"Thomas Butler King, of Georgia, was
sent thither Ito California; to induce the
population to give themselves state
constitution and then to petition for ad.
mission into the union. His instructions
of the Sd of April, 1s49, inculcated, with
special emphasis, that the organization
of the state must, in every respect, be
throughout the peoples own work. ani
that the president could do no more thar
protect and defend them in it.
I'm taking this step, Taylor met The
wishes of the population of California
independently of the slavery question
for the discussion of which no urgent
reason as yet existed. There had beer
for some time an agitation on foot ir
different parts of the territory for the e.
tablishment of firm, legal order of theil
own initiation. The rule of the com
manding officer of the federal troops
who bore the title of governor, hae
neither sufficient strength nor that ivinl
connection with the people, which ha.
now become absolutely indispensable il
the United States; the collection of th,
taxes and the expenditure of the receipts
had led to variances and bitter wrang
ling with this irresponsible rule of un
certain amphibious character, and tn
coarse, criminal adventurer element va
daily becoming more fearful scourge
If thorough going relief was not speedil
administered, affairs would now soon q,
sumo shape that would make the nam
of California like that of Sodon an
Gomorrah- by-word for all time.
these circumstances it was really mon
strous to demand that the Californian
should wait year after year with stoli
patience till the quarrel on the SLAYER
question was somehow and sometim
ended, in order then to receive fro,
the hands of congress re,
government and legal statu
Congress was not only guilty of q serior
neglect of duty, but. in its prolonge
and fruitless efforts to give legal exi
teHce to the domain acquired from Me,
loo. it offered the most pitiable illustr,
ten of political impotence that can /
found in the history of the United State
And the population Of California swe]
together from all the states of the uniol
gave the most magnificent illustrate
of the wonderful capacity Of this peop
for self government, BY creating {.
themselves on their own motion. sar
with the utmost coolness and deliber
ton. political organization, whic
proved itself viable under conditions,
which many old and firmly establish,
governm ents must have succumbed.
A few days after the news reache
San Fransisco that all the debates in co
gressfor the organization Of the terrific
had again failed to lead to any result
the Legislative assembly" of the d
: trict-a body of representatives witho
! any legal authority, chosen some mont
before by the people-issued an addre
: to the people, in which 1t called upon
the districts to choose delegates to &C
vention which was to assemble on t
: third Monday of August for the p,
!. pose Of drawing up . plan for sts
! constitution. At the same time,
. without knowing OF this step, Gene
!; Riley, residing 1t Monterey, issued, Ju
third, in his capacity of governor, pr,
!. lamation, calling Q convention to be b,