The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-11
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.
THE SENATE.
Senator Vest Opposes the Bill for the Adnlis-
sion of Dakota to the Union.


Senator Vest Opposes the Bill for the Adnlis-
sion of Dakota to the Union.
WASHINGTON, Dec I0-Mr. Sherman presided
over the Senate to-day.
The Chair laid before the Senate an invitation
to that body from the commissioners of the New
Orleans exposition to participate in the opening
of the exposition on the 10th inst The commu-
nication was laid on the table, that being the
usual formal disposition of such documents in
the Senate, when no special or immediate dispo-
stion is demanded by any senator
Mr.. Vest, on behalf of the committee on com
merce requested that the committee be dis
charged from consideration of the inter-oceanic
hip-railwav bill. He stated that he had re-
ceived letter from Captain Eads, saying that
certain changes had been made from the conces-
sion from Mexico which made il necessary to
withdraw the bill, and the committee was accord
ingly discharged from consideration of the bill,
which was ordered withdrawn from the files of
the Senate.
The Senate passed the bill authorizing the
Commercial National Bank, of Chicago, to in
crease its capital stock to s., 600, 900
Mr.. Mcmillan introduced bill increasing the
appropriation for erection of public building
at Minneapolis to 100000.
The Senate then took up the Oregon Central
land-forfeture bill. At 2 o'clock the bill was
laid aside until tomorrow and the Dakota bill
taken up.
Mr. Vest addressed the Senate in opposition
to the admission of Dakota. There was nothing
of craftsmanship, he said in his opposition He
did not pretend to be free from partisanshp. he
was devoted to the principles of the Democratic
party, but he was here to discuss the question
entirely on its merits Very few Territories
however had been admitted to the Union with
out party struggle and debate. The Territories
themselves had always felt the influence of the
n Nation When the
national administration was Democratic.
the Territories were Democratic; when
Republican, the Territories were Repub-
can. Addressing himself to the merits
of the question. Mr. Vest said the Constitution
had placed no limit on the power of Congress to
admit new States. The action of Congress as to
the admission of States in the past was no
criterion for the present. The men who framed
our Constitution had never dreamed that any
period short of centuries would see the American
wilderness penetrated by civilization. There
was no need to-day, for the admission of new
States in order to strengthen the Union. and no
need to rush this Territory into the condition OF
State Its population was not enough to en-
title it to a representative in Congress, and ii
would, to a certain extent be adisfranchisement
of States already in the Union to give the pres
emit population of Dakota two representatives in
the United States Senate, WE'LL representa-
tive il the lower house. The demands said 10
have been made since 1870 for the admission OF
the Territory had been the demands of ambi-
6lOuS ulCll WIZ WcIo ISduy
other s threats, politically and physically, had
been urging these demands" General
Grant had been credited, Mr. Vest
said with the statement, while President
that Dakota gave him more trouble than all the
other Territories put together. The trouble
was that there were two streets in Yankton,
and when one did anything or got anything
done, the other street rehelled and it would re
quIre almost all the civil and military power Of
the United States to keep peace between the
factions Mr. Vest sent to the desk and
the secretary read a number of petitions oppos-
ing the admission of the Territory, and ascribine
the desire for its admission to the ambition Of
politicians who wished to go to Congress. Con
tinuing, he said the project to divide the Terri
tory was unnecessary. There were no natural
barriers; no mountain nor river of interest OF
sentiment to divide the Territory or the people.
The engineering" of the admission scheme Mr..
Vest ascribed to Governor Ordway, upon whose
industry and solicitude it reflected great credit
The trouble was, there were too many states
men in Dakota; these were given to calling con
ventions, but was the United States Senate a
oody to record the edicts of political juntasl
After the executive session, the Senate ad
iourned.