Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1884-12-20

| more theme OF debate. the senate
on John Shermans motion, took up th'
bill for the division of Dakota on th'
forty-sixth parallel, and admission o
the southern half, measure prepared
by Senator Harrison, chairman Of th'
committee. Senator Sherman's motor
was carried by party vote-34 ayes t.
% nays. Senator Harrison, as th'
father Of the bill, opened the debate ant
| will continue his speech this morning.
HARRISON on THE BILL.
Mr.. Harrison said the movement fol
| the admission Of new state had origin
ated where such movements ought tC
originate-with the people Of the terri
tory. A discussion Of it's admission tc
the Union could, Of course, assume the
shape Of party discussion, but that wa.
shape unworthy Of SO important 6
question. To consider the application
Of people for admission to the Union
from the point of view Of its relation To
the fortunes Of a political party was to
consider ii from level far below that
Of statesmanship. He believed the feel
ing in the territory was almost unani-
mousy in favor OF the division of the
northern and southern portions, and
equally unanimous that the admission
Of the whole territory as single state
would not be acceptable, Judged by
population and producing capacity, Da-
kota was entitled to admission. In 1870
the improved lands and farms in the
territory comprised 42,6+> acres: in
1880, l,lJ0,4l3 acres. The number OF
farms in the territory in 1870 was l,210
IN 1880, l7,43D The value of those OF
1880 was 81 ,i00,0 600, and the total value
of the agricultural products Of that wear
$l5,52i,O00. This was greater valua-
ton than could be stated of several
states. AS to capacity to bear the ex-
penses ofstate government, the territory
was already defraying nearly all those
expenses in the territorial form of gov
ernment. With regard to the question
how much population should entitle a
territory to admission as state, there
had been no rule establi she'd bv con
gross. 1t had been suggested that popu-
lation should be required at least equal
to the unit Of representation in The
lower house Of congress, which at this
time would be little over 10000 per
sons. Few of the states, however had
had population enough at the time of
their admission to bring them within
that rule. No state, since the admission
Of Missouri in 1921, had population suifi-
cient to cntile it to one representative
in congress. 1t was therefore matter
for the discretion Of congress; but even
on the basis requiring such population,
he believed that with the materially
rapid increase Population of the terri
tory, the portion proposed to be admit
ted would, in census taken at this
time, show enough population to entitle
1t TO two representatives. Taking up
the question Of ratio Of voters to popnla-
ton and the bearing of that question
upon the admission of Dakota, Harrison
stated the vote of Dakota IN 1880 at 2S,-
42G, while in 1884 it was SO, 900; increase,
81 ,574 voters in four years. OF the $4,000
votes nearly two-thirds had been cast
in Southern Dakota, the portion seeking
admission to the Union. Estimating
only four inhabitants to a voter, South
ern Dakota would now have a popula-
ton of 230 600. In 1880 it had a popula-
ton Of 135.l77, or proportion of ASP
inhabitants to voter. If it were OBJ
jected that the proportion allowed was
too large, he would look at some other
states. The proportion of voters TO in
habitants in Florida in 1880 was one
voter for every 5.22 inhabitants, Georgia
one in 9.27, Mississippi one in nearly 10,
Louisiana one in 9.67. Alabama one in
S46, Missouri one in 5.45. The average
of those six states gave one in a little
more than eight inhabitants to each
voter. Mr.. Harrison criticised the re-
port Of the minority of the committee
on territories represented by Vest,
which strongly opposes the admission
of the territory, and which declares, if
the statements Of the advocates of ad-
mission are true, the proposed state is
Already an Elysium, and its people en-
joying every blessing Of religion, educa
ton and prosperity. Harrison thought
this no answer to the demand of the
large, active and progi cssiye population
when they claimed the right to elect
their own governor, and take part in
making laws by which congress pro-
vides for their government.
VEST OF MISSOURI.
Mr.. Vest addressed the senate in op.
position to the admission Of Dakota.
There was nothing of partisanship he
said in his opposition. He did not pre-
tend to he free from pariisanship. 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
L.. 4 Lnn,, 20 tho Jy,;n, T. a