Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-09-22

telegram was so badly garbled in trans
stand the ful! scope of the clause as
finally adopted. AS originally intro
duced it read:
Section All political power is in
herent in the people, and all free gov
ernment is founded on their authority,
and is instituted for their equal protec
tion and benefit, and they have the right
at all times to alter, reform or abolish
tier form of government in such man
ner as they may think proper.
When this proposed section was placed
before the convention contes. was pre-.
cpitated which speedily brought out
the oratorical powers of it's members.
Judge Edgerton took the floor in oppo-
sition to the clause and spoke with all
his power against it's adoption, General
Campbell, who never abandons posi-
tion when convinced that he is right,
strongly maintained the doctrine enuu-
cIatei in his proposition and be was cup
ported by Judge Moody, DR.. Ward, Nc.
Callnm OF Beadle and many others. Iu
fact General Campbell had large ma
JorIty with Linn from the beginning and
Judge Edgerton was leading a fororn
hope of conservatives. The resolution
was finally referred to special commit
tee of five, appointed by Judge Edger.
ton, as president of the convention, and
it was reported yesterday, probably ia
vorably. At ally rate it was adopted,
but with what notifications, if any, we
are now unable to state.
The resolution as originally framed
had special application to ouI
present territorial form of govern
ment and Its intention is to de
clare that We have the rieh
to "alter, reform or abolish" that form O.
government. This is principle long
conterded for and clearly showa by pre-,
cedents innumerable to possess the sane
tion OF the highest constituted Authority
The last democratic congress which at
tempted to prevent the admission OF 8
western territory into the union learned
the lesson of defeat through the act o
the people Of Kansas. We do not know
that the present democratic house viii
follow the example of its predecessor
of quarter of century ago, buI
we are given to understand that 1t will
At any rate it is wise policy to be pre-
pared for an absolute denial of ou
rights and to place ourselves in a posi-
ton to go ahead in dignifed name,
and become o state upon our own mo
ton.
Those members OF the constitutions
convention who arrayed themselves il
opposition to General Campbell's reso
luton do not possess the material for al
emergency of this nature. Timidit,
appears to have been the actuatin:
motive. They are fearful of pos
slble results and are shadowet
by tie bugbear of revolutionary desigi
upon the part of their opponents. Bu
there Is nothing of revolutionary ma
ture il this. 1t is the manhood OF mel
asset ting itself and Dakota may well b
proud 9t those members of its conven
ton ~ho possess the courage to piac
themselves upon the platform of equal
ity with the states of this uuiop. AS
matter of courtesy congress has ire
quently been permitted to extend I
territories an invitation to enter tn
Gnicn, out as matter Of Law and of fac
when the people of territory hav
com npied with certain fundamental cor
ditions tie privilege is theirs TO organ
ize as a state.
THIS extreme doctrine wouid not b
advocated If there was exhibited an
disposition upon the part OF congress /
give ear to our Just demands But "
have been SO long upon our knees beg
ging for our rights that the attitude
becoming a painful one and the humil s
tion of ah]ect entreaty has aroused til
long latent impulses of manhood no.
asserting themselves in the Sioux Fail
constitutional convention.