Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-03-12

BOWEN s. KINGSBURY, Prop'ts.
When Gilbert A. Pierce was appointed
governor of Dakota there was general
expression of grateful relief all along the
line. The worst of men had governed
our territory for four years and the hope
and belief was that his successor would
undo, so far as lay in his power, the null
titude of wrongs perpetrated under the
protection of gubernatorial commits.
sion and its attendant ipdicial edict that
o governor is not amenable to the laws
for bis crimes. Governor Pierce came
among US with the promise Of strict and
impartial Justice to all alike upon his
lips. He was received with the respect
ful courtesy due gentleman in his pos.
ltion and there was general desire that
the promises at tho beginning might be
fulfilled in the development of his plans,
as enunciated in public and private
places. South Dakota received him on
his promise Of justice alike to all sections
and has since treated him with respect
full consideration, ardent at times and
always with the fullest faith in the recti.
tude of his intentions.
The capital removal case, when Gov
ernor Pierce came among US, was the
subject of bitter controversy. His
predecessor had identified himself with
the removers. 1t was perhaps difficult
for the new governor to decide between
the two factions of the north and the
south, and when he asserted that he
should accept the situation as he found
1.-THE supreme court having
just decided in fayo,
of Bismarck-there was a quiet and
loyal acquiescence in his conclusion
When he told us in public speech tina,
he would go to Bismarck and there
await the verdict of the people in the
capital case and that he would coincide
as governor, with that verdict, the pub
lie trusted implicitly in his promise. Al
the succeeding legislative election tht
question of capital removal was made al
issue and under the inspiration of th,
gubernatorial promise to execute the viii
OF the majority as indicated through thei
representatives, the south solidifed it
self as completely as possible, and passe
measure removing the capital from it
northern outpost to point south of til
forty-sixth parallel. Their reasons 70
this action were excellent reasons. The,
desired to rebuke the corruption of tw,
years ago, which placed the scot Of GOV
ernment in an out of the way corner
the province, and they desire
to SO change the politica
machinery of Dakota that division cou.
be secured. With the capital located o.
northern soil division is difficult. Thes
were sufficient reasons, but they hav
been buried under the unfulfilled prom
Use OF governor-one man not chose
to his position by the people, against
majority of seventy-two men duly electe
BY the ballots of the electors of Dakot
ana representing the wishes of thos
who clothed them with legislative powe
The pledges of the past are broken an
Governor Pierce stands before the pull
lie as one who has adroitly toyed wit
the condolences of the people and fnall
linked his fortunes with those of q spe.
ulative faction consisting, BY the cor
fesslon OF his own veto message, of
powerful railroad corporation.
The arguments advanced by him
support of this official act are SO nov,
and SO untenable that they must ca
forth wide spread criticism. We are tol
that this capital does not belong to th
territory of Dakota, but that it
simply loaned to 1t by the Nor.her
Pacific railroad company for use durin
good behavior-that the loan is
perpetual one and that v
cannot return it to the Norther
Pacific railroad company through an
legislative act-and several other inco1
sistencies. And what is singular coli
cidence, We find the attorney in chief {
the Northern Pacific, Mr.. Clough, o
the ground to promptly coincide wit
this novel ruling, and also the leadin
attorney of Bismarck, Mr.. Flanner,
with his endorsement of the new gubel
material theory-a theory in direct oppe
sition to theAighest judicial authority {
the land. Through these coincidence
it is not difficult to point out th
parties who laid the foundation for th
purely original piece of official liter.
ture.
/! The corrupt act of the capital commi.
sion gave Bismarck questionable It'll
to the capital, and because the doubt
which surrounded the case, the boo,
did not materialize and the speculatio
became q losing one. Lands and lot
! fell in value, depreciation followed d,
, preciation, bankruptcy was eta
ing the schemers in the fac
rendered more imminent by IL
disposition Of the Legislature to chane
the location of the seat of governme,
and by its final declaration that it ",
changed. The governor, with fe
D strokes of his pen, not only nullifies IL
. act of the representatives of the peop
I but declares that they have no right
! perpetrate such an act, and the Northel
Pacific stands by and appIauds. tt
In, ksaa, 81 A..