The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-18
Mr. Randall's Supporters Prepared to Resen
the Assault Now Being Made Upon Him
The Coast Defenses Job.
SENATOR HARRISON.
An Effective Defense of the Action of the Ter
ritOrial Legislature.

An Effective Defense of the Action of the Ter
ritorial Legislature.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec Ex-senator Harrison's
speech in the Senate to to-day, in reply to the
imputation of Mr.. Buffers resolution, in effect
that the action of the people of Dakota in organ
izing State government and electing United
States senator's was in contempt of the national
authority, attracted much attention, and was
complete vindication of the people. In showing
the spirit and purpose of the government Mr..
Harrison quoted the concluding section of the
Constitution. and the first and last paragraphs of
the memorial accompanying it, each of which
declares that the functions of the government
so constituted are to be held in abeyance until
favorable action by Congress- The peo-
pie of Dakota have done only what
they had perfect and constitutional right to do,
as established by repeated precedents, which the
Senator quoted at length At least thirteen
States have been admitted into the Union whose
State constitutions aud governments were formed
without any previous enabling act of Congress-
so that, with the thirteen original States. the
weight of authority is on the side of the Dakota
proceedings. In the case of the State of Ten
papers were forwarded to the President, witnan
accompanying notice that on certain day
the Territorial government would termi-
nate. These papers were laid before
Congress by President jackson. with
no word of censure but with message of ap-
provaL. Mr.. Harrison was glad to see the OBJ
jections of the Senator to anything like treason.
and believed, with him, that anything like re-
bellion should be rebuked in its incipiency, but
jackson knew notification and rebellion when
he saw it, and did not hesitate to proclaim
against it. In the case Of Tennessee. despite
the peremporty notice of the would-b State,
neither the President nor Congress saw any
thing disrespectful. The cases of Arkansas and
Michigan were presented, and the history given,
quotations from John Quincy Adams.
John Morris and Mr.. Haines as we'll as
from James Buchanan, being read, in
W hich all of these men said the proceedings in
Michigan were perfectly orderly and respectful
to the national government. Mr.. Buchanan was
especially emphatic. These States came in by
virtue of the treaty with Louisiana and the ordi-
nance of 1857, the privileges of which have been
extended to Dakota by four successive acts of
Congress. In both these cases the vote in the
House was about $50 to 40 in favor of the admis-
sion, and in the Senate there was a pronounced
majority, thus settling the question of the right
of the people of Territory to frame constitu-
ton, or organize State government
and elect officers. and then come to
Congress for the ratification of their
action In the case of California, and as in the
case of Michigan, the State government was in
actual operation before admission, aud in the
former John Charles Fremont and William NJ.
Gwin had been elected senators, were in wait
ing in Washington, and were sworn in the
minute the act of admission was passed. On the
latter point, Mr.. Mcmillan, of Minnesota,
stated that such had been the history of that
State.
At all points the argument of Senator Harri-
ton was conclusive, and the questions put to him
by Mr.. Butler only showed his absolute ignorance
of the whole subject. Mr.. Harrison was roundly
congratulated on his success. 1t is evi-
dent that the purpose of the resolution
was merely to give pretext for
Democratic opposition. The Democrats will not
consent to the admission of Dakota. That is
part of their programme to perpetuate them
selves in power by the disfranchisement of Re-
publicans wherever possible. 1t was common
rumor this afternoon, that the President had
been advised to disperse the Legislature of Da-
kota by proclamation, but the arbitrary and
high-hande proceeding, if contemplated, is rem
dered needless by the adjournment of the Legis-
lature, after it has concluded its proper and le
gitimate work Mr. Harrison sympathizes with
the natural and indignant feeling of the people
because of the failure of Congress to give them
their rights, but he did not favor, in his speech,
any attempt on the part of Dakota to put their
State government in operation.