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

such sentiments declared we will not
accomplish what we desire. We
should appeal to congress and
show them that we heve
conformed to all that they required at
our hands; that we have sufficient pop
niatiop, sufficient territory, that we have
intelligence, that we are law abiding,
that we have fulfilled Its requirements,
and that therefore we ask as law abiding
citizens that they shall emancipate us
from territorial form of government,
but that we do not come before them as
rebels with the statement that we have
the absolute right to abolish our terri
torlal form Of government.
Judge Campbell replied with much
spirit: "There was time, Mr.. Presi-
dent, when such sentiments as were just
now presented to us from the lips of our
president, were considered loyal, and
| the opposition doctrine was considered
rebellion. There was time
when it was thought to
be revolutionary to say that the
power of the government rested upon
the authority of the people; but, cir,
from the time that Patrick Henry made
his speech for Virginia, from the time
the constitution was adopted by this
people, and from the time the decIara-
tion of independence was formed, in
which our forefathers did not hesitate to
say, in the face of the government they
astonished that the government was
based upon the authority of the peo-
pie, from that time to this have never
heard that doctrine disputed, ana
hope the time will never come when
the people of Dakota will have less
spirit than did their fathers. On
| this subject what did the people of
other states say? There are many men
here whose boards are getting grey,
who were boys II 1860, who remem-
ber that when the democratic con-
gress-to whom some men would
have us bow as before demigods, to
whom they would have us bend
the knee and bow the head as if
they were czars and satraps, as if We
were not people of the American govern.
ment-what did that democratic con-
gress say to the people of Kansas? 1t
said, you have no power to act until we
grant that power. And what did it do ?
1t turned out their Legislature and forced
down their throats the Lecompton con
| stitutlon. AT the end of that admins.
tratlon, that party went out of power
years. And what did the people OF Kan.
sas do? They hurled back to congress
this very declaration now proposed here
and you will find it embodied in almost
every constitution that has ever beer
adopted. If such proposition be trea
SOD, | pray God l may always be trai
tor"
Judge Edgerton replied feelingly and
forcibly: II stated at the outset, that
SO far as the proposition made ls con-
cerned, as an independent declaration, l
have no objection to 1t. But when you
say that II Is on account of any peculiar
position which We occupy, | reply that
those words are unnecessary, and l dc
not think that it will conduce to our
best interests
Major M'Callun, of Beadle, with
much vigor, spoke as follows: Il ad
miEe the sentiment of our distinguished
president, but l am here as delegate
from the people. l respect the laws oil
the American congress, but if We have
to go into the union on our knees, let US
stay out. l say that the voice of 100000
American citizens is entitled to be hearC
III this government. And if there is
anything revolutionary 10 the resolu.
tons offered by the gentleman from
'lapkton, excepting as to the words
abolish the form of government [ tail
to see 1t. Nor do | teel that by being 8
citizen OF Dakota that 1 am any the less
loyal. L respect the conservative senti
ments OF OUT president OF tins convention
and think lis motive is good one
he seeks to avoid any iDhamatory senti
ments IN the constitution; at the same
time, l would ike 10 know what au
tnOrlty under the sun congress has tC
say that Dakota shall not be admitted
Ii Is time for the people of Dakota tt
arse and If necessary throw off thel
political thraldom and say by all The
principles OF eternal right and justice
We Will no longer be sIaves. La doius
that would ee IN any sense be gong pe.
fore congress with an lnhsmatory uocu
ment! 1t certainly cannot be by an,
seo,lon declared to be revolutionary II
Its bature."
Rev. Air Ward, of Yankton, quietly
but firmly addressed the convention a
follows: AS matter of logic II We ar,
Wiling TO say tlat the right Of govern
ment rests upon the consent OF the gov
elned, We have got to take the rest tha
follows 1t. We, the people OF Dakota
acknowledging that the law of tbs
United States is the supreme law of tn,
land, our loyalty cannot be questioned
D!siog allsts usually fight to get out; ",
are fighting to get III. Ours Is situa-
tlon which is reversed; and if any bod,
must be charged with dlsioyal senn
Aents to the constitution OF the Uultet
States II Is those who by any meiho,
direct or indirect would keep US iror
entering the union. AS has been e2
, pressed, the self-respect of 100000 free
go there and stand just as good a shoy
{ before our brothers aud keep our self
respect, as to go there and in any sens
take the part OF mere supplicant? I
great deal is to be gained by taking
, good deal for granted, especially whel
the things we take for granted are ours
q Congress is no more OF an august bod
or respectable body than this one; an,
1t is es great an honor to stand here an
4 claim our rights and assert them as
| would be to stand in that house an
r give them to as. l think it is wort
5 something to keep our integrity. even
1t costs us ten Years of waiting as u tel
q ritory."
!. Judge Moody of Lawrence proceede
, to literally pour oil upon the trouble
: waters in the following strain: II d.
not intend to make speech-do not ge
t alarmed, anybody. There seems to b
0 q Misunderstanding about this We ar
o preparing constitution for state
not territory. 1t don't take effect unit
l We become state. When Dakota be
n comes state, is not the proposition
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