The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1885-09-25
was still as death, and every delegate
listened with bated breath to every word.

listened with bated breath to every word
CAMPBELL DEFENDS HIS POSITION.
When he had finished Campbell arose, and
spoke excitediy as follows:
There was a time. Mr.. President. when such
sentiments as were just now presented To us
from the lips OF our president, were considered
loyal, and the opposition doctrine was consid-
cred rebellion. There was a time when it was
thought TO be revolutionary TO saw that the
power of the government rested upon the an
thority of the people, and sir, from the time
that Patrick Henry made his speech for Vir-
ginia, from the time the constitution was
adopted by the people, and from the time the
Declaration Of Independence was framed, in
which our ferefathers did not hesitate to saw.
in the face OF the government it organized, that
the, government was based upon the authority
of the people, from that time TO this / have
never heard that doctrine disputed, and L hone
the time VIII never come when the people of Da-
kota 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 gray who were bows i'm 1860
who remember that when the Democratic con-
as before dernigods, TO whom they
would have US bend the knee
were not people OF the American government.
What did congress say to the people OF Kansas?
You have no power to act until we grant that
power. And what did they dol, They turned
out their legislature and forced down their
throats the constitution. AT the end
OF that administration that party went out of
DOWBT anu uIu uOb leUufn Tor UWentY-fOur wears
And what did the people OF Kansas do? They
hurried back to congress this declaration, and you
will find it embodied In almost every c~onstfCu-
tion that has been adopted. " this declaration
Is treason, 1 pray God that / may always be 4
traitor,
Judge Edgerton then made a personal ex-
PLANTATION to the effect that he objected TO
the.adoption OF the section from the state
ment made by Judge Campbell in introduc-
Ing 1T, and that he was unwilling to admit
that there was anything in the present con
dition of affairs that warrants any such
course. McCallann of Beadle county gained
the floor at this juncture and spoke excitedly
for several minutes, winding up with the
statement that Dakota would better stay out
of the Union than go in on her knees.
H DAKoTIANs LOYAL.
Ward of Yankton then spoke, saying.
The people of Dakota are loyal. Disloyalists
usually fight to get out. We are fighting to get
In. III anybody must be charged with disloyal
sentiment to the constitution of the United
States, it is those who by any method, direct or
indirect, would keep us from entering the Union;
we Can go there and keep our self-respect, and
not take the part of revolutionists. think it is
worth something to keep our integrity. even ii
1t costs us ten years Of waiting as a territory.
At this i~uncture Judge Moody endeavored
to pour oil on the troubled waters, and par
italy succeeded. He stated:
The clause referred to would not take effect
until the territory became a state. He would
dislike to see it voted down OF to have the con-
vention say by a negative vote that the state
ment that the people have a right to abolish
their form OF government is not true. He wished
every citizen in South Dakota could become so
worked up that he would exert every effort TO
secure statehood under the constitution of the
United States. They have the right. He thought
it unfortunate that a difference of opinion had
arisen. inasmuch as both the presiden. of the
convention and Judge Campbell were laboring
Tor the same end.
The question to adopt the entire report of
the committee was then carried by a vote of
46 to IL, and the committee rose. Mai.
Kellam was called to the chair, and Judge
Edgerton moved that the report of the COM
mittee. with til" exception of CampbelPs
resolution, be adopted, saying: i do this
from a feeling of solemn duty to my coun-
try. have no personal ends to serve" The
motion was seconded and carried, when
Judge Edgerton called for the ayes and noes
on the adoption of Campbell's resolution,
and began stating his reasons for opposing
it At this juncture a motion was
made to adjourn. A division of the
house being called for, the vote
was a tie--36 voting on each side. Maj
Kellam improved his opportunity to avoid
further confusion by declaring the conyen-
tion adjourned The delegates, at once coll
lecting in groups, discussed the situation ex-
citedly, various opinions being expressed,
the more radical declaring in favor of going
ahead with the state government whether or
no. These, however, were in a very small
minority.
CAMPBELL FURTHER ELUcIDATEs.
Questioned with regard TO his position on
the question, Judge Cartpbell stated that ne
introduced the resolution because he consld-
cred the power to establish, alter or abolish
their form of government rests with the
people. He declared himself In favor of the
following proposition:
First-The people should adopt q constitution
and order the election OF a state government
without hampering or restricting the officers.
Second-It Is not to be presumed that congress
will not do its duty. and that duty is to admit
the state SO formed.
Third-If 9 ngress should refuse TO do its
duty. and should by an exercise OF brute force,
as Senator Harrison termed 1t On the floor OF the
senate, by positive enactment, put down or abol-
ish the state government. the people OF Dakota
viii rot resist. but will obey the law. They do
not desire secession. but accession. but tney
will appeal to the people CT the United States on
FourIh-If congress should do nothing but
simply ignore the state governments, this VII
be trihing with the rights OF 25O,OUls people,
and their representatives they shall elect to der
eide what steps the state government should
take.
Asked explicitly whether he considered
the people would In the last mentioned have
the RIGHT to continue q state government, ne
declined to give an opinion.
a TALK NTH JUDGE EDGERToN.
Judge Edgerton stated to your correspond
emit that he opposed the adoption
Of the session ON the ground that
any such action savors Of revolutionary
measures He desires statehood as greatly
as any other citizen Of Dakota, but he
deprecates any action that looks toward the
establishments Of a state government with
out due authority therefor having been
granted by congress. He would proceed
with the election Of state officers, but would