The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-19
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS
The Senate Engages in Another Dis
cussion as TO the Affairs of Dakota.
The House Concludes the Debate on Proposed
Changes in Rules, and Adopts the Com
mittee's Report by Decisive Vote.
THE SENATE.
Another Discussion as to the Alleged Revolu-
tionary Action of Dakota.

60 peIluon OF certain persons OF Maine
protesting against any arrangement with Great
Britain by which Canadian fish might be ad-
mitted free of duty.
Mr. Mitchell, from the committee on pensions,
reported fayorably the bill granting pension to
the widow of General Grant. The bill was at
once passed without debate
Mr.. Hampton introduced bill making it I'M
lawful for senators or representatives to recon-
mend or solicit appointments to Office.
Mr.. Hawley inquired of the Chair whether this
bill was retroactive in its operation.
The Chair replied that. in his opinion, it was
not.
Mr. Butler called up his resolution of inquiry
relating to the alleged organization of the Terri
tory of Dakota into State
Mr. Vest said the Senate in its record, now
stood committed to the fact that there was such
thing in existence as q State Of Dakota, the
papers heretofore presented by Mr.. Harrison
and read from the desk. having borne the words
State of Dakota" The body of gentlemen
coming here representing Dakota style them
selves the executive committee of the State of
Dakota the chairman of it being Hugh j. Camp
bell, who was not unknown to fame since the
Hayes administration, for jealous and not over
scrupulous political assistance to that administra-
ton. This person. as Mr.. Vest cav by the news
papers was to receive an ovation for having re-
ceived the recognition of the United States SEN
ate for ''the statehood of the State of Dakota"
Mr. Plumb thought Mr.. Vest was giving Mr..
Campbell good deal of gratuit0us advertising.
Mr.. Vest said Mr. Campbell was welcome to it
He Mr. Vestl as lawyer, regarded this Dakota
organization revolutionary. He had no doubt
that the intent of the men concerned was TO or
aanze State government in case this Congress
should adjourn without recognizing their So
called State
In reply TO a remark by Mr.. Vest as to the
conditions under which Territories might be ad
mitted to the Union, Mr.. Harrison said there
was no such thing as breaking into or breaking
out of this Union.
Mr.. Vest said We were not talking OF break
ing out" We had settled that
Mr.. Harrison-Then there could have been no
point to the Senator's remark
Mr.. Vest-I am not leaving this matter to the
Senator from Indiana heaven help me if he had
the decision of this question. Mr. Vest argued
the question of admission from legal point of
view, and insisted that under the decisions of
the United States Supreme Court, in former
cases OF admission, the recent action in Dakota
was revolutionary. He cited Judge Cooley and
other authorities to the effect that an enabling
act was necessary as a preliminary to the ad
mission of a Territory as a State, and asked
what more outrageous insult could be offered to
the sovereignty of the United States than the ac-
ton of the men responsible for the recent devel-
Dpments in Dakota. He offered, as independent
of the resolution of Mr.. Butler q resolution to
the effect that the memorial coming from per-
sons calling, themselves the State executive COM
mittee of Dakota be considered as coming only
from private individuals of Dakota
the resolution was laid over and ordered
printed.
Mr. Logan inquired if it was revolutionary for
citizens of Territory to get together and present
their claims to be admitted as State, they tax
ing care to provide in their new Constitution that
they should not be State till Congress should
approve their Constitution. He thought it unfair
for senators to regard the action In Dakota as
revolutionary. Until they should set up as a
State and undertake to perform the functions OF
o State and the powers of statehood, they were
not revolutionists.
Mr. Butler said he had inexperienced what
constituted State if the election of senators and
Judges was not exercising statehood
Mr.. Logan replied that this was done so as to
take effect when they should be admitted as q
State, as had been done before.
Mr. Butler remembered but one such instance
Mr.. Logan could not undertake to correct the
Senator's recollection of history.
Mr.. Vest could only remember Michigan as an
instance at all like this of Dakota.
Mr.. Mcmillan thought Minnesota such . case
Mr.. Vest differed with him.
Mr.. Mcmillan replied that the, whole State
ticket had been elected in Minnesota several
months before the State was admitted, and Mr..
Douglas, of Illinois, had taken position strongly
in favor of her admission on that State of facts
Mr.. ingalls, suggested the case Of the admis-
sion of Kansas.
Mr. Plumb showed that the first senator from
Kansas had been waiting in Washington. ready
TO take his seat on the admission of that State,
and took his seat in the Senate the day following
the act of admission, and that had not been sug
gested to be revolutionary. He thought it pre-
sented exactly similar case to this of Dakota
Mr.. Vest had not specially looked up the
question of the admission of Kansas, although
Missouri took some interest in that admission.
For said he, "a large portion of our personal
property escaped into that State"
Mr.. Plumb--Yes, some that was black.
Mr.. Vest-No sir; some other;- but let that
pass. Mr.. Vest would not accuse the other side
of the chamber of lacking three electoral vo tes
Mr.. Logan Suggested-sotto vOice-that the
reason urged for trying to get State into the
Union might be applied to the attempt to keep a
State out.
Mr.. Vest said if he had been disposed to be
offensive he might have remarked that the sena-
tors from Illinois and indiana anticipated that
three electoral votes might become very neces-
sary in the future.
Mr. Logan thought Mr.. Vests allusion to par
tisanship an error so far as he Mr.. Loganl was
concerned 1t was the senator from Missouri
who had insinuated that persons might desire to
get Dakota in as State for the purpose of get
ting electoral votes.
II do not say that am an aesthetic states
man. replied Mr. Vest: II am a politician.
suppose. / fight for my party am not mug
wump. / shall be satisfied IL my party, which
believe to be sound on constitutional questions,
shall say of nae other things being equal, he
stood by his friends; he never rose to such an
aesthetic pedestal that he could not distinguish a
friend from foe The senator from Illinois
Mr.. Loganl himself has never been accused of
that nor have L.
After further debate, the matter, at 2 o'clock,
went over till tomorrow.
The Senate then proceeded to the considera-
sion of the joint rules, and after short debate.
resulting in some amendments of details, the
rules were agreed to.
The Senate passed the bill to authorize the
Merchants National Bank of Little Rock, Ark.
to change its name TO the First National Bank
of Arkansas and also the bill to change the
name of the National Bank of Winona Mimi,
80 the First National Bank of Winona.
A resolution, offered by Mr.. Cockrell. was
agreed to, calling on the Secretary of the Treas
ury for information as to what claims were be-
fore the Treasury Department for unpaid mole
ties under the act of 1864
MIR. Cameron was released from service on the
committee on transportation, MIR. Mcmillan from