The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-28
The Proceedings in Detail.

10 the western Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, JAM 27-In the Senate, Mr..
Harrison called up the bill for the admission of
Dakota. The bill having been read, Mr. Har-
rison addressed the Senate in its support He
said that no man could suppose that the descend
ants of the men who, in 1776, complained of the
appointment of their officials by others than
themselves, would long be content with the
treatment of their affairs as territorial and
colonial We should remember who these peo-
pie were who inhabited this Territory of Dako-
ia. They had been, until lately. citizens of the
several States, and had exercised all the privi-
leges of citizenship. They, therefore, knew how
valuable was the privilege of citizenship Mr.
Harrison spoke of the immense products of the
Territory last year, and of the general thrift of
its people. and continued: "How could
we justify ourselves in denying to a
people capable of such rapid and prosperous de-
velopment the right to admittance as a State?
They are a people made up of the best men
who had fought in the Union armies" MIR. Har-
rison had heard the objection that there were
not Democrats enough in the Territory, and
that Dakota should wait till another Territory
Democratic in politics, was ready for aamittance
Could we get rid of this old pairing" SYSTEM
that grew out of slavery, and ought to have died
with slavery? Every Territory should be admit
ted on the basis of its own conditions Dakota
had, by its proposed Constitution, made ample
provision for the perpetual maintenance of pub
lie schools, and had made compact with the
United States forever securing religious liberty
to all residents of the proposed State. South
Dakota had made herself fully and law
door of Congress asking for admission
to the Union. AS to the method by
which the new State should be admitted Mr.
Harrison reviewed the arrangements for admis-
sion in the cases Of other States, and insisted
that the method pursued in this instance was in
harmony with precedents and law On the
question of a division of the present Territory
on the forty sixth parallel, Mr.. Harrison recited
facts showing repeated efforts of both North and
South Dakota to secure such division from Con-
gress-the Territorial Legislature having unan-
imOusly urged and resolutions OF conventions OF
both political parties having repeatedly urged it.
It was not party question. AS to whether
preliminary enabling" act by Congress was nee
essary before State could be admitted to the
Union, Mr. Harrison contended that no such act
was necessary. He reviewed the cases
of States already admitted without
such an act. In the case of Tennessee, he said,
the new State sent copy of its Constition TO the
President of the United States (then George
Washington without awaiting for any act Of
Congress, but with simple notice that a GER
tain day the State government would 60 into
operation. President Washington had seen no
disrespect in such notice, and no sign of seces-
sion in it.
Mr. Butler asked Mr. Harrison to give the
names of the States on whose cases he relied as
preeedents for the method of admission proposed
in the case of Dakota.
Mr.. Harrison replied that the cases were Ten
nessee Michigan, California, Iowa, Florida, Ar
kansas and Oregon, and, in turn, asked in what
respect the Senator from South California dis
puted that Dakota had not come within the line
of the precedents.
Mr.. Butler said he would satisfy the Senator
from Indiana before the debate was through.
Mr.. Harrison was not sure of that
Mr.. Butler said if he did not satisfy him it
was because the Senator could not be satisfied.
Mr. Harrison concluded with the remark that
the people Of Dakota not cringingly, but respect