Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-06-23

build $500, 600 court house. Layrenca
10. In the Black Hills has now, as ap-
pears by the April bulletin tl886) issued
by she Dakota commissioner on imni-
grs ton, bonded debt of $498. .45O and
floating debt of S24s, SOC, being total
of 1851 1861 ''.-
1t seems strange that congress has
for decades left the territories 40
destitute of protection, and that now
when we call upon that body to right
the wrong, it will neither protect us nor
allow us to protect ourselves.
Our continued exclusion from the
union is wrong, bat it is of far less
moment than that we should be led with
the belief that we are lawfully the ssrfs of
the general government and that it can
lawfully admit us when it gets resdyor
never admit us. Why do men talk
about the war and gunpowder, as some
OF our excellent men do? What has gun.
powder to do with us or we to do with
gunpowder? And if gunpowdsr has in
any possible, unknown way. anything to
do with the struggle of the people OF
Dakota for statehood, who is going to
use it and who is afraid OF it it it is rsed?
The government is not to be frightened
IN that way, and if not who is? What
KIND OF material is il supposed Dakota
men are made Of? That talk might as
we'll be retired from public life and kept
for use IN some other climate.
The war, of which We still occasionally
hear, settled the question that the
United States is ono country which can
not be dissolved and that slavery can
never again exist under our flag. It did
not change the pledged faith of the
United States contained in the ordinance
OF l1S7 or the treaty with France of
lso5. 1t did not increase the disabilities
OF the territories or change the constitu-
ton OF the United States. That war was
8 manifestation of the tremendous
hysical power OF this government. But
what. t.heB that to do with the admission
OF Dakota into the uniong II the Un1tcd
States and Dakota should get into q
hight We should get whipped very quick,
end Just as quick before the war as alter
1t. The war did not change the law
or affect our rights. Courts decide a.
they did before the war. The habit of
exercising nnaecustolned powers-the
dormant power cf waginR war.
'fas resulted in o tendency to usurpasion
a the part of the general government
~ every department, and it is this which
Justly exoites the alarm OF the citizens Of
the United States who are loyal to the
law and the constitution. 1t il
because of this usurpa-
ton on the part OF congress in
holding us under its power al q terri
tory at this time that We as oitizens of
the United Mates and of Dakota protest
and cry out nnd will never hold our
peace until the wrong ls righted. This
is Q matter in which the whole country
Is interested-the east as we'll as the
west-that the limitations of law shall
be carefully observed, and the general
government be brought back from It's
trespasslng expedition into forbidden
fields and that it shall not by any vain
glory in it's transcendent power pave
the way Tor the ruin of the republic By
overlapping the constitution which
breathes into it the breath of life.
As loyal men and women OF Dakota we
ought to fill the newspapers and periodi-
Gals OF the east with our protests, We
should set ont the salient facts Of our
condition, Of the Law and Of the treat
mept we are receiving, and we should
Go this before the people of
the states speak next November. The
state league with your support will dc
in this direction.
But / have unduly prolonged my re-.
marks.
Ladies and gentlemen, yon have in
your midst fellow citizen who is every-
where recognized as the father OF the
statehood moyemsnt He presEes
forward continually. Excelsior" seems
to be his motto. Very few OF us keep
up with him, but last Sunday an was
reading my volume of Whittier, which
one OF my boys gave me last Ohristmss,
came upon this verse and once immedia-
teiy In my own mind made an applioa-
tion of the WORDS.
Ihnnk God for tb token one life is still free.
! pne ! spirit untrammel melPd-,unbending one knee!
Like the oak Of the mountain, deep rooted
Erect when the multitude bends to the
storm.
l will weary you no further, I thank
my Yankton friends for their kind in
vitation to address them.
Let US move steadily forward, yield to
no fear and never surrender.
Prayer strengthened for the trial, come to-
getber.
Pat on the harness for the moral fight.
And with the blessings of your heavenly
Father,
Maintain the right"
June 2lst, 1886, J. 40,