Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-12-21
A SOCIAL AFFAIR.
Address by General campbell at the
Citizens Reception at Huron.

Audress Dy Generat Campbell at the
Citizens Reception at Huron.
At Huron last Tuesday night the oiti-
zens gave q reception to tins legislature,
constitutional convention and visiting
citizens. At this reception numerous
addresses were made and General Hugh
]. Campbell. of Yankton, was called up
on.
BY the Mayor: l will now introduce
to you the n who has prepared his
speech, Hon. Hugh j.. Campbell.
MR.. CAMPBELL.
MIR. Mayor: l W you one, and hope to
get even with you some time. Ladies
and gentlemen of the tair city Of Huron,
as a private and individual member of
one OF the bodies which has been SON
vened to meet here tomorrow, l return
to you thanks for myself and my COL
leagues for that welcome which the city
of Huron, loyal to the core, beautiful
and queenly, alone can give. l think
that the constitutional convention of
Dakota made the best move they have
made for some time. when they adj
lourned at Sioux Falls to meet IN Hur.
on, And il i am not mistaken in the
welcomes that have met on every hand
since l landed in your city, both from
co leagues III the convention, from men,
bers of the senate and house, from our
distinguished representative of the
United States, if l am not mistaken, the
influence of this atmosphere upon all
those who come in contact with the
heart OF this people. which has always
beaten true, will be exhibited by the re-
suits before the adjournment of these
bodies.
| hate always to contradict gentleman
in high position, but III justice 10 your
selves, as we'll as my se!t, 1t is due me to
say, That II | have prepared a speech ios
tins occaslon, IT has beeu the shortest
time that was ever made by me or any
one else (Laughter) But gentleman /
intend to make no speech. Allow me as
this Is a serious occasion to say tn s. l
agree fully with the words that fell from
the lips of one OF the leaders OF the state
movement to-day In the hotel, q mani
refer to your honorable senator who
has Just addressed you-who knows, il
any n knows, the state atfairs and
position in Washington aud the position
OF affairs here, and knows, if any MAI
knows, the precise condition in which
the state OF Dakota now stands, who
says that within the next sixty.two hours
we must decide the question whether
the movement OF the Melette state
government is a success. or whether the
bill for the admission OF the whole
Territory shall pass this congress-. That
ID a grave question, grave for all of Us,
pregnant with results, and l think that
we all realize the fact that as you, as
representatives OF the people i'll this
convention, you the representatives OF
this legislature, shall here determine, so
goes the fate of this movement for self
government.
Therefore, with that grave RESPONSE
bility upon us, l speak here only for
myself: l speak not as one who comes
to this RssemblaRe with a desire to press
any views upon the body OF which / am
q member, knowing full we'll that as to-
morrow's SUI sets so this question will
be decided, and this Mellette state gov
eminent will be decided to be an
ignominlous failure because OF want c;
fidelity of the representatives of the
people to themselves and the people, or
1t will be decided that this movement
has been 8 success. The associated
press will fash the news across the
continent. Promising further, let me
say, that although I am not q resident
OF this city and yield to none in loyalty
to the city from which 1 come. yet I
will say that wherever the fair
fame OF Huron, its beautiful
women and enterp. ng men are
known, and wherever their
influence has gone out, there has peer
felt an abiding deep and loyal influence
in favor of this great struggle for liberty.
Ii this cause here tomorrow receives
the adherence OF the people Of Huron,
and the representatives of the state of
Dakota here gathered, and il this peo-
Pile shall establish and sustain their
state government. and will put it into
active operation on the plan first
endorsed by George Washington in the
case of Tennessee, / believe
that the news will no sooner
have flashed over the wires
in south Dakota, before you will get
respoL SEES that the people will stand by
you cloud applause.) And now I say
that ii the people of south Dakota with
firm resolution and with the determine
ton OF men that mean business and not
boys play, essert the great constitutional
and legal right OF local self government,
and their purpose to make this issue
with congress-. if need be. IN the name
of the two hundred and sixty-t three
thousand people of south Dakota, then
the foul, disgracefnl, and in Infamy un-
parallelled, conspiracy of the confeder.
ates In congress to establish a state gov
eminent here contrary to the wishes OF
that 100000 people (applause) will meet
| with the rebuke and defeat which its in
fanny deserves.
II there are here any gentleman OF
north Dakota, for them I repeat the
sentiment Of Judge Edgerton, that we
nave no feelings against north Dakota,
and men who make such assertions
simply show their ignorance OF wha,
they are dong. 1t is to the interest Of
north Dakota as we'll as south Dakota
that we have separate state govern
ments.
1t is not in the power of congress to
establish a state government over 300,-
900 people against their will. For them
to try this, is only to furnish another
example of this fact that when you take
q horse to the trough, it is another thing
to make him drink. / believe thai
when the state of Tennessee organized
itself and sent q message to the
president, and that president wei
George Washington, that they hal
organized their state government, and
on q certain day that state government
would go into complete operation, anc
the Territorial government established
over them by congress would cease
and George Washington sent that mes.
sage to congress and recommended tina
congress- to heed their reuuest. Georot