Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-06
RORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
First Session,
SENATE.

WAsHINGroN, Feb. 5.
Among the petitions presented and referred
were a number by Messrs Hoar, Frye, Cul.
lom, Conger, Dawes and Allison, from va
rious organizations of Knights of Labor,
praying Congress to open up Oklahoma lands
to settlers, and to establish q territorial gov.
ernment over these lands.
The chair laid before the Senate resolu-
tion heretofore submitted BY Mr.. Dawes,
calling on the interior department for copies
or all papers in the possession of the de-
partment or that had been received by any
officer of that department, as TO the perform
ance of the duties of Henry Ward, Indian
Inspector. The resolution was agreed TO
without debate.
A joint resolution to make Tampa, Fla.
port of entry was taken up and passed
Dir. Allison, however, gave notice of a
motion to reconsider the Dakota bill Itwas
taken up and Mr.. Butler took the floor.
Mr.. Butler charged that the opposition to
the admission of Dakota had first come from
the republicans and he quoted from the
speech of Mr.. Hale in former Congress.
Referring to reflections which he said had
been cast upon South Carolina by the
gentleman from India a and Illinois he
declared that never until political friends
OF the senators on the other side had camped
on the fair bosom of that State had her Off
cials been tainted with blemish of corrupt
ion. 1t never happened till then that her
officials had been compelled to fly from her
borders TO escape state prison, and while
disgraeeful degrading and humiliating spoil
alton had been going on not one word Of
protest had come from the honorable senators
on the other side who now arraigned South
Carolina.
Mr.. Logan SAID his attention was directed
TO the vote of South Carolina, because the
senators from South Carolina (Butler) and
Missouri (Vest) had complained that Da.
kota, in 1884, had poled So 900 votes, while
on the adoption of the proposed constitution
only 81 900 votes had been polled. He, Mr..
Logan had then called attention to the vote
of the senator's own state (South Car
olina) that Dakota, with one quarter OF a
million population. had polled $40 votes.
while South Carolina with a population of a
million had voted only $1,000 votes. He,
(Logan), had inquired whether if an expla-
nation was required for Dakots, if an expla-
nation was not also required for South Car
olina?
Mr.. Butler replied that the explanation
was that at the last election in South Caroli.
ma the political friends and allies of the sena-
tor from Illinois, Logan), were industriou.ly
| neglected. They had not been instructed OF
even approached by that senator. In con,
cludng Mr.. Logan repeated that whatever
pretence may be made as to the reason for
excluding Dakota, however senators may
"higgle" over the words. the real reason was
that it would have republican majority.
| Mrs. Edmunds inquired whether Call
Butler and their associates would vote for
the bill if an amendment was made to it, pro-
viding for the submission of a new constitu.
tiOn to the people for their approval, before
! it should go into operation, or would they
vote for bill which would be submitted &c
the people of the whole territory for them tc
say whether they wanted a division or not.
Mr.. Butler-Will the senator from Yer
mont. before submitting this bill to the peo
pie, eliminate from it everything that ha,
been done in the way of elections of sena
| tors, congressman, etc.
Mr.. Edmunds-I will not. After all these
years of effort and application by these peo
pie the matter should be now disposed Of
| Here was a constitution like the constitution
of other States in respect to the security OF
property, administration of justice, equa
levying of taxes and everything that goes t.
the make up of a modern constitution.
would not therefore say to those that they
must be again put off for one, two or three
years Mr.. Edmunds for one was not afraiC
the people of Dakota had been overawed OF
overborne by the official. they had pomi
mated. The people Of Dakota, he said, had beer
born and raised in situations that made them
independent men, able to take care of them
selves and their liberties. The people of the
territory, Mr.. Ejmunds continued, had nc
right to remain a territory forever. The
| United States paid very large part of the
territorial expenses and should be relieved OF
that as soon as consistent with the genera
good. 1t was misfortune of fate for the
senators on the democratic side that the
Dakotans didn't have political opinions with
which those senators could agree and thai
was what the matter was.
The debate was then closed and Mr. But
ler's substitute was put to a vote and lost
years %, nays 33.
The bill as reported from the committee
wa. then passed yeas 80, nays %; the only
democrat voting in the affirmative was Mr.
VOORHEES,. The negative votes were al
democrats.
The bill divides the territory of Dakota or
the line of the 46th parallel of latitude; pro
vides for the admission of the southern por
ton as State under the title of Dakota anC
the organization of the northern portion int
a separate territory under the name of Lin
/ coin.
/ Mr. Payne presented the credentials of tn,
I reelection of Senator Sherman, which wer
read and filed.
| Mr. Blair moved that the Senate take VI
the educational bill heretofore introduced b,
him and reported favorably from the com
mittee on education and labor, but on mo
ton of Mr.. Plumb the Senate at $40 p. NJ
adjourned till Monday next.
HOUSE.