Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-01-06
OUR ADMISSION.
Dakota-Florida and E0wa-The ZEN
amples of Tennessee, Colorado and
Other States
adopted.

Frecedents Favor the Action of south
DakOta-Fl0rida and EOwa-The EN
amples of Tennessee, Colorado and
Other States
Chicago Iribune: No well informed
person doubts that the precedents set in
the admission into the nnion of Mlchl
gan, Kansas. Florida and Oregon fully
authorize the action of Dakota in franz
ing constitution and claiming state
hood as a matter of right. The vapor-
lngs of Vest and Hamburg Butler about
the Revolutionary" and "rebellious" at
tltude of Dakota only show that these
worthless are deplorably ignorant Of
American history as well as ludicrously
inconsistent in pretending to be "state-
rights men," while they deny state the
right even to existence as u member OF
The union. These ex-rebels have made
sorry display of ignorance and bad
taste IN tuning about the ''dlsioyal at
ntude' of Dakota, de facto state III
which There are 800 posts OF the Grand
Army of the Republic.
Florida and Iowa came into the union
hand III hand, IN pursuance of the same
acf of congress, and both these States
fnEGish striking pEecedents for Dakota.
In January, 1889, convention of dele
gates with no authority from congress,
but having and claiming the right OF
admission to the union" erected "a free
and independent state by the name of
the state OF Florida, and with constitu-
ton and organization thus made Florida
was actually admitted into the union.
The same act of congress provided for
the admission of Iowa, as it was then
the practice to bring free and slave
states into the union together and
balance each other. The proceedings III
the case of Iowa were even more irreg-
ular, and furnish, If possible, still
stronger precedent for Dakota, as they
cover the controyerted point as to the
power OF the people of a territory to
alter the boundaries.
The act of March Sd, 1916, approved
the irregular proceedings of FLORIDA and
gave her place in the union, and pro-
vided that Iowa should be admitted as
soon as her people adopted constitu-
| ton. This act prescribed the bounda.
ries for the future state of Iowa as r1n-
ming north to the parallel passing
| through the mouth of the Blue Earth
| river, IN the present state OF Minnesota,
and cut off entirely the western portion
OF the territory now known as the "Mis.
souri, slope" The people refused to
allow the territory to be cut up III this
way, and rejected the boundaries fixed
by congress. Not only SO, but after re.
pudiating the action of congress they
proceeded to adopt constitution fixing
boundaries to suit themselves, and on
| the basis Of this action Iowa was admit
ted December 28th, 1886 Con.
| gress was wrong, the people were
right, and as a result of the firm
stand taken by the early Hawkeyes
iowa is now well-framed, symmetrical
state. The great sweep of meadow-land
from the Mississippi to the Missouri be.
low the Big Sioux was naturally fitted
| to make one state, and the people acted
| wisely in refusing to allow congress tc
| cut 1t up.
The Florida precedent, which wat
| made by democratic congress to get
| slave state into the union, and the actor
taken by the same congress in the lows
case when it found itself unable to keer
a free state out, show that the present
| opposition to DRGsta cannot be based OF
| law or governmental practice, but mus
| rest exclusively on extreme, inconsistent
unscrupulous, and malignant partisan
ship.
Chicago Advance: The people O
south Dakota know exactly what the,
want, and understand how to get il
They mean to be state. They hav
Ialready taken the census of that porto
of the territory south of the 46th parable
and find that it contains population c
over 250,000 this, no doubt, entitle
them to statehood, So far as populatio
is concerned, Then it is clear that
large majority of the people of th
whole territory are quite willing t
have the division made, and endorse th
steps taken by south Dakota, looking {
its admission as one
the states of the union. The
have elected legislature, which ha
+. met and elected two United States ser
aters. who. with the signature of II
, governor appended to their oredential
have marched on to Washington
There is only one reason we know
why SO many democratic congregsme
r oppose this request of the people of D'
. kota. and count their action revolution
ary; If it becomes state it is almo
sure to be almost overwhelmingly n
publican. 1t is unfortunate that part
S considerations should enter into the di
n cussion of so great matter as the a
mission of state into the union. I'll
people of the country will watch with
igood deal Of interest the action of co
e, gress over this matter, and the repIi
q that Will be made to the petition. III
people of Dakota in slecting Unit,
= States senators before they are admit,
of to the union, have simply followed q
" anlrles set them hY Tennassae Inlnral