The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1886-01-01
DAkoTAs RIGHTS.
WHO ARE THE REvoLUT1oNIsTs IN
THE PRESENT CRIsIS9
The Able Address Of Senator Elect Edg'
erton at His Reception.

The following is the full text OF
the address by Hon. A. j. Edgerton
on the occasion of his reception ir
Mitchell, December 23rd:
1t is with feelings of profound pride
that 1 witness this grand assemblage
of earnest men and women who have
met here tonight to greet me on &C.
count Of the cause which in part have
the honor to represent.
1t is an omen of good, an assurance
that sustains and buoys me up under
the grave responsibilities which 1 in
part have assumed.
A crisis is upon us as people. Our
cause is the cause of good government
and the cause of our enemies that of
wrong and revolution to the land
marks of the past and the traditions of
the founders of the Republic.
Never till now have men openly pro-
claimed that new state was to be de
MED admission into the Union because
the people differed in politics from the
majority Of either House. It has been
the uniform history of this country un-
til it has become part of our common
law that when territory has sufficient
population, sufficient wealth, sufficient
experience, sufficient patriotism and
intelligence that she is to be admitted
into the Union. No one disputes but
Dakota possesses all of these qualifica-
tions. Yet in our case this guarantee
of past history, this common law of
the land is set at defiance, and by whom
and for what? By men who proclaim
us as revolutionists because we claim
the rights always youchsafed hereto
fore to the territories. Webster defines
revolution as In politics material
or entire change in the constitution of
government" Who proposes to change
from the past action of the country
which has become part of the un-
written land? We, or our accusers?
will let the unprejudiced student Of
history answer.
In the Constitutional Convention
which framed our Constitution this
amendment was proposed to the bill
Of rights: call political power is in
herent in the people and all true gov:
ernment is founded on their authority
and is instituted for their equal protec-
ton and benefit, and they have the
right at all times to alter, reform or
abolish their form of government in
such manner as they may think pro-
per- Although the proposed amend
ment was copied from some older state
constitutions, yet the majority of that
convention thought it's enactment un-
wise under the circumstances, and
might provoke the assaults of our enc
mics, consequently it was rejected, and
the following inserted in lieu thereof:
GAIL political power is inherent in
the people and all free government is
founded on their authority, and it is in
stituted for their equal protection and
benefit and they have the right in law
full and constituted methods to alter or
reform their forms of government in
such manner as they may think proper.
And the State of Dakota is an INSOFAR
able part of the American Union, and
, the Constitution of the United States is
the supreme law of the land"
Was there anything revolutionary in
that?
Again the committee on schedule had
left it in doubt as to when the complete
machinery of government might be set
in motion, and upon. the attention of
the convention being called to that
fact, Mr.. Haines, distinguished dele
gate, from Turner county, and pres
ent state senator, introduced the follow
ing as an additional section, which after
a vigorous discussion, was passed by an
overwhelming majority:
Nothing in the Constitution or Sche-
dule contained shall be construed to
authorize the legislature to exercise
any powers except such as are necessa-
ry to it's organization, toe lect United
States Senators, to provide and pass
means and measures necessary, prelim-
mary and incident to admission to the
Union, and to assemble and re-assemble
and adjourn from time tc time; neither
to authorize any Office of the executive
or administrative departments to exer-
else any power of his Office except such
as may be preliminary and incident to
admission to the Union, nor to au-
thorize any officer of the judiciary de-
partment to exercise any OF the1duties
of his Office until the State of Dakota
shall have been regularly admitted into
the Union, except such as may be
authorized by the Congress of the
United States"
| Was there anything revolutionary in
that?
In obedience to that constitution so
limited the legislature convened, and
in strict accordance with such limita-
tions elected its senators, then adj
|journed to await the action of Congress.
Was that revolutionary?
Gen. Logan, in the United States
Senate, last Friday pertinently in
quired if it was revolutionary for the
citizens of a territory to get together
and present their claims to be admitted
as state, they taking care to provide
] in their new constitution that they
lshould not be state until Congress