St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-29
srATEHoOD DISCUSSION.
Messrs. Butler and Wilson Give
Their Views on Admiration

Their Views on Admiration
WASHINGTON. Jan. 2S.-ln the senate
to-day Mr.. Butler offered a substitute for
the committee Dakota bill. II IL an ZEN
abling' act. providing for the admission of
the territory of Dakota as whole as a state
of the Union when an election shall have
been held under this act and constitution
republican in form shall have been adopted
by the people of such territory. The sub
stitute also preScribes In detail conditions to
be observed by the proposed state as to pub
lie lands. schools. etc. Mr.. Butler then
took the floor in support Of his substitute:
He conceded the right OF the people OF the
territory TO apply for admission as a state
when il had the necessary conditions, but he
denied that a territory inherited n right to
organize a state government. Congress alone
could authorize the transition from q terri
tory TO a state. and the exercise OF that power
by any other body would be bold usurpation-
Mr. Butler argued ut length in support or
this proposition and further contended
that territories had no right TO divide them
selves I'D at their own pleasure and do as Da-
kota had done i'm this instance. AS To the adj
mission OF Tennessee. Kentucky and Maine,
he said these had been carved out of terri
tory belonging to North Carolina, Virginia
and Massachusetts, three OF the thirteen orig
inal states, and under the constitution the
consent OF the legislatures or these states
was all that was necessary, and was taken as
tantamount to an enabling act In the case
of Arkansas and Michigan,
TWO POLITICAL TTTANs
slavery and anti-siavery) were approaching
each other by couverglng lines. Michigan
represented one, Arkansas represented the
other, and both were taken into the Union. as
Mr.. Butler insisted, in an unconstitutional
manner. These cases were cases OF COM
promise attempts TO temporize with the
A rrrr frrD zGf fnf
have been better for the country II the issue
had been at that time met and settled than TO
have postponed IL TO a time thirty years later,
when the power and capacity OF the sections
to struggle with each other had so largely In
and Nevada, Mr.. Butler said. had
come into the Union under enao-
ling acts. Slavery was now dead.
| The people OF the Union were becoming more
and more homogeneous Time was smooth
| ing down the asperities that came OF conflict.
/ All were happily at peace. Our territories
were being occupied by intelligent and hardy
] pioneers. Why. then. depart from safe. time
honored constitutional rules for the admis-
sion OF new members into the family OF
/ states? Was there a pressing political exig-
| ency lurking behind this movement, which
impelled It forward with almost unseemly
zeal? Was there a purpose to hasten pro-
| ceeCings lest change might come which
| might change the political complexion or the
|
| MIR. Butler could not disabuse his mind OF
such a suspicion. and that
| SNAP JUDGMENT
| would be rendered IL we refused to rattfy the
| present movement. Mr.. Butler insisted thai
| the action of South Dakota bad been ultra
| wires and void. Besides he had received init
nations OF fraud in the proceedings taker
thereof crimination, recrimination and
ringism. Much division OF opinion prevailed
in the territory as TO division on the line OF
| the 46th parallel. Why not have a fair hear
| ing on all the questions involved, so thai
| when congress should meet again IL should
have material for intelligent action. Mr.
| Butler could hardly conceive that any per
sonal discourtesy had been made by
| the ''railroading" through the committee OF
territories Of an adverse report on the reso-
| lutions offered by Mr.. Vest and himself re-
lating 10 Dakota. They had been adversely
passed upon at the very first meeting or the
| Committee after their reference by the sen
ate without notice or opportunity, Mr.. But
| Ter said. to him 10 be present at their consld
Grafton He inquired whether this haste was
because OF fear that, after full considera
| ton had been given TO those resolutions, the
| weakness of the case of Dakota would b'
made manifest. and that the motive behinC
the efforts of the estate executive commit
tee" would be exposed If Dakota were admit
ted under the unconstitutional action alread,
taken. If so, we might as well abolish nj
parliamentary proceedings and judicIa
forms. When Dakota shall come here pro
| Yided with the proper countersign. IL shall b
my duty TO be on guard. / WILL with pleas
ure, pass her on to the heart OF the citadel o.
the nation.
| MR.. WILSON
of Iowa contended that senator's, who should
insist that every step for the formation o
new states should be ip accordance With thei
own views OF form, displayed but httl'
knowledge of the process by which state
had been made. Some OF the most legal AM
patriotic states had laid their foundation
In violation OF congressional action. Gu
hardy pioneers had carried civilization
farther Westward and plated states as mile
stones to mark the onward progress Of thei
Journey. 1t had taken the United State
| government a long time to understand III
movements OF those pioneers. The action o
the people OF Dakota. Mr.. Wilson insisted
was IN every sense proper. peaceful and con
stitutional, and no narrow partisanship o
political bias should be permitted TO inter
fere with the manly and honorable demand
| of its people 10 admission as q state. Tn
population Of South Dakota was sufficient &
entite her to two representatives in cor
gress. Mr.. Wilson compared the condition
OF South Dakota in wealth, population an
resources with that OF many other states q
the time of their admission, and arEue
the new applicant for statehood presented
case that challenged criticism Her met bod
had been orderly. conservative and credi
able. We should welcome her TO the sister
hood OF states. The debate then closed, an
| the bill went over till 2 o'clock tomorrow
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