Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-29
DAKOTA ASKS ADMISSION.
MIR. BUTLER SPEAKS IN OPPO-
SITION TO THE BILL.

ts Coustitutionaliy Made lie viii Pass
Her on to the Citadel Of the Nation.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-In the Senate
to-day, when the bill for the admission OF
Dakota came up, MIR. Buffers substitute
for the committees bill was read. 1t is an
enabling 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 a con-
stitutiOn, republican in form, shall have
been adopted by the people of such'terri-
tory. The substitute also prescrlbes in
detail the conditions 10 be observed by the
proposed State as to public lands, schools,
etc. MIR. Butler then took the floor in sup
port of his substitute. He conceded the
right Of the people of the territory 10 APP
ply for admission as a State when 1T had
the necessary conditions, but he denied
that territory had any inherent right to
organize a state government. Congress
alone could authorize the transition from
territory to State, and the exercise OF that
power by any other body would be "A bold
usurpatiOn.
The architects of our government were
master workmen, and had established a
governmental system capable of indef-
mite expansion. The rIgnt to initiate pro-
ceedlngs for the admission OF new states
was gwen by the constitution to the SOW
ereign people of the sovereign States to
whom belong the material out Of which
the new fabric Of government was to be
built. Had Dakota presented here a case
complying with the conditions this i'm
piled? Mr.. Butler accepted an invitation
extended by Harrison, and would stand
on plane higher than party politics. he
would appeal to the law, and if the law did
not support him ne would give up the con-
test. He would first admit that Dakota
had the essentials for admission as
State, and when she should present her.
self in an orderly constitutional manner
before Congress, he (Butler) would be
prepared to welcome INTO the Union her
enterprising population. Mr.. Butler then
quoted from the ordinance of 1871 to prove
that the territories were to he admitted
under the supervision OF Congress, and
quoted from the treaty ot 1903 to show
that such admission must be in accord
ance with the constitution of the United
states.
TERRITORIAL RIGHTS IN THESE CASES
Mr.. Buller then proceeded to argue that
territories had no right To divide
themselves up at their own pleas
ure, and DO as Dakota had
done. He differed with III Harrison as
cited by that Senator in support OF his
position. While SO differing, however, he
did not even admit that precedeuts were
binding on Congress, except in so far as
they appealed to the Judgment and rea-
son OF Congress, for there could hardly be
found a case OF the 0Verturning OF social
order that could not find some precedent
in its support. AS 10 admission OF Ten
nessee, Kentucky, and Maine. these had
been carved out of the territory belongint
TO North Carolina, Virginia and 5Iassa-
cnusetts, tdree OF the original l3 States,
aud under the constitution consent
of the Legislatures OF those States
was all that was necessary, and was
taken as tantamOunt 10 an enabling act
In the cases of Arkansas and Michigan,
two political Titans, slavery and anti
slavery, were approaching each other by
converging lines. Michigan represented
one and Arkansas represented the other.
Both were taken into the Union in, as Mr..
Butler insisted, an unconstitutional man.
ner.
TEMPORIzGNG THE IRREPREsSIBLE CON-
FLICT.
Those cases were cases of compromise
attempts 10 temporIZe with the iInpend-
ing irrepressible conflict. 1t would have
been better for the country if the issue
had been at that time met and settled
than to have postponed it to a
time thirty years later, when the
power and capacity OF the sections
TO struggle with each other had so largely
increased. Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin and
Nevada, Mr.. Butler said, had come into
the Union under enabling acts. Slavery
was now dead. The people OF the Union
We're becoming more and more homo
gene0us. Time was smoothing down the
asperities that came Of the conflict. We
t.s, u.Fn fts
were being occupied by intelligent and
hardy pioneers. Why, then, do we part
from safe, time h0DOred constitutional
rules for the admission of new members
into the family OF States? or twenty-five
States admitted into the Union but six
had come In In this Irregular manner, and
those under peculiar circumstances.
SUSPICION OF POLITICAL EXiGENCY.
Was there pressing political eNigeucy
lurking behind this movement, which im-
PEELED ID forward with almost unseemly
zealf Was there a purpose 20 hasten
proceedings lest change might come
which might change the political com
pleXiOn or the representatives sent 20 the
National legislature? Mr.. Builder could
could not di8abu0e bis mind Of such "A sus.
pici0n, and that snap judgment would
be- rendered, II we refused 10 notify the
present movement. lie insisted that the
action Ot south Dakota had been ultra
wires aud void. Besides, he mad received
iniimations OF fraud in the proceed
ings taken there of elimination.
recrimiBatiOn and ringism. Much divi.
sion OF opinion prevailed IN the territory
as 10 "A division ON the line OF the 46th
parallel. Why not have fair hearing on
all the questions involved, so that when
Congress should meet again IL should
have the material for an intelligent action.
Mr.. Butler particularly disclaimed any
hostility TO the people Of Dakota. There
was nothing In the range of his cOnstitu-
tlOnal duty that he would not be willing
TO do Tor tleir happiness and prosb Gritty.
n the territory were as largely Demo
cratic as 30 was now Republican be would
feel constrained, under the conditions
now presented, 10 oppose its admission
Til a constitutional method was adopted"
THE WORK or sELF-sEEKtNG POLIrf-
CLANS.
''The worst enemies the territory bad, ="
Mr.. ButIrr SAID, "Were certain -elfseektng
politicians VINO employed vulgar abuse
through the channels of disIeputablc
newspapers he kuow Mr. kdgertOn per.
sOudlly. having served with aim in the
Senate. and bore testimony 10 his high
character, bat regretted tunt be- could not
vote fof his admission from Dakota a8 the
c1sr WIS now presented. There was no
one outside Of Mr.. Butlprs party friends
tbat be would more Willingly have voted
f5r. The other gentleman he dld not
know, but nad heard hleh oncomiums Of