Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-12-16
MELLETTE's MESSAGE.
Second Annual Document
from the Governor of
the State.
Address to the Legislature of the
State of Dakota.
An Excellent Presentation of the
Case in Which the People are
now most Interested.

Huron, Dec. 15-Governor Mellette
delivered his message this evening tc
the state legislature in joint session
assembled. The following Is the full
text OF the message:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House oi
Representatives: have Joined your
presiding officers in the notice of this
oonvooation not because of any counsel
Of value which may lmpart, but for
the benefits to be derived from our
common deliberations, aided by the
gentlemen of the constitutional conven.
ton, the representative friends OF Da-
kota statehood gathered about us.
Upon your last adjournment you were
hopeful that ere this Dakota would have
been assigned her proper place in the
union of states. Having done your
duty and done it we'll you relied upon
the American congress to do hers, but IN
that you have been disappointed.
PRESENTATION OF INSTITUTION AT
WASHINGTON.
The committee PROVIDED by the Goth
section of the ordinance and schedule to
| prevent the constitution after ratifica-
ton by the people, to the president and
congress of the United States and to re-.
quest admission of the state Hereunder
| TO the :.nian Of states. consisting Of the
governor, your representatives. to con-
gress the Hon. Oscar s. Clifford and
Theodore D. Kanouse, your duly chosen
senators of tue United States the Hon.
AloDzo J. Edgerton and Gideon G.
Moody, and the Hon. Jno. Fl. Drake, a
duty accredited representative of the
state executive committee, during the
month of January last, faithfully dis
charged their duty by presenting your
constitution to the president of the
United States and the proper commit
tess Of the houses of congress, remained
during the month OF February to second
your request with whatever of ability
and energy they were possessed. The
presldeEt-received them courteously and
patiently, but declined to express an
opinion or take action touching the
matter until it should approach him for
executive action through the demands
of legislation.
The senate committee on territories
warmly espoused your cause and itschair-
man the Hon. BENZ. Harrison. from Indi-
ana, is especially deserving the thanks oil
the people of the state of Dakota, having
brought his untiring energy and pre-
eminent ability and learning to you,
service by means of which and able sup.
port OF many senators, distinguished
for ability and patriotism, bill was
passed by the senate of the United
States during the month of February
admitting the state OF Dakota into the
union, which was transmitted to the
house of representatives and duly re-
ferred to its territorial committee, q
majority OF whom refused to sustain
your request and in their hands the
senate bill still slumbers and will doubt,
less expire with the present congress on
the 4th of March next.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA IDEA.
In the discussion evoked by the pas
sage of the bill through the senate the
Hon. member from South Carolina ir
the plentitude Of his loyalty to the union
denounced your action in creating 6
state government without the prior con
sent Of congress as unwarranted and
revolutionary and declared in his zesI
that congress might lawfully in It's wis
dom refuse any additional states admis
sion and that the senate of the United
States might iud it unwise to permit er
increase of its number and conclude Il
perpetuate the condition of the peopl,
OF the present territories as vassals.
cannot believe, however, that thes,
views are seriously entertained by anS
goodly number of the political compeer
of this gentleman of distinguished 10y
atty from distinguished loyal stat
and hence do not require serious con
sideration here, but they were to M
, utterances Of grave portent coming fror
the senate chamber OF the United States
NO CRITICISM BY CONGRESS ON THE con
sTrTUTIoN.
! Upon no occasion did there reach th
: ears OF your committee any criticism o
objection to your constitution, th
wisdom and broad craftsmanship c
which was everywhere conceded. Yor
committee, however, found determine
resistance to the admission OF Dakota {
the part of the dominant political par,
i of the nation, based upon solely partist
reasons. The same objection intensife
t. exists TO her division and admission.
ID THE MOVEMENT NON PARTISAN.
10 Partisan consideration did not and
!: not enter into the reasons thst exist wi