Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-12-16

au2rated and conducted by the united
sentiment OF the people, regardless oI
party affiliations, but it will be after
many long years that her people will
| either forswear or pledge their fealty
from or to any party or policy in order
to obtain just recognition Of their
rights. They are not anxious to ex.
change one kind of servitude for another
more degraded. They desire to assume
the responsibility of their own local
government intended for their own
welfare and their share OF that create,
and higher responsibility evolved from
their new relation to the federal union.
This they do with q just and full con-
ception of the obligations assumed and
patriotic purpose to faithfully dis.
charge them, without evasion or reserya-
tion, and pledging their fortunes and if
need be their lives to the perpetuity of
| the union.
THE HOPE IN CONGRESS.
Notwithstanding our reverses, so great
is my faith in the Almighty force of the
enlightened sentiment of Justice
of the age that I can but hope
that upon calm deliberation the popu-
lar house OF the national legisla-
ture will yet concede to your request,
which it comedies to be reasonable
since an unrequited wrong to any oltIzen
or lawful political organization of the
citizens of our common country is a
blow at the rights of every citizen and
state. Anything short of conceding the
reasonable demands of the people of the
new state, securing to the people just
representation in the senate of the
United States, can but fail to be follow
ed by that content and loyalty SO
essential to the public we'll being.
WILL ACCEPT THE HILL BILL IF OFFERED. .
If congress in its discretion divide the
territorial domain of Dakota on or near
the present northern boundary line OF
the state, insuring us our state in the
end and ii this division is made, subject
to the approval by ballot, of the people,
We will disclaim the solution of the
problem and will cheerfully accept the
new situation. But until this is we can
afford to defer statehood, but this must
be done and not promised. Untll we
have actions, but not words, let US main.
tam intact our state government. per-
aiis nc rasa to divest !s OF it end oppose
1t to any subsequent effort to exercise
the right OF statehood within her do
main with all the vigor the law gives us,
by the right of peerhood in citizenship
and priority IN statehood
FORWARD, BUT CAUTIOUSLY.
To what extent under the state consti-
tuition you may deem 1t expedlent and
lawful to exercise the functions of legis
lation leave for you under your solemn
responsibilities to decide. Upon the
common result to be attained there is
practically no variance among you or
your constituents. Upon questions of
expediency, opinions must ever vary. [
may however urge you to take no step
backward in the work committed to
your care. With each succeeding dis
couragement renew your courage from
an unswerving faith in the ultimate
triumph of justice. You have already
sacrificed much and are ready and will
ing to sacrifice more. With the e1cep-
tion of the first sitting of the second
constitutional convention all the ea-
penses incident to the promotion OF the
state, extending over period of
i've years, have been cheer
fully borne by the individuals represent
ing their several constituencies, their only
reward and yours Is the conscious salts
faction of the discharge oil the highest
duty of American citizenship and the
thanks of a grateful people.
PROVIDE AN ELECTION LAW.
One paramount duty OF this general
assembly is, in my opinion, to provide
by law for elections to fill vacancies in
office under the constitution; this alone
I deem sufficient cause for this conyo.
cation.
Beyond this your proper action is de-
batable and [ shall trust to the conflict
of opinion to develop the course of wis.
dom.
WE ARE A STATE.
desire to resffirm nay belief in the
absolute and unqualified legal right OF
the state of Dakota as organized, to be
and maintain a local government. Then
if it is positive, legal existing right
there must exist means of enforcing it
30 far ss may be done without
interfering with existing rights of
other political organizations. The
houses OF congress are made the
sole judges of the qualifications
OF their membership and hence cannot
be compelled to admit your representa-
tion to their bodies, Thus far their pre-
rogative to oppress to this extent ie
unquestioned. Your right however to
self government as a political organiza.
tion formed under ihe constitution III .; J;
the United States and the positive en-.
actments OF congress exists if it exist al
all independent of the incident of the
admission OF your representatives II
congress. 1t is an historical fact that to,
state of Indiana cast and had counted he
electoral vote for president of the Unitet
States prior to the admission OF he
representatives into the halls Of con