New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-12
INITSTICE 10 DAhOTA

State, which was yesterday again brought
to the attention of the Senate, ought to
be decided without reference to partisan
considerations. If that were done, Con-
gress would not be called upon to
waste any time in discussing the matter. The
Justice of the demand of the people of the
Territory for admission as a State Is conceded
by all, but narrow considerations of party
policy have led the Democrats on variods
pretexts to oppose admission. This is the ex-
PLANTATION of the argument of Senator Vest, OF
Missouri, and Senator Butler, of South Caro-
lima, that the people of the Territory, having
been conducting themselves in revolution
airy y manner, ought to be further denied their
natural rights and privileges. That it should
be left to these two ex-COnfcderate officers to
discover this Dakota revolution is perhaps
not remarkable. Mr. Vest, in his endeavor to
cOmplicate the question, even went SO far rs to
make an unwarranted personal attack III the
Senate on a citizen of tho Territory for his
part in assisting to give expression to the Will
of the people. 1t is perhaps too much to hope,
in the light of the past, that the Democrats will
not untedly oppose the bill introduced by
Senator Harrison OH this subject; but in doing
so they will not deceive any person by resort
ing to revolutionary" pretcxts.
The alleged constructive treason" consists
IN an endeavor not to break out of the Union,
but to get into it-after knocking at the doors
of Congress for years. The Democratic House
refusing to concur in the passage of an
enabling act, the people of South Dakota
followed the precedents set by Tennessee,
Michigan, Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota and
.I.o;, Il h.
Union, by organizing as State and sending
representatives to Washington to await the
approval of Congress. Tennessee elected
State officers without an enabling act, and sent
a notification to Congress that on a particular
day named the Territorial Government would
cease and the State Government assume its
powers. That Territory was admitted as
State without any charge of revolution.
Indeed, George Washington sent mes
sage to Congress approving the course
followed by the Territory. When a part
of the Territory of Michigan organized
as a State it went much further. 1t wiped out
the Territorial Government and put The State
Government into actual operation before the
passage of an enabling act. That eminent
Democrat, James Buchanan, in a speech in
Congress upon the Michigan casa, said: IL
"think their course is clearly justifable but
" if there is anything wrong or unusual in it, it
" is to be attributed to the neglect of Congress-
Andrew jackson approved the act of admis-
sion. Stephen A. Douglas approved the course
of Minnesota in organizing before admission.
But it was left to such renowned patriots as
General Butler and General Vest of the late
Confederacy to discover that such course on
tba arfn f Ia knt ia tai wit traa
The Legislatures of the Territory and the
annual conventions OF both political parties
have for six years been representing TO Con-
gress by resolution that the best interests of
the people of Dakota require the division of
the Territory as State. The Legislature,
with only three dissenting votes, passed bill
providing for calling a constitutional conven-
ton to frame a State Constitution for the
south half of the Territory. The vote on the
adoption of the constitution was almost unan-
imous 1t is in accordance with that over
wheming sentiment of the inhabitants of the
Territory that its representatives are now
asking for admission. South Dakota has
larger population than any Territory ever add
m;tted as State. It's area is nearly three times
that of South Cavolina, aud 5000 square miles
larger than Missouri. 1t has more post offices,
more newspapers, more banks, more schools
and other evidences of fitness TO become State,
than has South Carolina. 1t does not become
General Butler or General Vest to oppose the
admission of Dakota. If justice is DONE South
Dakota will be admitted as State, and the
remaining portion of the Territory named
"Lincoln." in accordance with the recommen-
dation of the Senate at the last session.