Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-07-09
OLD-TIME AUTHORITIES
In Behalf of the Inherent
Right of the People
OF a Territory to
Form a State.
Americas Most Distinguished States
men, Democrats and Repub-
licans, are on the Record
of the Past.
Extracts from Congressional De-
bates During the PEN
dency of the PROPOSE
ton to Admit
Kansas.

ton to Admit
Kansas.
We present herewith extracts f.om
the speeches of leading statesmen of the
United States made in congress during
the stormy days of the contest over the
admission of Kansas to the union upon
her own proposition to become q state.
The demand of Kansas for statehood
was based upon the acts of the people
OF that state who adopted constitution
and organized state government and
Went before the national legislature. with
bill calling for the recognition of the
rights OF the people of Kansas. Numer-
GUS authorities were quoted by the dis
.ingulshed speakers and the claims of
Kansas were fully established before the
highest Legislative tribunal Of the land,
and the same arguments apply with fun
force to the present claims of Dakota.
These extracts are all taken from the
Congressional Globe of that time:
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS,
1 wish to he distinctly understood
upon this point. Tennessee. Arkansas
Michigan, Florida and California. TO, med
their constitutions, and took the pre-
para6ory steps to seek admission in tn tb,.
anion, without having first obtained the
assent OF congress to do go. OF these. ali
but California were duly organized
nnder territorial governments estabIish-
ed by congress, and California had n
government dsJdct0, which was reeog-
nized by the government of the United
States, and administered under its sanc.
ton and direction.
WILLIAM FL. SEWARD.
The circumstances, OF Kansas, and her
relations towards the union, are peculiar.
Anomalous, and deeply interesting.
Ihe United States acquired the
province OF Louisiana (which ;nc!nded
the present territory of Kansas) from
France, in 1903, by a treaty, in which
they agreed that its inhabitants should
be INCORPORATED into the federal union.
and admitted as soon as possible, accord
ing to the principles of the constitution.
to the enioyment of aIl the rights. ad-
yantages, and lmmunities OF the citizens
OF the United States.''
'On the ground of high political
necessity which the wrongs they have
endured ana are yet enduring, and the
| dangers through which they have already
| passed, and the periIs to which they are
yet exposed, have created. they have
Professionally organized themselves as n
state, and that state is now here, by it's
two chosen senators and one representa-
| tive, standing outside tie doors of con.
tyII t,,i 40, "A
union as means of relief Indispensable
Tor the purpose OF peace, freedom and
safety.
JOSHUA h. GIDDINGs.
OF all their proceedings due notice
was given; pubic action was had: an
election for members held; and nl.
though the territory was again invaded
to prevent tho contamination of their
purpose, they steadily and boldly, bnt
peacefully, proceeded to complete the
work OF framing constitution, which
is republican nlits character.
IL was regularly submitted to the
people, and almost unanimously an.
proved by them.
state government has been formed
under 1t, and a memorial asking ad-
mission TO the union Is before this BODY:
aud this question will doubtless be pre-
seated for our consideration at some day
not far in the future.
Sir, the great contest now going on, is
one that which has been more or less
prominent IN oil past ages of the world.
LIZ Is contest between oppression and
liberty, between executive power aud
popular rights, between usurpation aud
the right OF resistance.
NO usurper, no despot of Europe ever
wieided power over subjugated peo-
pie with less color OF right than that
pow claimed by the executive over the
people OF Kansas.
Trne, he processes TO do it from me-
cessity, which has been the excuse of all
tyrants in all ages of the world.
CHARLES SUMMER.
But IN making this number (the ratio
for member OF congress) the condition
OF the admission of Kansas, you set np
an extraordinary standard.
There is nothing out of which it can
be derived. from the beginning to the
end of the preeedents.
ii any ratio is to be made the tounda-
tion of q binding rule, it should
be that which prevailed at the adop-
tion of the constitution, and
and which still continued, when Kansas.
as part of Louisiana, was acquired
from France, under solemn stipulation
that it shoHld "be incorporated into the
union OF the United States as soon as
may be consistent which the principles
OF the federal constitution"
But this whole objection is met by the
memorial of the people of Florida,
which. if good for that state, is also
good for ksnsas.
He's ;s the passage: "But the people
OF Florida respectfully insist that their
right to be admitted into their federal
union as state is not dependent upon
the fact OF their having population
equal to such ratio"
Their right to admission, IT is con-
ceiyed, is guaranteed by the express
pledge in the sixth article ef the treaty
before quoted; and if any rule as to the
number Of the population is to govern,
it should be that in existence at the
time of the session, which was thirty
five thousand.
They submit, however, that any ratio
of representation. dependent upon legis-
latiNe action, based Et,iely on conven-
ience and expediency, shifting and vacii-
lating as the opinion of majority of
congress may make it, now greater .isan
at o previous apportionment, but which
q iuture congress may prescribe to be