Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-07-05
AN GRAFTON.
Delivered at Yankton by
Robert j. Gamble, july
a, 1888.
The Statehood Question D soussed
from The Standpoint of "Con-
gressionaI Authority"

tSlASsAA~ASN<
listen to the formal exercises, the third
order being the ora!ion. After -me in
troduesory remarks Mr. Gamble pro-
ceeded to discuss the main Dakota ques-
ton. In opening the statehood subject
he held that the conditions therefor were
beyond question--we had the popula-
tion, wealth, intelligence end all the |
requirements, Mr.. Gamble then said:
Under che present conditions what is |!
IL possible for the frienda OF division and |
admission to do to farther the desired |
end, that we might look with some de- |
gree of confidence for the fsuition of our
hopes2 what is expedient, what feasible, |
what is legal?
Shall we follow the old beaten path
with high purposes and unfalterinR
courage. and press on and around The
policy laid out by the act of the legislH-
ture of 1885 authorizing the Sioux Falls
convention, and under which the consti.
tuition was adopted, and which has twice
received the endorsement OF the senate
of the United StatesP or
III,
Dbukt VIC bulb pIN lOilUW HA~
other policy which, is proposed to be in
augurased and carried through the in
coming territorial legislature:
l. By passing law convening con-
stitutional conventions for both South
and North Dakota, and providing for the
election OF state officers at the time OF
the submission of the same for adoption.
2. Presuming thet the constitutions
SO framed would receive the approval
OF tho people OF both of the proposed
statss, the territorial Legislature would
further provide that the territorisI gov
ernment on day fixed would 6ease and
determine and thereupon the state gov
ernments would. 20 into operation and
| assume the functions OF sovereignty.
The territorial Legislature would further
| affiy penalties and punishmen,s against
any citizen recognizing the territorial
government thereafter. or in any way
impeding the administration of the pro-
posed state governments,
| Tbis to be done of course without the
sanction, approval or consent of con-
4 gress
In discussing this, will content my
self by simply stating as 60 the first
/ proposition: That in the act OF the
i Legislature OF 1885 conyening the conBtl-
tutiopal convention, in its adoption, in
| the election of.stase officers and of sena-
tors and representatives in congress-, the
| whole procedure was consistent and in
harmony with veil established prece-
4 dents, justified by previous acts. in num-
erous instances, by the legislative and
executive departments of the govern
ment, and approved by the decisions oil
the supreme court of the nation. The
course thus FAR pursued has been the
usual, the regular, and, under the CIR.
umstances, the only legitimate ore.
And il Reems to me that in il, there have
been dispinyed in 3 high degree, moi
only self sacrifice, forbearance, discre-
tion but wisdom and patriotism as well
We practically with unanimity through
Q long series Of years uniformly me-
mofiasizsd-we resolved, we balloted
we petitiosed, but thus far the lowei
house OF the national legislature has
turned with deaf cara. We did then
what Say we had right TO do, but az
far the much desired goal either OF di
vision or statehood has not yet beer
reached, .@ .
Naturally, then, men look for new ex
pedients, hoping thereby to find neN
way AMI avoid She delays OF the old
, The second proposition then comes al
one of these. and / shall take 1t mp anc
endeaYor to discuss it, and il we find i
is feasible and justified by precedent snl
. law, lot us follow il; otherwise discard
il, and follow that course upon whicl
We stand ss on solid ground. snrroundet
by fhe light OF experience, our cours
marked ont by law and sustained by tn,
adjudiantions of the highest tribunal o
tho government. It is not bess TO le
.. our incorporate zeal to seeure the OBJ
iect which We know We ought to posses
and Of right ought to be ours, lead q
into faIlasies OF ergument or place q
upon false basis, which in the long rul
eould only delay the accomplishment Q
our cherished purpose.
No citizen will 90 before me in right
0 ful condemnation OF tae men, or set O
|, men, who without warrant or excuse ,.fo
: mere selfish interests or party advantage
: deny the right OF self-Rovernment an
= the management OF their local affairB I
. 600.0 600 people. II is q crime too grav
:, for language to express, and especial
q SO under o governments the pride an
:, !, flower Of all the ages. But condemns
- tion like this does not lead us ont of th
/ dilemma, or place na on the highway
the accomplishment OF our desired en-,
With this brief statement as to Il
first l shall proceed now to consider Il
!. second proposition. And in SO doing
70 hope thereby to eluoidate and sustain ii
first ;and 1t seems to me In such mann
Ia that there can be no question about II
~ correctness Of the first and OF the falla,
a and inaffectiveness Of the second. I
not want to enter this discussion as
p, partisan, but as citizen, welded to !
pet Theory, but What seems to me u
~ right one; and the one that will sukser
the highest purpose; impressed as W,
THAT he who in the smallest degree tax
lpart in the moulding OF o commo
he Iseaith is engaged in very serious bu
ii. nsss.
: Dakota was organized as ter
~ tory by acs OF congress March I'd. l8
w Its Organic Law; defined its boundari
ne and provided for the temporary Cover
ii. mant thus organized, Legislative. exec
tive and judicial departments; defini
their functions. limiting their powe
and regulating in all respects its meth
do | OF administration, This government
organized in due course, was prope,
ofIicered and since then, and ta-dny,
q fixed fact in our nationsi LIE. a
ed the lava by whioh this government !
IN organized and created are unrepaa
by the law making power which crea