The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-04-19
After lively discussion the caucus adopted

ton Of Senate bill I39 10 provide for refunding of
the direct levied in 1861, in which order rea-
sonable time not TO exceed three days, viz Thurs
day, Saturday and Tuesday, shall be allowed for
debate aud amendment, and the time FOR vote on
its final passage shall be fixed at o'clock on Tues
day.
THURSDAY. APRIL -.
In the Senate the motion to refer the Presi-
dents annual message was taken up, and Sen
ator Coke TEX addressed the Senate. He adj
vocated q reduction of the surplus, and said
that unless the protective system was broken
down in part, at least, calamity would almost
certainly distress the land.
At the close Of Senator Coke's speech the
Senate resumed consideration of the bill 10
provide for the admission of the State OF South
Dakota and for the organization of the Terri
tory Of North Dakota, and was addressed by
Senator Turpie III opposition to the bill of the
majority of the committee and in support OF
that Of the minority. The case, he said, was
one where the people of portion Of Territory
had petitiOned Congress for the admission OF
that portion, and so far as historical precedent
and example were concerned, it was one utterly
without right or authority. This was the first
instance in the history of the country in which
such action had occurred, or in which such
claim had been presented or considered. South
Dakota was not a Territory; it was not di-
vision Of the Union at all; it was merely
geographical expression. He denied the right
Of the people Of a Territory to establish di-
vision of it, and said that the people of the
whole Union had right to be heard as to the
policy aud propriety OF such division. lie
would as soon vote for the division of
State as for the division of Territory under
those circumstances, yet the history of the
country afforded but one example of the dIvlS-
ion Of a State 1t was not necessary TO take
Dakota piecemeal: she could be taken in as
whole. Al the States admitted recently had
been large States. If Dakota was large, the
& Ig-rr
In comparison to the area of the whole country
as Virginia, New York or Pennsylvania had
been to the area Of the Is original States.
Senator Cullom spoke IN favor Of the majority
bill. The pertinent inquiry, he said, ought to
be whether, in the first place, the Territory
had a right to form itself into State Govern
ment, and whether, if so, it had the requisite
/ population, wealth and civilization TO justify
/ Congress in admitting her.
Reviewing the history Of the question, he
4 declared that in every instance where vote
I was taken in favor of the admission OF the
/ State of South Dakota the Republican Senators
/ had all voted for it and the Democrats all
! against it, and that when the bill went TO the
F House of Representatives that distinguished
! Democratic body referred it to the Committee
on Territories, where it was once buried and
I once reported back adversely.
Senator Butler asked him how it had been
/ when there was an opportunity to vote for the
admission Of the whole Territory.
Senator Cullom replied that the Republicans
had been in favor Of a division OF the Territory,
/ because the people Of the Territory were in
favor it, and because the right and the princi-
/ pie were in favor of it. taking into account all
/ the interests Of the country. This Territory
has been knocking at the doors Of Congress for
4 years, with q population very much larger than
any other Territory ever admitted as a State
more than twice as large. When Ohio was ad-
1~I, 1,I 1t
she has some three and q half millions. The
( FIVE States that once formed the great North
western Territory had come into the Union
/ with an aggregate population of $4,000 and
/ they bad in 1850 over Il, 000,000 while South
Dakota wanted 10 come in with population of
about 100000.
There must be de thought some explana-
ton for the Democratic opposition to this bill.
and he was inclined to believe that paragraph
from the Washington Post, the Democratic Or
gan, furnished al indication Of it. That paper
IN an editorial article Of some time since stated
that for two or three years past the Republic
cans had been insisting on the admission Of
Dakota as a State; and that the Democrats had
moi agreed TO IL, which was that they had not
thoaght il advisable to complicatc the political
situation until after the Presidential election
Of this year. lie was strongly OF opinion that
II the Senator from South Carolina (Butler),
who was now smiling so benignently, was
70 stand up and tell the truth he would admit
that the whole opposition to the admission of
Dakota was based on the fact that the Demo
Gratis did not want any further political COM
plications thrust upon the country until after
the next Presidential election.
Senator Butler said that he had voted stead
lily to admit the whole Of Dakota as State
and would do SO now
THE Senator is always willing" said Senator
Callon, to do something that nobody else il
/ Co I rGaT mo arfi Np ON
State will be admitted during the first session
Of the present Congress, no matter what may
be its political status. The figures Of the Elec
toral College viii not be changed before 1892
t You do not propose, he continued, to change
the figures. You may prevent US changing
r the figures through the admission of South
: Dakota and giving Us thereby few add
tional electoral votes; but we intend to change
the figures by an honest vote of the States al
ready Ia when the election comes IN NOvembel
2 next"
Senator Butler Smiling serenely). All right
Senator Cullom. am strengthened in tina
belief by another little incident. am not a
all in the secrets Of the Democratic party a
1 represented in Congress, but / think ] am war
J 4 ranted in saying, from all that have heard
9 that this bill has come to be the subject Of
serious caucus convention by the Democrats 0
c the two Houses, and | suppose it has been de
Z creed that no BIZ. shall pass Congress admitting
DahDLA Is Il oltaLC Until &ILCr the next IEeSl
e Dental election.
a Senator Butler. am sure my friend from
r Illinois will not require the votes Of that Terri
q tory at the next election, for / understand h.
= has been announced as the Republican caudi
S, date. ! think lie viii have enough votes with
{ out those Of Dakota.
, Senator Culom Qaughingly) I think SO, too
e but still / would like 10 have them
= Perhaps" Senator Butler resumed, "ou
amiabe friend from Iowa may have somcthin
to say on the subject"
n But Senator Allison intmated by gestuT
n ard a monosyllable Of dissent that ne had no
it Then perhaps the Senator from Vernon
Is may have something to say on that subject,
G suggested Senator Butler.
s. % ] shall have something to say on that sui
IS ject,' was Senator Edmunds's response, in
IS grayer tone than that in which the rest Of til
lie colloquy was carried on.
A. Senator SpoOner obtained the floor to spea
y in favor Of the BILL but the Senate proceede
o. to executive business, and at $50 adjourned ii
rs Monday.
al The House met at 11:45 in continuation
B. the session Of Wednesday, April 4.
il Mr. Reed Me- instantly demanded the re-
y ular order.
G. Mr.. Randall PA asked unanimous consel
r TO make a statement, but was shut OF by shou
Ie for the regular OrGer from the Republican sid
st MIR. Cox n. Y moved TO adjourn.