The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-02-02
DAKOTA NEWS ITEMS.
DAKOTA STATEHOOD.
The Bill to Admit the Southern Halt
and for Lincoln Territory Report
ed 10 the Senate.

n Bill 10 Admit the 00utn0rn nalt
and for Lincoln Territory Report
ed TO the Senate.
Washington, Special Telegram, jan. 3D.
Senator Platt reported to the senate the
substitute for the Henderson bill adopted
by the committee, which provides for the
admission OF South Dakota as a state and
the organization *of the territory Of Lin.
coin. He reprints entire Senator Harri-
son. report on the bill last session, and in
addition appenis a lengthy advocacy Of
the present bill. After recapitulating the
action of Dakota looking to statehood, as
set forth in the report Of the committee
on territories OF the F~orty-ninth congress,
the committee says:
Since the adoption OF the report Of the
COMMITTEES and the passage OF the bill adj
the privileges OF statehood, nothing has
taken place in the opinion Of the commit
tee which j~ustifes the reversal of the ac-
tion of the senate in respect to the diyis-
ion Of the territory and the admission in
to the Union Of a new state, with substan-
TALLY the same boundaries as those pre-
scribed by the senate in the bill which is
approved. Indeed, the reason for the di.
vision OF the territory, and the formation
than the admission of the whole as a
single state, becomes convincing and pat.
emit as the iustiiable delay OF congress in
recognizing the rights OF Dakota Territory
for self-government continues. The people
OF North Dakota and South Dakota in the
interval since the former action OF the sen.
ate, have become. il possible, more complete
ly two political units, until to-day they
are as distinct in interests. character, as
sociations and institutions as are the peo-
pie OF any two states. In everything ex-
cept the compulsory union in o territory,
North Dakota and South Dako.
ia are a separate political com.
munities us Massachusetts, and Connecti-
cut. To insist upon their admission as
one state is as repugnant to the sense OF
justice and national propriety as would be
the enforced union OF the states named.
That this is absolutely. true is shown by
the fact that the institutions usually found
in states have been duplicated in southern
and northern Dakota by the action OF the
territorial legislature. ri =
The report recapitulates the institutions
which have been located by the legislature
with an even division between the two Sec
tions, the acts for their establishment pro-
viding that if the territory should ever be
divided the portion in which each ~institu.
ton lies is to assume the indebtedness
incurred in it's erection. The report Con-
tinues: -
AMATrER OF NAMES.
The completeness of this political divis-
ion is still further shown by the fact that
the names OF North Dakota and South
Dakota have attached to the different por-
tions OF the territory as have the lanes
OF South Carolina and North Caro-
lima to those states. To admit
states would add to their distinctive char
acter. To admit them as one statewould
be to attempt to unite two people, hetero-
geneous in interests, .assocfa tions, char.
acteristics and aspirations. If the welfare,
the harmony and the good OF the people OF
the territory are to beconsidered, the argu-
ment in favor OF two states instead OF one
state seems overwhelming and conclusive.
If tho result of the vote in the terri.
tory seems to indicate q less unan.
imous sentiment in favor Of division
than has been supposed to exist, the rea,
sons for it are quite obvious. The name
OF Dakota is dear to the people OF North
as of South Dakota. The residents of the
northern section Justly claim to h~aveg given
that name to one OF the principal produce
tions OF the territory and to have made
Dakota wheat" famous throughout the
world. There is merit in the claim that
they are as much entitled to the name Da.
OF the territory and as division seemed to
imply loss OF the cherished name many
were induced to vote against division.
However, the controlling factor
in determining whether Dakota should be
admitted as one state or as two states
must always be the national interest and
welfare. And it seems to your committee
that states OF immense area OF great
wealth and power, and with population
which entitle them to abnormaily large
representations in the house ofrepresenta-
tives are elements Of national weakness
rather than national strength, and may in
future prove a danger to the republic.
Every consideration, national al well -as
local. seems to point to the wisdom, pro.
priety and necessity al division, and the
ultimate creation OF two states out OF the
present Territory Of Dakota. d,
A minority report will be presented.