Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-04-16
EnGERToN TO BUTLER.
AN Open letter from Dakota's Ex-Chie
Justice to tsouth asarn.ina,s Senator

Edgerton has addressed the following
open letter to Senator NJ. O. Butler OF
South Carollnain answer to the latter's
attack upon him during the Dakota de-
bate in the senate:
This week the country bas witnessed
most remarkable spectacle. A United
States senator, npon the floor OF the
senate, attempts to divert public atten-
ton from question in which the rights
OF great e0mmonweslths are concerned,
D question in which the honor OF govern
ment Is involved, by nrraigning before
tha6 body the character and motives OF a
private citizen whose only offense is
that he believes in the constitution ns
interpreted by the fathers of the repub-5
lic. One would imagine that senator
from South Carolina, aetuated by the
traditional Gristoratic notions which
prevade the people of that state, would
ignore the criticisms of one OF the mud
sills of society. Possibly it would be
wiser for me to take no notice of your
bnt the character of the tribunal before
which 1t was made and the fjmsy excuse
you now offer for denying Justice TO
t~0hCNh hChdGAb At hSbhStE lknE6EktlNe,
You must remember the different cir.
cumstances which surrounded us. /
wae, at the time you complain of,
addressing citizens of south Dakota upon
Q question of great interest to them.
They believed they had been deeply
wronged. and we're indignant. [ had
ooupseled all the time patience, and was
charged with extreme conservatism
1ar .a;r "a, 4
pardoned for using language that q
United States senator before that august
body, III aoarefally prepared speech to
go to the world and to be preserved
among the archives of this nation, could
not be excused for Under such circum
stances, for you nos to be disinterested
was crime and for me not
TO be disipterested was treason
because son wera personally courteous
to me year ago in your attack on Da-
kosa, therefore was guilty of hypocrisy
10 oritlcislng your attitude towards the
people. But few men 10 this great com.
monwaslth, MIR. Butler, can be heduced
from their loyalty to right by weak com.
pliments and diluted taffy. Ycu are
offended because alluded TO you in
common with many good and wise public
men. / said then and there that you
we're honest, brave and chIvalrio, with a
proud and historic name. For this | am
arraigned by you. am always willing 60
rectliy an error as far as can. admit
that was mistaken--that you are no
such man, and after the exhibition you
have made this week, | promise you |
will never again be guilty OF such an
offense. You take exceptions to my
expression that "Some men have for
gotten nothing and learned nothing by
tbe war" Ii any evidence was wanting
OF the truth of this assertion, il is eonoIu.
siyeiy furnished by your unmanly TRADE.
Every sentence OF that portion OF your
apeechA Aemaeks of the plantation. The
crack of the overseer's whip is heard rs
OF old. Many senators upon your side
OF the senate chamber, although differ
ing from as widely upon this question
We esteem and honor. Their votes are
controlled by mistaken idea, bat we
believe them nevertheless 30 be actuated
by patriotism, Not 30 with yon, You
have compared Dakota to Texas and
recommended that our people emulate
that great empire. In alluding to this
suggestion, / said Texas and Dakota
were the outgroWthB of different eivili-
cations; that our people came largely
from New England and the middle
states, from small or medium sized
commonwealths, and the reverse was the
case with .he first settlers OF Texas, and
that consequently their ideas of govern.
| ment and empire we're different. This
was the sum and substance OF my offend
| ing. The man who denies these prop
| ositions, Mr.. Batter, is sadly and stupid
| ly ignorant of American history. / had
| been taught that no man who held O
public Office conld claim ON exemption
| from fair and just criticism. This has
been the doctrine in this latitude. You
had not only attempted to deny justice
to this people in the halls OF congress,
but aleo to dictate to MS outside of con-
| gress what course would best conduce to
our interests and welfare. And because
lad advised our people to reject these
counsels am made the subject of
your venomous assault. / have no right
to complain. You have more bitterly
| assaulted the character of the best men
of America, both among the living and
| the dead. Let us see by what right you
arrogate to yourself such powers. Out
side of South Carolina the people know
but little about you. Your first claim
to notice is that yoa are kinsman OF
Preston $. Brooks, who exhibited on
the floor of the United States senate,
nearly thirty years ago, in attacking
Senator Sumner for crlticising your
uncle, the same magnificent courage
which inspired you. Your next claim
and the one which secured you seat in
the senate, is that brilliant and chivsl-
rous attack of yours upon band of an
armed colored men at Hamburg. who in
| ysur state dared to meet ae American
citizens and discuss the political issuel
OF the day. Is il q wonder, Gen. Butler
that the people OF Dakota should b.
dismayed in the presence OF suck foe
man2 You again criticise my assertion
that the people of this territory brough
with them from their eastern homes th,
Bible and the spelling book. hut ie
me assure you, notwithstanding YOU
sneers at the teaching Of the Bible, wer,
it not Tor the fact that the union men 0
the north were actuated by that charit,
which is found incnlcated In that book
you to-day would be serving the gov
lernment in different sphere than th
United States senate. I am only
private citizen of this great republic
for the establishment OF which my fore
fathers fought, and for the maintenance
OF which their descendants contendei
against you and your followers.
hold no Office. and want none; but il
j, did ask the suffrhges OF the intelligen
and loyal people OF the north, you coal
do me no greater favor than such ey
hibitions as you evinced this week.
close this letter, Gen. Butler, by uain,
an ,illuetration drawn from You oW