Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-02-09
Carter's Complacent Views.

Hon. Thos. HI. Carter on his return
to Helena was Instantly assaulted oy
q newspaper scribe and let himself
loose on statehood and the constitution
as well ss some other tbings. Refer
ing 10 the omnibus bill as affecting
Montana be says:
The bill as 1t stands might be better
termed - bill TO provide for iDdefi-
mite postponement Of the admission Of
the territories" In the first place it
forces US to await the final solution Of
the division difficulty In Dakota to
some extent. This fact does not ap
pear clearly on random reading of
the bill. inasmuch ss il does appear
that Montana may be admitted by
proclamation of the President. on
compliance with certain specified con-
ditions; but q subsequent section Of
the bill provides thrt none OF the ter
ritories shall be admitted unless con-
gress shall have approved Of the pro
oeedIngs which may obtain in pursu-
ance Of the enabling act. Thus the
President's proclamation would be Of
little value, or would result In mani-
fest conflict between the President
and congress. growing out Of the am
biguous terms Of the bill itself. Serious
are urged to the admission
Of New Mexico. II is alleged that
there are only $4,000 white people in
that territory and over 100, 900 Msxi-
cans, who have little knowledge Of, or
sympathy with. the institutions OF
this country. Notwithstanding these
various diff1culties, the anxiety Of the
republicans In the senate TO secure the
admission Of the territories has i'm
PEELED them to 20 into conference with
o committee Of the house for the pur-
pose OF 30 amending the bill asto make
its provisions effective and satisfac.
tory; and l think we have good reason
to hope that this conference will arrive
IT an agreement, and In that event
this congress will admit North and
South Dakota, Montana and Wash
ingtop. As originally drawn. the
bill was evidently intended to force
Dakota into the Union as one state.
This was provided for by requiring
that . majority Of the votes In both
North ard South Dakota should be-
cast 10 favor Of division. Now, there
are about 10000 peoplsir South Da-
kota % against about zoo, 900 In North
Dakota, and the only objection to di
vision found In Dakota IL north of the
line, and IL 10 barely possible
that slight majority Of the 100000
voters 10 North Dakota would vote
against division; thus about ons-sixtb
Of the people Of Dakota territory were
empowered by that bill To control the
future destiny Of 600 900 souls residing
there. That 10 30 manifestly unjust
and un American ths. am satisfied
the senate win not agree 10 place the
people Of Dakota In such . predica-
ment.
In answer TO an interrogatory
the sufiiciency OF our
as adopted In 1884.
% q good organic law he was
conservative, saying that IL
was evidently considered . good con-
stitution at the time Of its adoption.
but experience has taught that the
most perfect constitution will, BY the
lapee Of time and change OF olrcum-
stances. require amendment Our
constitution is no exception and u
undoubtedly might have been made
better at the time it was prepared, and
in my Judgment it would Be the part
Of visdom for us 10 eliminate ohjec-
tIouable features before establishing .
government under II. the objection is
urged by members Of congress and
with much foros that II h unfair tstbe
present population Of Montana 70 ak
that they sstAblsh aststs government
under . constitution which vas adopt
I'd By . majority Of about Is go voters.
While as present. We have over >o,0oo
|.esI voten iu the tsrritory. The
,ue. tIou n. what kind of . constitu-
ion h wanted BY ths present popula-
,loa Of MontAnaf and no one can
,esssr dstermins that than The people
Who are now reading here; and they
bouId have IN opportunity 70 express
themselves on thls important question.
= ths .onrcs of health: therefore. 70