Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-01-23

Springer admission bill sis not what we
want will incline the public to defer
definite expression OF opinion until the
objectionable points within the bill are
made known. 1t may be that they will
not be deemed Of sufficient magnitude
80 warrant opposition here in Dakota
that. though they are objections, we can
more proftably submit to them than to
remain out Of the union because OF them.
This is matter for future decision. The
latest definiteinformation comes through
q Washington special to the Omaha Bee,
which says:
While there has been no formal meet
ing of the senate committee on terrific
rles, for the purpose of discussing the
omnibus territorial statehood bill,
which passed the house last week, there
have been informal conferences and inter-
changes of opinion among the republi-
can members of the committee. CHAIR
man Platt is opposed to the house bill,
because it leaves the queition of diYislop
of Dakota to vote of the people and
contemplates the admission to statehood
OF New Mexico. Mr.. Henderson, Who is
a member of the committee, opposes the
bill on the same ground. He said to
your correspondent this afternoon: 81
do not think the bill hes any prospect OF
final adoption. The republican members
of the committee are willing TO be reason
able and considerste, bat think they
are practically unanimous against the
bill, ss 1t now stands, and 50 fer as / am
individually concerned, will not vote
for any bill which refers back TO the
people of Dakota the question of divi-
sion OF the territory, because
they have once or twice settled that
matter beyond any dispute, and be-
cause it is not question that should be
left to them. Congress should determine
whether Dakota should be divided. and
the republicans in the senate are unani-
nous in the demand that it must be di-
vIded by the act which will provide for
statehood. There is no use of having
any more elections there. except to
choose state oifioera, l am opposed to
the admission of New Mexico at this
time on account OF the character of its
population. There are sections OF New
Mexico-and I have been oil over the
territory-which have population as
foreign to the interests OF the United
States as old Mexico"
Two objections are herein pointed ont
the demand for vote in Dakota on
division and the demand for the sd-
mission of New Mexico. X these are
all. Dakota will not sustain the obiec-
ton. While we deem il almost an In.
suit TO require Us to again vote upon
the subject OF division. and
do not relish the task of snothe,
campaign over the oft trodden
ground, we can submit to it for the sake
of admission and can carry the division
proposition by a vote SO overwhelming
as TO make Mr.. Springer ashamed 80
contemplate b 8 folly in requiring the
vote. We can do this unless the Springer
bill mixes mp the vote on division with
the vote on the Sioux Falls constitution
in the manner indicated IN the synopsis
of che bill. The admission o7 New Mex
leo is no objsctlon to :hs people of De-
kots. II matters not to us whether New
Mexico comes in or stays out. Il is !us-
tlee to Dakota we are assing for and the
status OF the Dakota question should in
no manner be affected by any demands
made 10 behalf OF Nav Mexico. The
Springer bill provides only an enabling
act for New Mexico. The final act OF ad
mission must be put forth by another
congress and by that time the South
Dakota question can be we'll out OF the
way.
As the proposed admission of New
Mexico seems to be an obstacle to the
admission of South Dakota, il is worth
while 10 enquire little into Its claims.
In the congressional speech of Delegate
Josephs, OF that territory, in behalf OF
statehood, We find some hitherto nm
noticed facts. In the year l84S, says
MIR. Josephe, New Mexico became apart
OF the United States. It's people then
believed that under the provisions OF
the treaty they were entitled to admis-
sion. In June, 1850, they adopted d
state constitution with q clause prohibi-
ting slavery. This constitution was
submitted TO congress. Under 1t gov.
srnor. congressman. legislature and
two United States senators we're elected.
The prayer for admission, however, was
denied. The people were disappointed
Thirteen years later they rallied to the
the support of the union and furnished
more troops to the federal government
than all the territories then existing, in
Guiding Nebraska, Nevada and Colorado
No stronger answer, Mr.. Joseph said,
could be given to charges that the native
population OF New Mexico was foreign
in spirit and lacking in devotion to the
United States. In answer to the op.
position to the admission OF the terri
tory, he seid that in 1874 the house
passed bill for it's admission by three.
fourths majority les population waf
then ITO 900, The present population
of New Mexico is 175. 900. The senate
also, in 1874, passed an admission bill
for New Mexico, by vote of 80 to II
and the two bills thus passed were plsc-
ed in conference committee and there
lost on some points OF detail. IL the
following year the senate passed an ad.
mission bill for New Mexico, but 1t wen
over ia crush OF business in the house
II WIS shown that many republicans
some of them members of the presen