Helena weekly herald., 1889-02-14

richer than several of the greatest of ouI
thirty States. This same California is here
asking admission. Shall California be re-
ceived? For myself, upon my individual
Judgment and conscience, l answer, yes
For myself, as an instructed representative
of one of the States, of that one even OF
the States which is soonest and longest to
be pressed in commercial and political
rivalry by the new commonwealth, an
swer. yes. Let California come in. Every
new State, whether she comes from the
East or the West, every new State, coming
from whatever part of the continent she
may, is always welcome; but California,
that comes from the cline where the West
dies away into the rising East; California,
which bounds at once an empire and q
continent; California, the youthful queen
OF the Pacific, In her robes of freedom, gor-
geously inlaid with gold, is doubly well
come" To the objection that California
came unceremoniously, without the pre-
vious consent of Congress, Mr.. Seward
showed its uselessness, and says that not
unnecessarily or presumptuously did she
make constitution for herself and come to
Congress under the paramount law of self
preservation. Denouncing the objections to
the admission OF California as formal and
technical, Mr.. Seward declared that they
had no foundation in the law of nature or
of nations. Proceeding he said: California
Is already State, complete and fully
appointed State. She never again can be
less than that; she can never again be
province or a colony, nor can she be made
to shrink and sLrlvel INTO the proper
tions of a Federal dependent Ter
ritOry California, then, hencetOrth and
forever, must be what she now is, q
state. This question whether she shall be
one of the United States has depended on
her and on us. Her election has been made.
Oar consent alone remains suspended, and
that mast be pronounced. She needs to
know whether you are friends or enemies;
and, finally, she needs what no American
commonwealth can live without, sover-
eighty and ndependence-either a just
and equal share of yours, or sovereignty
and independence Of her own"
could quote from many other states
men of that period, representing both OF
the then existing political parties, confirm
atory of the foregoing views, but 1t could
add nothing to the axioms so perspicuous-
ly asserted, and would unduly prolOng this
article. l could follow in detail the action
of several of the States admitted without
being first asked by Congress to prepare to
come into the Union, but must refrain.
Suffice it to say that there is nothing In
our history or law to weaken the force OF
what | have above quoted. 1t was on these
principles California was admitted. fit
be objected that our action will be expen-
sive, answer it will be worth more than
il costs, and that once admitted Congress
would certainly reimburse us the expense
of our constitutional convention. l answer
farther, it will cost no more this year than
next.
Iowa, in 1874, without previous congress
sional action, adopted a constitution and
State government. Under it she proceeded
to enact laws to enforce contracts, punish
criminals This State for nearly two years
acted under its constitution before admls-
sion into the Union. Congress finally pro
vided for the admission of Iowa, but
changed the boundaries which her people
had created. Iowa rejected the proposed
State on account of this change of bounda-
ries, and proceeded two years later to adopt
another constitution, with boundaries diff
ferent from those prescribed by Congress,
and Congress admitted her with boundaries
chosen by herself. The history of Michigan
is not dissmllar.
The right of the people of Montana to
admission into the American Union is
provision of the treaty by which Louisiana
Territory was acquired from France in
1903. Many times since by legislation, as
well as by treaty, this inherent and in
alienable right has been affirmed by the
Federal government. So that we shall be
in the exact line of duty in creatinga State
and presenting it to the Congress for the
only authority or power which it can ex-
ercise, namely, to admit it. There being
no controversy as to boundaries, no con-
troversy but that our population is ade-
quate for at least one representative in the
House of Representatives, all the disturb
ing questions which troubled the Federal
government over the admission of Califor-
MIA are removed.
We have lived 80 long as Territory
that fear we are coming to take provin-
cial views, and it is high time that we get
out of the rut of pusillanimous depend
ency and believe in ourselves and act for
ourselves, not inharmoniously with the
Federal Government, but in accordance
with rights of ours which the Federal
Government did not give US and may not
deny US.
| am not to blame if this argument
shows that the proposed legislation, mis-
named enabling acts, is absolutely futile,
work of supererogatiOn and unless re-
quested is impertinent.
In many of the speeches now being made
in Congress touching the admission OF the
Territories, we are directly appealed to
and importuned to initiate the example of
South Dakota, namely, to adopt our cOnsti-
tuition, to organize our State government,
limiting its activities, however, to the meet
ing of our legislature, the electing OF our
Senators and the presentation by the
in Congress and them of our
to the Congress of the United
States for admission. These opportunities
coming from our friends, men who desire
that Montana shall be admitted as a State
OF all party considerations and
without reference to the question whether
Dakota shall be divided or her unity main
tanned, without reference to the question
whether Washington Territory shall be
admitted or not, and without reference to
the question whether New Mexico shall be
or not, it is our duty, if we are
sincere in our desire for admission, to pre-
sent ourselves before Congress ready to
accept the responsibilities of State govern
ment.
Thus Hon. Charles S. Baker, of New York,
January 16, 1889, in the House OF Repre-
sentatives, said: 81 appeal to the House
and desire to urge with all the power
possess that we shall reject the proposition
to load down Dakota with four or five
other Territories. am in favor of their
admission as States at the earliest possible
day. I would vote enabling acts for them