Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-01-25
ANCIENT HISTORY.
Long ago Happenings in
the Land of the Da-
kotas.
Revival of an Exciting EPISODE in The
Legislature of 1877


Pioneer Press, l7th: The we'll founded
gossip to-day that there has been q poll
of noses with a view of displacing Presi-
dent Stimmel and elecslng some one else
in his place revives the unpleasant incl
dent Of February l4th. 1877, when DR..
Burleigh rendered his resignation as
president and q few days later Valen-
tine, of the Canton district, by a vote OF
z to 6, was elected to fill the vacancy.
ii. 3. Back, OF Fargo, was unseated on
that day and A. McHench, of the same
day, a contestant, sworn In. Imme.
diately DR.. Potter, of Yankton, resigned
his seat in the council and Barleigb
threw mp the presidency. 1t was slto.
gether a very sensational piece of busi-
ness. The reason of Burleigh's resigna.
tion was the probabilities Of doing what
gossip says may be done now. At this
time such q proceeding would look bad
and give enemies in congress something
to talk about. 1t is probable the good
sense of the council will continue to pre-.
vail, and nothing will be done. One
reorganization could be followed with
another and another until the business
of the session was wrecked, and the big
republican majority made the laughing
stock of the territory.
Bismarck Tribune, 22d:s It is we'll to
stick close to facts when speaking, even
Of Dakota political history, and the facts
in the case above mentioned are these
The membership of the council at that
time consisted of thirteen. DIR. Bur.
leigh, of Yankton, and Frank Pettigrew,
of Sioux Falls, were candidates for presi.
dent. Each had six votes certain, with
q contest from Fsrgo-McHenoh VS.
Back. The latter was o democrat and
had his credentials. A strong and per-
sistent effort was made to have the old
secretary of the CONGRATULATIONS Linn
recognize McHench in place of Back In
the organ,z alton, which would elect Pet
tigrew and defeat Burleigh. This the
secretary could not do. Captain Back
was recognized and took his seat. This
gave DR.. Burleigh seven votes and the
ele otion. The session consisted of forty
days at that time and for thirty day.
out of the forty there was nothing bu'
strife end trouble. McHeneh made {
vigorous contest, and on the thirty
eighth day be got his seat by a vote o
ak to five, and this is how it was done
u III haukOuESy VI lCLuUihD dlo. wi
Bob Wilson, of Bismarck, Burlelgh't
followers, agreed to &c ont and play
game OF t'pedro PITCH" leaving tn,
friends of McHench / the majority. n,
sooner were the card players gone thar
a motion was made to unseet Back ant
seat McHench, which vas carried with {
rush. Back left the chamber in DISCUS
and Burleigh, furious, resigned, followed
! by DR.. Potter, who resigned as q mem
i Der OF the council. The victorious con
bine refused to accept the resignation o
either gentlemen, and thus matters
stood for the remaining two days of tn,
session, but legislation virtually endet
| with the resignation of Burlelgh. DIR
Potter went out but came back ate
urgent solicitation. Burleigh refuse
to preside and the chair was filled b,
pro tenn appointments until the enc
Had the upseating Of Back taken plac
earlier IN the session, BurleiRh, Potte
and others would have went out an
not returned. By referring to th
Pioneer Press extract it Will be seen tha
il contains many errors.
THE RECORD PULLED.
Referring to the Press and Dakotaia
files Of those troubloas days, We TAX
the following from the legislative report
and this can be relied upon as correct:
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
Council Chamber, February IA, 1877
Mr.. Wallace introduced n resolutio
declaring in substance that MIR. McHene
was entitled to the seat for the sevent
l:k.k ia tLak b., no 1ooLaI -
AT the time this resolution was pre-
scented the president of the council, MI
Burleigh, and Messis. LsMoure and Vii
son were absent.
The question vas called, Mr.. Miner 4
the chair, and Just before q vote wa
reached President Burleigh returned.
The question was then pus and tn
vote on the Wallace resolution resulte'
as follows: Ayes-Messrs. Bailey, Dun
can, Mills, Pettigrew. Valentine, Wal
lsce-6; noes-Messrs. Bach, Gandersor
Miner, Potter and Mr.. President-5.
The president called Mr.. Mills go tn
chair and announced his resignation q
president OF the council.
Mr.. Potter gave notice that he resigne
his position as member of the council.
On motion of Mr.. Wallace, the vote b
which Mr.. McHench was declared en-
titled to the seat for the seventh dis
! trict was reconsiderei and the motion
reconsider was laid on the table.
Mr.. Pettigrew moved that the resigns
tions OF the president and Mr.. Potter +
indefinitely postponed.
There wss considerable excitemer
about this time and the motion was nj
acted upon.
On motion of Nj. P%ettigrew, ii
sergeant OF arms was instructed to ARE
and brig in all absent members.
Mr.. MoHench was sworn in by Judl
Bennett as member OF the council fro
the seventh district In place of N
Back.
On motion, the council adjourned
$50 O'Clock o. M, tomorrow.
Council Chamber, February 10, 10
ho oounuiA eousouod Nv hnAi phSt III
, o'clock a. M, and was opened vii
! prayer by the chaplain.
Mr.. Mills, Of Bon Homme, in Il
3 chair.
Present-All the members, Mr.. Blu
D leigh occupying MIR. Mills seat.
Mr.. Bnrleigh offered q resolution
!. the effect that the council procted
the election of o president to fill Il
vacancy occasioned By the resignation