Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1906-08-02


work CT constructing the territorial
government. A legislature was called
to meet in March, 1862, and Stutsman
was elected from Yankton district to
the territorial council, and during
the session was mainly instrumental
10 procuring passage of the law locat-
ing the capital of the territory at
Yankton. He was chairman of the
judiciary committee and one of the
most Industrious members of the
body. performing the principal part
Of che labor of framing the codes
and the general laws passed at this
session. At the second session Of the
legislative assembly he was elected
president of the council, and dis
charged his duties in such an able
and impartial manner as to add to
the esteem and confidence of his fel-
low members which he enjoyed in a
marked degree.
Up to about this time Mr.. Stutsr an
had been democrat, aftiliating with
what was called the Douglas wing. or
popular sovereignty faction of that
party. The civil war was on, and
while nominally a democrat he was
an outskpoken and uncompromising
union man without qualification. las
all of the Douglas school of demo-
Gratis were) which gave him the con-
tidence ana support OF the republicans
as well as the Douglas democrats and
he was elected to a second term in
the council in 1864 on a ticket named
by a convention called by the repuD-
lican and union organization. and
thereafter acted with the party. M.
Stutsman was a good politician. He
understood that some men in politics
were fond of the ''loaves and fishes"
in the shape of honors'; for himself
he preferred power and influence and
was willing that others should have
the temporary honors if in return he
could be permitted to dictate the
policy. He was usually ''the power
behind the throne.' This will ex-
plain. Why he was not candidate for
president of the council after the
second session. Yankton county was
stronger and more secure in retaining
j. the capital and securing other legis-
lative and political favors by support
ing am bilious gentlemen from out
side counties in such positions. Mr..
Stutsman was again elected to the
samesoff1ce IN 1865 and served at the
first session; but having in the early
spring Of 1866 accepted an appoint
ment from the general government
as treasury agent, he was obliged to
resign his Office as councilman. which
he did, and entered upon his new
duties visiting first the upper Mis-
souri, country In quest Of smugglers.
In June of the same year he left
Yankton for Pembina In his capac-
ity as treasury agent, Pembina being
the seat Of a custom house and the
only one in the territory, reaching
that point after very tedious journ-
ey. on the 22nd of July, 1866. 1t is
doubtful II he had entertained any
thought Of removing to that remote
,corner of Dakota, before his trip-at
least. his most intimate Yankton
friends were not apprized of such in,
tentiOns. He seemed to be captivat-
ed BY the: country, its :invigoratingi
climate and fertile acres, and more
than all its wide awakened and con-
genial people, and he In turn appears
to have been taken at once into their
confidence for in the fall of 1867 he
was elected a member of the cerri-
torial housesof representatives, and
when that body convened at Yank-
ton, December End, following, Mr..
Stutsman was chosen speaker, de-
feating very popular member, Mr..
Jolley Of Clay county, by vote Of II
to TO-. This honor came to him un-
solicited, andsuntil very close to the
organization, unexpected. 1t is prop
er,to mention that be discharged, the
didacult duties Of the Office in such
a manner as to win the applause Of
his friends and the respect. and conf
;dence of his opponents. He was
again elected to the house from Penn
bina in 1868. and served In that body
:as chairman sof the committee on
railroads, and a member of the COM
mittees on judiciary, elections and
enrolment. This session closed the
annual sessions Of the legislative as
sembly. Thereafter they were held
biannually, and Mr.. Stutsman re-
turned to- Penn bina, where he engaged
Ia law practice, and also built fine
hotel building which he rented. He
was again elected q member of the
territorial couRcil In 1872 from the
Pembina district served during the
sessions of$l872.3 and was taken quite