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Office of Gov. Dennis Daugaard
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, S.D. 57501
605-773-3212
125th Anniversary Feature
Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014
Contact: Jim Soyer at 605-773-5689 or Jim.Soyer@state.sd.us
Arthur Mellette, Governor of THREE Dakotas?
On March 11, 1889, Watertown resident Arthur C. Mellette was appointed the last Governor of Dakota Territory by newly inaugurated President Benjamin Harrison. On Oct. 1, he was elected South Dakota’s first Governor, winning 69 percent of the vote. He became South Dakota’s first Governor on Nov. 2, 1889.
But, Arthur Mellette was also the Governor of a third Dakota.
In 1885, after more than 15 years of fighting for statehood, Dakota Territory residents were frustrated with Congress’ unwillingness to grant statehood.
Hugh Campbell of Yankton argued that Dakotans had an inherent right to create a state without waiting for Congress. Although some were weary of offending Congress, Campbell’s “we are a state” doctrine gained considerable popularity due to the strong desire for statehood and Campbell’s inspiring rhetoric.
Referring to Revolutionary War and Civil War veterans, Campbell said statehood advocates should be “animated by the same spirit which actuated the men of ’76 and the men of ’61.” Many Dakota settlers were veterans of the Civil War and wanted statehood for their new home.
Campbell also said statehood would allow Dakotans to escape the “hands of the Philistines,” referring to the territorial officials appointed by the federal government.
Campbell and others took action. Delegates to a September 1885 convention in Sioux Falls drafted a constitution for the “State of Dakota.”
In November of 1885, the people approved the constitution by a vote of 25,138 to 6,527 and elected Arthur C. Mellette to be the Governor of the “State of Dakota.” The new unofficial legislature met in Huron on Dec. 14 and heard spirited speeches by their new Governor of Dakota and others.
Mellette agreed with Campbell’s reasons for statehood, but not his approach of trying to become a state by force. For example, Campbell wanted a provision in the state constitution to allow the people to “abolish” their government in such manner as they deem proper. Mellette preferred the words “alter and reform.” Vigorous debate was reported by the St. Paul Pioneer press. Mellette’s more pragmatic words prevailed, but the news stories showed that Dakotans were sincere and intense in wanting statehood.
The unofficial legislature sent a delegation to Washington to tell President Grover Cleveland that the majority of Dakotans didn’t agree with establishing statehood by force, even though the recent election could have been interpreted that the public did.
A bill to grant statehood to the upstart “State of Dakota” failed in Congress. The “State of Dakota” idea died with it.
In comparison to Hugh Campbell, Mellette was more diplomatic, but both approaches helped move the march to statehood forward. Statehood for the Dakotans became a more pressing issue for Congress and a large factor in the 1888 Presidential election.
Dakota, Dakota Territory and South Dakota. Arthur C. Mellette was the Governor of all three.
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*Special Thanks to Jon Lauck for his statehood research included in his book, Prairie Republic: the Political Culture of Dakota Territory, 1879-1889.