Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-01-12
Report OF Settlers Convention In
Dakota Territory.

ing steps toward endeavoring to secure a
Territorial organization for Dakota, Mr..
G. d. Fisk was called to the chair, and
j. D. Morse, elected Secretary. Mr.. NJ.
X. Armstrong was called upon to explain
the object and design of the meeting,
whereupon that gentleman proceeded to
address the meeting, in substance rs
follows: He said that Dakota wac, at pre-
sent, without any distinct legally organ.
ICED government. and had been in this
condition since the llth DAY Of May 1858,
or since the disruption Of the Territorial
organization Of Minnesota, which covered
the present Territory Of Dakota. He
said the House Of Representatives declar'
ed on the Sd day of June, 1858, tina, our
Territory was without any distinct gov.
ernment, and that 1.-The people were not
entitled to delegate in Congress- Hence
having no representative Of our wants on
the floor of the House of Representatives
our only method, our only resort, was by
reaching the ear Of Congress, by prayer
and petition from the citizens. He said
that Dakota now contained between COCO
and 1000 Of law.loving and law abiding
citizens, Many of these people had for
the last two years endured the privations
and hardships Of pioneer life, and they
now BE- gan to feel the wants of local laws
courts, and civil officers. lie therefore
recommended that steps be taken for call
ing Territorial Mass Convention at an
early day, for the purpose Of framing a
Memorial to Congress, lavirg bare our
wants and condition, aud praying for a
Territorial Government.
On motion Of Hon. d. I. Bramble a
committee o! three was appointed to draft
preamble and resolutions indicative Of
the views of this meet ing.
Messrs. Bran bic, Armstrong and Stone
were selected as said committee, who,
having retired from the meeting for con-
sultation, returned, and reported the fol
lowing preamble and resolutions:
WHEREAS. The State Of Minnesota, com
posed of a part of the former Territory Of
Minnesota, has been admitted into the
Federal Union, and that part of the Ter
ritory outside Of the State limits has been
declared by resolution Of the House Of
Represe to be without any dis
.inct legally organized government which
said resolution was passed June Sd, 1858.
land the peopls thereof are not entitled
to Delegate in Congress until that right
is conferred upon them by Statute. there
by Withdrawing from US the protecting
shield Of the laws Of our country and the
,nestlmab.e privilege of a Representative
Of our wants and wishes al The sea. Of the
Federal Government, and leaving us to
be law unto ourselves, without providing
for the people OF the remaining part of
the Territory with any organized govern
ment, or guaranteeing to Us any of those
wholesome provisions By which we'll or,
dered society is established, fostcred
maintained and protected; and we are
still without laws, courts or civil officers
from the mouth Of the Big Sioux, 40
miles along the Missouri and around TO
Pembina, on the Red River of the North ;
and We feel the want Of those legal guards
and shields, and Of those rights and pri-
vileges, which of right pertain to good
citizens, to constitute them a healthy,
contented and happy people, to give d.
rection to their will and provide for their
wants in all the forms Of government;
therefore, be it
ResOired, That we, the citizens Of
Isncton and vicinity. do most cordially
invite cur fellow citizens of Pratt Creek
Settlement, Bon Hommie, EermiIlion, Elk
Point, Big Sioux, Brule Creek and Sioux
Falls City, to meet and cooperate with US
in Territorial Mass Convention to be
held at laucton on the 18th day Of Jan.
1851, for the purpose Of drafting Memo
rial to Congress praying for an early Ter
ritorial organization for Dakota, and also,
to transact such other business as may be
deemed necessary for the welfare Of our
Territory.
On motion of Obed Foote, the forego-
ing preamble aud resolution were adopted
rs read, without amendment.
On motion of J. NJ. Stone, the Secretary
was authorized TO send written notice of
the proceedings OF ,uis meeting to each Of
the Postmasters of the places mentioned
in the above resolution, requesting them
to post said notices in the most public
place of their respective settlements
On motion of Mr. Foote, The Secretary
was also requested to furnish Il copy of
the proceedings of this meeting to the
Sionr city Register for public alton.
On motion Of Mr.. Armstrong, the meet.
Jag adjourned ~ the 18th day of January,
1861.
G. ID FISKE, President.
j. ID. MORSE, Secretary.
For the Register
sketch Of the Rev. and Hon. DsIaX-
on smith, late q. ). Senator.
CONFINED