Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-01-17
DAKOTA IN CONGRESS.
A Bill for tho Admission Of tho rerri,or,
as State aud q bill for an Adj
dttional Judge and

On the seventh day OF January Delegate
Kidder introduced the following bills in
the house of representatives:
A BILL TO ENABLE THE PEOPLE OF DAKo-
ia TO FORM A CONSTITUTION N STATE
GOVERNMENT, mi FOR THE ADMISSION
OF THE SAID STATE INTO THE UNION ON
AN EQUAL FOOTING WITH H ORIGINAL
STATES.
Be 1t enacted BY the senate and house Of rep
resentafiyes of the United Staies of America
in CONGRESS assembled, that the inhabitants Of
the territory Of Dakota included in the
boundaries hereinafter designated be, aud
they are hereby, authorized TO form for
themselves out of said territory, q state
government. with the name of the state of
Dakota which state, when formed, shall be
admitted into the union upon an equal
footing with the original states in ali respects
whatsoever, as hereinafter provided.
Sec. 2. That said state Of Dakota shall
consist Of all the territory included within
the following boundaries, to wit: Common
cling at a point in the main channel of the
Red River OF the north, where the forty
ninth degree OF north latitude crosses the
saule; thence up the main channel Of the
river and along the boun airy line of the
state of Munes ta,to Big Stone Lake; thence
south along the boundary line OF the state of
Minnesota to the Iowa line; thence along
the boundary line Of The stale Of Iowa to the
point of intersection between the Big Sioux
aud Missouri rivers thence up the Missouri
River, and along the line of The state of Ne
braska, to the mouth of the Niodrara or
Running. Water river; thence following up
The same, in the middle OF the nam channel
thereof, to the mouth of the Keha Paha or
Turtle Hill river; thence up said river to
The fortv.third parallel OF north latitude;
thence due west to the boundary Of The ter
ri tory of Wyoming; thence north along III
boundary line of the territory OF Wyoming
and the boundary line Of The territory .,
Montana to the forty-ninth degree Of north
latitude; thence cas-, aloug said degree TO the
place OF beginning.
Sec. 5. that all person> qualified by Law
to woe for representatives to the general
assembly Of said terri Dry, at the date OF the
passage Of this act, shall BE- qualified TO be
elected, and they are hereby authorized TO
vote 70 aud choose representatives to iorn'a
convention, under such rules anu regulations
as the governor of said territory, the CHIEF
justice, and the United State. attorney thereof
may prescribe; and also vote upon tue accept.
ance or rejection of such constitution a.
may be formed by said convent on. under
such rules and regulations a. said conven-
lion may prescribe and the aforesaid repre-.
sentalives to form the aforesaid convention
shall be apportioned among the several
%cuunti.s in sid territory in proportion to
the vote polled in earh Of said counties a,
the last general election, as near "a may be;
and said apportionment shall be made for
said territory by the governor, United
States district attorney, and chief Justice
tn, reof, or any two of them and the gov
ernor of said territory shall, BY proclama-
ton, order aid election of the representa-
tives aforesaid to be held throughout the
territory at such time az shall be fixed by
the governor, chief justice, and United
States attorney, or any TWO Of them, which
proclamation shall be issued within ninety
days IRON the passage Of this act. and at least
thirty days prior to the time Of said cleo
ton and such election shall be conducted
in the same manner as ia prescribed by the
laws of said territory regulating elections
therein for members of the h Use OF repre-
sen,atives, and the number of members to
said convention shall be the same as now
constitutes both branches of the legislature
of the aforesaid territory.
Sec. 4. That the members Of the conven-
ton thus elected shall meet at the capital
of said territory, on a day to be fixed by
said governor, chief justice, and United
States attorney, not more than sixty days
subsequent to the day o election, which
time of meeting shall be contained in the
aforesaid proclamation mentioned in the
third section Of this act, and. after organize
ton, shall declar re, Oh behalf of the people OF
said territory, that they adopt the c%onstitu-
lion OF the United States whereupon the
said convention shall be, and is hereby, au-
thorized 10 form a constitution and state
government for said territory; Provided,
That the const tuition shall be b lean
IN form, and make no distinction in civil or
political rights on account OF race or color,
except Indians not taxed, and not be repug-
nant 10 the constitution Of the United States
and the principle of the d, clara,ion of in
And Provided further, TIL II
said convention shall provide, by an ordi.
nance irrevocable without The con ent of the |
United States and the people Of said state, |
first, that pc feet federation Of religious SEN
shall be secured, and no lnhabitant OF
said state shall ever be mol.sted, in person
or property, on account Of his or her mode
Of religious worship; secondly, that the
pc pie lnhabiting sad territory do agree
and declare that they forever dlscloi,u all
right and title TO the nnappro 1riated public
|ands and to all lands held or owned by any
indian or Indian tribes until the title there
shall have been exlinguished by the Un-
ted States. lying within said territory. and
hat the same shall be and remain at tn.
and entire disposition Of the United
States, and that The lands belonging to
OF the Uni,ed States residing with
~, the said state shall never be taxed high.
r than The lands belonging to res,deu,s
hereof, and that no taxes shall be imposed
" The state on lands or property therein
belonging to-, or which may hereafter be
'urch4sed by. the Ualled States. /.
Sec. 5. That in case a constitution and
government shall be turned tor ,hr
of said territory of Daknls, 10 COM
lance with the provisions OF TINS act, SAID
forming the same shall provide.
v ordinance. for submitting said cnDst tu-
m TO the people of said state for their rat
icat'on or rsjection. at an election. to b-
eld at such time aud at such places and
,nder such regulations as may be pre-
cribed by said convention at which cleo