Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1880-12-17
AN ACT FOR THE ADMISSION OF DAKOTA.

AN ACi FUK lHE AUMlSSIUN UF UhkUIA.
In the house of representatives De-
cember 6, the following bill was intro
duced by our delegate, Judge Bennett,
and referred to the committee on terri
tories.
A bill to enable the people of Dakota TO
form IL constitution and state govern
1nent, and for the admission of the
state into the union on an equal foot
ing with the original states.
BE 1t Enacted by tie Seaatc nnd Xousc
IF tie Nnitcd !States IF Americn in Congress
Assemb'ed, That the inhabitants of the
territory of Dakota included in the boun-
darics hereinafter designated be, ana
they are hereby, authorized to form for
themselves, out Of said territory, 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
all respects whatsoever, as hereinafter
provided.
See 2. That the said state of Dakota
shall consist of all the territory included
within the following boundaries, to-wit:
Commencing at point on the west line
Ol Vic SlitC Vi ItLlullGSOtit Wllt'Ie tu0 lOI-
ty-sixth degree of north latitude inter-
sects the same; thence south along the
west boundary lines of the states Of Min
ton between the Big Sioux and Missou-
ri rivers; thence np the Missouri river
and along the north line of the state of
Nebraska to the east boundary line of
the territory OF Wyoming; thence north
along the east boundary lines Of the ter
ritories of Wyoming and Montana to the
forty sixth degree of north latitude;
| thence east along said forty-sixth degree
of north latitude to the place OF begin
ming.
Sec..3. That all persons qualified by
law to vote tor representatives to the
general assembly OF said territory. at the
date of the passage of this act, shall be
qualified to be elected, and they are
hereby authorized to vote for and choose
representatives to form convention, un-
der such rules and regulations as the
governor of said territory. the chief JUS
tice, and the United States attorney
thereof may prescribe; and also to vote
upon the acceptance or rejection OF such
constitution as may be formed by said
convention, under such rules and regula-
tions as SAID convention may prescribe;
and the aforesaid representatives to form
the aforesaid convention shall be appor
toned among the several counties il
said territory in proportion to the vote
polled in each of said counties
at the last general election, as
near as may be; and said apportionmen1
shall be made for said territory by the
governor, United States district attor
ney, and chief justice thereof, or an,
two of them; and the governor of sale
territory shall, by proclamation, ordel
an election Of the house Of representa-
tives aforesaid to be held throughout
the territory at such time as shall b'
fixed by the governor, chief justice, ant
United States attorney. or any two o
} them, which proclamation shall be is
sued within ninety days from the pass
age of this act; and such election shai
{ be conducted in tie same manner as il
prescribed By the laws OF said territor!
, regulating elections therein for member:
OF tbe house of representatives: and th'
number of members to SAID convention
shall be the same as now constitute
, both branches OF the legislature of til
aforesaid territory.
SEC 4. That the members Of the con
vention thus elected shall meet at th
, Gu pitul VI Sdlt ttllltolN tii IL ttd' w ~
/, fixed by said governor, chief justice an,
= United States attorney, not more thai
, sixty days subsequent to the day OF eet
!, tlon, which time of meeting shall b
contained in the aforesaid proclamatio
mentioned in the third section OF thi
act, and, after organization, shall de
clare. on behalf OF the people OF SAID tel
ritory, that they adopt the constitutio
of the United States; wherenpon til
) said convention shall be, aud is hereb,
authorized to form a constitution an
state government for said territory
: Provided, That the constitution shall b
republican in form, and make no distlnt
ton in civil or political rights on accoul
of race or color, except Indians DC
f. taxed. and not he repuguant to the col
stitution of the United States and th
u principles of the declaration OF ind,
S pendencc: And provided further, Th;
s;ud convention shall provide, by a
ordinaucc irrevocable without the COZ
r sent of the United States and the peopl
, Of said state, first that petect tolcratio
of religious sentiment shall be secure,
and no inhabitant of said state shall eve
be molested in person OF property on a
count of his or her mode OF religion
worship; secondly, that the people il
|e habiting said territory do agree and d
clare that they forever disclaim all rlgl
and title to the unappropliated publ
lands and to all lands owned or held /
" any Indian or Indian tribes, until Il
. title thereto shall have been exit
guished, lying within sad territory, al
that the same shall be and remain
), thr sole and entire disposition of Il
u United States. and that the lands b
longing to citizens of the United Stat
residing without the said state shf
never be taxed higher than the lands b
81 longing to residents thereof, and that !
taxes shall be imposed by the state
lands or property therein belonging
or which may hereafter be purchased
to the United States.
n, SEC. 5. That in case constitution q
state government shall be formed for t
people Of said territory of Dakota,
compliance with the provisions of Il
II, act, said convention forming the sal
=. " shall provide, bv ordinance, for subn
H. ting said constitution to the people
ac- said state for their ratification or rel
d. tion, at all election to be held at ST
time and at such places and under ST
- regulations as may be prescribed by s.
= convention, ut which election the law
n voters of said new state shall vote dire
ly for or against the proposed consti
ton; and the returns of said elect
shall be made to the acting governor
l. the territory, who, with the Chief just
and United States attorney of said tie
tory, or any two OF them, shall canv
& the same; and if a majority of legal vc
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