The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-10-03
STATEHOOD.

dIlu W u1SCudlSC dAA tuO uutAOS uOuIA'
bent upon them in a changed reIa'
ton to the general government,
They are conscious OF this and natur
ally chafe under their enforced de-
pendent condition. For years they
have been compelled to receive their
Governors, Secl etaries and Judges OF
their courts at tie hands Of the Fed.
eral Government. They have had a
bitter experience with some of them.
It is time this punishment should
cease. We have sufficient population.
sufficient taxable wealth, and intelli'
gence enough to be weaned from the
care of the Government and to set up
business for ourselves. The last leg
islature recognized these facts and
incorporated in a joint resolution
some of the reasons for calling a con-
| stitutiOnal convention for the pur-
pose of framing a constitution for the
government of the people of the
| State of Montana. For the benefit
of the readers of the MINER, we give
the resolution entire.
H. J. r. providing for a constitu-
tional convention.
WHEREAS, Under the territorial
system of government that has Ob-
tanned and been enforced in the Uni
ted States during our entire
history has been little better than
the colonial system under British
rule, and whereby under the present
system the people of the Territory Of
Montana are disfranchised from vot-
ing for electors of President and Vice.
President; are denied a vote in both
houses of Congress; have no repre-
sentation upon any committee, save
one pertaining to territorial affairs,
of either House of Congress; have no
voice in the selection of the most in
portant officers of our Territory, ex-
ecutive and judicial; our organic act
subject to amendment, and our laws
to amendments by the will of Con.
gress, without our consent: and
WHEREAS, We are DESTROYS of as
Stunning and loyalty maintaining our
rights, and of discl. arging our duties
as a free people, entitled to full citi-
zenship under the constitution of the
United States of America; and
WHEREAS, The revenues, re-
sources and population of the Terri
tory are amply sufficient to organize
and maintain statehood; now, there
fore, be it
Resolved, by the Legislative AS
sembly OF the Territory of Montana:
First-That a convention of dele
gales representing the people of the
Territory of Montana, be. and is here
by, called and authorized to convene
at the capital of the Territory at Il
o'clock, M, on the second Monday IN
January, A. D., 1884, for the purpose
of framing a constitution for the
government of the people of the
State of Montana.
Second-Said convention shall
consist of fOrty-five delegates, and
are apportioned in the several coun
ties of said Territory as follows:
Beaverhead county, two delegates.
TX" 0OA OOuA1Gy OAV
Choteau county, two delegates.
Custer county, II rec delegates.
Yellowstone county, two delegates,
but in case Yellowstone county be
not formed, then Custer county shall
have five delegates.
Deer Lodge county. three dele
gates.
Gallatin county, five delegates.
Jefferson county, two delegates.
Lewis and Clarke county, four dele
gates.
Madison county, two delegates.
Meagher county, three delegates.
Missoula county, four delegates.
Silver Bow county, six delegates.
Also, that six delegates at large
shall be elected, two from each judi
cial district, but nc electOr shall vote
for more than one delegate at large
upon his ballot.
TLird-An election shall he held in
the several counties of the Territory
on the first Tuesday ter the first
Monday in November. A. D.. 1883,
for the purpose of electing the forty
five delegates herein provided for,
who shall be entitled to seats therein. |
Said election is hereby declared to be
a general election, and as such, all
the officers and electors of said Terri
tory shall observe, and obey. and be
subject to all the laws, penalties, rules
and regulations then in force
pertaining to general elections IN
said Territory. The returns and
canvassing of the votes cast at such
shall be made aud canvassed
in the same manner, and by the same
officers, as the law shall then provide
for the returns and canvassing of
votes for members of the Legislative
Assembly. The members of said
before entering upon the
of their duties, shall, sew
take and subscribe the oath
of office now prescribed for members
of the Legislative Assembly. Said
convention when assembled, shall be
the sole and exclusive judges of the
qualification and election Of
its members. The qualification
of electors at said general
shall be the same as
those that may be then in force gov
general elections. No one
shall be eligible to membership in
said convention unless, at the date of
such election for delegates, he be a
chosen citizen of the United States,
and shall have been a bona .fde resi-
dent and tax payer of the county
he is elected to represent, at
least one year Immediately preceding
such election.
Fourth-The officers of said con-
vention shall consist of a president,
TO be chosen from the members, and
4 secretary, and also such other Off
GERS as may be necessary to discharge
The duties, and facilitate the business
Of the convention, to be designated
sy an ordinance or resolution
IF the convention. The members
If the convention shall receive
cents per mile in going to and
returning from the capital from their
homes, the distance to be
by the usually travelled
.oute. Tn. officers of the conven-
ion shall receive such compensation
Is the convention by ordinance or
resolution may designate. A certifi-
,ate, duly signed by the president of
he convention, and couutersigned