Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-08-03

THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

Yankton county on this subject
| have been misunderstood and
perhaps inisrepresented. 1t has
been pretended in some quarters
| that these resolutions contemplated the
| nomination by the constitutional con-
vcntion nt Sioux Falls of state ticket
for state officers. Such an idea never
entered into the head o! any one, and
certaiuiy was not conveyed by the terms
of the resolutions. These revolutions
merely declared what is generally under
stood so he the almost unanimous scnti-
ment ci the people, namely: That the
convention order an election fer state
officers and a state legislature at the
same lime they submit the constitution
TO the people for adoption Or rejection.
This is the usua! course. 1t is n proper
conrse. 1t is Il necessary course. With.
out ii the whole proceedings OF the con-
stitutlonal convention, and the voto of
the people, and the whole magnificent
uprising of the people in favor of state
Lood would amount simply to paper
petition, government on paper. q resolu-
tion on paper. That is all and that is
nothing.
Dakota needs a state government
standing behind her constitution, to give
it force, weight and effect. That was the
course OF Michigan. the course of Iowa
aud of other states. 1t is perfectly legal
to so do. 1T is our only safeguard, our
only guarantee, our only means of com.
pelling recognition from congress. 1t
involves no violent procedure, no COLI
sion, no revolution. Quietly, surely and
step by step will come
the state government. recognition
by congress, the transfer of the terri
torial government to the remainder of
the territory, and finally admission.
Listen to what they did in the case of
Michigan, October 5th, 1885. Michigan
elected her state government and
adopted her state constitution.
June 9Th, 1886, congress passed the
following act:
"That the constitution and state gov.
''ernment, which the people of Michigan
"havc formed for themselves be, and the
''samc is hereby accepted, ratified and
confirmed
That recognized the state government,
and set aside the territorial govern.
ment.
But Michigan was not finally ad.
mitted, and her senators and representa-.
tives did not get into congress, and she
did not become capable of casting an
electoral vote, until January 26, 1887,
seven months after her recognition as a
state by congress.
This is all we ask for Dakota. This
Will suit democrats us well as republi.
cans. This course will deliver us by
next December from the corrupt and
evil rule OF Ordway and from territorial
sublection.
Ihis will be glory enough for ten
mouths campaign, and will BRING to a
triumphant issue this proud struggle of
Dakota for independence. In view OF
this great triumph we can we'll afford to
let our electoral vote go. Let the dele
| gates Of the people in tine constitutional
convention, hew straight TO this line, aud
December next will see Dakota state in
fact aud not on paper merely. and her
rags O! territorial snhjechou exchanged
Ior the robe. OF statehood. Any other
consse is simply a device Of the Ordway
| gang to cheat and deceive tho people
aud to prevent statehood altogether.