Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-06-25

England states. or half OF the four mid.
die states. and with resources capable of
maintaining population Of ten millions,
and to-day it contains four times the
number Of inhabitants required by the
federal ordinance of 1857.
They ask it because the interests. com.
mercial and otherwise, OF the different
sections OF the now northwest extend in
an east-and-vest direction, and that
therefore there is nothing to JOIN the in.
terests of southern Dakota with those o,
the section from which she wants to be
dissolved.
They ask it because the genius and the
characteristics of the two peoples are as
different a. could well be imagined-that
OF southern Dakota being people Of
home-holders and steady. going citizens,
comparatively contented with the days of
small things, and themselves directly in.
terested in the conduct Of public affails;
while affairs in north Dakota are more
directly in the hands of large capitalists
and extensive operators aud speculators,
who are able to dictate the policy OF
their region by tLeir influence upon the
large bodies OF farming people in their
employ or under their control. No
commonwealth could be satisfactorily
managed wherein two elements TO di
verse might be joined.
They ask it because they have the right
to SO organize their government, that the
expense thereof shall be less burden
some. and experience demonstrates that
the rate of taxation for state purposes, is
much less in small common wenlths than
in the larger ones, statistics proving that
while the assessment for said purposes
in Delaware and Rhode island is ten
mills on the dollar. it is in New York
tven9y-one mills, and in Illinois twenty
four.
They ask it because the vecords of the
Legislative enactments show that it il
impracticable to establish laws which
shall be of uniform operation throughout
two sections of commonwealth of such
diverse interest and pursuits as north
and south Dakota.
They ask it because the proposed area
of the new state is as large as permits
economy of government and the free
and fair exercise of the political privi-
leges of q good people; Tor that, to or
ganize into one state 90 large an area as
the present territory of Dakota. prsctl.
cally precludes the poor man from par.
ticipating in its conventions and man
agement, thus tending to make it only q
rich mans government, which is con-
trary to the liberty aud spirit of our in.
stltutions.
And, furthermore, on behalf of the
principles enunciated in the Declaration
OF Independence, and on behalf Of Law
and precedent a. established by congress
and recognized by our courts, We do de.
clare that the right indisputably rests
with the people to define their own
boundaries and adopt their own state
constitution.
Because the compact contained in the
ordinance of 1887, which has been ex.
tended over the people of Dakota BY
i've successive acts of congress, guaran.
tees absolutely and inviolably to them,
the right to form permanent constitu.
ton and state government whenever
said territory should contain sixty thou
sand free inhabitants"
Because the treaty by which thu
Louisiana purchase was acquired, which
is "the supreme Law of the land" guar
antees to the people of Dakota territory
as absolutely and invioIably as the ordl
nance of 1887, that they shall be incor
porated in the union Of the states, ant
admitted as soon As possible according
to the principles Of the federal consti
tuition.
Because the highest judicial authorit,
in the land has eolemnly declared tha
congress has no Just power to hold and
govern this people permanently in the
character of Q territory.
Because the rights and privileges hav
heretofore been recognized and given *
large number of existing states, amone
them being Tennessee, Arkansas, Michi
gen, Florida and Iowa.
Because we are now deprived of th
most sacred rights and privileges {
Americancitizenship, on account Of th
wide expanse of our domain and til
limited and inadequate Judicial syster
! consequent upon the territorial condl
ton; for that the writ of habeas corpu
is practically suspended in large POI
tions of the commonwealth, and othe
: extraordinary legal remedies are no
readily Acknowledged on account OF th
great expense made necessary BY th
long distance which parties and thei
witnesses IN many cases are compelle
,, to travel to reach the courts to atten
! trial.
Because if admission be longer delaye,
, the supply of public lands will be {
: nearly exhausted that the state canns
= receive from the general government tt
, grants for public purposes. which by th
!. customs and precedents in other cas-,
\ have been 30 freely given to new state
= for that on account Of the rapid develop
|. ment of Dakota, settlement ia going
3 advance of the public surveys, thr
: absorbing lands designed for school az
:, other purposes, which it will be imposs
! BILE to replace.
III Because the people of Dakota in Who
;. the right of self.government inherent
d rests, have repeatedly. through acts al
:. memorials of their legislatures, throuf
a their representatives in three sever
conventions for that purpose spout,
Is neously assembled, and through the
4 entire press declared their will a,
= determination that Dakota, south OF q
4 forty.sixth parallel, should now becou
q q state. .,g@---
g Now, therefore, in view of the great
It ter.sts at stake, and that our rights n,
d be maintained, and divisionj aud stat
of hood secured, this convention appeals
9. every citizen IN Dakota south OF the fo
i. ty-sixth parallel to give his vote and
'e huence fol delegates to the constitutio
'e al convention to meet September At
le 1888. and spare no effort that hone
N able and loyal men shall be chosen
represent them. aud that the suppc
d they may receive at the polls shall de-
le onstrate our numbers and patriotism,
y that the constitution framed shall retle
y intelligence and guarantee our righ
" privileges and lmmunities as Amelic
3. citizens.
- NY