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

South Dakota's Declaration In Favor of
Statehood Adopted by the Huron Con-
vention.
To THE PEOPLE OF DAKOTA: When the |
sentiment becomes unanimous in the |
minds Of q quarter of million of patri. |
otic, liberty loving, law-abiding, God |
fearing people that there are certain
rights to which they are entitled but of
which they are deprived, common fair.
ness and common decency demands that
respectful attention and consideration
should be given to their claims for the
exercises Of those rights and privileges.
For the sake OF emphasizing and form
ally promuigating the claims which the
citizens of the southern portion of Dako-
ia make in the matter of statehood and
its rights and privileges. convention of
three hundred and fifty delegates chosen
from the several counties met at Huron
June is, 1888. these being full repre-.
sentation from every organized county
but three, and from number of coun-
ties not yet organized. These represen-
tatives upon the definite issue OF taking
steps for securing statehood for that por-
tion of the territory designated. The
convention assembled as the duly selec-
ted representatives OF two hundred and
fifty thousand people unsurpassed for in
teiligence and patriotism, and most SOL
emily and with one voice declare it to be
the unalterable and absolute demand of
that people that they be vouchsafed the
exercise of those rights promised them
whenever they should number 10000
souls, guarantee to them by solemn
treaty 1t the time the regions, portion
of which they occupy, became part of
| the domain Of the United States, assert.
ed for such as they by the fundamental
law of fourteen commonwealths, and
guaranteed to them by every precedent
that can possibly be considered as bear
ing upon this issue 1t is but just aud
right and in due Difference to the sister
hood Of which southern Dakota desires
to become palt, that the said conven
ton should state some of the grounds
upon which her claims are bseed, not
only those who might oppose it may
have knowledge of their error, but that
the people themselves may ever more
fully comprehend and realize what are
their rights in the premises and what
the necessity is for their prompt and
answering and persist Mt assertion OF
their claims and the enforcement there
OF by all and every means which indi
viduals and organized efforts can devise
and execute. And it is for the purpose
of supplying this information that the
convention has directed the preparation
of this address.
In the first place. let it be understood
and known to all men that not . single
feature of anything contemplated is any
departure from the due aud ordinary
process as recognized by the highest Law
Of the land, by the repeated interpreta
tions thereof by the most eminent ludici
ary authority, and by the practices anG
customs which have prevailed from The
earliest periods OF our federal history
The entire half OF Dakota is making to
day in attempting to secure statehood j,
pure and simple patriotism
The people of the southern portion o
Dakota ask at the hands of the congress
Of the United States the division Of tn,
territory upon the 46th parallel and th,
, admission OF their half INTO the union
they ask it as an unquestionable right.
They ask division because the domain
thus allotted to them would even the,
be larger than thilty other states in th
union, and its boundaries would be sufi
, cieut to contain thewholc Of the six Nev