Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-06-22
CONVENTION ORDINANCE.
The Whereas and the Res
olutiOns of the Huron
Convention.
South Dakota's Declaration Of its
Purpose to Organize
as State.

Purpose to Organize
as State.
Huron, June 20.-The following pre-
amble and resolutions were to-day adopt
ed by the convention of south Dakota
delegates:
WHEREAS, Experience has abundantly
demonstrated that the welfare of the peo-
pie is promoted and secured only by a |
permanent government. sovereign in |
character, aud republican III form, and
responsible to the people; and as all
good and just government should be of
the people, and by the people, and for
the people; and
WHEREAS, The compact contained in
the ordinance Of 1887 which has been ex-
tended over Dakota by i've successive
acts of congress, guarantees absolutely
and invlolably to them, the right to form
q permanent constitution and state gov
ernment whenever said territory shall
contain sixty thousand free inhabitants"
and
NEEHEAs, The treaty by which the
Louisiana purchase was acquired, which
is "the supreme law Of the land" guaran-
tees to the people of Dakota territory, as
absolutely and lnvlolably, as the ordin-
ance of 1857 that they shall be incorpor-
ated in the union of the states, and ad.
mitted as soon as possible, according to
| the principles of the federal constitution,
to the enjoyment of all the rights, advan-
tages and immunities of citizens of the
United States;"
WHEREAS, Under the constitution of
the United States, as authoritively de.
termined by the supreme court of the
United States, the territory was acquired
and could only be acquired for the pur-
pose, and upon the condition. that it
should be admitted into the union as a
state, as soon as its population and stu
alton entitled it to admission; and
| WHEREAS, According to this same au-
thority, congress has no power to hold
and govern this territory permanently,
in the character of territory; and
| WHEREAS, Governments derive their
just powers from the consent of the gov
erned; and all power is inherent in the
people, and all governments are founded
on their authority and instituted for their
safety. peace and happiness; and for the
advancement of these ends, they have, at
all times, an unalienable and indefeasi-
BILE right to alter, reform, or abolish their
government, in such manner as they may
think proper; and these fundamental
principles, proclaimed in the Declaration
of Independence, and reiterated in the
bills of rights of twenty states, are now
everywhere acknowledged as the settled
and irrrevisible law of the land; and
WHEREAS, The territory of Dakota ly.
ing south of the 46th parallel of latitude,
has q present population of more than
$4,000 people, which, at its present rate
of increase, Wilt another twelve months
number over 100000 people, which
any state heretofore admitted into the
union out of the territories, and more
than that of seven of the original states
at the time of their admission; and
: | WHEREAS, Said part of said territory
covers an area of $4,000 square miles
which is larger than that contained il
any state of the union except seven; anc
WHEREAS, 1t has been solemnly ant
authoritively determined by the courts
by the precedents of thirteen states, b,
} the sanction and affirmation of congress
and by the approval of the presidents
} from Washington down, that the people
]. of territory, when qualified for stat
government, have the right in their pri
l mary and sovereign capacity, withou
! authorization of congress, or of any 9th
er power than their own, to proceed t
form their state constitution, and stat
government and apply for admission il
to the Union; and
0 WHEREAS, With the proposed bound
|, aries, the state of Dakota will be til
eighth state in the Union in area, an
will cover an area equal to that of Ne
! England, and New Jersey and Delawar'
G with $500 square miles in addition; an
g WHEREAS The people of Dakota, b
:, virtue OF their population, their terr
! tory, their constitutional rights, and til
= inviolable and solemn guarantees {
n treaties, and the compacts of the ord
nance Of 1877, and the will of the peopl
e are a state, and ought, without furtht
q delay, to form state constitution an
9, state government, and ask admission il
At to the union; and
WHEREAS, The experience of the pa
has demonstrated the moet importai
l. need of the people of Dakota now, is
=, responsible government; q governmel
10 responsible to the people, elected by Il
people and acting for the people; and
a WHEREAS. Unless such government
g. obtained speedily, We have good rease
q. to apprehend iaeting and remediless j
NJ Jury to the institutions and the futu
welfare of the commonwealth, and til
70 question should aud will become Il
st sole and vital issue. before all other
II cues, with the people of Dakota, until
n. is determined; and
II WHEREAS, The last Legislature of th
~ territory, wisely acceding to aud rep
q. senting the general and earnest wish
re the people thereof. did enact law &C
-. vening constitutional convention at
- capital of the territoay, in October.ne
- for the purpose of framing constit
an tion and state government for that pi
is. OF Dakota south of the 46th parallel, q
n of performing all other things essent
to the admission of such part of Dakc
al into the union of the states; and
IN, WHEREAS, Said act of the legislatr
on was prevented from becoming law
70 the territorial executive declining to
prove the same or return it to the leg
'iy lature with his objections thus deprivi
that bodv from taking any further aoti
relating thereto; and
nit WHEREAS, The people having bt
thus deprived of the ordinary means
Us declaring and executing their lawful Y
ing have full and unquestioned right Z
as authority to fall back upon and exerc
eat the reserved rights aud extraordin'
powers vested in them, and have the
luu fore for that purpose, called and crea
ted this convention; and
:. WHEREAS. It appears still to be
tel unaltered will OF the people that 81