The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-04-07
Constitutional, Convention.
HI. r. providing for constitutional con-
ypn1iOn

WHEREAS, Under the territorial SysleHi
of government that has obtained and been
enforced in the United States during oul
rntire history has been little better than
the colonial system under British rule, and
whereby under the present system the peo-
pie Of he Territory Of Montana are dis
franchised from voting for elecprs oi
President and Vice President; are denied
a vote il both Houses Of Congress; have
no representation upon any committee
save one pertaining to Territorial affairs,
of either House of Congress; have no voice
in the selection Of the most important offi-
GERS of our Territory, executive and judi
cial; our organic act subject to amendmees
and our laws to amendments by the Will OF
| Congress. without our consent; and
WHEREAS. We are desirous Of assuming
and Loyalty maintaining our rights, and OF
discharsing our duties as a free people, en-
titled 10 full citizenship under the consti-
tuition Of the United States of America
and
WHEREAS, The revenues, resources and
population of the Territory are amply sutti-
/ cient to organize and maintain statehood
now therefore. be il
Res"lued. BY the Legislative Assembly
of the Territory of Montana:
Firsr-Thata convention of delegates
representing the people of the Territory OF
K ~, - INV -
authorized to convene at the capital OF
/ the Territory. ar II O'Clock, M. on the sec
| oSd Monday in January, A. D., sS4. Tor
the purpose OF traminga constitution for
the government OF the people ct the State
Of Montana.
/ Second-Said convention shall consist OF
| forty-tiYe delegates, and are apportloned
in the several counties Of said Territory as
| follows:
| Reavernead county, two delegates.
Dawson county, one delegate.
! Choreau county, two delegates.
| Custer county, three delegates.
| Yellowstone equity. two delegates. but
| in ease Yellowstone coilifty be not formed,
/ then Custer county shall have five dele
7 gates.
Deer Lodge county, rh,ee delegates.
/ G ,llatin county, five delegates.
jefferson county, tw" delegates.
! Lewis and Clarke county. four delegates.
I Madison county, two delegates.
/ Meagher county, three delegates
/ Missotlia county, -four delegates.
! Silver Bow county, six delegates.
Also. that six delegates at large shall be
elected, two from each judicial district, bur
no elector shall vote for more than one del
egate at large upon his ballot.
4 Thrl-An election shall be held III the
several couutirs of the Territory on the
\ first Tuesday after the first Monday IN
/ November, 4 D. 1859, for the purpose OF
! elpcging the forty-five delegates herein prO-
\ vieiea for, who shall be entitled to seats
therein. Said election is hereby declared
&c be a general election, and as such, all
the officers and electors of said Territory
shall observe, and obey, and be subject to
| to all Of the laws, penalties. rules and reg
ulations then il force pertaining to gener-
al elections in said elritory. The returns
and canvassing of the votes cast at such
election shall be made and canvassed in
\ the same manner, and by the same officers,
as Tie law shall then provide for the re-
turns and canvassing Of votes for members
Of the Legislative Assembly. The mem
| bers of said convention, before entering
upon the discharge of their duties, shall
sayerally, take and prescribe the oath OF
Office now prescribed for members OF the
| Legislative Assembly. Said convention
when assembled, shall be the sole and ex.
elusive judges of the qualification ane
election of its members. The qualification
of electors at saidlgeneral election shall be
the same as those that may be then in fdrcs
governing general elections. No one shal
be elegible to membership in said conyen
tiion unless, at the date of such election
for delegates, he be citizen of the United
States, and shall have been a bona .fde res
ident and taxpayer of the county that h'
is elected to represent, at least one yea
Immediately preceding such election.
Fourth-The officers Of said convention
shall consist of president, to be chosei
from the members, and a secretary, ant
also such other officers as may be necessar.
to discharge the duties, and facilitate tn
!. business of the convention, to be designed
by an ordinance or resolution of the con
, vention. The members Of the convention
shall receive twenty cents per mile in 20
J ing to and and returning from the capita
+ from their respective homes, the distanc
to be estimated by the CASUALLY trayelle
d route. Uhe officers of the convention sha
: receive such compensation as the conver
ton by ordinance or resolution may desis
y nate. A certificate, duly signed by tn
: president of the convention, and counte
I signed by the secretary as TO the pay I'll;
7 may be due the officers, shall be presente
: to the auditor OF the Territory, who sha
4 thereupon draw ..is Warrants.npon the te
Y ritoriai treasurer in payment thereof.
). Fifth-The Secretary of the Territory
g hereby authorized and empowered to pr
cure and suitably furnish, for the use
\. said convention, a suitable hall and cor