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

wv people ana territory oil about 3d.
600 square miles, they have under tie
constitution, and by virtue of the com.
pact contained in the treaty of lsO, 3with
France, and also by virtue Of the COM
pact in the ordinance of 1887, which by
successive acts Of congress was extended
over Dakota, an "unalienable, lndeteasi.
BILE" inherent and absolute, right to self.
government.
Thst they have the same "inherent
power and analienable and indefeasibIe
right" which are solemnly and formally
asserted for the people of the United
States in the Declaration of Independ.
ence, and reserved to them by the con-
stitution, and by the bills of rights Of
the several states, "to alter, reform or
abolish their government in such man
ner as they may think proper"
That the territory of Dakota living
south of the Gth parallel Of latitude, has
present population Of more than 25O-
GOO people, and will, at its present rate
of increase, il another twelve months
have over 100000 people, which is more
than double the population of any state
heretofore admitted into the union, and
more than that OF seven of the original
states at the time of their admission and
that it covers an area OF about $4,000
square miles, which is larger than that
contained IN any state OF the union, ex-
cept seven.
That with these boundaries the state
of Dakota yill be the eighth largest
state in the union, and will cover an area
equal to that of the states of all New
England and New jersey and Delswa
with $500 square miles over.
And that, therefore, the people OF that
part OF Dakota, by virtue of their popu-
lat;on, their territory their constitution
al rights, and the inviolable guarantees
of treaties, and the will of the oeople
are a state, and ought without further de-
lay to form state constitution and a
state government.
That it has been solemnly and authori-
tatively determined by the precedents
OF thirteen states, by the sanction ana
affirmation of congress. and by the ap-
proval of the presidents from Washing.
ton down, that the people of a TERRITORY,
when qualified for state government
have the right, in their primary and
sovereign capacity. without previous an
thorlzation of congress, or of any othe,
power than their own, to proceed to form,
their state constitution, and state gov.
ernment, and apply for admission into
the union.
That the experiences of the past has de.
monstrated that the most IMPORTANT need
OF the people of Dakota now, is respon
sible government: asgovernment respon
sible to the people, elected by the people
and acting for the people.
Ihat unless such government is OBJ.
tanned speedily, we have good reason to
apprehend lasting and remedlless injury
to the institutions and the future welfare
OF the commonwealth, and that thi:
question should and will become the
sole and vital issue, before all other is
sues, with the people of Dakota until il
9 determined.
That the last legislature of this terri.
tory acted wisely and patriotically, il
accealng. to and putting in the form
OF law, the general and earnest wish O
the people, when they passed the bill
convening constitutional convention
at the capital of the territory, in Octobe
next, for the purpose OF framing con
stltutlon and state government, tor tha
part of Dakota south of the 46th par
allel, and of performing all other thing.
essential to the admission of such part
of Dakota into the union of The states
And that the will of the people thus
solemnly and authoritatively declared
was defeated, by the governor, when he
refused to sign said bill: and that th1.
act was contrary to the universal wisl
and the best interests of all the people
of Dakota.
That the people having been by thi
action OF the governor, deprived Of th
ordinary means of declaling and execut
ing their lawfully assertained and ex
pressed will, have full and unquestione,
right, and authority to fall back upol
and exercise, the reserved rights an.
extraordinary powers. vested in them b,
the constitution, and haye therefore, 70
that purpose full power to call and Great
constitutional convention, constitu
ton and state government, by thei
own spontaneous action, and by sue
methods and instrumentalities as the,
may in their primary and sovereing
capacity, establish and ordain to tha
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