Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1884-10-16

sion of the legislature, an act authorizing consti
tutional convention for southern Dakota is meet.
ing with general favor throughout the sonth.
There are reasons enough why this should be &C.
complished and there is no necessity for recitne
them anew. Those who help themselves are best
helped and the people Of Dakots long ago learned
the necessity Of "rustling for themselves .'-Presa
and Dakotaian.
With all due consideration for the
wishes and legitimate rights Of southern
Dakota we think they are gong beyond
reason IN asking such legislation at the
hands of the territorial legislature, for
that is o matter beyond its legitimate
scope and jurisdiction. 1t would be prop.
er and perhaps expedient for the legisla.
ture, by joint resolution. to request such
legislation at the hands of congress, as it
is matter ever which congress has su-
preme and exclusive control, but any at
tempt of the legislature to usurp that
congressional power would only bring
down upon the itory tho rebuke Of
that body and retard the very interest it
is designed to accelerate.
As VIC have said before, the question Of
admission Of South Dakota ls one in
which the citizens Of North Dakota have
no personal interest whatever. and they
should not be required to pay any portion
of the expense OF the proposed constitu-
tional convention for that section, having
no right, no voice or interest in it. Last
year South Dakota, under the leadership
of Hugh j. Campbell and the Press and
Dakotaian, with the battle cry Of "Fear
God and take your own part" attempted
to force itself into the union by forming
a constitution, electing state officers and
setting up state government, but only
carried the scheme so far as to adopt q
constitution which congress ignored with
the most supreme contempt just as it
would ignore constitution formulated
under the present plan prop ,sed.
The people of that section ana Of all
sections OF Dakota might better first than
last recognize the fact that the division
Of the ter1ltsry and the admission to
statehood of any Of its parts is subject to
the will and pleasure Of the congress Of
the United States, and that cody stands
on Its dignity IN all matters pertaining to
an encroachment upon Its functions and
powers, and in its estimation, any terrific
ry that attempts to climb into the family
circle of states in any other way than
that which all have gone before, "the
same Is thief and rebber." A con-
ventlsn of the people'of South Dskota
upon their own vslition to form cen-
stitution upon which to ask admissis1
into the union would not be an unwar4
ranted act but is guaranteed right un
der that clause Of the constitution which
declares that congress shall make NO Law
abridgiDg "the right Of the people peace!
ably to assemble, and to petition the gov
ernment for redress Of grievances.
But for the territorial legislature to usul b
the prersgative Of congress by passing q
enabling act for South Dakota to form .
constitution would be step upon forbid
den revolutionary ground that would h-
jure the project it intended to prsmfe
and burden with the odIum of usurpatbn
and defiance cause otherwise emlne4.v
vorthv nroner and levitimate