Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-09-08

South Dakota's second constitutional
convention assembled in Sioux Falls at
noon to-day, under authority Of a legis.
lstive enactment. Two years ago the
first constitutional convention was IN
session about three weeks at the same
place and the result of its labors was q
constitution much commented upon for
it's excellence, which was ratified by
good majority at the polls. That this
constitution never went into effect is
we'll known. Congress paid no at
tention to this voluntary work
Of the people and the convention left
matters In such shape that the people
could not follow up its first step in
behalf Of liberty by the natural second
step-the election of state officers, leg
isiature and congressman and the crea-
ton OF two United States senators. The
convention delegated the power to call
an election for these purposes to the
state executive committee, but it was
afterwards concluded that the employ
ment Of this delegated power
would not strike the people favor.
ably and no election was called.
The convention of two years ago should
have provided in its constitutional
schedule for an election, which would
have resulted in the organization of q
state government, ready to step into
power the instant congress indicated it's
approval of the acts of the convention.
Through this course our demands would
have been presented to congress by
men clothed with authority to urge ad-
mission, and an influential official dele
cation would have been on the ground
to back up those demands. The failure
to perform this act was the fatal blum
der of the convention.
| We trust that the convention now in
session will complete its work and make
full provision for the election in Novem-
Der of governor, lieutenant governor.
secretary of state. treasurer and aaditor
and members of the legislature and that
it will confer upon the legislature
authority to assemble and elect two
United States senators. This accom-.
plished We will be ready to 60 formally
before congress and insist that our state
hood work be ratified. It may take some
courage to accomplish all this,
but none more than the high
moral courage which ohould actuate
every man in pursuit Of liberty and the
right to self government.
1t is presumed that the men assembled
in convention at Sioux Falls are in
earnest in their endeavor to secure state.
hood for south Dakota. Those who are
there for any other purposes than are
specified IN the enactment authorizing
the convention should retire from the
scene, for they have neither the moral
nor the legal right to sit in the con.
vention. They can be truthfully classified
as the emissaries Of the Northern
Pacific corporation, which is now bend
ing every energy to throttle the division
movement and has so far succeeded that
this constitutional convention is now all
that stands between 1t and q victory over
the people. Division survives or perishes
through the acts of the Sioux Falls con.
vention and it is to be hoped tina, there
are patriots enough in that organization
to sustain the cause of south Dakota and
wrest this portion of the realm from IL Z
dOmina tion of a praaninO cnrporof;on