The Dickinson press., 1885-01-31
Entered ut the posloficc at Dickinson. Stark
Dskota us second class matter.
OFFICIAL PAPER OF STARK COUNTY
Saturday, January 81, 1855.

A MEMORIAL from the citizens of
Ymkton county. Dakota, to the legis-
sets forth mimpeachahle az
guments for the admission of South
Dakota into the union as a state.
They apply as well to North Dakota
and sustain the views heretofore X
pressed in these columns. that the
people have a right. Is American citi-
Zens, to form a constitution and state
government without permission from
congress. We quote from the me-
mortal as follows:
''The recent vote of this territory
demonstrates. in the words of Gov
ernor Pierce. that Dakota has a popu-
lation of 100000; larger than two Col
oradoS. five Delewares, three Floridas
twelve Nevadas. two New IIamp-
shires. three Oregons. two Rhode Is
llnls or two Vermonts. 1t has a
territory of l5o.o32 square miles.
equal to the combined area of Maine.
Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut.
Rhode Island, New Jersey. Delaware,
Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia,
less 1854 square miles. More Post
Office Revenue thm thirteen states:
New Hampshire, Rhole Island. Della
ware. West Virginia. North Carolina.
South Carolina. Florida. Alabama.
Mississippi, Arkansas. Oregon, Neva-
da and District of Columbia. Has
banks and bank capital than
five state. Therefore it is demons
strated beyond contradiction that we
have the territory. the population
and the resources to entitle lis to- two
states. We have the right to form Il
state government without the per-
mission of congress. That is demoI-
strated by the precedentS of thirteen
states: Vermont, Kentucky. Tennes-
see. Maine, Michigan, Arkansas.
Florida, Iowa, Wisconsin. California.
Kansas, Oregon. AMI Nevada. Con-
gress justified all these states by adj
uniting them. under their constitu-
lions formed without its permission.
1t adm.tted most of them without Il
struggle. Let Dakota stand ON her
rights. and assert them. and act upon
them. Let her go to congress no
longer as a suppliant or petitioner,
but us a body of American citizens
to their servants, and demand her
rights. Let her say to the party in
power i'll congress. in the words of
the United States Supreme Court, in
the case of bred Scott VS.. Sandfuru:
You have no power to hold this peo-
pie as a territory permanently. but
you are bound to admit uS as O aus
our population and situation entitle
lis to admission. This right to frame
Il state constitution and state govern
ment for ourselves has been affirmed
by the congress of the United States.
10y the supreme court of Michigan.
by the supreme court of the United
States, by the most eminent states
men and lawyers of America. Among
these are Geo. Washington. Andrew
Jackson, John Quincy Adams. Zach
airy Taylor, james Buchanan. Thos.
Morris. Thomas l.. Hamar. The
state of Michigan put the doctrine of
the right of the people of a territory
t" form a state government without
permission of congress. whenever
they had the population and territory
sufficient to support y state govern.
ment. and the people willed it.. into
practical operation to it's fullest ex.
tent. They convoked a constitution.
al convention, elected state officers
and i~naugurated a state government
without amy enabling act of congress
Their legislature enacted laws, thei1
courts exercise jurisdiction. their PEG
pie paid state taxes. And the su
prcme court of Michigan adjudget
all these acts to be leg ii and valid
And the supreme court of the Unite,
States confirmed this decision by de
cltring the subject to be beyond thei
powers. Congress decided in favo
of Michigan's action and endorse,
the doctrine of it's courts by IL vote O
1872 ayes to Is nays, In the House. an,
- ayes and Is nays. in the Senate
Afterwards Iowa, Florida, California
Oregon and Wisconsin, were admitte,
upon the same doctrine. under con
situations formed without an email
ling act, without a struggle. So tina
congress has re-aitirmed the Michigan
doctrine five times since it's first de
cision. The ordinance of 1881 wa.
extended over Dakota by four sue
cessive acts of congress. that of Jun,
2Sth. 1894, of April Goth. 1885. of Ma,