The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1885-10-02
AF2EAL TO DAKOTIANS.
Address to the People of the Territory
by a Committee of the Late Con-
s%titutional Convention.
The Beneficpnt Provisions of the New
Constitution Pointed Out and the
People Urged to Adopt 1t.

ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE TERRITORY.
SIOUX FALLS, Special, Sept 2S.-The COM
mittee appointed by the constitutional con-
vention to prepare an address to the people
has been at work constantly since the adj
%journment, and have just completed the
work in the following document, dated Sioux
Falls, Sept 20. After mentioning the fact
that the convention consumed only half of
the thirty days allowed by the law for it's
labors, and had worked night and day in
order that the expenses might be as light as
possible, it calls attention to article 3, sec
lions 4, s., %, 26 and %, saying:
By these ~sectious your constitution, if adopted
will restrict the power of n s1egislature to enact
special laws, and will thereby prevent, as far as
can be done by a constitution, 0 g~-rolling, job
bling, bribery and corruption. IL will make it
dangerous for a LEGISLATOR TO be bribed, and dan
gerous for any person to bride him. 1t will
make capital commissions, and other like meas
ures of colossal bribery, which have disgraced
and injured this territory, impossible under the
state. In this same connection we ask your at
tention to section IL of article A, with regard TO
the bribery of the governor. By the provisions
upon appropriations, we think the constitution
will etfectually prevent such disgraceful appro-
~priations as have characterized many OF your
legislatures. BY the jobbery always incident to
a general appropriation bill over $4,000 were
expended unnecessarily by that body, against
the protests of its best and ablest members.
We also call your especial attention 10 the limit
placed by the constitution upon taxation, two
mills on the dollar. The maximum tax pro-
vided for by your last territorial legislature is
three mills on a dollar, larger than the taxation
of twelve states in the Union; and the prospect
is that in every Successive territorial legis-
lature. especially If 1t shall continue to meet in
North Dakota under the influence OF the immense
railroad corporations of that section, the rate
of your taxation, and the amount of annual
expenditures, Will increase in an almost geo
metrical ratio, until the burdens Of taxation Of
the people of this territory viii be larger
than that OF the people of any state in the
Union. This one feature answers completely
and forever the argument Of the enemies OF
statehood, that q state government will cost
more than q territorial government. The fact
is, that under the present territorial govern
ment not only 40 you pay all the expenses,
territorial, county and municipal, which you
would pay under a state government, except the
salaries of a few officers and the pay of legis-
lators, but yon pay almost twice the sum
annually that you would pay under the limita-
tions of this constitution. There is absolutely
no limitation to the territorial legislature. AS
long as you remain under the territorial gov
eminent you may expect your taxes to increase
and the extravaganza Of your legislatures grow
greater.
CORPORATIONS AND RAILROADS..
We say to you that in no stESe in the union
have more wholesome restrictions been placed
upon abuses under the heads OF railroad dis
elimination, ETC., than In this constitution. We
say further TO you that should the enemies of
statehood succeed in compelling the people of
South Dakota TO be consolidated in a state with
North Dakota, 1t will be next to impossible.
against the influence of the powerful railroad
corporations which control that section, TO
secure any gnardss similar to those, in a consti-
tuition for Dakota as a whole. We call your
attention especially to the very carefully drawn
and closely guarded provisions on these subjects.
Ne know, that to the general popular interests
throughout the new state, there is no subject
upon which public interest is so alive as upon
the subject Of preserving the school funds, and
the school lands, of the new state from loss,
plumber and transportation. We believe that
the provisions OF this constitution, many
Of them original, are the best upon
this SuhiaGt n0ntainau IN any aOn-
s~titution. of any state in the Union.
We speak advisedly, when we say to you, that
in all directions, the sentiment In favor OF the
admission of this part of Dakota, as a state,
into the Union. has grown stronger each year,
until the demand from the people of the United
States. that this act OF justice shall be done, is
now almost universal. Almost all tile great
newspapers of the land, East as well as West,
and even in California. are demanding that con-
gre5s shall admit Dakota. We do not believe
that the party now in power can afford TO an
tagonize the sentiment of justice on the part Of
the American people which Is thus voiced by the
national administration will have the DISPOSE
ton so to do. One thing Is sure, ii the
100000 people, OF Dakota by a full vote
at the polls this coming November adopt
this constitution and elect their state govern
ment, and elect such men as will represent their
wishes, and If the people Of the new state, after
electing them, with the temper and tirmness of
American citizens stand upon their rights under
the constitution Of the United States, and sup
Por. .seir state government the people 81 the
e1~N " - eeA stSNN e~ANA
will join with them in demanding their immedi-
ate admission. And one of two results will
surely follow. either the Immediate admission of
the State Of Dakota, by the next congress at its
first session, or the hurting from power of the
congress that thus abuses its power and defies
the public sentiment OF the country. We be-
lieve that your admission into the Union is a
matter to be determined by you, by your votes
at this election. II a full vote is polled, and
your constitution is adopted, and your state
government elected. no congress and no admin
istration will dare to SO far defy public opinion
as to deny you admission.
ORGANIZATION
Having completed our work and discharged
our duty to the b st OF our ability. the rest Of
the work is now committed TO yon. We recon-
mend that the county boards appointed In the
various counties, organize their townships by
appointing similar boards in them. The conven-
tion has made arrangements to send 70 your
county boards sufficient supply OF printed con-
st1tutions In the English, German and Scandi-
Oavian languages. See that these documents
are thoroughly circulated. The form OF the bal
lot prescribed by the convention IS printed IN
these. Zee that 1t is correctly printed IN each or
your counties, and that abundance OF tickets are
furnished to all localities. For any further
information or instruction as TO the details OF
The election. any one can apply TO the state ex-
ecutive by addressing Its presiuent,
Hugh J,C .mpbSll, 1t Yankton, Oak more
important election was never held In this terri
tory. You havo to select a LEGISLATURE, your state
officers. representatives TO congress, anu
yonr temporary y scat OF wI soye oronsh1y ae dn1s
mine for all time to come the destinies OF this
people. You have now the opportunity to Sc
Snd t 1os |u oar centrol 1o IF coppomliol SH Sy The peo,
pie. and separation from the disastrous anu
ruinous influences Of q government for the whole
bind South Dakota forever in the chains OF the
Northern Pacific Railroad company and commit
her people forever to the burdens Of faxation'
which 3 legislature, sitting IN North Dakoth,
will impose. and to the payment OF taxes for the
completion OF that monument or extTavagance
and corruption the capitol building A. bls s z 2