The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-09
APPEAL TO DAKOTIANs.

APPEAL TO DAKOTIANS.
Address to the People of the Territory
by a Committee OF the Late Con-
stitutional Convention.
The Bene1icent Provisions of the New
Constitution Pointed Out and the
People Urged to Adopt 1t.
ADDRESS TO H 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
iournment, and have just completed the
work in the following document, dated Sioux
Falls, Sept %. After mentioning the fact
that the convention consumed only half of
the thirty days allowed by the law for its
labors, and had worked night and day in
order that the expenses might be as light as
tOSAo'S ~ S"AiS cSAAIl w III ", u
tons 4, 8, %, 26and IS, saying:
BY these sections your constitution, if adopted
VIII restrict the power of the legislature to enact
special laws, and will thereby prevent, rs far rs
bling, bribery and corruption. II will make it
dangerous for n legislator to be bribed. ami dan
gerous for any person to bride him. 1t will
ures of colossal bribery, which have disgrnced
and injured this territory, impossible under the
state. In this same connection we ask your at
a. fnnfInl, = onptinyN I 7 ~ , 4 ,v,tlx .a,n al -.
the bribery OF the governor. BY the provisions
upon appropriations, we think the constitution
wllleffectuatly prevent such disgraceful appro-
prlat1ons as have characterized many of your
legislatures. BY the jubbery always incident to
a general appropriation bill over $50, 900 were
expended unnecessarily by that body, against
the protests of Its best and ableSt members.
We also call your especial attention to 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 Il dollar, larger than the taxation
Of twelve states in the Union; and the prospect
is that in every successive territorial legis-
lature. especially II it shall continue to meet in
North Dakota under the influence of the immense
railroad corporations of that section. the rate
oil 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 will 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 a state government viii cost
more than n territorial government. The fact
Is, that under the present territorial govern
inent not only 40 you pay all the expenses.
territorial, county and municipal, which you
would pay under a state government, except the
salaries Of Il few officers and the pay of lecis-
lators, but you pay almost twice the sum
annually that you would pay under the iimita-
lions of this constitution. There is absolutely
no limitation to the territorial legislature. As
long IS You remain under the territorial gov
eminent you NAV expect your taxes to increase
ana the extravaganza of Your Legislatures grow
greater.
CORPORATIONS AND RAILROADS.
We say to you that in no state in the union
have more wholesome restrictions been place
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 DC consolidated in a state with
against the influence of the powerful railroad
corporations which control that section, to
secure any guards similar to those: in a consti-
attention especially to the very carefully drawn
and closely guarded provisions on these subjects.
We 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,
the provisions of this constitution, many
Of them original, are the best upon
stitutia subject ct ,n contained htn,a in in +s any ,r CON
We speak advisedly, when we say to YOU. that
in all directions, the sentiment in favor OF the
auuliSSlOn Ol tnlS part OF DAKOTA, as 4 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
newspapers of the land, East as well as West,
and even in California, are demanding that con-
grcss shall admit Dakota. We. do not believe
ta2onizs the sentiment of justice on the part of
the American people which is thus voiced by the
press. We do not believe that the present
national administration will have the disposi-
ton so to do. One thing is sure, if the
go. 600 people OF, Dakota by a full vote
at the polls this coming November adopt
this constitution and elect their state govern.
ment. ard elect such men as will represent theil
wishes, and If the people of the new state. after
electlng them, with the temper and tirmness OF
/ American citizens stand upon their lights under
the constitution of the United States, and sup
port their state government, the people of the
United States will respect their attitude. and
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 deties
the public sentiment of the country. We be.
lieve that your admission into the Union is g
matter to be dctermined by you, by your votes
at this election. If a full vote is poiled, and
Your constitution is adopted. and your state
government elected. no congress and no admin.
i%stration will dare to so far defy public opinion
as to deny you admission.
ORGANIZATION
Having completed our work and discharged
our duty to the best of our ability, the rest OF
the work is now committed to you. We recon-
mend That the county boards appointed in tn,
various counties, organize their townships b,
appointing similar boards in them. The convcn.
tion has made arrangements to send to You
county boards sufficient supply of printed con
stitutions i'll the English, German and Scandi
navtan languages. See that these dccllmen.
are Thoroughly circulated. The form of the bal
lot prescribed by the convention is printed in
these. See that it is correctly printed i'll each OF
your COMMITTEES, and that abundance OF tickets are
furnished to all localities. For any further
4 lnIOrDlatlOn or instruction aS To the IntoiIs nf
the election, any one can apply to the state eX-
ecutive commit &c by addressing its president,
Hugh j. Clmphfli, at Yankton, Oak. A more
Important election @as never held in this terri
tory. You have to select a legislature, your state
officers. representatives to congress, and
your temporary seat of government, This
vote cast at this election will probably deter
mine for al time to come the deetinies of this
people. You have now the opportunity to Sc
cure Tor yourselves an economical government,
and the just control of corporations, by the peo-
pie, and separation from the disastrous and
Ialnous influences OF q government for the whole
Dlnd south Dakota forever in the chains OF the
Northern Pacific Railroad company, and commit
her people forever to the burdens Of taxation,
which q legislature. sitting in North Dakota,
Will impose, and to the payment OF taxes for the
completion OF that monument Of extravaganza
and corruption, tho capitol building at Bismarck
We remind the people here OF the fact lately
disclosed In the litigation at Bismarck, in
which the people of Dakota were defended
by their attorney general against a monstrous
scheme to swind!e the people on the part OF the
late capital commission. 1t appears by the facts
elected during this litigation, that over $40, 600
OF warrants were issued upon orders OF the capt
tai commission, by the late auditor of the terri
Tory, Mr.. Ordway and that the warrants are now
being presented to the territorial treasurer for
payment. Thus a sum Of $4,000, which the
legislature never voted and which the people
never consented to, are being sought to be flched
from the public treasury.
RIGHT TO FORM A STATE GOVERNMENT.
The ordinance OF 1857, and the treaty of
France, by which the territory of Louisiana was
coded to the United States, each contain irreyo-
cable guarantees to the people of this territory
OF the right to form a state government for
themselves and to be admitted into the Union