Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-09-30
The legislature is forbidden to sur.

The legislature is forbidden to sur.
render the power to tax corporations.
The Legislature Is given power, to pre-
vent unjust discrimination or extortiop,
In freight and passenger rates on the
railroads.
Corporations are forbidden to take
private property for public use, except
ing by just compensation for the proper
ty taken, injured or destroyed, first paid
or secured before such taking, and the
people are given the right, to have
damages in these cases determined by a
jury.
We say to you that in no state in the
union. have more wholesome restric-
tions been placed upon abuses under
these heads, than in this constitution.
We say further to you, that should the
enemies of statehood succeedjin COM
pelling the people of south Dakota to
be consolidated in q 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 guards similar to
these, in constitution for Dakota as a
whole.
SCHOOL FUNDS AND SCHOOL LAND.
We call your attention especially, to
the very carefully drawn, aud closely
guarded provisions on these subjects.
We know, that in the general popular
sentiment throughout the new state,
there is no subject upon which the pub
lie interest is SO alive, as upon the sub
ject of preserving the school funds and
the school lands of the new state from
loss, plunder and misappropriatlon.
We believe that the provisions of this
constitution, many of them original,
are the best upon the subject contained
in any constitution of any state in the
| union.
PUBLIC INDEBTEDNESS.
We call your attention to the limita-
tions in article 13, upon state, county,
township and municipal Indebtedness.
SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.
We call your attention to the mode
| provided in this constitution,
for the selection of the seat
of government. By this method
the disgrace OF capital commissions, and
all bribery and jobbing on this subject
| are forever prevented. The constitution
gives to the people alone, the power to
| determine their seat of government
| And, at the very outset, for the tempo
rary seat OF government, this constitu.
ton submits to your vote the determi.
nation of what place shall be chosen fol
this purpose.
| SEPARATE ARTICLES TO BE VOTED UPON
SEPARATELY.
This convention, acceding TO the voice
OF large element of the people, have
submitted to you separate propositions
on two questions to be determined By
your vote; one being the subject of pro.
bibition. the other, the subject of min
ority representation.
On these subjects, provisions with re.
gard to which have been embodied IN
some state constitutions, the convention
has thonght it best to submit these
questions TO the direct vote of the peo.
pie.
To your wisdom and intelligence, and
your will, are these subjects committed
1t ls for you to say what shall be the
constitutional declaration of your will
with regard to each of them.
| PROSPECT OF ADMISSION.
r We speak advisedIy when we say tc
you, that in all directions the sentimen,
In favor of the admission of this part OF
Dakota, as state, into the union, haE
grown stronger each year, until the de-
nand from the people of the United
States, that this act of justice shall be
done, is now almost universal.
| Almost all the great newspapers ol
the land, east as we'll as west, aud even
IN California, are demanding that con.
gress shall admit Dakota.
| We do not believe that the party now
IN power can afford to antagonize the
sentiment of justice, on the part of the
American people, which is thus voiced
by the PRESS.
We do not believe that the presen,
national administration " II have the
disposition SO to do.
One thing is sure, if the 250,GO0 peo.
pie OF Dakota, by a full vote at the
polls, this coming November, adopt
this constitution and elect their state
government, and elect such men as viii
represent their wishes, and if the peop le
of the new state, after electing them
with the temper and frmness Of Ameri
can citizens, stand upon their rights
under the constitution of the United
States, and support their state govern.
ment, the people of United States will
respect their attitude and will join with
them in demanding their immediate ad
mission, and one of two results will sure.
ly follow: either the immediate admis
sion of the state of Dakota by the next
congress, at its first session, or the hurl
ing from power of the congress that thus
abuses its, power and deties the public
sentiment of the country. It is time
that congress cease to tritle with the
rights and interests of 250,0O0 citizens ol
the United States.
We believe that your admission into
the union is a matter to be determined
by you, by your votes at this election
If full vote is polled, and your consti
tuition is adopted, and your state gov
ernment elected, no congress and no ad
ministrstion will dare to SO far defy
public opinion as to deny you admis
sion.
ORGANIZATION.
Il Having completed our work and dis
charged our duty to the best of ou
ability, the rest of the work is now com
mitted to you. We recommend that tn
county boards, appointed in the 7ariou
counties, organize their townships b,
appointing similar boards in them. Th
convention has made arrange
ments to send to your count
boards sufficient supply O
printed constitutions, in the English
German and Scandinavian languages
See that these documents are thoroughly
circulated. The form of the ballot pre-
scribed by the convention is printed il
these. See that it is correctly printed
in each Of your counties. and that abnp
dance OF tickets are furnished to al
, localities. For any further information
. or instruction as to the details of tn
election, any one can apply to the stat
executive committee. by addressing it
president, Huah / EamnhelI MT Yanh