Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-10-09

compact is stipulated in the Ordinance, to
be forever irrevocable, without the con.
sent of the people Of the Territory. The
ablest lawyers and %jurists of the country,
have united in declaring that the people
of this Territory are parties to these COM
pacts, and Of right entitled to act upon
them, and demand their fulfllment. In
addition to these compacts, the Constitu-
lion of the United States, as judicially
interpreted by the Supreme Court, which
Interpretation has never been reversed by
any subsequent Court, has guaranteed to
the people of this Territory, as of all
Territories, the absolute right of self
government, and Statehood, whenever
their condition, their population, their
area, and their resources, arc sufficient to
enable them to govern themselves.
These are Constitutional and legal
rights, which Congress has no lawful
power to set aside, and can only disregard,
as Senator Harrison stated upon the floor
OF the Senate last winter. bv brute force.
UNITED STATES APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUB
LILO INSTITUTIONS AND INTERNAL M
PRovEMENTs FOR A NEW ATE.
1t has been the custom Of Congress to
appropriate for a new State, upon adj
mission 100000 acres of the public lands,
forinternal improvements; also 70 Sections
Of land for the maintenance of a State
University; 80 Sections Of land for the
endowment and maintenance of an Agri-
cultural college; so Sections OF land for
the building and maintenance of a PEN
itentiary; and all the Salt Springs in the
State not exceeding - sections. In addi-
ton to these donations, it has been the
custom of Congress, as a compensation to
tho new States, for an exemption of the
United States lands and property from
taxation, to grant each of them five per
cent, of the gross proceeds, ofall the sales
ofpublic land, made within the limit Of
the State, from the time of its organiza-
tion as q Territory.
This sum, for the State of Dakota, will
amount to, as we are informed by the
Hon. r. F. Pettigrew, from whom We have
gathered these facts above stated, the sum
OF 81, 100000, being n twentieth of the
$50, 100000 the amount Of the said sales
up to this time.
II Dakota should be admitted as a
whole, all these donations and grants but
tie last named would only be is much for
the whole, as for either Of the two States
separately. Therefore, it is easy to see
that by division, the people OF the new
State, will gain twice the valuo in these
grants, which they would gain if admitted
as a whole.
D1M1NUT1oN OF TAXES TO BE OBTAINED BY
.== STATEHOOD.
The school lands which will belong to
the new State Of Dakota will be III round
numbers about 2.70O,OoO acres, and are
valued ut $27, 100000. OF these, the Con-
stitution provides that no more than ono
third, shall DO sold in the first five years,
which will amount to 100000 acres. Esti-
mated at the minimum value of $40 per
acre, the totalsum realized by the sales of
these lands will be 100000. This sun,
will bear interest at not less than six per
cont. Six per cent, on the sum gives a
total revenue of $4,000. Besides this
revenue, the lands thus sold are lmlnedi-
ately subject to taxation, and the revenue
obtained from these lands in the way OF
taxes, at two mills on a dollar amounts to
$4,000. Thus the total revenue, inmedi-
ately obtained for school purposes, for
the people, by Statehood, will be $500 600.
AS the school taxes have amounted to
about one-half of all the taxes, and as
this revenue will enable the Legislature
to reduce the school taxes to almost moth
ing. it is easy to see that your taxes Will
he reduced almost one-half by q State
Government.
ADVANTAGES OF ADMISSION AND STATE
We summarize for you, In q short re-
capitulation, the advantages which you
viii derive, b%yadopting this Constitution,
and forming q State Government.
/. Low taxation.
2. Economy in appropriations and OK
penditures by tho Legislature.
B. Checks on county and municipa
indebtedness.
4 Lower salaries for your State officers
than you are paying the corresponding
Territorial officers.
S. The protection OF your school LAND
and funds.
s. The receipt of revenue from school
lands and the diminishing Of your school
taxes.
z. Checks IN the power OF corpora
tions to influence legislation and to dis
criminate unjustly against individuals or
places.
8. The opening of the Indian Reserva-
tions and the settlement, of those large
tracts of country, which now separate
Eastern from Western Dakota.
9. The advance of Railroads across
these reservations, and the increase Of i'm
migration.
10. The bringing Of your State Gov
srnment closer to the people, and making
it more responsible to them.
IL. Advance in all value Of properties,
and an increase and stability of State,
Municipal and individual credit.
12. Independent and complete self
government.
10. An escape from the enormous tax
alton that will be necessary to complete
All of which is respectfully submitted
to the people of Dakota for their coLao
Grafton.
By order Of the Convention.
HUGH j. CAMPBELL,
Delegate from Yankton County.
w. W. BRooKNGs,
Delegate from Minnehaha County.
FRANK GAU1T,
Delegate from Mcpherson County.
THEo. d. KANousE,
Delegate from Sanborn County.
SAMUEL MILLER,
Delegate from Hughes County.
Committee ON Address to the People of
] Dakota,