Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-10-10


railroads.
Corporations are forbidden to take pri-
vate property for public use, excepting by
just compensation, for the property taken,
injured o 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 restrictions
been placed on abuses under this head,
than in this Constitution.
We further say to you, that should the
enemies of statehood succeed In compel
ling the people OF South Dakota to be
consolidated in q State with North Da-
kota, it will be next to impossible, against
the influence OF the powerful railroad
corporations which control that Sec
ton, to secure any guards similar to these,
in a Constitution for Dakota as a whole.
SCHOOL FUNDS AND SCHOOL LAND.
We call your attention especially, to the
very carefully drawn and closely guarded,
provisions on these subjects.
We know that in the general popular
sentiment throughout the new State,
there is no subject On which the public
interest is 80 alive. as upon the subject OF
preserving the school funds, and the
school lands, Of the new state from loss,
plumber and misrepresentation.
We believe that the provisions OF this
Constitution, many Of them original, are
the best on this subject contained in any
Constitution, of any State in the Union.
PUBLIC INDEBTEDNESS.
We call your attention to the limita-
tons in Article Ii, 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 Com
missions, 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 tenn
porary Seat of Government, this Consti-
tuition submits to your vote, the determ-
ination of what place, shall be chosen for
this purpose.
SEPARATE ARTICLES TO BE VOTED UPON
SEPARATELY.
This Convention, accedingto the voice
OF a 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 Prohibi-
ton, the other the subject OF Minority
representation.
On these subjects, provisions with re-
gard to which, have been embodied in
some State Constitutions, the Convention
has thought it best to submit these ques-
tons to the direct vote of the people.
To your wisdom and intelligence, and
your will, are these subjects commit
ted. 1t is tor you to say what shall be
the Constitutional declaration of your
will, with regard to each Of them.
PROSPECT OF ADMISSION.
We speak advisedly, when we say to
you, that in all directions, the sentiment
or 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 the great newspapers OF the
land, East as well as West, and even in
California, are demanding that Congress
shall admit Dakota.
We do not believe, that the party now
in power can afford to antagonize the sem
timent of justice on the part Of the Amer
lean people, which is thus voiced by the
press.
We do not believe. that the present
National Administration, will have the
disposition so to do.
One thing is sure, if the 100000 people
of Dakota. by a full vote at the polls, this
coming November, adopt this Constitu-
ION, and elect their State Government,
and elect such men, as will reprecent
their wishes, and if the people of the new
state, after e~lecting them, with the temp
er and firmness, Of American citizens,
=.and upon their rights. under the Con-
~stitution of the United States, and sup
port their State Government, the people
of the United States will respect their
attitude, and viii join with tn m, in de-
handing their immediate 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. 1t is time that Congress
cease to TT he with the rights and interests
of 100000 citizens OF the United States.