Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-01-22

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shall be taken i'll the matter of bringing
new state to the attention of congress-,
or how or by whom the first steps shall
be initiated. The precedents h ave
varied. In many cases congress has in
ltlated the proceedings by providing for
| q constitutional convention. In other
| cases, and not few, the convention has
| assembled by the authority of the people
] Of tine territory. This was the case in
Tennessee, and President Washington
and many of the founders of the govern
ment recognized the right of Tennessee
to pursue the course she did. In I'd Ii
5lon to the somewhat precedent of Ten
nessee, Michigan had no enabling act, but
President jackson transmitted her con-
itItion to congress with special
message on the subject, as Washington
done beforein the case of Tennessee,
y Os.ifornia had no enabling aot, or even
he authority of local legislature,
The convention which formed the consti-
tntion under which Florida was ad-
nitted into the union was convened by
virtue OF an act OF her territorial lSgis-
iature IN the same manner we did. We
would likewise respectfully call atten-
tlon to the admission of Iowa, Oregon,
Nevada, Arkansas and Wisconsin. We
confidently claim that our course was
justified by abundant precedents. Some
nave claimed that Dakota was pursuIng
an unusual and revolutionary course in
electlng her officers. / think the parties
who make this charge have not fully
read history in connection with the ad-
mission of other states. In nearly eyery
case, so lar as am informed, the state.
prior to its admission, has elected its
state officers. ln Minnesota, with whose
history L am most familiar, when the
consultation was submitted to vote of
the people in October, 1867, full state
and legislative ticket was elected. The
Legislature assembled in December 1857.
and elected two senator's. Three mem
Ders of congress had been elected at the
fall election, and the senators and three
congressman thus elected came at once
to Washington and remained here until
The following day, when the senate was
admitted and the two senators and two
members of congress were sworn in.
think the precedents upon this question
are nearly all one way.
1t has been said by some few that the
people OF Dakota do not desire division
on the iorty-sixth parallel, l invite
your attention to the evidence upon the
question. Tne legislature of 1871 passed
"a memorial to congress by unanimous
vote to divide the territory on the forty
sixth parallel Two years later slmi-
lar memorial was passed, with but four
dissenting votes in both houses. Again
IN 1874 another memorial was passed,
with but one dissenting vote in both
houses. Again, in January, 1877, another
like memorial passed both houses unani-
mousiy. AGAIN, st the next sessinI,, il
1879, protest against the admission of
the territory as one state was passed,
At the next session memorial was
passed asking for division into
three territories. In 1883 bill for con.
stitutloual convention for south Dakota
was passed. but failed to become law
for want OF the governments approval.
AT the last session OF the legislature it
passed the law providing for the constr.
tutional convention, ard the same legis-
latnre passed memorial to congress
asking for division on the forty.sixth
parallel. The legislature IS composed
of twenty-tour members OF the council
and torty-eigbt members OF the house.
Upon this vote there We're twenty-three
ayes in the council and no nays. and in
the house forty eight ayes. Thus it will
legislature for the past fifteen years the
representatives of the people have been
pronounced and nearly unanimous up
on this question of dsvlsion. What bet
ter mode has any one for determining the
will or choice OF the people? The party
convention of each party composed of
delegates from the whole territory, de-
clared IL favor OF the division in 1884.
and in this connection desire to read
the resolution of the Press association
OF south Dakota at Huron:
'ReSOI0ed, That We are in full sympa-
thy with the proposition that under no
circumstances shall we endorse any
move looking to anything less than the
division OF Dakota on the forty-sixth
parallel, and the admission of the south
half into all privileges and immunity
enjoyed by oil states OF the national
union.
"Resol0ed, That the members of this
convention devote their time, energy
and ability to the promotion of the sue
cess OF the movement for the statehood
of Dakota, aDd earnestly urge upon the
state TO enter heartily. earnestly and
persistently into the work to the end
that its great influence may be brought
to bear - the movement as at present
constituted"
Another evidence of the desire of our
people upon this questionls the fact.that
for number of years, whenever pub
lie institution has been provided for in
south Dakota, like institution has
been provided for by law in north Da-
kota. The law has located one universi-
ty at Vermilllou, in south Dakota,
and one at Grand Forks. in
north Dakota;sn insane asylum at Yank-
ton, Ia south Dakota, and one at James
town, north Dakota, one penitentiary
at Sioux Falls, south Dakota, and one
at Bismarck, north Dakota; and SO on
with other institutions The supporters
of the movement are not confined TO one
party. The first convention which met
at Huron to initiate the proceedings for
the constitutional convention was pre-
sided over by well known democrat,
formerly a member of congress from
Illinois. The first constitutional con-
vention which met at Sioux Falls in
1883 was presided over by very emf
nent lawyer and a democrat, the present
distinguished chief justice of our su-
preme court. In view OF these facts we
claim there can be no question as to the
desire of our people on the subject of
the division of the territory upon the
forty y-sixth parallel, as provided for in
the constitution now submitted to you
and to congress.
The next and, perhaps, more vital
question is this: That portion of Dako-
ia south of the forty sixth parallel now
prepared for admission has been terri
tory longer than any territory which has