St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-15
constitutional Convention.

special to the Globe.
SIOUX FALLS, Oak, July 14.-The con-
stitutional convention assembled this morn
ing at o'clock. pursuant to adjournment,
with ffty-One members present, and imme-
diatelY took a recess until II. The conven-
ton then resolved itself into conference
and proceeded to discuss the one question
that has occupied its attention since the
opening session-shalI the repeal of the re-
straining clause of the constitution
adopted last fall be submitted to
vote of the people? Harris. kellam,
Neil, Wright and Coffin made able and elo-
Quent arguments in opposition to such SUD-
mission. The argument Of Mr.. HalnS
dealt largely with the legal propositions in
vOIved, but he found time to read letter
he had received from Judge Moody. which
HAD GREAT WEIGHT,
as well as that of Senator Harrison. pub
lished some time since. Judge Moody
wrote that he hoped the convention would
not do such a foolish thing as to attempt to
repeal the restraining clause OF the constItu-
ton and compel the senate to pass again upon
the question so thoroughly discussed last
winter. He also quoted from letter he
had received from Senator Harrison 10 the
stion was maintained by McCullum, DR..
Ward and Owen. chairman OF the state
league. After the recess Congressman Ka
mouse moved that the vote upon the resOlu-
ton be taken at u o'clock and that Gen.
Campbell be allowed the remaining time to
close the discussion. which was carried.
The general then took the floor and made a
mastery and ingenious argument, which
was by far the best effort of
the convention. He ridiculed the
idea suggested by his opponents
that there was something hidden between
the lines; that the proposed action was
only one step toward the establishment of
2 state government to overthrow the terri
toriaI government. In closing he warned
the convention that should the resolution
fail all hope for a state under the present
constitution was at an end and statehood
would be delayed for six and perhaps ten
years. He was listened to with marked
attention and was enthusiastically ap-
pIauded at The close, The vote was then in
order and was awaited with great interest
by the members Of the convention as well
as the spectators. The ayes and noes were
ordered, and many recorded the vote as
each delegate answered TO his name. The
secretary soon announced that twenty had
voted aye and thirty-one no. Gen. Camp
bell
TOOK HIS DEFEAT PHILOSOPHICALLY,
out it was very evident that he was greatly
disappointed at the result, as he had every
reason to expect yesterday that he would be
successful. This expectation was shared
by the convention as a whole as well as the
reporters and spectators, and even now
many are at loss to account for the re-
suit. The true explanation is that
the letters of Senator Harrison
and Judge Moody were used
to the greatest possible advantage by the
opponents Of the scheme, and were sup
plemented by earnest, persistent work on
the part of Judge EdgertOn, Mr.. Haines
and others. In the afternoon the conven-
lion passed a resolution requesting the
county commissioners of the several coun-
hes throughout the territory to provide for
The submission to the people of the entire
5erritOry Of the QUeStiOd of the
DIVISION OF DAKOTA.
On an east and west line on or near the
forty-sixth parallel. This was adopted
unanimously after short discussion, and
it is the hope Of the Democrats to carry the
question this fall by handsome majority
Several resolutions were introduced look
inc to the continuance of the agitation of
the statehood movement The state eXecu-
tive committee was reelected and empow-
cred to call the constitutional convention
whenever it shall be deemed expe-
dent and necessary, and power
to fill vacancies in its membership
was granted. The rules OF the convention
were changed so that the convention may
adjourn from time to time in the absence of
a quorum. At o'clock the convention ad-
jOurned to reassemble in Sioux Falls the
23d of November next. After adjourn
ment the state executive committee met
and marked out line of action. They de-
cided to continue the agitation for state
hood in Dakota, and will resume the fight
before congress next winter and continue
till division and admission result.