Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-05-13
lallY fesa md gakotaiaa
THE EMERGENCY.
Dakota Face TO Face with she Neees
,ity for Organizing a state tsovcrn-

tak0t Face To Eac with the NeceS
sity for Organizing q state sa0vcrn-
ncnt.
Sioux Falls Leader.
Dakota has now come to the dividing
OF the ways. 1t is. settled beyond
doubt that the house of representatives
will refuse either to admit or divide
Dakota.
Fit had given Us division, the people
Of Dakota would have been satisfied and
and would have bowed to lis decision,
unjust though it would have been. But
they would have considered division a
great step in advance and would have
accepted it and been content to displaae
their state government and their excel
lent constitution and to have begun
anew their work OF rebuilding.
But congress has refused this act OF
justice. The democratic house has
treated Dakota not only with neglect
bat with contumely. 1t has purposelY
sfiasamed with Adventures and strangers
among us to obtain evidence of usten-
sibls division lot sentiment upon which
it could justify its course for refusing
to admit as.
When congress- adiourns it will then
be necessary for the people OF Dakota
TO decide whether they. will abandon
their state government and state con-
stitution, or maintain it. In view OF
that decision which must soon be made,
it is high time that the leaders, whom
the people have put upon the watch
towers, give forth some word of advice
aud counsel as to the courae to be pur.
sued in this emergency.
It is therefore opportune that the con.
stitutIonnl convention established By
law should he still existence and should
NOT be in session iii this city. III there
is 4 plan by which the people OF Dakota
cant Establish their state government
under the frame aud shield Of law by
peaceful means, without disturbance
and by the exercise OF their legal and
constitutional rights, that plan should
now be proposed, go that between this
aud the adjournment Of congress the
people can have time to discuss and con-
slaer it: to form their resolutions and to
Instruct their representative s and
~o.iicers as to their will in the promises
la there ouch q plan? We hold there
Is. We hold that by the exercise of the
Law making power congress has vested
III the people Of the territory, under the
vide grant Of Legislative power given
the territorial Legislature, the people
have ample power to protect themselves,
10 set their state government into opera
ton and TO make the issue with the
democratic house of repres entatives be-
tore the great tribunal OF the American
people,
go fHhn rpitrrinl n ariot In tx,rr la,E .z-,.
under the organic act to legislnte as to all
things not inconsistent with the con-
stitution and the laws of the United
States. such laws passed by the terri
torial legislature are binding upon the
president, congress and the people until
they are annuIied or repealed.
Let the friends OF division and state
heodjn south and north Dakota com.
bine and-elect d twosthtrds5 majority to
the next territorial legislature oil unqunl-
flied, determined statehood and dlvis-
o men. Let the constitutions con-
yentlon now in aession in this city form.
Mate q plan of action and publish it, so
that the people OF the whole territory
may have opportunity to fully discuss
and examine it. Let the convention theD
adjoarn TO o day fixed to be soon after
the adjournment of congress. Let that
convention then reasonable with it's
full membership from the various
counties. Let IL then repeal section 80
OF the schedule and. submit the article
repeating it to the people Mt the next
November election. Let this oonyea-
tion at its present session request the
governor and the proper officers %connect-
cd with HIM to convene the state leeis.
latura to meet as soon as possible after
the November election, if the people
adopt the repeating ordinance. Let that
Legislature, when 1t assemblea-taKe all,
necessary steps towaraa putting the
state governmesSIufo operation in all
Its departments. Let the people of
south Dakota send statehood and diyis.
i'm mon, staunoh and true, to the terri.
tofial, county. and district conventions
OF both parties In south Dakota, and let
the compile uaent of the legislature elect
ed from south Dakota be every one Of
them thorough, iincompromislng state
h6oyf aud division men. Let them De
pledged by their constitution to pass
through the legislature at Bismarck,
laws fully recognizing the state govern
ment of south Dakota.
Let the division aud statehood men
OF north Dakota elect to the legislature
also q same kind OF men, SO that the
legislature will have q sel! sro.thirds
majority of gusempromising statehood
men.
Then insIessomber of January next
let he etate government thus fuliy
authorized by law, proceed to the exer.
else OF all its powers and duties.
Congress vested this power in the hands
OF the people of Dakota. The laws that
the territory will pass cannot be annull-
I'd except by the consent of both houses
of congress: the senate will not annui
item. Until they are ~annulled or repeal.
ed, neither the president nor anybranch
OF the government can interfere lawfully
with the tat zgovernment 30 organized.
Sneh e course wall bring an Issue, it is
true. between Dakota and the house of
representatives. but it will be peaceful
and Q legal issae, to be decided by peace
fnl and legal pasansy it is sea.a an
Issue that we now-n1ost OF all things
need IN order to compel congress "a
some action.
VIII this plan or some plan like it, a
practical, safe, plan, be formulated by
this convention and laid before the peo.
pie From our advices cleaned freq
yer the territory, we are assured tia,
The people Of south Dako.o will by an
overwhelming majority, back the con-
vsnlion and follow its ~coursels. What
is nceded in: the interim between the
adjournment of congress and the present
time, is that such a plan be formulated
openly and above-board and published
broadcast, SO that every man 10 Dakota
can read and understand it and be ready