Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-07-15
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Resolutions Adopted and the Proposi-
Mon to Repeal Section Thirty-two

tion to Repeal Section Thirty-two
Discussed,
Sioux Falls, Oak, July 13-The con-
stitutional convention for the state of
Dakota met here in adjourned session
at 10 o'clock to-day. All the officers
were present and tifty.two delegates,
with several others arriving on later
trains. Thirty-eight only We're required
for quorum, but the Importance of the
question for which the convention was
called, being the question of submitting
the repeal of the restraining section OF
the ordinance and schedule, has called
out q comparatively full attendance.
MIR. Owen, who acted rs president pro
tenn of the special session in May, read
letter from Gladstone acknowledging
the receipt of the resolution adopted by
the convention endorsing his policy of
local self government for Ireland. A
recess until the afternoon was taken to
allow free conference to be held in
discussion of the chief question OF the
session. At the opening of the after
noon session Maj Kellam, of Chamber
lain offered the following.
WHEREAS, fundamental principle of
our system of government, federal and
state, is the right and capacity of the
people for self-goyernment; and whereas,
under the federal constitution the terri
torial organization was designated only
as temporary and provisional govern
ment for the outlying domain of the
United States, and apply for admission
to the union as states on an equal foot
ing with the origina' states; and
whereas, under any and every proper
test south Dakota has largely outgrown
the territorial condition. and by right
her people are now entitled to the man
agenent Of their domestic affairs, to
relief from hurdensome taxation for the
support OF her public schools now nam
tanned by direct levy upon her industries,
to more complete and efficient judiciary
system and generally to the possession
aud exercise of the right of citizenship
enjoyed by every other people of the
United States with like qualifications;
and whereas, the people of that portion
Of Dakota territory lying south of the
46th parallel, having adopted the coneti.
tuition framed by this convention, and
having proceeded hereunder lawfully to
establish provisional state government,
the active powers of which are held in
allowance; and whereas, the early ad-
journment of congress holding out no
promise of any legislation favorable to
the admission OF the state of south Da-
&ots as established by her people, or to
the division of Dakota, so urgently de-
manded by the people of the entire ter
ritory: therefore, be it
| Resolped, That we, the members oi
| the constitutional convention Tor the
state of south Dakota, do most eolemnly
reatfirm the doctrines and principles
enumerated in the bill of rights and the
| constitution formed by this convention
and declare 1t to be the unalterable will
OF the people OF south Dakota, for whom
we are delegated to speak and act, that
the state of Dakota now established and
awaiting admission into the union at the
hands of congress, should be SO reeog.
| nized and admitted as o state of the
United States, without further delay.
Res0l0eG, That it is the sense of this
convention that the division of Dakoti
territory and the creation out of It'll
vast agricultural area of two states Of
the union is imperatively demanded, IL
the common interest alike of north ane
south Dakota, that in the Judgment ol
the members of this convention, q due
oft repeated wishes and petitions OF tn,
/ people of the northern half of the terri
tory should secure them in their righ
to the name of ssnorth Dakota,' ant
that congress should give TO that
4 portion of the territory, upon the ad
mission of the state Of "south" Dakot.
or upon the division of the territory, tht
name of north Dakota; and,
P1eo]Tp1 that nnnu pf thpaa reenll1
tions be furnished the president OF tn
United States, the president of the
senate of the United States and th
speaker OF the house of representa-
tives.
These resolutions were unanimousl
adopted.
An adjournment until 8 q. NJ. to-mor
row was then taken, and the Afternoon
devoted to conference discussion o
the main question of repeating seotio
SO. In the conference T. f. B. Coffin, c
Huron, was chosen chairman, and Nj
Campbell called to present the proposl
! ton, which he did first by offering .h
following;
ResoBped, That it is the sense OF thi
convention that Notwithstanding tb
!. failure of congress at the present sessio
L
. the interests OF the people of Dakota de
mand that the Sioux Falls constitution
and the state government elected there
!; under be not abandoned, but be kep
! alive by ell lawful and peaceful mean
: in our power.
Resolued, That this convention sub
nit to vote OF the people at the mex
November election the repeal of sectio
30 OF the schedule and ordinance.
q In support Of these resolutions judR
Y Campbell made an address, reasonIn
!, thus:
The convention derived its power
:, from an act of the territorial legislator
u which authorized it to frame consGitl
tion for the state of Dakota south of Ii
v forty. sixth parallel and to form sta
J government, just as many other terr
! tories have done before, in each OF whie
J the officers elected Hereunder had b
come bona fide state officers. afterwar
y ratified by congress. With the restrai
ing section attached to the constitute
. the entire work of the convention
. nuili6ed and the full compliance vii
y the requirments of the act of the legi
~ lature effectuaily prevented. The cria
ID now Was reached when the confiden
y OF the people in the Mellette state go
ernment has nearly died out, unless th
convention provide some method to co
NJ tinue it's life and advance Dakota's ho]
in for recognition. With this sectit
thirey.two removed there is no dang
40 of conflict between state and COVER
,k ment authorities. The honorable nj
TO composing the state government are
F-HH a. u a..