St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-17
WAS IT ONLY A BLUFF?
The Convention of Dakota Citizens at
Huron Continue the Statehood
Discussion,
But Talk Much More COnservatively
Than on the Opening Day of
the Meeting.
A Practical PostpOnenent lof Any
Action Until a Year From
January.
Unanimous Repeal of the Restraining
Clause of the Schedule and
Ordinance.
Special to the Clone.

Special to the Clone.
HURON, Oak, Dec. 16.-The morning
session of the constitutional convention was
consumed in the discussion of the repeal OF
section 81 of the schedule and ordinance
The conference committee made majority
and minority reports. Mr.. Campbell pre-
sided. The majority report is as follows:
Resolved, That the conference committee
recommend the repeal of section 5% OF the
schedule and ordinance, and report the fol
lowing ordinance and recommend its adop-
ton to the convention: "Be 1t ordained oy
the constitutional convention that section 81
of the schedule and ordinance appended to
and accompanying the constitution be and
the same is hereby rescinded and made null
and void
Mr.. Haines submitted the following mi
nOrity report:
Resolved. That the convention submit to
the vote of the electors Of the state of Dakota
at the next election for legislative and state
officers the following ordinance: BE it or
daiued that the section under the heading of
schedule and ordinance of the constitution
numbered 30 be and the same is hereby res
cinded and held null and void"
Mr.. HaineS spoke against the majority
report. He held that well-infOrmed law
yerS knew that
THE POWER OF CONGRESS
was supreme in the territory. He held
that if the state government was set up it
would certainly come in conflict with the
the territorial government in some way.
John A. Owen said the committee OF nine
were all lawyers and had unanimously con-
cluded to repeal the section. Last night
our attorney general said:
[ have been with the statehood movement
from its inception in the Huron wigwam clear
down TO the meeting. We have beaten Camp
bell every time and now we've brought up IN
the graveyard. Now 1 am ready for a change
of base. ready to do something, and II we III
doing so bring up in the graveyard again,
well and good.
Mr.. Dow favored the adoption of the ma
iority report, believing it to be the wiseSt plan
to pursue. and he was sustained in that
conviction by Mr.. Coffin. Mr.. Neill read
the resolutions passed by the citizens meet
ing held Yesterday favoring the repeal of
the section. and Mr. SaylOr argued strongly
for the minority report. Judge Campbell
contradicted the impression that it was his
friends that had called this session of the
convention. He had almost concluded tie
state government was dead, but had come
to help remove the manacleS from Gov.
Melette and the legislature, though he had
no plans to propose.
JUDGE EDGERTON
called Mr. Campbell to the chair, and adj
dressed the convention at length. He did
not think the government was dead. He
urged the convention to stand by statehood
under the constitution and give congress to
understand that we will accept only what
we are now asking for. If the section is
repealed am with you, though 1t may be
against my convictions. The discussion
continued till after the noon hour and re-
suited in the adoption of the majority report
bv a large majority. During the debate
Mr.. Haines read letter from Judge Moody,
in which he said:
I am as strenuously opposed to setting the
state government in motion as L ever have
been I do not see what good can come from
it. The people here in the Black Hills will
forever oppose it. l consider the meeting at
Huron d farce. Congress will not admit US.
I do not expect to be there. l can do more
good in Washington than in Huron.
At the meeting of the constitutional con-
ventiOn this afternoon the following memo
rial was
PRESENTED AND ADOPTED:
Whereas. Congress has failed to legislate in
accordance with the repeated petitions of
the people of South Dakota, for admission
into the Union; and
Whereas In the disregard of the express
sions of their desire for division, the only re-
sult that has thus far received promise OF the
SUD- O t OF the house of representatives is in
the dire ction of forcing upon Dakota an act
looking toward admission AS whole, and de-
preciating the untairness Of compelling the
Deople of the territory of Dakota to carry
ont their settled determination to accept ad-
mission only upon the terms of division, in
substantial accord with the boundaries by
them selected. and recognizing the evils which
will result from the prolonged agitation sure
to follow the passage of am act following the
terms of the SO-called Springer bill, be 1t
Resolved, That the president of this con-
vention. together with Hugh J. Campbell and
A. HAYNES, members ther6o be and they are
hereby constituted Il committee in behalf of
this convention TO prepare and submit to the
president and congress the further and sup
elemental memorial of this body.
Resolved, That in the event Of the failure
on the part of congress to take action upon
the demands of South Dakota for admission
Mt the present session, the memorial commit
tee heretofore appointed be authorized and
directed, for and in behalf of the convention,
TO promulgale and
PUBLISH AN Adde'S
10 the people of the United States, setting
forth the grievances of the people of Dakota,
in view of the protracted depreciation of the
right of self-governnent and of representa-
tiOn in congress.
Mr.. Aver, of Kingsbury county, pre-
sented the following which was adOped:
Resolved, That this convention recommends
that the state at the general state election to
be held in November next, shall decide
whether the state government go into opera
tion in all of its departments on the first
Tuesday after the firsl Monday in January,
1888.
This action indicates radical change of
heart on the part of several members of the
convention since the morning session and
creates great surprise, it being contrary to
the expressed sentiment of many who took
part in the debate. The convention ad-
iourned this evening to meet in Huron on
the first Wednesday in June next. Moth
ing has been accomplished by either branch
9f the legislature to-day.