The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-12-31
SOUTH DAKOTA.
The South Dakota Legislature and Con.
stitutional Convention Begin Their
Sessions at Huron.
Gov. Mellette's Message Read, Devoted
Exclusively to Discussion of State
hood.
Voters Called Upon to Decide Whether
the State Government Shall Begin
Business in January, 1883.

'TSSoAS OssS~S~
the State Government Shall Begin
Business in January, 1883.
THE CONSTITUTION AND LEGISLATURE
Huron. Oak. Special Telegram, Dec. 15.-
1t was 1870 this morning before President
Edgerton called the constitutional conven-
tion to order. A member offered PRAYER, and
then the president read q lengthy and patri-
otto paper, commencing that whatever 10
best to bo done should DO done in firm and
patriotic spirit. He suggested that II . mod
tication Of the boundaries Of the state would
allay irritation, or II . change of name would
make it moro agreeable to Others. It would
be well to make these changea These were
his only practical suggestions Judge Camp
bell offered the following, which was unani-
mously adopted:
Resolved, That committee OF conference Of
this convention. WHO arc instructed 70 take into
consideration the present emergencies and re-
port to the convention whom II reassembles to-
asy ,or Ls such Rsn oi Il
Resolved, That this convention invite the sem
joint M oo,nmst.e mutt % Of Congress to meet ana eoni.s
with The committee OF this convention. with
view TO Obtaining the senttment0 OF these bodies
invite the president and the governor 70 nset
aud take part with said oommittee In such con-
ference for the saune object. and that the secre.
tlry Of this convention oct - secretary OF said
conference committee.
The president appointed ~ the COMMITTEES
Nessra Campbell. Haines, Owen, Myers.
Dost. Domard, Williams, Neill and Kellam.
Mr.. Haines reported resolutions 70 tho msm-
ory q the late Cassius II. Reed, member Of
the convention. Adopted Adjourned 70 8
p m. At that hour. the conference commit
tse not being prepared 70 report. . further
adjournment was taken TIL tomorrow. II
was developed this afternoon that al the
members Of the conference committee are
lawyers. and that when they met for confer
ence before meeting with the senate and
house committeeman, all Of them agreed
that the repeal Of the restraining CLAUSE IL
the proper thing to do BY tho convention.
and that the latter has full power to do 90;
20 that this branch of the general conference
committee, and the ono that will have the
most weight with the convention, II Of one
mind a. to the course to be puxsued In this
emergency.
THE STATE L1orsLATuRE
convened at noon In the absence Of Lieut.
Gov. Frank, the senate was called to order
BY Its secretary. John b. Drake. Without
transacting any business 1t took reoess till
y. M, 90 that members absent might AZ
rive by the noon tram and participate in the
proceedinga At this hour the body again
assembled, whom Hon Henry Neiu Of
Big Stone City was chosen president
pro tenn. Action was taken ON the commu-
by the appointments Of Senators Gamble, Bo-
Rart, Adams Bronson and Templeton "a
members OF the joint committee. Adjourn
ment was then taken hh 8 tonight to heax
Gov Mslletts's message read In tho house
noon. and called upon Rev Mr.. kcCostin 70
offer prayer. Mr.. Dow Of Brown county was
sworn In a. . member Of the house. On sc-
count Of tho dangerous illness OF Chief Clerk
Mcconnell, Ed J. Sherman was appointed
2. On reassembling tho speaker laid before
the house tho revolutions Of the constitutional
convention Aessra French, Allen, Shan
non, Wardell. Potter, Therscn and Treat
were appointed members Of the conferences
committee Adjourned till p m.
THE JOINT CONFERENCE
committee men were in session three hour
III. pds Sen .na the ka ehs
argued in favor OF repeating the restraining
clause In the ordinance 60 as to remove ev.
erything in the way of putting the state gov.
ernment in motion They took this position
| The ordinance is no part Of the constitution
It Is only the machinery or scaholding upor
which the preliminary steps to statehood are
built. As such 1t is still in the hand OF the con
veniton and is subject to their will either fo
modification or repeal.
| Mr. Gamble was the principal speaker II
opposition to this theory. He strongly as
serted that his opinion was contrary to hi
sympathies. yet he could not see the snbjec
| t., hal lioht hold hx-n ha Inn, rny
knued till late hour. and only adjourned IL
| season for supper and to listen to the gov
erhor's message 1t is certain that the sym
pathies and the wishes of the convention
and of the legislature lead them, almost to
man, to wish for that solution of the ques
tion which will the soonest and the sures
compass statehood This once found, tn
remainder Of the business will be rapid.
done The convention will repeal the re
straining clause, but it devolves on the leg
| islature to set the time for the state govern
ment to begin action.
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE
Before the legislature. the convention ant
hundreds OF others. Gov. Mellette te-nigh
delivered his message, saying:
Notwithstanding past reverses. so great is m.
sentiment Of justice prevailing in tho age, that
can but hope that upon calm deitberation th
popular house Of congress will vet concede ou
4 request, which it admits to be reasonable, sine
it must occur to them that an unrequite
wrong to any citizen or. lawful polite.
organization Of citizens s;.,I is blow w. q
II congress, in its discretion, shall divide til
territorial domain on or near the present bound
ary line of the state, insurne us our statehoo
III the end, and II this division Is made sub5et
to approval by the ballot Of the people, we wi
welcome this solution Of the problem and cheer
fully accept the new situation ! would ure
you to :ake no step backward In the work con
mitted to your care, and with each succeedin
discouragement renew your courage from a
abiding faith in the ultimate triumph OF justtc
One paramount duty of this general assembly 1
tions to fill vacancies IN Office under tt
constitution, and this alone deem sufticier
apology for your convocation; beyond tn
your proper action Is debatable and sha
trust in the conflict Of opinion to develop I'll
course Of wisdom desire to reafiirm my By
lief in the absolute and unqualified lawful riel
Of the State Of Dakota to maintain local Ko'
must 1 exist mean means Of enforcing mi it. so far Is ma
be done without interference with the extstii
rights of ether political organizations "
. houses OF congres IS are by law the sole judges
not be compelled to admit your Representative
to their bodies. Their prerogative to q
! press is to this extent unQusstionabl
q . Judicial sovereignty formed under the Co
, ! stitution of the Unite States and the positi
enactments Of law, exists, II IL exists at q
independent Of the admission Of your reprssen pre- ?
. the State Of Indiana cast and had counted
electoral vote for president OF the United Stat
prior TO the admission q her representative "
CONSTITUTE You \ STATE
In the Union, you may still be legally cons
snoP shs
7 state, ard not in congress-. Whether We rely
= ths fAot that tho terms Of tho ordinance Of ~