The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-12-23
SOUTH DAKOTA.
The South Dakota Legislature and Con-
stitutionals Convention Begin I heir
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.

| y" No
the State Government Shall Begin
Business in January, 1883.
Il CONSTITUTION AMI LEGISLATURE.
Huron, Oak. Special Telegram, Dec. 49,
1t was 1880 this morning before President
Edgerton called the constitutional conven-
tion to order. A member offered prayer, and
then the president read a lengthy and patri-
otto paper, commencing that Whatever is
best to DO done should be lone In a firm and
patriotic spirit, he suggested that if a mod
ifcatlon Of the boundaries of the state would
allay irritation, or if a change Of name would
make it more agreeable to others, it would
be well to make these changes. These were
his only practical suggestions. Judge Camp
bell offered the following. which was unani.
mously adopted: -l
Resolved. That a committee Of conference of
nine delegates be appointed by the president of
this convention. who are instructed to take into
consideration the present emergencies and re-
port to the convention when it reassembles to-
day Tor Its consideration such a plan Of action
emergencies. =
Resolved, That this convention invite the SEN
asE and mouse RI EssresentaLtves to appoint q
with the conn tttee Of this convention. with a
view to Obtaining the sentimentso Of these bodies
upon the same subject,7and that this convention
and take part with said committee In such con-
ference for the SAINT object, and that the secre-
tary OF this convention act. as secretary Of said
conferencec committee. @ ,5"@ n
Messrs Campbell, Haines, Owen, Myers,
Dott, Domard, Williams, Neil and Keilam.
MI. Haines reported esolutions to the men,
oru nf tho 1ofa To cp{r,,t 1F IaaJEo
the convention. Adopted. Adjourned to 8
p. m. AT that hour, the conference commit
tee not being prepared to report, aSfurther
adjournment was taken till tomorrow: It
was developed this afternoon thai az 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 is
the proper thing to do by the convention,
and that the latter has full power to dose;
so that this branch of the general conference
committee, and the one that will have the
most weight with the convention, Is OF one
mind as to the course to be pursued in this
emergency.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE
convened at noon. In the absence of Lieut.
Gov. Frank, the senate was called to- order
by its secretary. John H. Drake. Without
transacting any business it took a recess till
2 p. IN, SO that members absent might ar
rive by the noon train and participate in the
proceedings. At this hour the body again
assembled, when Hon. Henry Neill Of
Big Stone City was chosen president
pro tenn. Action was AIKEN on the commu-
nication from the constitutional convention
nv fha nrnoin f,po on r. ff Gopator,, Ho ~ A1o D.
CART, Albums, Bronson and Templeton as
members of the joint committee. Adjourn
ment was then taken till 8 tonight to hear
Gov. Mellette's message read In the house
Speaker Eddy brought down his gavel at
offer prayer. Mr., Dow Of Brown county was
sworn in as o member of the house. On nc
count of the dangerous illness of Chief Clerk
Mcconnell, Ed j. Sherman was appointed
assistant clerk. The house took a recess till
2 On reassembling the.speaker laid before
the house the resolutionso Of the constitutional
convention ,MessrsL French, Allen, Shan
non, Wardell, Potter, Therson and Treat
were appointed membersSof sthe~econference
committee. Adjourned till. p n.
THE JOINT
committee menEwere in session three hours
this afternoon, Judge Campbell in the chair.
Messrs Campbell. Owen, Myers and Kellom
argued in favor or repeating the restraining
NAAu6O IL NA6 OAu1uuuC6 30 uS 10 T6IuOVc SV-
.erything In the way OF putting the state gov
rnmen in motion. They took this position:
The ordinance is no part Of the constitution
and was never submitted to a vote of the people.
1t 1s only the machinery or s%cafrolding upon
which the preliminary steps to statehood are
built. As such 1t lie still in tho hand OF the con-
ventton aud Is subject to their will. either for
modification or repeal.
Mr.. Gamble was the principal speaker in
opposition to this theory. He strongly as
serted TINT his opinion was contrary to his
sympathtes. .yetthe could not see the subject
in the light heldeby others. The session con-
tnued till q lat6 hour, and only adjourned in
season for supper and to listen to the gov
ernor's message 1t is certain that the sym
pathies and the Wishes of the convention
and Of the legislature lead them, almost to q
man, to wish for that solution OF the cues
ton which will the soonest and the surest
compass statehood. This once found, the
remainder of the business will be rapidly
done. The convention will repeal the re-
stralntng clause, but it devolves on the leg
islature to set the time for the state govern
ment to begin action .
Il GOVERNORS MESSAGE
Before the legislature, the convention and
hundreds Of others, Gov. Mellette tonight
delivered bis message. saying:
Notwithstanding past r~everses. 30 great is my
fa1th In the a!mtRhty force Of the enlightened
sentiment Of Justice prevailing in the age. that I
can but hope that upon calm elaboration the
popular house OF conRress will yet concede our
request. which It admits to be reasonable, since
It must occur to them that an u~nrequited
organization Of citizens IS q blow Of
he rights OF every citizen and state.
II congress, in its discretion shall divide the
territorial domain on or near the praaent bound
AIRY line Of the state, tnsuring us our statehood
In the end, n II this division Ia made subject
TO approval by the ballut Of the people, we will
fully accept the new situation ! would urge
you to take no step backward In the work COM
mitted to your care, and with each succeeding
abiding faith In the Ultimate triumph Of Justice.
One paramount duty OF this general assembly Is,
IN my opinion o provide by law for cleo
constitution. and this alone i deem snfacient
apology for your sconyocation. Beyond this
your proper acttonSts debatable, and I shall
course Of wisdom ! desire to reafirm my be,
lief in the absolute and pnqunliaedlawfui rirht
2pf the State Of Dakota 70 maintain q local goy-
must exist means 81 enforcing ii, 30 far as may
be done without interference with the existing
rights Fof other political ORGANIZATIONS The
the qualifications Of Their membership and can.
to their bodies. Their spreToeativs to aop.
R gous y, 4ieh E 4 h sSss aas seS ssat.Resssansst
atitntion of the Unite states and the positive
enaVt1ueuta Oh law exl6eBsS1 II " exl6G6 at@ all,
independent Of the admission Of your represent-
alive TO coneresA. II IA an historical fact; that
electoral vote for president Of the; United States
prior TO the admission Of her representative in
The halls Of congress, While congress can alone
aAmit and
CONSTITUTE xoU STATE
jtn the Union, you may still be d legally constt-
3tuted political authority without the Union. md
as such emitted to the protection Of the federal
laws In fact, the creative power abides IN the
5etate, and NOT In congress-. Whether We rely on
tie fact that the terms Of the ordinance Of 1857
became by the organic net Of Minnesota Terri.
tory, OF Whtoh:n portion OF Dakota was then a
part. a compact between tho United States md
tho people Of this TERRITORY, Or Tracing our title
to statehood from smother and fndepepdent
source, ", the treaty territory
wSs ceded by France to the United Et4tas, nnd
~ which " w~nAsexprcaely stipulated That upon
the futurc demands OF tho inhabitants sot this