The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-01-20
FROM SOUTH DAKOTA.
The South Dakota Constitutional Con.
:. yention Meets Again at Huron and
Passes Strong Resolutions.
The Reasons for Division and Admis
sion Set Forth in the Strongest
Possible Light.

Judge EogcrtOn called the constitutional
convention to order at 4 o'clock this after
noon. Aquoruin of the members being pres
ent. Mr.. Myers moved that a committee
be appoined on resolutions, and they werc
so appointed-Messrs. Myers. Neil, Brook
ings. .Kauouse and Owen A recess was
taken until evening, when Mr.. Neil presented
the following:
To the Congress- Of the United States: Tho
aoaa Snd.r ss s e tsd ss
'.et:sl legislatura aprrsvsd by Enc aeyesnost
March 1885, with power under the hct to
adjourn from time to time, respectfully
represent that it has maintained its
existence and organization, and on this 9th
purpose of renewing and emphasizing tho
request of the people Of South Dakota
for division Of tho territory md
their admission to the Union as staJe
The people OF all Dakota. north and south.
lave during the past seventeen or eighteen
years contemplated division and the forma-
t!on OF two states you are well aware, and
that tho buildings and institutions Of the ter
litory have been systematically duplicated.
one of each class having been established
has q population Of more than 100000
with every requisite of strong and safe
state. Fair men will never claim that the
DIVISION OF DAKOTA
will injure the nation. Objection has been
made to the division OF Dakota on the
there would not be sufficient re-
:ources in each TO sustain popula-
lion equal to tho older states,
in reply. this convention would call the ut
!ention OF congress to the report of Hon.
Ghich The following populations are
slyen i'll tho several territories
seeking admission to the Union: Dakota,
h6S,iOO; Montana, 100000; New Mexico,
100000; Washington, 142, ,391. OF this pop
n.ation of Dakota. .2US, 900 are in North Dulo-
The ropulous portion from is, 900 to 5000
more population than either of the above
territories asking admission and larger than
aolne states. The Dakotas will be agricult-
urni states where population never decreases
But it is with the people of Dakota not
whether the majority or the minority OF her
people shall direct her local affairs Will
congfess shall declare that the majority
snail prevail, or that the will
OF the majority shall Ee ignored
in each division of the territory. Nearly
past eighteen years has either memor-
allied congress or taken so,no action
in behalf of division of the territory? The
last convention of the Republican party,
held ut Yankton in September, 1856, for the
nomination Of dclegetc to congress adopted
tho following resolution:
Resolved. That the will of the people of
all Dakota be in favor Of division Of the ter
ri:Ory OH an east and west line has
been SO clearly and so oftcn ex-
pressed during the past fifteen years
that there is no reasonable doubt of these
hold on steadfastly till this purpose is ac-
comptished. and we earnestly ask congress
to pass such measure without dc.
lay. said division to be OH the bound
nry line of the counties nearest the
forty-sixth parallel of north latitude The
which met ut Aberdeen iii 1856, to
put In nomination u congressional
delegate, adopted resolutions, and in
accordance with the request OF these
resolutions and for the purpose of obtaining
an authoritative and final expression of tho
whole people, the last Legislature submitted
the question OF division to the people OF the
territory with the result of decisive maior-
ity for divIsion 10 South Dakota II will be
severe
BLOW TO REPUBLICAN INSTITUTIONS.
1t will establish q precedent which may
work disaster TO the country 1t is u dec!ara-
ton that tho general movement is drift
upon which statcs have hereto
fore been admitted. On behalf of
the people Of South Dakota, we invite the
attention of congress to our situation and
repeat our request that our long deferred
rights be granted US by tho admission of
South Dakota to the Union. The people of
South Dakota would be false to the cardinal
principles Of tho republic If they should now
accept admission as whole We believe
they will never 90 it, Ii they possess tho
endurance and courage OF men VINO arG
fitted for Gclf government, they can
never surrender We can suffer territorial
government with all its privations and de-
mails of justice indefinitely. II it is forced
upon u.s. but we cannot abandon the princi-
pie upon which the sta,es.of the republic
ire founded that tho legally expressed will
of tho majority shall prevail. We further
respectfully urge that In pursuance of the
vote of the people in November last the
territory be divided ON the forty-scventh
parallel of latitude instead of the forty
sixth parallel contemplated in tho constitu-
ton as adopted by the people in November
1855. and that the state be designated as
South Dakota and the north half OF the ter
ritory bepermitted to enjoy the name which
it undoubtedly desires North Dakota.
These resolutions We're unanimously
adopted. Speeches. were made by Waldo N.
Potter Of Lamoure, Judge Edgcrton, Judge
Brookings, Gov. Mllletlc, Gen. Kcase. Pro-
fessors Cpdyke, kanouse and ]. A Owen.
Judge Brookings moved the appointments of
IN executive committee OF three who
should SEQ to the canvassing OF close dis
tricts, and the defeat of these congressman,
whatever their politics, who vote against
Neil. Drookings, McCollum, Allen and Sheets
we've appointed committee to prepare bus
fncss for tomorrow.