Griggs courier., 1888-12-14
FOR STATEHOOD.
The Convention at Jamestown Declares
for Division and Immediate Admission.

The Convention at Jamestown Declares
for Division and Immediate Admission.
AT the recent Statehood convention dele.
gates were present from every county in
North Dakota except three. Ex- Governor
Pierce presided and in his remarks said:
North Dakota has an area of about $4,000
square miles, and with the seventh standard
parallel for The south I'll boundary will be the
eighth or ninth State in size in the Union. It
woald be twice as large as Indiana, and 1900
square miles longer than the six New En-
gland States with New jersey thrown IN. So
far as size is concerned, therefore. nothing is
lacking. Now let us see as to the other require
ments for Statehood Take the population.
Kentucky was admitted into the Union with a
total population OF 1851; Tennessee, 5000;
Ohio, 365; Indiana, G3s)7; Illinois. 34,-
$40; Missouri, 66.557; Michigan, $4,000;
Florida. 6a,OO): Iowa, 7s.sl9; California,
92 81 M nnesota, 10000; Oregon, $4,000;
Kansas 107,0O0i Nevada, 10000; Nebraska
and Colorado, each 100000. By the census
taken three years ago North Dakota had 1910
Inhabitants, and the vote cast last mouth with
the male adults in all our unorganized
counties unable to vote, shows that this sec.
tion now possesses population OF over $50 900,
or three times as much as Iowa, two and one.
alftimes as many as Nebraska or Colorado,
more than twice as many as Minnesota and
Kansas four times as many as Michigan aud
time Of their admission INTO theUnton. 1t woult
seem that SO far as population is concerned,
therefore, the Territory is amply qualified.
But let me see about its productions and ma
terial resources. North Dakota has to-day
nearly $4,000 farms, and this year raised 1SO 900
bushels of corn, 100000 bushels of oats. and no
less than eO,OO0,0O bushels of wheat There
are 10000 head ofhorses and mules. and more
than 100000 head Of livestock in this div sion
OF the Territory. North Dakota has eighty six
banks, twenty-twoof them National. and with
an aggregate capital Of nearly SlO,0o0,OO. 1t
has l25 newspapers, eighty-nine of them pub
lished daily. 1t has 200 churches and over ], 100
chool-houses-almost as many as the
entire Territory had in 1884. 1t has 10f
manufacturing establishments of various
kinds, in this respect exceeding South
Dakota and three years ago paid a postal
revenue OF Sl50.5A. 1t has besides, the
capitol building at Bismarck, the hosp tai for
900 1t has the Territorial penitentiary at
Bismarck costing S10o,0)0, the North Dakota
I'm versity at Grand Forks, besides the Con-
gregat,onal College at Fargo, the Baptist
College at Tower City, and the Presbyterian
College in jamestown. 1t has nearly 1000
miles of completed railways more than i
possessed By half the States of the Union,
and nearly S15,DO0W OF property assets for
taxation. In every possible equipment there
fore, North Dakota, like South Dakota is
abundantly supplied.
Being then prepared to assume the response
bilitieS OF a State what steps can shall be
taken to that endg There is no set form for
the preliminary march to Statehood. What
we need and what is particularly important is
that We march hand in hand. shoulder to shou-
der unitedly for this objective point as speedily
as possible with decorum and with proper re-
gard for the rights of all concerned Ken
tucky was admitted without q constitutional
convention and under constitution winch was
not even submitted to vote OF the people. In
diana came If under an enabling act OF Con-
gress Iowa. Michigan, Florida and Oregon
came in under the constitutions which were
framed by authority Of convent ons held under
acts OF limited legislation. There has been some
doubt regarding the legal power OF u Terri
torial Legislature to authorize conStitut on
al convention, but President-elect Harri-
son commended the action OF our Legislature
in its acton in 1885 in a speech in the Senate
several years ago. There have been cases
where the constitutions framed by conventions
have never been laid before Congress at all,
the President having been authorized if he
deemed such constitution republican in power
TO proclaim the State a member OF the Union.
AS have said, no form OF procedure is fur
nished either by constitution Congress.
Twenty-Five new States have been added to
the Union and in ten there were no enabling
acts by Congress- 1t is important that we have
harmony and unity here. The work we inau-
gurate is fraught With momentous results We
begin under the most auspcious circum-
stances. The way is clear, the pathway un.n-
| numbered with previous ia lures.
Many letters and kilograms indorsing the
movement were read A recess was then
taken until evening. On reassembling at
7:l5 o'clock Chairman Long, of the Com.
mittee on Resolutions, submitted the fol
lowing, which were unanimously adopted:
~.
convention assembled, first. that we favor the
division OF Dakota Territory on the seventh
standard parallel, and the Immediate adms
sion of the northery portion into the union OF
States.
Second-That we are cmphatcally in favor
Of the name of North Dakota for the proposed
new State.
Third-1hat the Fifteth Congress should
provide for the admission OF North Dakota.
Fourth-rhat IN case the Fift eth Congress
fails to provide for the adm ssion Of North
Dakota as State, we earnestly request the
Presdent-elect TO call special SESSION Of the
Fifty y-tirst ,ngress for that purpose.
Ffth--rhat the Eighteenth Legislative AS.
sembly of Dakota Territory is urged to pro.
vide at the earliest practicable moment after
its meeting in January. 1889, for constitution
| al convention for North Dakota
Slxtb-That South Dakota. Montana and
Washington are respectfully inv ted to CO.
operate with North Dakota in this movement
for admission.
The chair appointed the following COM
mittee to menorialize the President elect
r.. n. Stevens, Ransom, Smith, Stmmcl
C IS, H. c. Stanley, kidder, j. Morley
Wizard. Foster, ID. S. Dodd and Nelson
After listening to several short speeches
the convention adjourned
\ Protcge of Tnur!ow Weed Killed.