Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-01-06
Text of Delegate Gifford's Bill
for the Division and Admis.
sion Of Dakota.
The Condition on Which Admission
Shall be Grant d Plainly
Set Forth.

of the United States, and running thence
southerly along the western boundary line
OF Minnesota to it's intersection with the
seventh standard parallel of Dakota: thence
west along the standard and on u line with
the same extended to it's intersection with
the twenty seventh meridian of longitude
west from Washington; thence north upon
said twenty seventh meridian of longitude
to its intersection with the northern boun-
Diary line of the United States, to it's place
OF beginning.
Sec. 3. That in order to secure the for
nation OF such government the qualified
authorized on the first Tuesday of June.
1888, and in conformity to the laws
OF the territory of Dakota relating to
the the election of county officers. as nearly
as practicable and in so far as they may be
applicable. to elect delegates possessing the
qualifications of such electors within the
limits Of said boundaries. That there shall
be elected at said election the following
number of delegates. who shall be appor-
toned among and elected by the qualified
voters of each county within said bound
aries, the following number of delegates
from such county, to-Wit: One delegate
for each 5000 inhabitants thereof, and in
addition thereto one delegate for the major
part OF the fraction of said 5000 inhabitants;
provided, however, that each organized
county within said boundaries shall be en-
titled to at least one delegate. That said
delegates shall each be inhabitants of the
county from which he may be elected. That
1t shall be the duty of the officers of the sew
the election of said delegates by calling and
giving notice of said election. and canvass
the returns thereof. as is provided for in
the election of county officers. as near as
the same may be applicable and practicable.
SEC. 4. That said delegates shall meet at
a--, Dakota. on the second Tuesday of
September. 1888. at - o'clock noon. and
when organized shall declare on behalf of
the people of that portion of the territory Of
Dakota within said boundaries herenbefore
set forth, that they adopt the constitution
of the United States. and thereupon said
convention is hereby authorized to form a
constitution and state government for that
portion of Dakota within said described
boundaries, and said state when formed and
organized shall be known and called the
+, state OF North Dakota. Provided. neverthe-
less. that such constitution shall be republic
can i'll form and make no distinction in civil
and political rights on account of color or
race except as to Indians not taxed. and not
repugnant to the constitution of the United
States and the principles of the declaration
of Independence. Provided, further that
such constitution shall provide that neither
| the money nor the credit of the state or of
any city. town or other municipal corpora
| ton therein shall be given or loaned to or
IN aid OF any association. corporation Or
private undertaking. and that the aggre-
gate debt of the state shall not at any
time exceed $4,000 And provided. further.
| that such constitution shall provide that
! the Legislature OF said state shall under
| no circumstances exempt any portion of the
! property within said state belonging to any
+, corporation organized for religious and ed
| ucational purposes from taxation. and that
| no distinction whatever shall be made in
the assessment and collection of taxes be-
| tween an individual and a corporation. And
| provided. further. that said convention
shall provide by an ordinance. irrevocable
without the consent Of the United States
and the people Of said state. that perfect
liberation and the free exercise of religious
sentiment shall be secured; that the inhabi
tants within said proposed state do agree
and declare that they forever disclaim all
right and title to the unappropriated public
has not been cxtnguished by the United
States lying therein, and that the same shall
be and remain at the sole and entire dispo-
stion Of the United States; that no tax shall
be imposed BY said state on land or prop
erty therein belonging to the United States
and any Indian tribes or Indians sus-
tanning tribal relations, or which may here
after be purchased by the United States:
and that all navigable waters within said
state shall be and remain public highways.
free to all citizens of the United States.
SEC. 5. That said convention, having
formed said constitution as provided in
this act. shall provide by ordinance for sub
hitting the same to the people OF said state
for their ratification or rejection at an cleo
ton to be held at such time and place and
under such regulations as said convention
may prescribe.
SEC. 6. That at the election last aforc-
said the legal voters of said new state shall
vote directly for or against such proposed
constitution. and the returns thereof shall
be made to the governor of Dakota, who.
with the secretary and chief justice thereof
and the president of said convention, or
any two of them. shall canvass the same
g j. L.
in said proposed state shall be for said con-
stitution said governor shall certify the
same to the president of the United States,
together with Il copy OF said constitution
and ordinances.
SEC. 7. That on the receipt of such
certiilcation of the vote so east at said cleo
ton showing adoption of said constitution
by the people OF said state as aforesaid, and
Il copy Of said constitution and ordinances.
the president of the United States. if said
constitution and ordinances, shall conform
to the requirements of this act. shall
thereupon issue his proclamation declaring
the state admitted into the union and
thereupon the said state shall be admitted
to the union ON an equal footing with the
original states without any further action
on the part of congress.
SEC. ). That until the next general CEN
sus said state will be entitled to one repre-
sentative in congress.
SEC .. That the governor and other Off
" 'I piJNluSu tllc COuStltulIoH
shall be elected on u day fixed by said con-
stitutional convention, the territorial Off
GERS to hold over until their successors have
qualified.
SEC. 10. That the laws of the United
States shall have the same application as in
other states of the Union.
SEC. H. Provides for the transfer of all
ACTORS, cases and matters pending from
the territorial courts to such courts as may
be established. No indictment is to abate
by reason Of any change in the courts
SEC. IL. Provides for the granting to the
state Of sections IL and IS and all swamp
lands or their equivalent for school pur
poses.
SEC. l3. Provides that the grant of $780,
600 acres of land and in the provisions OF
section 237S Of the Revised statutes be |
used for school purposes.
SEC. II. Provides for Il donation of sew !
enty-two sections for agricultural college
purposes.
SEC. Is. Provides for a donation Of sew
entv-two other sections for the support of |
an institution for the support Of the deaf |
and dumb and blind.
SEC. 16. Provides for a donation of fifty
other sections to go towards the erection |
OF Suitable puhlir h,lildjnuS nS the Sant of |