, 1889-05-10
THE SENATE BILL.
An Act to Provide for the Admis-
sion of Wyoming.
Specific StipuIations for a Consti-
tutionaI Convention.
ALarge Appropriation for Expenses
and Liberal Land Grants.

Appended is the text of senate bill No.
2,445, TO provide for the formation and
admission into the union of the state of
Wyoming and for other purposes"
That the inhabitants OF all that part of
the area of the United States now consti-
tuting the territory of Wyoming, as at
present described, may become the state
OF Wyoming, as hereinafter provided.
Sec, 2. That all persons who are quail
fed by the law of the said territory to
vote for representatives to the legislative
assembly thereof are hereby authorized to
vote for and choose delegates to form a
convention IN said proposed state; and the
qualifications for delegates TO such con-
vention shall be such as by the laws of
said territory persons are required to pos
sess to be eligible to the legislative as
seIlbly thereof; and the aforesaid dele
gates to form said convention shall be ap-
Dortioned within the limits of the pro-
posed state in such districts as may be es-
tablished as herein provided, in proper
ton to the population is each of said dis
tricts, as near as may be, to be ascer-
tanned at the time Of making said appor
tlonment by the persons hereinafter au
thorized to make the same, upon the
basis of the votes cast for delegate in con-
gross at tho last general election, in each
Of which districts the number Of delegates
apportioned to such districts shall be
elected. That said a~pportionment shall
be made by the governor, the chiefius-
tlce, and the secretary of said territory;
and the governor of said territory shall,
by proclamation, order an election of the
delegates aforesaid to be held on the sec
ond Monday 10 July, eighteen hundred
and eighty-nine; and such election shall
be conducted, the returns made. the re-
suit asccrtained, and the certificates to
persons elected to such convention issued
IN the same manner az is prescribed by
the laws OF the said territory regulating
elections therein for d~clegate to congress-;
and the number of votes cast for delegates
in each precinct shall also be returned.
The number of delegates tn said conven.
ton shall be ffty-five, and all persons res
ident in said proposed state who are quail
flied voters of said territory, as herein
provided shall be entitled to vote upon
the election of delegates, and under such
rules and regulations as said convention
may prescribe. not in conflict with this
act, upon the ratification or rejection of
the constitution.
. See. 3. That the delegates 10 the con
vention elected as provided in this act
shall meet at the scat OF government of
said territory on the FIRST Monday in Sep
TENDER, eighteen hundred and eighty
nine, and, alter organization, shall de-
clare. on behalf of the people of said pro-
posed state. that they adopt the constitu-
ton OF the United States; Thereupon the
said convention shall be, and is hereby,
authorized to torn a constitution and
state government for S aid proposed state.
The constitution shall be republican in
form, and make no distinction 10 civil or
political rights on ccoun of race or color,
except as to Indians not taxed, and not to
be r"epugnant to the constitution of the
United Snates and the principles OF the
Declaration of Independence. And said
convention shall provide, by ordinances
irrevocable without the consent of the
Unitei States and the people OF said state.
First-That perfect liberation of relig-
ious sentiment shall be secured, and that
no inhabltant of said state shall ever be
molcs,ed IN person or property on account
OF his or her mode of religious worship.
Second-That the people ~inhabiting
tn" proposed state do agree AMI declare
that they forever disclaim all right and
title to tho Incorporated public lands
lying within the boundaries thereof, and
to all lands lying within said limits owned
or held by any Indian or Indian tribes;
and that until the title thereto shall have
leen e~xtingulshed by the United States,
the same shall be and remain subject to
the disposition of the United States, and
said Indian lands shall remain under the
absolute jurisdiction and control of the
congress of the United States; that the
lands belonging TO citizens of the United
States residing without the said state shall
never be taxed at a higher rate than the
lands belonging to residents thereof; that
no taxes shall be imposed by the state on
lands or property therein belonging to or
which may hereafter be purchased by the
United States or reserved for its use. But
nothing herein, OF IN the ordinances here
in provided for, shall preclude the said
state iron taxing rs other lands are taxed
any lands owned or held by any Indian
who has severed his tribal relations, and
has obtained from the United States or
from any person a title thereto by patent
or other grant, save and except such lands
as rave been or may be granted to any In.
dian or Indians under any act of congress
containing a provision exempting the
lands thus granted from taxation; but said
ordinances shall provide that all such
lands shall be exempt from taxation by
said state so long and to u an exteut as
such act of congress may prescribe.
Third-That the debts and liabilities of
said territory shall be assumed and paid
by said state.
Fourth-That provision shall be made
Tor the establishment and maintenance of
systems Of public schools, which shall be
open to all the children of said state and
free from sectarian control.
Sec. 4. That if the proposed state shall
reject the constitution which may be sub
united for ratification or rejection at the
election provided therefor, the governor
OF the territory shall issue his proclama-
ton ~reconvening the delegates elected to
the convention which formed such rejected
constitution, fixing the time and place at
which said delegates shall assemble; and
when 80 assembled they shall proceed to
form another constitution or to amend the
rejected constitution, and shall submit
such new constitution or amended consti.
tuition to the people of the proposed state
for ratification or rejection, at such time