Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-02-27
The STATEHOOD LAW.
Full Text of the Measure
Which Provides for the
Division of
Dakota asd ths Admission of -Four
Northwestern States.

nkohkuuN ANU w DeuAuStols
Bs 1t enacted, &c:
Section /. That the inhabitants of all
that part of the United States now con.
shutting the territories of Dakota,
Montana and Washington, es at presen,
described, may become the stases of
North Dakots, South Dakota, Montana
| and Washington, respectively, as here
matter provided.
Sec. 2, The area comprising the ter
| ritory OF Dakota shall, for the purposes
of this act, be divided on the line of the
seventh standerd parallel produced due
| west to the western boundary of said
territory; and the delegates elected as
| hereinafter provided to the coustltu
| tional convention in districts nvrth OF
| said parallel shall assemble in conven-
| ton at the time prescribed in this act,
| at tue city OF Bismarck; and the delegates
elected in distriots south of said parallel
shall, at the same time, assemble ia con-
vention at the city of Sioux Falls.
Sec. 3. That eli persons who are quail.
fled by the laws of said territories 80
vote for representatives to the legislative
assemblies thereof, are hereby au thori-
ized to vote for and choose delegates to
such conventions in said proposed
statesi and the qualifications for dele
| gates TO such conventions shall be such
as by the laws OF said territories respect
| iyely persons are required TO possess to
be eligible to the legislative assemblies
thereof; anu the aforesaid delegates TO
form said conventions shall be appor-
toned within the limits OF the proposed
states, In tu,h districts as may be esseb-
llshed as herein prov .ded, in proportion
to the population Of each of said coun-
ties and districts, as neas as may be, to
be ascerfsinsd at the time of making
said apportIonments by the persons
hereinafter authorized to make the same,
from the best information obtainable, in
each Of which districts three delegates
shall be eleeted, bat no eleotor shall vote
for more than two persons for delegates
to such conventions. that said eppor.
tionments shall be made by the COVER
nor, the chief justice, aud thu secretary
nf said territories; end the governors OF
said territories shall, by proclamation
order on election of the delegates afore.
said in each of said proposed states, TO
be held on the Tuesday after the second
Monday in May, eighteen hundred and
eighty nine, which proclamation shall
be issued on the fifteenth day OF April
eighteen hundred and eighty-nIne; and
sucn election shall be conducted, the re.
turns made, the result ascegta,ned, snd
the certificates to persons
elected IN such convention is
sued in the same manner as is pre-.
scribed by the laws of the said terri.
tories regulating elections therein foi
delegatts 80 congress; and the numbe,
Of votes cast for delegates in each pre-
cinct shall also be returned. The num-
Der of delegates to said conventions re.
speotlvely shall be seyenty-ive; and al
persons resident in SAID proposed states
who are qualified voters of said terri.
fitories as herein provided, shall be en-.
titled to vote upon the election of dele
gates. and under such rules and reguls
, tions as said conventions may prescribe
I not in conflict with this act, upon tn
> ratification or rejection. of the constitu
) tions.
] Sec 4. That the delegates to th
conventions elected as provided in this
act shall meet at the seat OF government
of each OF said territories, except tht
delegates elected in South Dakota, VII,
shall meet at the city of Sioux Falls, Oh
ths fourth day of July, eighteen hund
, red and eighty nine, and, after orgsniza
,, tion. shall declare on behalf of the pee.
: pie OF said proposed states, thst the.
adopt the constitution of the Unitet
States. whereupon the said convention
shall be, end are hereby, authorized Il
form constitutions and state government
for seld proposed states, respectively
Fhe constitutions shall be republican Ii
: torm, and make no distinction in civil o
. political rights on account of race o
! color, except as to Indians not taxed
and not be repuRnsnt to the constitu
tIons OF the United States and tn
principles OF the declaration of indepen
dence. And said conventions shall pro
. vide, by ordiHanoes irrevooable withou
the consent OF the United States and tn
Q people of said states:
: First. That perfect liberation c
feligious sentiment shall be secured. an
that no inhabitsnt of said states sba
ever be molested in person or propert
3. ON account OF his or her mode OF religion
g worship.
e Second. That the people inhabitin
II said proposed states do agree and declRi
8 that they forever disclaim sli right on
!, title 10 the unappropriated public Land
b lying within this boundaries thereof, an
= 10 all lands lying within said limi
N owned or held by any Indian or India
o, tribes; and that until the title therei
~ shall have been extinguished by I'll
's United States, the same shall be and r,
D. ma,n subject to the disposition OF Il
United States, and ssid Indian lsnt
shall remain under the absolute jorisdi
ton and control of the congress of ii
United States; that the lands belongir
y TO citizens Of the United states residii
v. without the said states shall never
= taxed at o higher rate than the lands b
longing to residents thereof; that
taxes shall be imposed by the states
lands or properly therein belonging
or which may hereafter be purchased
ce the United States or reserved for its us
10 But nothing herein, or in, the ordin6uc
10 herein provided for, shall preclude 4
re said states from taxing as other Ian
IL are taxed any lands owned or held
'y any Indian who has sever
0y hiB tribal relations, and has c
tanned from the United States or fro
any person title thereto by patents
m other grant, save and except such ia
O. az have been or may be granted to a.
u. Indian or Indians under any act OF 90
gress containing o provision exempti
the lands thus granted from taxatio
but said ordinances shall provide that
snch lands ahall be exempt from to
ed ation by ssid states 30 long and to su
lp- extent as such cot Of congress may p,
er. Iscrlbe.
heI Third. That the debts and liabIlit
of OF said territories shall be assumed .
ht, paid by asid states. respectively.
Fourth. That provision shall be ma