The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1889-01-31
sAKoTA's PLEA.
The Statehood Convention Held ut Hurcu Asks
for Diyivion and Admission.

The convention was called to order by
Judge Campbell of Yankton chairman of the
COMMITTEES calling it. On taking the chair
Gen. Campbell said:
There is at thepresent session Of congress q
disposition to pass some bill for the adm,s-
sion of Dakota. If bill is passed it must be
done by compromise with both parties.
Many in South Dakota are sensible OF the
fact that unless this congress- does act there
is danger that they will rave to wait for an
other congress to act. There will be o delay
Of two or three years, and in view of that
danger the committee thought. it best
to coll q convention to express their wishes
on that point, and what should be done by
congress, and other matters they might see
proper to take up. The call was made at the
request of persons outside of the committee
and of the committee unanimously. 1t was
learned that the next thirty would be q criti-
cal time in Washington, and as there are no
new representatives Of statehood in South
Dakota, while there are fresh members of
the Democratic party there, sent from
Mitchell, and delegates from North Dakota,
1t was thought we'll to call q convention to
see what action should be taken with regard
to friends in Washington on this subject.
This ia the motive Of the call.
Rev. H. D. Dresser of Huron offered prayer,
when Maj. A. G. Kellem of Chamberlain vas
made temporary chairman. r. w. Wheelock
of Mitchell was made temporary secretary.
The chair appointed these committees:
Credentials-Bennett of Clark, Wright of
Lake, Walsh Of. Charles Mix, Wade of Deuel.,
Resolutions-Hole of Beedle, Preston of
Dawson, Pease of C%odington, Gamble of
Yankton, Caldwell of Brown, McManimas of
Hughes, Palmer of M%innehaha, Murphy of
Brookings, Thorson of Lincoln.
Observation-Disclosures of Day Fellows of
Aurora, Dool of Hanson, Humphrey of
Faux, Kanouse of Sanborn. f.
Temporary organization made permanent.
The report of the credentials committee wal
presented and adopted. Fully two-thirds of
the counties are represented. Adjourned till
1870. 49,
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS,
On the reassembling of the convention the
following report of the committee on resolu-
tions was presented and adopted without O
dissenting voice and amid great cheering.
Whereas, The people of the Territory of
Dakota, both north and south, in their re-
cent conventions assembled here declared
themselves in favor Of admission thereof or
the seventh standard parallel and OF immedi-
ate admission into the Union of both North
and South Dakota; and
Whereas, The people of Dakota south of
the seventh standard parallel again desire
to show such expression favorable to the
immediate admission of South Dakota, there
fore
Resolved, That we, the people OF South
Dakota, irrespective of party politics, in
delegate convention assembled, most respect
fully and earnestly petition the present ses-
sion of congress to take such measures as
will Immediately admit us into the union as
q state. n
Resolved That in the event South Dakota
is not admitted at the present session of con-
gress were respectfully petition the president
that he call a special session thereof immedi-
ately after the fourth of Marchnext, and with
full faith and confidence in such administra-
ton we submit that such an extra session
make provision for our immediate admission
as to congress may seem just and proper.
Resolved, That in the event this session of
congress makes no provision for admission,
and in further event that an extra session of
congress is called, we request our present
legislature to provide for q new constitution
al convention for South Dakota.
A copy of the resolution was ordered en-
crossed and sent to President-elec Harrison,
president of the senate, speaker Of the house,
Delegate Clifford, George A.. Mathews and
the territorial legislature. The following
statehood committee of South Dakota was
appointed by legislative districts:
First district, John NJ. Zeller; Second, j.
r. Gamble; Third, F. Lecoq; Fourth, B. F.
Campbell; Fifth, T. E. F. Mentzer; Sixth,
George L. Wright; Seventh. George w. Hopp;
Eighth, John Cain: Ninth. A.. E. Carpenter;
Tenth, j. H. Baldwin; Eleventh, j. C. Nc
Mamma; Twelfth, H. r. Pease; Thirteenth,
Ed Lowe; Fourteenth, Edwin Vanciee.
The statehood committee met and elected
Maj. A. &. Kellum of Chamberlain chairman
at large. A committeeman from each coun-
ty was also chosen to act auxiliary to the
statehood committee. The convention then
adjourned.