Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-03-01
Provisions for Statehood.

bill, after having been properly signed by
the presiding officers of the two houses,
will now 60 to the president for his sigma
ture.
The conferrees all affixed their sigma
lures to the report as agreed upon with the
exception of Representative Barnes. It
is said that Mr.. Barnes hesitancy arises
not from any hostility to the admission of
the territories, but because he has some
doubts in regard to the advisability of al
lowing the territories to come in under
presidential proclamation instead of COM
ing to congress for admission by special
acts.
The bill, as agreed to in conference, pro-
vides for the admission of the states of
North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana
and Washington. The territory of Dakota
standard parallel, proceeding due west to
the western boundary of the territory. The
delegates elected to constitutional conven-
ton north of this parallel shall assemble
At Bismarck, and those south of the par
allel at Sioux Falls. The delegates to the
convention in each of the proposed new
states shall be elected on the Tuesday
after the first Monday in May next, and
shall meet on the Fourth of July and de-
clare that they adopt the constitution of
The United States. Thew are authorized
shereupon to form constitutions and state
governments.
1t is provided that at the election for
delegates to the convention, in South Da-
kota, the electors shall vote for or against
iority of the votes shall be for the consti-
tution the convention shall resubmit to
The people of South Dakota, for ratltica-
lion or rejection, the constitution framed
at Sioux Falls, and also the articles and
propositions separately submitted, includ-
ing the question of locating the temporary
seat of government, with such changes
only as relate to the name and boundary
Of the proposed state, to the reappoint-
ment of judicial and legislative districts,
and such amendments as may be necessary
in order to comply with the provisions Of
this act; and if majority of the votes
=; EAST on the ratification or rejec-
zion Of the constitution shall be for
The constitution, irrespective of the
articles separately submitted. the state
Of South Dakota shall be admitted as
state in the union under the constitution
as hereinafter provided; but the archives,
records and books of the territory of Da-
kota shall remain OF Bismarck, the capital
Of North Dakota, until an agreement in
reference thereto is reached by said states.
But if at the election of delegates to the
constitutional convention in South Dakota
majority of all the votes cast shall be
against the Sioux Falls constitution, it
shall be the duty Of the convention to form
constitution as if that question had not
been submitted to the people.
1t is made the duty of the president to
admit the four new states BY proclamation
if the constitutions formed are ratified at
the election to be held on the first Tuesday
il. october.
Each of the new states shall be entitled
to one representative in congress. except
South Dakota, which shall be entitled to
two representatives.
Seccion II provides that all lands herein
granted for educational purposes shall be
disposed of only at public sale, and at a
price not less than $40 per acre, the pro-
ceeds to constitute permanent school
shall be expended in the support of said
schools. But said lands may. under sucn
regulation as the Legislature shall pre-
scribe, be leased for periods Of not more
than five years, in quantity not exceeding
| one section to any one person or company,
and such lands shall not be subject to pre-
emption, homestead entry Or any other
entry under the land laws of the United
States, whether surveyed or unsurveyed,
but shall be reserved for school purposes
only. All mineral lands are exempted
from the grants made by this act.
The two Dakotas are to be added to
Justice Miller's circuit, in the eighth dis
trict, and Washington and Montana to
Justice Fields, the ninth district.
Until last night the name Of Washing
ton was changed in the bill to Tacoma,
but it was then stricken out.
Senator Henderson on the Sioux Reserva-
ton.
On the 10Th Senator Henderson, of Ne
braska, visited Lincoln and was received
by the two houses of the legislature in
Joint session. In the course of his ad-
dress the senator made the following ref
erence to the Sioux reservation:
Beyond the northern line of Nebraska, in the
very heart Of South Dakota, is the great Sioux
reservation, inhabitated by O. 600 Indians who
fed and clothed by the government, live in
condition OF uncivilized laziness aud unpro
gressve ease. Over % Oo0, 600 acres OF good land
are worse than wasted for this purpose. have
every regard for the rights Of the red man and
him in the path to civilization and Independence
He will never be either civilized or Christianizeo
until he is taught selfrespect and he never
supporting. 1t is wrong to the Indian to sup.
port him as pauper in . condition of idle yaga-
bondism, perPetrating all manner OF indecen.
be made to learn first the great lesson taught
to man after man was driven from the Garden
of Eden, that i'll the sweat Of his face he
must earn his bread with mental and
manual labor, till he will rise to the
dignity of manhood. Without 1t he will
remain on the level of the brute.
did what could to aid in the passage OF bill
ut ~ first session Of this congress to open to
g I'll 'nent HOO, 600 acres Of the lands Of the
Sioux nation. This law has been rendered
nugato, because the Indians have not given
theirc sent to its operation. 1t would seem
that a-e entering on an age when an In
dian can nullify the acts of congress. be-
lieve now in law that proposes to take the
and will do all can to effect its passage. 1t
will still leave the Sioux II, 600 600 acres being
about 500 acres to every man, woman and child
in the tribe. and will pay into their already
plethoric annuity fund nearly Sl.50000O. When
this 1t accomplished they should be compelled
to dissolve tribal relations and take lands in
severalty, in the interest not only Of the west
but Of the whole country and our advancing
civilization. hope these great reservations
may be speedily absorbed in the public do
main; that the white settler may make his
home thereon. build school houses, churches,
and bring forth the abundant fruits OF the
earth in their season. Public policy and the
interests of the white men and the red men all
demand that these obstacles In the pathway Of
TRADE and commerce should be removed. and
that right speedily, and these considerations
will prompt me to the support Of the Oklahoma