Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-07
THEY ARE NOW TWO STATES
Proclamation Issued By the President
Admitting the DakOtas.
The First Instance in the Nations
History of Twin States.
After Long Waiting Statehood is
Their Reward.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2.-The following
dispatch was sent from the executive man
sion this afternoon, by Sec. Blaine, to
Governors Mellette and Miller, of North
and South Dakota, Bismarck, North
Dakota:
The last act in the admission of the two
Dakotas as states into the Union, was
completed this afternoon at the executive
mansion, at SIX o'clock and forty minutes,
by the president signing at that moment
the prOclamations required by law for the
admission of two states. The article on
prohibition, submitted separately In each
state. was adopted in both. The article
providing for minority representation in
South Dakota, was rejected by the people.
This is the first instance In the history of
the national government Of twin states.
North and South Dakota entered the union
at the same moment.
JAMES G. BLAINE.
The following Is the text of the procla-
nation admitting North Dakota by the
president of the United States of America
PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, Congress of the United
States did by act approve on the twenty
second day Of February, one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-nine, provide
that the inhabitants of the territory OF
Dakota might upon the conditions pre-
scribed IN said act, become states Of North
Dakota and South Dakota; and
WHEREAS, 1t was provided by said act
that the area comprising the territory OF
Dakota, should, for the purposes of the act
be divided on the line of the seventh
standard parallel produced due west to the
western boundry Of said territory and dele
gates elected as therein provided to the
constitutional convention in the district
north of said parallel should assemble in
convention, at the time prescribed In the
act at the city at Bismarck; and
WHEREAS, 1t was provided by said act
that the delegates elected as aforesaid
should, after they had met and organized
declare on behalf of the people OF North
Dakota, adopt the constitution of the
United States, whereupOn said convention
should be authorized from the constitution
and state government for the proposed
state Of North Dakota; and
WHEREAS, 1t was provided by said act
that the constitution so adopted should be
republican in form and make no distinc-
ton in civil or political rights on account
Of race or color, except as to Indians not
taxed. and not be repugnant to the con
stitutiOn Of the United States and the
principles of the declaration of independ-
ence: and the convention should, by an
ordinance irrevocable without consent OF
the United states and the people of said
states, make certain provisions prescribed
in said act; and
WHEREAS, 1t was provided by said act
of the constitutions Of North Dakota and
South Dakota, should respectively incor-
porate an assessment, to be reached in ac-
a0rdance with the provisions of the act for
equitable distribution of all property be-
longing to the territory of Dakota and the
disposition of all public records, and also
for the appOrtionment of debts and liabili-
ties Of said territory, and that each of said
states should oblige itself to pay its pro-
portion of such debt, and the liabilities
tie same as if they had been created
by such states respectively; and
WHEREAS. 1t was provided by said act
of the constitution thus formed for the
people Of North Dakota should by the ordi-
nance of the convention forming the same,
be submitted to the people of North Da-
kota at the election to be held therein on
the first Tuesday in October, 1889. for
ratification or rejection by the qualified
voters of said proposed state and that the
returns of said election should be made to
the secretary of the territory of Dakota.
who, with the governor and chief Justice
thereof, or any two Of them should can
yass the same; and if, the majority of the
votes cast should be for the constitution,
the governor should certify the result to
the president of the United States, to-
gether with a statement of the votes cast
thereon, and upon the separate articles or
propositions and copy of said constitu-
ton, articles, propositions and ordinances
and
WHEREAS, 1t has been certified to me
by the governor of the territory of Dakota
that within the time prescribed by said
act of congress the constitution for the
proposed state of North Dakota has been
adopted and the same ratified by major
lty of qualified voters of the said proposed
state in accordance with the conditions
prescribed in said act; and
WHEREAS, 1t is also certified to me by
said governor that at the same time that
the body of the same constitution was
submitted to a vote of the people, separ-
ate article numbered twenty, and entitled.
prohibition was also submitted and re-
eeived the majority of all votes CASTOR and
against said article as well as a majority
of all votes cast for and against the con-
stitutiou; and was adopted; and
WHEREAS. duly authenticated copy of
said constitution, articles. ordinances, and
propositions. as required by said act, has
been received 10y me,
{ Now. therefore /, Benjamin Harrison,
president of the United States of America.
do. in accordance with the provisions of
the act of congress aforesaid, declare and
proclaim the fact that the conditions i'm
posed by congress on the state of North
Dakota to entitle that state to admission to
the Union. have been ratified and accept
ed, and that the admission of said state is
now complete.
In testimony thereof | have herunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington. this
second day of November, in the year of
eur Lord one thousand eight hundred and
eighty-nine, and of the independence of
the United States of America the one
hundred and fourth
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
By the president,
JAMES G. BLAINE.
The following is the text of the procla-
nation admitting South Dakata. Bv fine