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  1. Overview: South Dakota State Constitutional Convention 1889
  2. Full Record: South Dakota State Constitutional Convention 1889
  3. Committee:The Convention
  4. Session: 1889-07-26 14:00:00
  5. Event type: CREATE

South Dakota State Constitutional Convention 1889

Following the rejected 'Sioux Falls' Convention of 1885, the South Dakota Convention met and began the drafting process in July of 1889. They used the articles of the Sioux Falls Convention as starting propositions to begin the amendment process. The South Dakota Constitution was ratified in October 1889.

The Convention

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Document introduced in:

Session 16277: 1889-07-26 14:00:00

The Schedule and Ordinance were brought up for discussion and amended.

Document View:

Schedule and Ordinance (as Amended by the Convention)

There are 9 proposed amendments related to this document on which decisions have not been taken.

SCHEDULE AND ORDINANCE

SECTION 1. That no inconvenience may arise from the change of the Territorial government to the permanent State government, it is hereby declared that all writs, actions, prosecutions, claims and rights of individuals, and all bodies corporate, shall continue as if no change had taken place in this government; and all process which may be before the organization of the Judicial Department under this Constitution, issued under the authority of the Territory of Dakota, within the boundary of this State, shall be as valid as if issued in the name of the State of South Dakota.

SEC. 2. That all fines, penalties, forfeitures, and escheats accruing to the Territory of Dakota, within the boundary of the State of South Dakota, shall accrue to the use of said State.

SEC. 3. That all recognizances, bonds, obligations or other undertakings, heretofore taken, or which may be taken before the organization of the Judicial Department under this Constitution, shall remain valid, and shall pass over to, and may be prosecuted in the name of the State of South Dakota; and all bonds, obligations or other undertakings, executed to this Territory, within the boundaries of the State of South Dakota, or to any officer therein in his official capacity, shall pass over to the proper State authority, and to their successors in office, for the uses therein respectively expressed, and may be sued for, and recovered accordingly.

All criminal prosecutions and penal actions, which have arisen, or which may arise before the organization of the Judicial Department, under this Constitution, and which shall then be pending, may be prosecuted to judgment, and executed in the name of the State.

SEC. 4. All officers, civil and military, now holding their offices and appointments in this Territory under the authority of the United States, or under the authority of the Territory of Dakota, shall continue to hold and exercise their respective offices and appointments until superseded under this Constitution.

Provided; That the provisions of the above sections shall be subject to the provisions of the act of Congress providing for the admission of the State of South Dakota, approved by the President of the United States, on February 22, 1889.

SEC. 5. This Constitution shall be submitted for adoption or rejection, to a vote of the electors, qualified by the laws of this Territory to vote at all elections, at the election to be held on Tuesday, October 1, 1889.

At the said election, the ballots shall be in the following form:

For the Constitution: Yes. No.

For Prohibition: Yes. No.

For Minority Representation: Yes. No.

As a heading to each of said ballots shall be printed on each ballot the following instructions to voters:

All persons desiring to vote for the Constitution, or for any of the articles submitted to a separate vote, must erase the word “No.”

All persons who desire to vote against the Constitution, or against any article submitted separately must erase the word “Yes.”

Any person may have printed or written on his ballot only the words, “For the Constitution ” or “Against the Constitution,” and such ballots shall be counted for or against the Constitution accordingly. The same provision shall apply to articles submitted separately.

In addition to the foregoing election for the Constitution, and for the article submitted by this Convention for a separate vote thereon, an election shall be held at the same time and places, by the said qualified electors, for the following State officers, to be voted for on the same ballot as above provided, for votes on the Constitution and separate articles, to-wit:

A Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of School and Public Lands, Judges of the Supreme, circuit and county courts, Representatives in Congress, State Senators, and Representatives in the Legislature.

All the elections above provided for shall be held in the same manner and form as provided, for the election for the adoption or rejection of the Constitution. And the names of all officers above specified to be voted for at such election, shall be written or printed upon the same ballots as the vote for or against the Constitution.

The judges of election in counting the ballots voted at such election, shall count all the affirmative ballots upon the Constitution as votes for the Constitution: and they shall count all the negative ballots voted at said election upon the Constitution, as votes against the Constitution; and ballots voted at said election upon which neither of said words, “yes” or “no” following the words “for the Constitution” are erased, shall not be counted upon such proposition. And they shall count all affirmative ballots so voted upon the article on prohibition, separately submitted, as votes for such article. And they shall count all negative ballots so voted upon such article, as votes against such article.

And ballots upon which neither the words “yes” or “no” following the words ‘‘For Prohibition” are erased, shall not be counted upon such proposition. And they shall count all the affirmative ballots so voted upon the article on minority representation, separately submitted, as votes for such article. And they shall count all negative ballots so voted upon such article, as votes against such article. And ballots upon which neither of said words, “yes” or “no,” following the words “For minority representation” are erased, shall not be counted upon such proposition.

If it shall appear in accordance with the returns hereinafter provided for, that a majority of the votes polled at such election, for and against the Constitution, are for the Constitution, then this Constitution shall be the Constitution of the State of South Dakota. If it shall appear, according to the returns hereinafter provided for, that a majority of all votes cast at said election for and against “prohibition” are for prohibition, then said Article XXIV shall be and form a part of this Constitution, and be in full force and effect as such from the date of said election. But if a majority of said votes shall appear, according to said returns, to be against prohibition, then Article XXIV shall be null and void and shall not be a part of this Constitution.

And if it shall appear, according to the returns hereinafter provided for, that a majority of all votes cast at said election for and against minority representation, are for minority representation, then Article XXV shall be and form a part of said Constitution, and be in full force and effect as such from the date of said election. But if a majority of said votes shall appear, according to said returns, to be against minority representation, then said Article XXV shall be null and void and shall not be a part of this Constitution.

At such election the person voted for, for any one of the offices to be filled at such election, who shall receive the highest number of votes cast at said election, shall be declared elected to said office.

SEC. 6. At the same time and places of election, there shall be held by said qualified electors an election for the place of temporary seat of government.

On each ballot, and on the same ballot, on which are the matters voted for or against, as hereinbefore provided, shall be written or printed the words, “For temporary seat of government.”

(Here insert the name of the city, town or place to be voted for.)

And upon the canvass and return of the vote, made and as hereinafter provided for, the name of the city, town or place, which shall have received the largest number of votes for said temporary seat of government, shall be declared by the Governor, Chief Justice and Secretary of the Territory of Dakota, or by any two of them at the same time that they shall canvass the vote for or against the Constitution, together with the whole number of votes cast for each city, town or place, and the officers, above named, shall immediately after the result of said election shall have been ascertained, issue a proclamation directing the Legislature elected at said election, to assemble at the said city, town, or place so selected, on the day fixed by this Schedule and Ordinance.

SEC. 7. The election provided for herein shall be under the provisions of the Constitution herewith submitted, and shall be conducted, in all respects, as elections are conducted under the general laws of the Territory of Dakota, except as herein provided. No mere technicalities or informalities, in the manner of form of election, or neglect of any officer to perform his duty with regard thereto, shall be deemed to vitiate or avoid the same, it being the true intent and object of this ordinance to ascertain and give effect to the true will of the people of the State of South Dakota, as expressed by their votes at the polls.

SEC. 8. Immediately after the election herein provided for, the judges of election at each voting place, shall make a true and complete count of all the votes duly cast at such election, and shall certify and return the result of the same with the names of all the candidates, and the number of votes cast for each candidate, and the number of votes cast for and against the Constitution, and the number of votes cast for and against Prohibition, and the number of votes cast for and against minority representation, and the number of votes cast for each city, town or place, for the “temporary seat of government,” to the county clerk or auditor of their respective counties, together with one of the poll lists and election books used in said election.

SEC. 9. Within five days after said election the several boards of county canvassers, provided by law for the canvassing of the results of the election, shall make and certify to the Secretary of the Territory of Dakota, the true and correct return of the total number of votes cast for the Constitution, and against the Constitution, of the number of votes cast for and against “prohibition,” and the number of votes cast for and against “minority representation,” and the number of votes cast for each city, town or place as the “temporary seat of government,” and of the number of votes cast for each person voted for at such election, except county officers and members of the Legislature, and shall transmit the same to the Secretary of the Territory of Dakota, by mail, and shall file with the County Clerk or Auditor of each of said counties a duplicate and certified copy of said return.

Said board of county canvassers shall issue certificates of election to the persons who shall have received the highest number of votes cast for the respective offices of Judge of the County Court, and Representatives in the Legislature, and for State Senator or Senators.

SEC. 10. When two or more counties are connected in one senatorial or representative district, it shall be the duty of the Clerks and Auditors of the respective counties to attend at the office of the County Clerk of the senior county in date of organization within twenty days after the date of election and they shall compare the votes given in the several counties comprising such Senatorial and Representative district and such clerks or auditors shall immediately make out a certificate of election to the person having the highest number of votes in such district for State Senator or Representative or both; which certificate shall be delivered to the person entitled thereto on his application to the Clerk of the senior county of such district.

SEC. 11. The Secretary of the Territory shall receive all returns of election transmitted to him as above provided, and shall preserve the same, and after they have been canvassed as hereinafter provided, and after the admission of the State of South Dakota, into the Union, he shall deliver said returns to the proper State officer of said State of South Dakota.

Within fifteen days after said election, the Secretary of the Territory, with the Governor, and Chief Justice thereof or any two of them, shall canvass such returns, and certify the same to the President of the United States, as provided in the Enabling Act.

They shall also ascertain the total number of votes cast at such election for the Constitution and against the Constitution; The total number of votes cast for and against Prohibition, and the total number of votes cast for and against Minority Representation; and the total number of votes cast for each city, town or place as the “temporary seat of government;” and the total number of votes cast for each person voted for, for any office at said election, excepting County Judges and members of the Legislature, and shall declare the result of said election in conformity with such vote, and the Governor of the Territory shall thereupon issue a proclamation at once thereof.

They shall also make and transmit to to the State Legislature, immediately upon its organization, a list of all of the State and judicial officers who shall thus be ascertained to be duly elected.

The various county and district canvassing boards shall make and transmit to the Secretary of the Territory, the names of all persons declared by them to be elected members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of South Dakota; he shall make separate lists of the Senators, and Representatives so elected, which lists shall constitute the rolls under which the Senate and House of Representatives shall be organized.

The Governor of the Territory shall make and issue certificates of election to the persons who are shown by the canvass to have received the highest number of votes, for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of School and Public Lands and Judges of the Supreme, and circuit courts. Such certificates to be attested by the Secretary of the Territory.

SEC. 12. The apportionment made in this Constitution shall govern the elections above provided for, for members of the State Legislature until otherwise provided by law.

At the first election held under this Ordinance for Senators and Representatives of the Legislature, there shall be elected forty-five Senators, and one hundred and twenty-four Representatives in the State Legislature respectfully.

SEC. 13. The Legislature elected under the provisions of this Ordinance and Constitution shall assemble at the temporary seat of government on the third Tuesday in October in the year A. D. 1889, at 12 o’clock noon, and on the first day of their assemblage, the Governor and other State officers shall take the oath of office in the presence of the Legislature. The oath of office shall be administered to the members of the Legislature, and to the State officers by the Chief Justice of the Territory, or by any other officer, duly authorized by the laws of the Territory of Dakota to administer oaths.

SEC. 14. Immediately after the organization of the Legislature, and taking the oath of office by the State officers, the Legislature shall then and there proceed to the election of two Senators of the United States for the State of South Dakota, in the mode and manner provided by the laws of congress for the election of United States Senators. And the Governor and Secretary of the State of South Dakota shall certify the election of the said Senators, and two Representatives in Congress, in the manner required by law.

SEC. 15. Immediately after the election of the United States Senators as above provided for, said Legislature shall adjourn to meet at the temporary seat of government on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of January, 1890, at 12 o’clock m.

Provided, however, that if the State of South Dakota has not been admitted by proclamation or otherwise at said date, then said Legislature shall convene within ten days after the date of the admission of the State into the Union.

SEC. 16. Nothing in this Constitution or Schedule contained shall be construed to authorize the Legislature to exercise any powers except such as are necessary to its first organization, and to elect United States Senators, and to adjourn as above provided.

Nor to authorize an officer of the Executive, Administrative or Judiciary departments, to exercise any duties of his office until the State of South Dakota shall have been regularly admitted into the Union, excepting such as may be authorized by the Congress of the United States.

SEC. 17. The Ordinances and Schedule enacted by this Convention shall be held to be valid for all the purposes thereof.

SEC. 18. That we, the people of the State of South Dakota, do ordain:

First: That perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured, and that no inhabitant of this State shall ever be molested in person or property on account of his or her mode of religious worship.

Second: That we, the people inhabiting the State of South Dakota, do agree and declare, that we forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within the boundaries of South Dakota; 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 been extinguished 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 of this State. That no taxes shall be imposed by the State of South Dakota 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 shall preclude the State of South Dakota from taxing as other lands are taxed any lands, owned or held by any Indian who has severed his tribal relation 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 have been, or may be granted to any Indian or Indians under any act of Congress containing a provision exempting the lands thus granted from taxation, all such lands which may have been exempted by any grant or law of the United States, shall remain exempt to the extent, and as prescribed by such act of Congress.

Third. That the State of South Dakota shall assume and pay that portion of the debts and liabilities of the Territory of Dakota as provided in this Constitution.

Fourth. That provision shall be made for the establishment and maintenance of systems of public schools, which shall be open to all the children of this State, and free from sectarian control.

These ordinances shall be irrevocable without the consent of the United States, and also the people of the said State of South Dakota, expressed by their Legislative Assembly.

Fifth: That jurisdiction is ceded to the United States over the military reservations of Ft. Meade, Ft. Randall, and Fort Sully, heretofore declared by the President of the United States; provided legal process, civil and criminal, of this State shall extend over such reservations in all cases of which exclusive jurisdiction is not vested in the United States, or of crimes not committed within the limits of such reservations.

SEC. 19. The tenure of all officers, whose election is provided for in this schedule, on the first day of October, A. D., 1889, shall be as follows:

The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of School and Public Lands, Judges of county courts, shall hold their respective offices until the first Tuesday, after the first Monday, in January, A. D., 1891, at twelve o’clock M., and until their successors are elected and qualified.

The Judges of the Supreme court and circuit courts, shall hold their offices, until the first Tuesday, after the first Monday, in January, A. D., 1894, at twelve o’clock M., and until their successors are elected and qualified; subject to the provisions of Section 26, of Article V, of the Constitution.

The terms of office of the members of the legislature, elected at the first election held under the provisions of this Constitution, shall expire on the first Tuesday, after the first Monday, in January, one thousand and eight hundred and ninety-two (1891.)

SEC. 20.

SEC. 21. The following form of ballot is adopted:

CONSTITUTIONAL TICKET.

INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS.

All persons desiring to vote for the Constitution, or for any of the articles submitted to a separate vote, may erase the word "No.”

All persons who desire to vote against the Constitution, or any articles separately submitted, may erase the word “Yes.”

For the Constitution. Yes. No.

For Prohibition. Yes. No.

For Minority Representation. Yes. No.

For...............as the temporary seat of government.

For Governor.

For Lieutenant Governor.

For Secretary of State.

For Auditor.

For Treasurer.

For Attorney General.

For Superintendent of Public Instruction.

For Commissioner of School and Public Lands.

For Judges of the Supreme Court.

First district .........................................................................................

Second district .....................................................................................

Third district .......................................................................................

For Judge of the Circuit Court .................... circuit.

For Representative in Congress.

For State Senator.

For Representative in the Legislature.

For County Judge.

SEC. 22. This Constitution shall be engrossed, and after adoption and signing by the Convention shall be delivered to Hon. A. J. Edgerton, the President of the Constitutional Convention, for safe keeping, and by him to be delivered to the Secretary of State as soon as he assumes the duties of, his office, and printed copies thereof shall be prefixed to the books containing the laws of the State and all future editions thereof.

The President of this Convention shall also supervise the making of the copy that must be sent to the President of the United States; said copy is to be certified by the President and Chief Clerk of this Convention.

SEC. 23. "The Agreement made by the Joint Commission of the Constitutional Conventions of North and South Dakota concerning the records, books, and archives of the Territory of Dakota is hereby ratified and confirmed, which Agreement is in the words following, that is to say;”

The following books, records and archives of the Territory of Dakota shall be the property of North Dakota, to-wit:

All records, books and archives in the offices of the Governor and Secretary of the Territory (except records of Articles of Incorporation of Domestic Corporations, Returns of Election of Delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1889 for South Dakota, Returns of Elections held under the so-called Local Option law in counties within the limits of South Dakota, Bonds of Notaries Public appointed for counties within the limits of South Dakota, papers relating to the organization of counties situate within the limits of South Dakota, all of which records and archives are a part of the records and archives of said Secretary’s office; excepting also Census Returns from counties situate within the limits of South Dakota and papers relating to requisitions issued upon the application of officers of counties situate within the limits of South Dakota, all which are part of the records and archives of said Governor’s office.) And the following records, books and archives shall also be the property of the State of North Dakota, to-wit:

Vouchers in the office or in the custody of the Auditor of this Territory relating to expenditures on account of public institutions, grounds or buildings situate within the limits of North Dakota; one Warrant Register in the office of the Treasurer of this Territory—being a record of warrants issued under and by virtue of Chapter Twenty-four of the laws enacted by the Eighteenth Legislative Assembly of Dakota Territory; all letters, receipts and vouchers in the same office now filed by counties and pertaining to counties within the limits of North Dakota; paid and canceled coupons in the same office representing interest on bonds which said State of North Dakota is to assume and pay; reports of gross earnings of the year 1888 in the same office, made by corporations operating lines of railroads situated wholly or mainly within the limits of North Dakota; records and papers of the office of the Public Examiner of the Second District of the Territory; records and papers of the office of the Second District Board of Agriculture; records and papers in the office of the Board of Pharmacy of the District of North Dakota.

All records, books and archives of the Territory of Dakota which it is not herein agreed shall be the property of North Dakota, shall be the property of South Dakota.

The following books shall be copied and the copies shall be the property of North Dakota and the cost of such copies shall be borne equally by the said States of North Dakota and South Dakota, that is to say:

Appropriation Ledger for years ending November 1889, and 1890-—one volume;

The Current Warrant Auditor’s Register—one volume;

Insurance Record for 1889—one volume;

Treasurer’s Cash Book—“D”;

Assessment Ledger—“ B ”;

Dakota Territory Bond Register—one volume;

Treasurer’s Current Ledger—one volume.

The originals of the foregoing volumes which are to be copied shall at any time after such copying shall have been completed, be delivered on demand to the proper authorities of the State of South Dakota.

All other records, books and archives which it is hereby agreed shall be the property of South Dakota shall remain at the Capitol of North Dakota until demanded by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota, and until the State of North Dakota shall have had a reasonable time after such demand is made to provide copies or abstracts or such portions thereof as the said State of North Dakota may desire to have copies or abstracts of. . .

The State of South Dakota may also provide copies or abstracts of such records, books and archives which is agreed shall be the property of North Dakota as said State of South Dakota shall desire to have copies or abstracts of.

The expense of all copies or abstracts of records, books and archives which it is herein agreed may be made, shall be borne equally by said two States.

Decisions yet to be taken

  • Motion to Postpone Consideration of the Report from the Committee on Schedule Until Thursday (introduced on 1889-07-26 20:00:00 - PROCEDURE - e953071)
  • Motion to Withdraw Section 17 of the Report from the Committee on Schedule (introduced on 1889-08-01 14:00:00 - PROCEDURE - e978032)
  • Motion to Adopt Section 19 of the Report from the Committee on Schedule (introduced on 1889-08-01 14:00:00 - PROCEDURE - e951212)
  • Schedule and Ordinance (as Amended by the Convention): Section 19: Mr. Williams' Amendment Part II (introduced on 1889-08-01 14:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e954537)
    • Motion to Withdraw Mr. William's Amendment Pertaining to 1894 (introduced on 1889-08-02 09:00:00 - PROCEDURE - e954915)
  • Schedule and Ordinance (as Amended by the Convention): Section 20 (introduced on 1889-08-01 14:00:00 - PROPOSE_DOCUMENT_AMENDMENT - e954552)
    • Motion to Adopt Section 20 of the Report from the Committee on Schedule (introduced on 1889-08-01 14:00:00 - PROCEDURE - e951310)
    • Motion to Adopt Sections 19 and 20 as Reported (introduced on 1889-08-02 09:00:00 - PROCEDURE - e984528)
  • Motion to Adopt the Reports of the Schedule Committee Including the Articles Recommended by the Joint Commission (introduced on 1889-08-02 09:00:00 - PROCEDURE - e984533)

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