Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-05-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
VETO OF THE COLORADO
BILL

originated, the bill which has passed boil
Houses of Congress- entitled IAN Act for tn,
admission of the State of Colorado into til,
Union," with my objections to its becoming
a law at this time r -.-. .. a..
First. From the best information which
have been able to obtain, do not copslde,
the establishment of State government AT
present necessary for the welfare of the peo.
pie IN Colorado. Under the existing Terri.
torial government all the rights, privileges
and interests of the citizens are protected
and secured. The qualified voters choose
their own Legislators and their own local
ohcers, and are represented in Congress by
delegate of their own selection. They
make and execute their own municipal laws,
subject only to revision by Congress-an
authority not likely to be exercised unless
In extreme or extraordinary cases. The pop
ulation is small, some estimating it so low
as twenty-five thousand, while advocates of
the bill reckon the number at from thirty
five thousand to forty thousand souls.
The people are principally recent settlers,
many OF whom are understood to be ready
for removal to other mining districts, beyond
the limits OF the Territory, if circumstances
shall render them more inviting. Such a
population cannot bu. find relief from ex-
cessive taxation. If the Territorial system,
which devolves the expenses of the Execu-
| tive, Legislative and Judicial departments
upon the United States, is for the present
| continued, they cannot but find the security
| OF person and property increased by their
reliance upon the national Executive power
| for the maintenance of law and order,
| against the disturbances necessarily incident
to all newly organized communities.
Second. 1t is not satisfactorily established
| that majority of the citizens of Colorado
desire or are prepared for an exchange of a
territorial for State government. In Sep
| tembcr, 1864, under the authority of Con-
gress, an election was lawfully appointed
| and held for the purpose of ascertaining the
views OF the people upon this particular
question; 1892 votes were cast, and OF this
number majority of 1852 was given
| against the proposed change. In Septem-
Der, 1865, without any legal authority, the
| question was again presented to the people
of the Territory, with the view of obtaining
a reconsideration of the result of the election
held in compliance with the act of Congress,
approved March 21, 1864. AT this second
election, 5,905 votes were polled, and ma
Jority OF l55 was given in favor of a State
organization. 1t does not seem to me en-
tirely safe to receive this last mentioned
result, so irregularly obtained, rs sufficient
to overweight the one which had been lsgaly
obtained in the first election. Regularity
and conformity to law are essential to the
preservation Of order and stable govern
ment, and should, as far us practicable,
always Je observed in the formation of new
States.
Third. The admission of Colorado at this
time as State in the Federal Union, appears
to me to be incompatible with the public
interests of the country; and while it is de-
sirable that Territories, when sufficiently
matured, should be orgarized as States, yet
the spirit of the Constitution seems to re-
quire that there should be an approximation
towards equality among the several States
less or more than two Senators in Congress.
The largest State has population OF four
millions several of the States have popu-
lation exceeding two millions, and many
Others have aspopulation exceeding one
million. l.H'
If this bill should become q law, the peo-
pie of Colorado, thirty thousand in number,
would have in the House of Representatives
one member, while New York, with popu-
latIon of four millions, has but thirty-one.
Colorado would have in the Electoral Col
lege three votes, while New York has only
thirty three. Colorado would have in the
Senate two votes, while New York has no
more.
inequalities of this character have already
occurred, but it is believed that none have
happened where the inequality was so great.
When such inequality has been allowed,
Congress is supposed to have permitted it
on the ground OF some high public necessity,
and under circumstances which promised
that it would rapidly disappear through the
growth and development of the newly ad-
mitted State. Thus, in regard to the several
States in what was formerly called the
"Northwest Territory" lying west of the
ulation rendered it certain that States ad
mitted with only one or two representatives
IN Congress, would, in very short period,
be entitled to great increase of representa-
tion. So, when California was admitted on
the ground of commercial and political
exigencies, it vas well foreseen that that
State was destined rapidly to become
great, prosperous and important mining and
commercial community. In the case of Col
orado am not aware that ahy national eXi-
gency, either of political or commercial
nature requires departure from the law of
equality which has been so generally adhered
to in our history. r..
If information submitted in connection
with this bill is reliable, Colorado, instead
of increasing, has declined in population.
At an election for members of Territorial
Legislature, held in 1865, 10,5S0 votes were
cast At the election before mentioned, in
1864, the number of votes cast was 6,l92,
while at the irregular election, held in 1865,
which is assumed as basis for legislative
action at this time, the aggregate OF votes
cast was 5,905.
Sincerely anxious for the welfare and
prosperity of every Territory and State, as
well as for the prosperity and welfare ofthe
whole Union, regret this apparent decline
of population in Colorado but it is mani
fest that it is due to emigration, which Is
going on from that Territory unto ether re-
gions within the United States, which either
are in fact or are believed by the Inhabitants
of Colorado to be richer in mineral wealth
and agricultural resources. II, however,
Colorado has not really declined in popula-
tion, another census or another election un-
der the authority Of Congress would place
the question beyond doubt, and cause but
little delay in the ultimate admission OF the
Territory as State, if desired by the people.
The tenor of these objections furnishes
the reply which may be expected to an ar
gumept in favor of the measure derived from
the Enabling Act, which was passed by Con-
Rress on the 21st day of March, 1864, al
thanoh Conpreas than supposed that the