The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-05-17
TET,EGRAPHIC NEWS,
...,aeu,,. veto of .,he Colorado Bin.

/
pre.;den,,s Veto ofihe Colorado Bill.
WASHINGTON, May 16.-The following
is the Presidents Message yetoing the
Colorado admission bill:
To the Senate of the United States:
return to the Senate, in which House
it originated, the bill which has passed
both Houses of Congress, entitled IAN
Act for the admission ofthe State of Col.
orado into the Union" with my objec-
ton to its becoming law at this time
First, From the best information that
l have been able to obtain, l do not
consider the establishment of State
government at present necessary for the
welfare of the people of Colorado. Un.
der the existing territorial government,
all the rights, privileges and interests OF
the citizens are protected and secured.
The qualified voters choose their own
legislative and their .cwn local officers,
aud are represented in Congress by
delegate of their own selection
They make and execute their own mu-
nicipal laws subject only to revision by
Congress, an authority not likely to be
exercised unless In extreme or extra
ordinary cases. The population is small
some estimating it as low as 5000, while
advocates of the bill reckon the number
at from 5000 to 10000 The peo-
pie are principally recent settlers,
many of whom are understood
to be ready for removal to other mining
districts beyond the limits OF the Terri
tory, If circumstances shall render shem
more inviting. Such a population
cannot but find relief from the excessive
taxation if the territorial system, which
devolves the expenses of the executive,
legislative and judicial debts upon the
United States, is for the present con-
tinued; they cannot but find the scarcity
of persous and property increased by
their reliance upon the national execu'
tive power for the maintenance of law
and order against the disturbance neces.
sarily incident to newly organized
communities.
Second, 1t is net undisputably estab,
lished that majority of the citizens of
Colorado desire, or are prepared for an
exchange of Territorial Tor State
government. In September, 1864, under
the authority Of Congress, an election
was lawfully appointed ana helo ior the
purpose of ascertaining the views OF the
people upon this particular question.
Six thousand one hundred and ninety
two votes were cast, and of this number
a majority of 3,l52 were given against
the proposed change. In September,
1865 without any legal authority, the
question was again presented TO the
people of the Territory with a view Of
obtaining a reconsideration OF the re-
sult of the election held in compliance
W ith the act of Congress, approved
March 2lst, 1864. At this second elec.
tion 5,9O5 votes were polled, and small
majority of l55 was given III favor ci
State organization. 1t does not seem to
me entirely safe to permit this last men-
toned result, so irregularly obtained, to
outweigh the one which has been legally
obtained in the first election, Regular
ty and conformity to law are essential to
the preservation of order and stable
governments, and should, as lar as pos
sible, always be observed in the lorna
tion Of new States.
Third, The admission OF COLORADO at
this time as State OF the Union,
appears to me to be Incompatible with
the public interests OF the country
| While it is desirable that territories
when sufficiently matUred should be or
Uanized as states, yet the spirit ef the
constitution seems to require that there
| should be an approximation towards
legality among the several State COM
prising the Union No State can have
less or more than two senators III Con-
gress. The largest State has popula.
ton of 4,0O0,000 several other States
have q population exceeding l,UOU,UUO
If this bill should become a law the
people of Colorado, 10000 in namber,
would have in the House of Representa-
tiyes one member, while New York with
population of 4,OOOO has but 81;
Colorado would have i'll the electoral
College three votes, while New York has
only thirty-tbree (33). Colorado would
have in the Senate, two (2) votes, while
New York has no more. inequalities OF
| this character have already occurred,
but it is believed none have happened
when the inequality was so great. When
said inequalities have been allowed,
Congress is supposed to have permitted
il on the grounds of some high pubic
necessity, and under circumstances
which promised that 1t would rapidly
disappear, through the growth and de-
yelopment of newly admitted State.
Thus, IN regard to the several States IN
what was formerly called Northwest
territory lying East of the Mississippi
river and their rapid advance IN poPu-
lation rendered Ii certain that States
admitted with enly one or two Repre-
sentatives in Congress would. III very
short period, be ehtitled to great
increase in representation So when
California was admitted on the ground
of personal and political exigencies
it was well forseeu that that state was
destined rapidly to become great, pros
perons and important mining and
commercial community LII the case OF
Colorado | am not aware that any
natioual exigency either OF political
or commercial nature requires a
departure from the law OF equality
which has been so generally adhered to
in our history. Ifinformation 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 1861, l0,SS0 votes were cast. AT
the election before mentioned In 1854,
| a., nnp,bar was I6 100 which at the