Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1866-05-24
Veto of the Colorado Bill,


| becoming a law at this time.
First. From the best information which
. l have been able TO obtain, do not con-
slider the establishment of State govern
ment at present necessary for the welfare
Of the people OF Colorado. Under the
existing Territorial government all the
rights, privileges and interests of the citi-
zens are protected and secured. The
qualified voters choose their own lcgisla-
tors and their own local officers, and are
represented in Congress by a delegate of
their own selection. They make and exc
cute their own municipal laws, subject
only to reversion of Congress, an authori-
ty not likely to be exercised, unless in ex-
treme 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-tive thousand TO forty thousand
souls. The people are principally recent
settlers, many of whom are understood to
be ready for removal to other mining dis
tricts beyond the limits of the Territory.
if circumstances shall render them more
inviting. Such a population cannot but
find relief from excessive taxation if the
Territorial system, which deyolves the ex-
pense of the executive, legislative and ju-
dlcial departments upon the United States,
is for the present continued. They can
not but find the security of person and
property increased by their reliance upon
the national executive power for the main
tenance of law and order against the dis
turbances necessarily incident to all newly
organized communities.
Second. 1t is not satisfactorily estab-
lished that majority of the citizens of
Colorado desire Or are prepared for an ex-
change of a Territorial for State govern
ment. In September, 1864, under the
authority of Congress, an election was
lawfully appointed and held for the pur-
pose of ascertalning the views of the peo-
pie upon that particular question. Six
thousand one hundred and ninety-two
votes were cast, and of this number ma
iority of three thousand one hundred and
fitty-two was given against the proposed
change. In September, 1865, without
any legal authority, the question was
again presented to the people of the Terri
tory, with the view of obtaining a recon-
sideratiOn of the result Of the election
held in compliance with the act of Con-
grcss, approved March 2I, 1864. At
this second election five thousand nine
hundred and five votes were polled, and 4
majority of one hundred and fifty-iive was
given III favor of State organic tion. 1t
does not seem 70 me entirely safe to receive
this last mentioned result, so irregularly
oh "a Io
which had been legally obtained in the
first election. Regularity and conformity
to law are essential to the preservation of
order and stable government, and should,
as far as practicable, always be observed
in the formation of new States.
Third. The admission of Colorado,
at this time, as a State into the Federal
Union, appears 10 me TO be incompatible,
with the public interests of the country.
While it is desired that Territories suffi-
ciently matured should be organized as
States, yet the spirit of the. Constitution
seems to require that there should be an
approximation towards equality among the
several States comprising the Union. No
State can have more than two Senators in
Congress the largest State has popula-
ton Of four millions, several of the States
have population exceeding two millions,
and many others have population ex-
ceeding one million.
A population of 127,0 900 is the ratio of
apportionment of representatives among
the several States. If this bill should be-
come law, the people of Colorado, thir-
ty thousand in number, would have in the
z
while New York, with population OF
four millions, has but thirty. one. Colo
rado would have in the electoral college
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 al
ready 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 circum-
stances which promised that it would rap
idly disappear through the growth and
developement of the newly admitted State
Thus, in regard to the several States in
what was formerly called the Northwest
Territory lying east of the Mississippi,
their rapid advancement in population
rendered it certain that States admitted
with only one or two Representatives in
Congress would in very short period be
entitled to great increase of representa-
ton. SO when California was admitted
on the ground of commercial and political
exigencies, it was well forseen that that
State vas destined rapidly to become
great prosperous mining and commercial
community. In the case of Colorado,
am not aware that any national exioencv.