The Portland daily press., 1866-05-17
The Presidents MESSAGE

1
return to the Senate, in which il oripinat-
ed, the bull which has passed both Houses Of
Congress, entitled San Act for the admission
ct the State of Colorado into the Union /"
with my objections to its becoming a law,
First. From the best information which I
have been able to obtain, do not consider the
establishment of State Government at pres
ent necessary for the welfare of the people of
Colorado. Under the existing Territorial Gov
eminent all the rights, privileges and interests
OF the citizens are protected.
Second The qualified voters choose their
own Legislators and their own local officers.
and are represented in Congress by delegate
OF their own selection. They make and exc
cute their own municipal laws subject only To
the revision Of Congress, an authority not likely
to be exercised unless in extreme or extraor-
binary cases. The population 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 set
| tiers, many of whom are understood to be
ready for removal to other mining districts
beyond the limits of the Territory, il circum-
stances shall render them more inviting
Such population cannot but find relief from
excessive taxation. IL the territorial system.
which devolves the expense of the executive
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 main
| tenance OF law and order, against the disturh
| ances necessarily incident to all newly orpani-
zed communities.
Third. 1t is not satisfactorily established
that majority of the citizens of Colorado de-
sire or are prepared for an exchange of a Ter.
ritorial for a State government In Septem
Der, 1854, under the authority of Congress. an
election was lawfully appointed and held foi
the purpose of ascertaining the views Of tbe
people upon that particular question. Six thou-
sand one hundred and ninety-two votes were
cast, and OF this number majority of 385.
was gwen against the proposed change. In
September, 1865, without any legal antboritv
the question was again presented to the neon.
lie OF the Territory, with the view of obtainine
reconsideration of the result of tn. election
held In compliance with the act OF Congress
approved March 21, 1864. At this second el-
ection 5905 votes were polled, and ma;or;tv Of
l55 were given in favor os a State oreaniza-
ton. 1t does not seem to me entirely safe to
receive this last mentioned result, so irreou-
larry obtained, as sufficient to outweigh the
ore 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 forma-
'ior E,r =, nc" , Tsa'cs;
roah. Inc admission OF Colorado at this
time, as State to the Federal Union. annears
to be Incompatible with the public interests Of
the country, while it is desired that territories
sufhciently matured should be Organized as
States. Yet the spirit of the Constitution
seems to require that there should be an an
proximation in equality among the several
States comprising the Union. No State can
nave more than two Senators in Congress.-
The largest State has population OF OOO-
OOO. Several of the States have population
exceeding two millions, and many Others have
a population exceeding one million. nonn'
lation of $4,000 is the ratio of apportionment
OF representatives among the several States.
II this bill should become a law, the people of
Coiorado, thirty thousand in number Would
have in the House of Representatives one
member, while New York, with a population
OF four millions, has but thirty-one. Colorado
would have 10 the Electoral College three
votes, While New York has only thirty-three g.
colorado would have in the Senate two votes,
Wnne New York has no more. Inequalities of
this character have already occurred, but il is
believed that none have happened where the
Inequality was so great. When such ineaual-
lty has been allowed, Congress is supposed To
have permitted it on the ground of some biob
public necessity, and under circumstances
which promised that it would rapidly disan-
pear, through the growth and development of
tne newly admitted State. Thus, in regard
70 t1e several States in what was formerly
calea .ne ~ northwest Territory" lying east Of
1ne Mississlppl, their rapid advancement in
population rendered it certain that these
otates, aomitted with only one or two repre-
sen.asTes III congress, would, in very short
peIlou, ue enltieu 10 great increase Of rep
Iesentaton' 90 Wnen California was admit
Ieu' on tne GROUND Oh commercial and politi-
cal C exleensles, II was well foreseen that the
otaIe was oeselneu rapidly 10 become great,
proSPerous' mining ana commercial communi-
" ~ tne :ase vi Colorauo am not aware
ooI 20 ay ,,.noa;ai sency, eitner OF pUliti-
cal or commercial nature requires departure
rom tne law OF equality which has been so
genera.y adnered 10 III our history. II in
iormatiOn submitted In connection with this
OH Is reliaoie, COLORADO, instead OF increasing,
mas ueciineu ID population. At an election
ior inenhpers Oh Territorial Legislature held
IN 1901, lo,ooo votes were cast; at the election
oelore llentIohed, IN 1904, the number Of votes
sass was o,is1 wnlle at their regular election
,n.., ,u iooo, winch assumed as basis for legis-
u. ,l.se ao.ol on a. Iiis Time, the aggregate OF
80 80 "a' o,ooo. oincereiy ANXIOUS for the
Stn.a 90 'ru ,'a, ~ VI every territory and
os .h as wen as ior 'ne prosperity and welfare
" 'to ~hoio mon, iregret thls apparent de-
e,ne :s,a ., popaiaslon IN Colorado, but it is man
iiest lntt u Is uue 10 emigration which is go
my ou1 iroilI tnat territory into other regions
within the onited states, which either are in
lact, OF are Deneved Dy the inhabitants of Col
oIado 10 De ricner III mineral wealth and agri-
cultural resources. Ii, however, Colorado has
not really Declined In population, another CEN
s9s, or another election under the authority
OF Congress, would place the question beyond
doubt, and cause but little delay in the ulti-
mate admission OF the territory as a State if