The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-05-31
TEYO OF THE COLORADO BILL.
Ths Pre.lde n.. Ob1ee,ien. il FnII.

tnrn To the Senate. in which house 1t orlSl-
mated. the bill which has passed both
Houses of Congress entitled 80 An act for
the admission Of the State of Colorado into
the Upion," with my objections to its be-
coming a law at this time. ..4
FfrsI From the best Information which
have been able to obtain. do not consid-
or the establishment of State Government
Of present necessary for the welfare OF the
T.dnIe in Colorado Under the existing
territorial government all the rights, PRIV
ieoes and interests of the citizens are pro-
teeted and secured. The qualified voters
choose their own Legislatures aud their own
local officers, and are represented in Con-
oress by delegate of their own selection,
T'hev make and execute their own munich
paI laws, subject only to revision by Con-
rress, an authority not likely to be exer'
cised unless in extreme cases. The popula-
ton is small, some estimating it as low as
Ok 600 while the advocates of the bill reck-
on the number at from 50, 900 to 10000
The people are principally recent settlers,
many of whom are understood to be ready
for removal to other mining districts be-
vond the limits of the territory if crcum-
stances shall render them more inviting
Such q population cannot but ma reliei
from excessive taxation if the territorial
system which devolves the expenses OF the
Executive, Legislative and judicial de-
partments upon the United States is for the
present continued. They cannot but lind
the security of person and property IN
creased by their reliar 70 upon the National
Executive power for the maintenance Of law
and order against the disturbances neccessa-
rily incident to all newly organized commu-
mites.
Second: 1t is not satisfactorily establish
ed that majority If the citizens OF Coiora-
do desire or are prepared tor an exchange OF
Territorial for State government. In
Septenber, 1854 under the authority OF
Congress au election was lawfully appoint
ed and held, fol the purpose OF ascertainlng
the views Of the people Upon this partlc-
uIar question: 6, 1872 votes were cast, and OF
this number a majority OF 3, 1872 was given
against the proposed change In September,
1866, without auy legal authority, the ques
ton was again presented 10 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 81, 1864 At this second
election 8. Y05 votes polied and small ma
iority of I55 was given in favor Of a state
organization. 1t does not seem to Inc Ell
tirely safe to receive this last mentioned re,
suit SO irregularly obtained, to outweigh
the one which had been legally obtained IN
the first election Regularity aud 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 III new States.
THIRD Tue admission of Colorado at
this time, as State into the Union, appears
to me to he Incompatible with the public
interests of the country. While it is desira
Bile that Territories when sufficiently ma
tured, should be Oigaulzed as States: yet
the spirit OF tue Constitution Seems to re-
quire that there should be All approximation
toward equality among the several States
comprising the Union. No State cati have
less or more than two Senators III Congress
The largest State has a population of four
millions. Several States have a population
exceeding two millions and many others
have population exceeding one million
If this bill Should become law, the people
of Colorado, 10000 in number. would have
in the House of Representatives one menu
Der While New York, with population
of four millions, has but thirty one Colo
RADIO would have in the electoral college
three votes, while New York has only thir-
ty-three. Colorado would have in the Sen
ate two votes, while New Y ork las 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
10,
on the grounds of some high public necessi
ty, 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 seve-
raj States in what was formerly called the
North West Territory" lying East of the
Mississippi. Their rapid advance III
population rendered it certain that States
admitted with only one or two Representa-
tives in Congress. would in very short
period be entitled to great increase of rep
resentation So when Cali forna was admit
ted on the ground of commercial and poIiti-
cal exigences, it was well foreseen that the
State was destined to become great, pros
porous and important mining and CONNER
cial community.
In the case Of Colorado / am not aware
that any National exigency either of po-
htlcal or commercial nature requires a de-
parture from the law of equality which has
been go generally adhered to in our history
Ii information submitted in connection
with this bill is reliable Colorado instead
of increasing has declined in population =
At an election for members of Territoris
al Legislature held i'll 1861, 10, $50 vote
were cast AT the election before mentioned
in 1864 the number of votes CAST was 6, 1872,
while at the irregular election held in 1865
which Is assumed as basis for legislative
action at this time, the aggregate of the
votes was 1906. . t~1S satEsss
Sincerely anxious for the welfare and
prosperity of every Territory and State, as
well as for the prosperity and welfare of
Of the whole Union | regret this apparent
decline OF population in Colorado but it is
manifest that 1t is due to emigration which
is going on from that Territory into other
regions within the United States which
either are i'll fact, or are believed by the in
habitants of Colorado to be richer
in mineral resources If however, Colorado
has not really declined in population, an
mother caucus or another election uuder the
authority of Congress would place the ques
ton beyond doubt, and cause but little de
lay the ultimate admission of the Territory
as State if desired by the people. The
tenor of these objections furnishes the reply
which may TIC e&pected to AN argument IA
favor of the measure derived from the kna
bling Act, which was passed by Congress
on the 2lst day of March 1864 Although
Congress then supp 'sed that the condition
of the Territory was such as to warrant its
admission as State, the result of two
years. experience shows that every reason
which existed for the institution of a terri
torial instead Off state government in Col
orado, at its first organization, still eontin
ues in force. The condition of the Union
at the present momentsis calculated to in
spire caution in regard to the admission OF
new States. Eleven of the old STAGES have
been for some time, and shall remain unrep
resented in Congress. IL is common in
terest of all the States as well those rep