The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-05-29
Veto szessage ofthe Colorado Bill,
by President johnson.

into the Union" with my objections to it
becoming a law at this time.
/. From the best information which |
have been able to obtain, | do not con-
slider the establishment of a State Gov
eminent at present necessary for the vel
fare of the people of Colorado. Under
the existing territorial government all the
rights, privileges, and interests of the
citizens are p protected and secured. The
qualified voters choose their own legisla-
tors and their own local officers, aud are
represented in Congress by a Delegate of
their " selection. They make and ex-
ecute their own laws. subject only to re-
vision of Jongress-an authority rot
likely to be exercised, unless in extreme
or extraordinary cases. The population
is small, some estimating 1t so low as
twenty-five thousand, while advocates of
the bill reckon the number at from thir-
ty-6ye 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 annot but
find relief from excessive taxation if the
territorial system, which devolves the ex,
pense 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
maintenance of law aud order against the
disturbances necessarily incident to all
newly organized communities.
2. 1t is not satisfactorily established
that a majority of the citizens of Colora-
do desire or are prepared for an exchange
of a territorial for a State government.
In September, 1864, under the authority
of Congress, an election was lawfully ap-
pointed and held for the purpose Of as
pertaining the views of the people upon
that particular question. Six thousand
one hundred and n~inety-two votes were
cast, and of this number a majority of
,153 was given against the proposed
change. In September, 1865, without
any legal authority, the question was
again presented to the people of the Ter
ritory with the view of obtaining a re-
consideration Of the result of the election
held in compliance with the act of Con-
gress, approved March 81, 1864. At
this second election 5,905 votes were poll
ed, and a majority of 155 was given in
favor Of State organization. 1t does not
seem to ne entirely safe so receive the
last mentioned result, SO i:regularly OBJ
tanned, as sufficient to outweigh the one
which had been legally obtained in the
first election. Regularity and conformi-
ty 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.
8. The admission of Colorado at this
time as a State into the Federal Unien
appears to me to be incompatible with
the public interests of the country
While it is desired that Territories suf6-
GENTLY matured should be organized as
States, yet the spirit Of the Constitution
seems to require hat there should be an
approximation toward equality among the
several States comprising the Union. No
State can have more THAI two Senators in
Congress; the largest State has a popula-
ton of four millions, several of the States
has a population of two millions, and
many others have a population exceeding
one million.
A population Of one hundred aud
twenty seven thousand is the ratio of APP
portionment OF Representatives among
the several States. IF this bill should
become a law, the people of Colorado,
thirty thousand in number, would have
in the House of Representatives one mem
Der, while New York, with a population
Of four millions, has but t%hirty-one. Col
orado would have 3 votes in the electoral
college, while New York has only 3d.
! Colorado would have in the Senate two
votes, while New York has no more.
Inequalities of this character have al
ready occurred, bu. it is believed that
none have occurred where the inequality
was SO great. When such inequality has
been allowed, Congress is supposed to
have admitted it on the ground OF some
high public necessity, and under circum-
stances which promised that it would
rapidly disappear through the growth and
development 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 a very short period be
entitled to a great increase of represen-
tation. So when California was admitted
on the ground Of commercial and po!iti-
cal exigencies, it was we'll foreseen that
the State was destined rapidly to become
a great, prosperous, mining and CONNER
cial community. In the case of Colorado,
| am not aware that any rational exigen-
cy, either Of a 7 political or commercial ma
ture, requires a departure from the law Of
equality which has been SO generally ad-
hered to in our history.
IF information submitted in connection
with this bill is reliable, Colorado, IN
stead of increasing, has declined in pop.
~ulation. At an election for members of
a Territorial Legislature held in 1861,
10 $50 votes we're east. At the election
before mentioned, ia 1864, the number OF
votes cast was 6, 1872; while at the irreg-
ular ELECTION, held in 1865, which is as
sumcd as a basis for legislative action at