Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-05-18
The PRESIDENTS VETg MESSAGE.
w AcuTNETnN Mar 1

D
1 70 the Senate Of The United States
[ return to the Senate. in which house
/ il originated, the bill which has passed
! both houses of Congress, entitled an act
/ for the admission Of the State of Colora-
do into the Union, with my objections to
its becoming a law at this time.
First. From the best information which
( [ have been able to obtain, | do not con-
slider the establishment Of a State Gov
ernment at present necessary for the vel
! fare of the people in Colorado Under
the existing territorial government all
the rights, privileges and interests of the
citizens are protected and secured. The
qualified voters choose their own legisla-
tors and their own local officers, and one
Representative in Congress- delegate
/ Of their own selection. They make their
own municipal laws, subject only to
revision by Congress-an authority not
likely to be exercised unless in extreme
cases.
The population is small, some estima-
ting SO low as 25, 900, while the advocates
Of the bill reckon the number at from
35 600 to 10000. The people are princi-
pally recent settlers, many Of whom are
understood to be ready for removal to
other mining districts beyond the limits
of the territory, If circumstances shall
render them more inviting. Such apop-H
ulatlon cannot but find relief from ex-
cessive taxation, if the territorial system,
which devolves the expenses of the exec
utlve, legislative and judicial depart
ments upon the United States, is for the
present continued. They cannet- hut
find the security of person and property
increased by their reliance upon the ma
tionaI Executive power, for the main
tainanceao of law and order against the dis
turbances necessarily incident to all new
ly organized communities.
Second. 1t IS not satisfactorily estab-
ished that a majority Of the citizens of
Colorado desire or are prepared for an ex-
change Of a Territorial for State gov
In September, 1864, under the
authority OF Congress, an election was
lawfully appointed and held for the pur-
pose OF ascertaining the views Of the peo-
pie upon this particular question. Six
thousand one hundred and ninety-two /
votes were cast, and of this number g. !
l5z was given against the proposed /
amendment.
In September 1865, without any legal
authority, the question was again pre-
3ented to the people of the territory with .
lhe view of obtaining a reconsideration of /
he result of the election held in compIi-
lnce with the act Of Congress, approved
March 21st, 1864. AT this second cleo
ion ), 5,905 votes were pOlled, and small
majority of l55 was given in favor of a
State organization.
1t does not seem in me entirely safe to
Dermit this last mentioned result so II
egularly obtained, to outweigh the one
which had been legally obtained IN the
rst election. Regularity and conformity
o law are essential to the preservation of
rder and stable government, and should,
S far IS practicable, always be observed
q the formation Of new States. {
Third. The admission Of Colorado at s
his time as a State into the Union ap- :
ears to me to be incompatible with the
ublic interests of the country. While it {
desirable that territories, when suffi- /
entiy matuTed, should be organized as I
tates, yet the spirit Of the Constitution (
Gems TO require that there should be an
1prOZImation towards equality among 6
le several States comprising the Union. n
10 State can have less or more than Y
70 Senators IN Congress. The largest 7
tate has a population of four millions. i
9veral other States have a population
-ceedIng two millions, and many others
i've a population exceeding one million o
this bill should became a law, the peo-
e of Colorado thirty thousand in num- 81
r, would have in the House of Repre- e(
natives one member, while New York,
th.a population of four millions has IT
It thirty-One. n
Colorado would have IN the electoral g
Ilege three votes while new ork would "
ly have thirty three. Colorado would M
We In the Senate two votes while New I'll
,rk would have no more inequalities
this character have already occurred so
it IS believed none have happened
ere the inequality was so great. When IN
b inequalities has been allowed, Con-
SIS Is supposed to have permitted it on
grounds Of some high public necessi- tht
and under circumstances which have thi
missed that it would rapidly disappear
Ough the growth and development of cor
Fly admitted State. Thus. in regard to @-e
several States in what was formerly i
ed the Northwest territory, lying east RO
he mississippi, their rapid advance in she
ulatIOn rendered it certain that States the
lltted with only one or two Represen- Y
yes IN Congress would in very short mo
cd be entitled to great increase of Der
esentation. 81
} when California was admitted on =, L
ground of commercial and political the
encies, it was well fOrseen that the rem
g was destined to become a great. Ent
porous and important mining and mos
mercial community. In the case of II
radO 1 am not aware that any nation inve
-lgency, either Of a political or COM in Il
,ial Dature, requires a departure from that
aw Of equality which has been so belo
rally adhered in our history. m
the information submitted in con II
on with this bill is reliable, Colorado. Whe
ad of Increasing, has declined in pop La
on. At an election for members of look
ritorial legislature, held in 1861, TO- A
.otes were cast, At the election be- and
in 1864, the number was Mrs.
, while at the regular election held ter 4
s., which is assumed for basis OF kille