The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-05-18
Vein of the Colorado Bill.

me at present, necessary for the wei
fare of the people in Colorado. Under
the existing Territorial Government all
the rights, privileges and interests of
citizens are protected and secured
The qualified voters choose their own
Legislatures and their own local off
GERS, and are represented in Congress
by delegation of their own selection.
They make and execute their own mu-
nicipal laws, subject only to revision by
Congress-an authority not likely to be
exercised unless in extreme or extra
ordinary cases
The population is small; some esti-
mrting it as low as $4,000, while the adj
Yocates of the bill reckon the number
at from $4,000 to 10000. The people
are principally recent settlers, many of
whom are understood to be ready for
removal to other mining districts be-
yond the limits of the Territory, if cir
cumstances shall render them more
inviting
Such population cannot but find
relief from excessive taxation, if the
terri torial system, which devolves ex-
penses of the Executive, Legislative,
and Judicial Departments upon the
United States, is for the present con-
tinued. They cannot but find the Sc
eurity of person and property in
creased by their reliance upon the Ma
tional Executive power for the main
tenance of law and order against the
disturbances necessarily incident to all
newly organized communities.
Secondly, 1T Is not satisfactorily es-
tablished that a majority of the citi-
zens of Colorado desire, and are. pre-
pared for an exchange of Territorial
for State government. In Septem-
Der, 1864, under the authority of Con-
gress, an election was lawfully appoint
ed and held for the purpose of ascer-
tanning the views of the people upon
this particular question. 6192 votes
were cast; and of this number q ma
jority of 3ll5 was given against the
proposed change.
in September, 1865, without any le-
gal authority, the question was again
presented to the people of the terrific
nv, with the view of obtaining a recon
sideration of the result of the election
held in compliance with the act of
Congress, approved March q, 1864 At
this second election 1905 votes were
boiled, and the small majority of l55
was given in favor of a State Organi-
cation. ----
1t does not seem to me entirely safe
to permit this last mentioned result, so
irregularly obtained, to outweigh the
one which had been legally obtained.
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 q State into the Union ap-
pears to me to be incompatible with
the public interest of the country.
While it is desirable that territories,
when sufficiently mstured, should be
organized as States, yet the spirit OF
the Constitution seems to require that
there should be an approximation to-
wards equality among the several
States comprising the Union. No State
can have less or more than two Sena-
tors in Congress. The largest State has
a incubation of four millions, several
other States have a population exceed
ing two millions, and many others have
population exceeding one million.
If this bill should become a law, the
people of Colorado, 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 in the Electoral College
three votes, while New York has only
tbirty-three. Colorado would have In
the Senate two votes, while New York
has no more.
Inequalities of this character have
already occurred, but it is believed none |
have happened where the inequality |
was 80 great. When such an inequality |
has been allowed, Congress Is supposed |
to have permitted it on the ground OF
some high public necessity, and under
which promised that 1t
would rapidly disappear through the
growth and development of newly
admitted State. -.
Thus, in regard to the several States
in what was formerly called the North
west Territory, lying east of the Mis-
,issippi, their rapid advance IN popula-
ion rendered it csrtsin that States adj
nitted with only one or two Represen-
Eatiyes in Congress, would in a very
short period be entitled to a great IN
crease in representation. When Cali
Fornia was admitted on the ground OF
and political exigencles, 1t
was well foreseen that that State was
destined rapidly to become great,
and important commercial
In the case of Colorado | am not
aware that any national exigency, either
# a political or commercial nature, re-
Iuires q departure from the law of
equality, WHICH has been so generally
adhered to in our history. if the in
formation submitted in connection with
the bill is reliable, Colorado, instead OF
increasing, has declined in population.
At an election for members for Ter
ritorial Legislature held in 1861, lO,5oO
votes were cast At the election be
fore mentioned, in 1864, the number
was {, 1872. while at the regular election,
held in 1865, which is assumed for basis
DR. legislative action at this time, the
aggregate number of votes was $500.
Sincerely anxious for the welfare and
of every Territory and State,
rs well as for the prosperity and happi-
ness of the whole Union, l regret the
APPARENT decline of population IN Col
,rado But it is manifest it is owing
% the emigration which is going on
rom that Territory into others within
he United States, which are, in fact,
IF believed by the inhabitants of Colo
ado to be, richer in mineral wealth and
agricultural resources. If, however, |
Joforsdo has not really declined in .
another census or another
election under authority of Congress
would place the question beyond doubt,
md cause but little delay in the ulti-
nate reception of the Territory as a
State if desired by the people. ,
The tenor of these objections furn- ,
shes the reply, which may be repeated !
o an argument in favor of the measure, ,
derived from the enabling act, which :
vas passed by Congress Oh the Dist of :
March, 1864 Although Congress then
imposed that the condition of the :
territory was such as warranted its /
Omission as a State, the result of two
ears experience shows that every
eason which existed for the institution
f Territory instead of State Gov [
rnment in Colorado at It's first organi- !
alton, still continues in force
The Constitution of the Union, at
he present moment, is calculated to 2
lspirS caution in regard to the sdmis-
ion of new States. Eleven of the old ;
tates have been for some time, and !
till remain unrepresented in Congress.