Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-05-25

id advancement in population rendered it GER
tain that States admitted with only one or
two Representatives in Congress would in
very short period be entitled to great in
crease of representation. So when Califor-
cial and political exigencies, it was we'll fore
seen that that State was destined rapidly to
become great prosperous mining and COM
mercial community. In the case Of Colora-
do | am not aware that any rational exigen-
cy, either ola political or commercial nature.
requires departure from the law Of equality,
which has been so generally adhered to in
our history, ..4
Ifinformation submitted in connection with
this bill is reliable, Colorado, instead of in
creasing, has declined in population. At an
election for members Of a Territorial Lcgis-
lature held in 1861, 10. $50 votes were cast
At the election before mentioned, in 1864
the number Of votes cast was 6,192 while
at the irregular election held In 1865, which
is assumed as basis for Legislative action at
this time, the aggregate Of votes was 5,9O5
Sincerely anxious for the welfare and pros
perity Of every Territory and State, as well
as for the prosperity and welfare Of the whole
Union, I regret this apparent decline of pop
.ulation in Colorado, but it is manifest that it
is due to emigration, which is going out from
that Territory into other regions within the
|. United States, which either are in fact, Or
believed by the inhabitants of Colorado to be
richer in mineral wealth and agricultural re-
sources. If, however, Colorado has not really
declined in population, another census or an
other election under the authority Of Con-
gress would place the question beyond doubt
and cause but little delay in the ultimate ad
mission, Of the Territory as a State if de-
sired by the people The tenor of these OBJ
jections furnishes the reply which may be ex-
pected to an argument in favor Of the meas
ure, derived from. the enabling act which was
passed by Congress on the LIST day of March,
1864. Although Congress then supposed
that the condition Of the Territory was such
as to warrant its admission as a State, the
result Of two years experience shows tLat
every reason which existed for the institution
Of. a Territorial instead Of a State government
| in Colorado, at its first organization, still
continues in force. '-'
The condition Of the Union at the present
moment is calculated to inspirs caution in re-
! gard, to the admission Of new States. Eleven
1 Of the old States have been for some time,
and still remain unrcpresented in Congress
is a common interest of all the States, as
we'll those represented as those unrepresent-
ed, that the integrity and harmony Of the
Union should be restored as complete as pos
siblc, 50 that all those who are expected t.
bear the burthcns Of the Federal Government
shall be consulted concerning the admission
Of new States, and that in the meantime nc
new State shall Be prematurely and unheces
sarily admitted to a participation in the Pc
= ltical power which the Federal Government
4 wields-not for the benefit Of any individual
State or section, but for the common safety
I welfare and happiness of the whole country
s0snf FL ANDREW JOHNSON
IT, WAsn1ScroN, &C., May Is, 1865.