Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-17
THE LEADER LEADS.
veto NUMBER hree

veto Number Three.
We have learned to expect a veto from
President johnson once a month. 1t
CONES Is regularly, and with as much pre-
eision, as the changes of the moon. The
one for the current month has just been
issued. The bill for the admission ofool-
orado as q state in the Union has been re-
turned 10 the Senate, in which it origin
ated, with the veto Of the President.
We are not inclined to c~ritieise either
the veto or the main argument by
which it is justified, as reported
by telegraph. The President rests his
veto on the fact that the population of
C~oloradois entirely insufficient. It SHOULD
be made q condition precedent of the ad-
mission Of a territory to the privileges of
a state, that that territory possesses as
many inhabitants as n Congressional
district. This should be the lowest admis-
sible number, and this number Colorado
does not possess. The population of a
Congressional district upon which the ap-
~portionment is based, is about $4,000.
The population of Colorado is variously
estimated at from 25,o coo to 10000, or from
~one-fffhIto one-third ofthe necessary num-
Der. Moreover, the population of Colora-
do is decreasing rather than increasing.
The superior attractions of Montana, both
as q mining and agricultural region, are
drawing many of the inhabitants Of tho
former territory still farther westward.
There is no probability that the territory
of Colorado will have enough inhabitants
within the next ten years to entitle IT to
the power and privileges of a state in the
Union.
Had the President rested his veto on
this argument, and stopped there, our
praise Of his course would have been un-
mixed with consure. But his ehronicten-
deney to say too much, which has been
his besetting sin throughout his entire
public life, has weakened his position
The additional arguments with whichhe
strives TO bolster up his chief n are
either inconclusive or positively injurious.
The I'D e~aptandazn reasoning by which he
exhibits the unfairness Of giving Colorado
an equal representation in the Senate
with New York, which has so much great
er population, is unworthy the President.
Precisely this equality of Senatorial rep
resentation between small and large states
was contemplated by the trainers OF the
Constitution. 1t is one of the compro-
misses of that wonderful instrument and
it hiss always worked admirably. Every
new state has enjoyed the advantage Of
this disproportionate power in the Senate,
and no one hiss ever dreamed of COM
planning Of it.
The concluding suggestion OF the veto
message is sven more than inconclusive-
II il q most fallacious and dangerous doc
trine. The President urges that Colorado
ought not now to be admitted, because the
eleven rebellious states are without repre-
sentatives,and should be consulted as to
the admission of new states. If this argu-
ment proves anything, it proves too much,
II it iustiies the President in yetoing
this bill, 1t would justify him in Yetoing
any bill. If the consent Of the represen-
tstives of the rebcllious states is necessary
fer the validity of this legislation it would
be for all legislation. If Mr. JOhnson's
logic is good, he not only might but ought
to veto every bill which is passed before
the Southern States are represented. It
makes no MISTER how necessary or impor-
tant the bill may be. By how much the
more important it is, by SO much the more
essential 1t is to have the vote of the South
upon It. Taking this position, the Presi-
dent might block the wheels Of govern,
ment and veto every bill passed before the
the rebel Representatives are admitted.
Thst he has not done so proves that he
does not believe in his own argument.
The Senate VIII probably not pass The
bill the Presidents veto. 1t originally
passed that body on the 25th of April, by
Is yeas to ID nays, the yeas being sl Re-
-publicans and the nays made up of DEM
ocrats, johnson Republicans, and Sumner
Radicals. 1t psssedthe House of Repre-
sentatives on the srd of May, yeas so,
NAYS IS. 1t will be observed that neither
House gave it a t~wo-thirds vote on its first
passage and it is not probable that the
veto viii give the bill impetus enough to
carTyit through both Houses. Colorado
may make up its mind to stay out in the
cold awhile longer.