The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-05-18
EVANSVILLE, ND, FRIDAY, MaYitsg 1866

so great. When such inequality has
been allowed, Congress Is supposed to
have permitted 1t on the grounds OF
some high public necessity, and under
circumstances which promise that it
would rapidly disappear, through the
growth and develoRh1er Of ABa newly
admitted State. Thus, In regard to
the several States in what was for
merly called the northwest territory,
lying east of the Mississippi, the
rapid advance IL popnlati0fi rendered
it certaindthat thea States admitted.
with only one or two Representatives
in Congress woaId. IN a very short
period, besentitled to a great increase
in representation When California
was admitted, ON the question of
commercial and political exigencies,
1t was we'll foreseen. that that State
vas destined rapidly TO becomes great,
prosperous and important mining and
commercial community. 4hx
In the case of Colorado, / am not
aware that any national exigency,
either of a political or commercial
nature, requires a departure from the
law of equality which has been so
fgenerally adhered to In our history
If1 the information submitted IN coli
nection with this bill is reliable, Cot
0rad0, instead of increasing, has de-
| clin6d in population. J At an, electi6n
tfDr members for Territorial Legisla-
tbre, held in 1861, $3.50. votes were
cast At the election before mentioned
I In 1864, the number was 6,192, while
atl the regular election, held in 1865,
which is assumed for basis of legis-
lative action at this time, the aggre-
gate number of the votes were 800.
Sincerely anxious for the. welfare
and prosperity of every Territory and
State, as we'll as for the welfare
and prosperity of the whole Union.
I regret this apparent decline of
] population in Colorado; but it is
manifest it. is due to the emil
grafton which is going on from that
Territory into other regions within the
| United IStates, which, either areI in
/ fact, or are believed by the inhabitants
of Colorado ocbe ,sricher; insHlineral
] wealth ana AGRICULTURAL resources, If,
/ however, Colorado has not really de-
clined i'm ip0pulation; sano other- census
1or another election, under authority of
/ Congress. would place. the question
ibeTond a doubt and cause but 1rttle
delay inthe ultimate reception of the
Territory as a State, if desired by the
people. eis 1I6Il9-ss. hs1'
The tenor of these objections fur
nishes the reply which may be expect
ed to an argument in favor of the rnea-
lEsure, derived from the enabling act,
(which was passed by Congress on the
/ 21st day of March, 1864 Although
i 4Qongress then supposed that the con-
ditien Of the Territory was such as to
warrant its admission as State, the
Il result of two years experience shows
4 that every reason Which existed fol
1.-THE existence of a. Territorial instead
of State Government In Colorado, al
its first organization,, still continues il
4 force. The condition of the Union al
the present moment is calculated tg
inspire caution in regard .tosithe ad-
mission ofinewl States q Eleven of the
old States have been, for some time
and still remain, iunrepresented
hin Congress. It is a common interest
Of all the States, as well, those repre-
sented as those unrepresented, that
the integrity and harmony of the
Union should be restored as com
pletely as possible, so that all those
who are expected to bear the burdens
of the Federal Government shall be
u consulted concerning the admission o.
new States, and that. in the mean,
time, no new, State shall be prema
4 turely and unnecessarily admitted K
y a participation in the political power
which the Federal Government Wields
not for the benefit Of any individua
I State or society, but for the common
safety, welfare, and happiness. of tht
whole country fs 9asS M sieg
| (Signed) "a ANDREW JOHNSON.
4 Washington, d. G., May 10, 1866