The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-19
Message from the President.
VETO OF THE BILL. ADMITTING COLORADO A
IA 4 STATE.


To the; ;Senate of The United States:
return to the Senate, in which it origi-
mated, the bill which has passed sboth
houses of Congress-, entitled can Act for
the admission of the State of Colorado
into the Union, with my objections to its
becoming law ct this time.
First. From the best information which
l have been able to obtain, l. do not con-
slider the establishment Of State Govern
ment at present necessary for the welfare
of the people of Colorado. Under the ex-
listing Territorial Government, all the
rights, privileges and interests Of the citi-
Zens are protected and secured. Tho qua
lifted voters choose their own Legislators
and their own local officers, and are repre-
sented in Congress by a delegate of their
own selection. They make and execute
their own municipal laws, subject only to
revision of Congressman authority not
likely to be exercised unless in extreme or
extraordinary cases. The population is
small, some estimating it so low as 25, 900,
while advocates of the bill reckon the num-
bcr ut from $4,000 to 10000 souls. The
people are principally recent settlers,
many of whom are understood to be ready
for removal to other mining districts be
Nyand the limits of the Territory, if circum-
stances shall render them more inviting.
Such a population cannot but find relief
from excessive taxation if the territorial
system, which devolves the expense of the
executive, legislative and judicial depart
ments upon the United States, is for the
present continued. They cannot but find
the security OF person and property in
, creased by their reliance upon the national
executive power for the maintenance of
law and order against the disturbances ne
cessarlly incident to all newly organized
communities.
Second. 1t is not satisfactorily established
that majority of the citizens of Colorado
desire or are prepared FOR an exchange of
aTerritorial for State Government. In
September, 1864, under the authority OF
Congress, an election was lawfully appoint
ed and held for the purpose of ascertaining
the views of the people upon that particrl-
lar question. 6,192 votes were cast, and OF
this number ajority OF 1852 was given
against the proposed change. In Septcm-
Der, 1865, without any legal authority, the
question was again presented to the peo-
pie OF the Territory, with the view Of OBJ,
tanning reconsideration of the result OF
the election held in compliance with the
Act Of Congress approved March q, 1864
At this second election, 5,905 votes wert
polied, and majority of 155 was given il
favor on State orSaniza.io ion. 1t does no.
seem t1 me entirely safe to receive this
aforementioned result, so irregularly OBJ
tanned, las sufficient to outweigh the on,
which Had been legally obtained in tho frs
election. Regularity and conformity to
law are essential to the preservation o
order and stable government, and should
as faE as practica BE, always be observed il
The formation of new States.
Jnlrd. The admission of Colorado at thi.
time as State into the Federal Union ap
pears to me to be incompatible with tl,
public interests of the country. While i
is desired that territories sufficiently ina
tured should be organized as States, yc
the spirit OF the Constitution seems to re
Qulre that there should be an approXima
ton towards equality among the severa
States comprising the Union. No State cal
have more than two Senators in Congress
the larS st State has population of fon
millions, several Of the States have pop
Glation exceeding two millions, and man
others have Il population exceeding on
milloL.
popuR.iou of 900 is the ratio of ap
p"rtlonmcnt of representatives among til
several States. II this bill should bccom
law, the people of Colorado, 10000 j.
numbey Would have in the House of Rep
rescntativcs one member, while New York
with population of 100000, has bu
thrty-onc. Colorado weuld have in TIN
electoral college three votes, while Ne'
lor, has only thirtythree. Colorado woul
nay i'll the Senate two votes, while Ne,
fork has no more. Inequalities of th
chancter have already occurred, but it
believed that none have happened wher
the inequality was so great When srlc
mortality has been allowed, Congress
supposed to have permitted it on tn
SrouM of some high public necessity, an
uhdcrcTculS;anccs which promised tina
1t void rapidly disappear through th
sro"u and development Of the ncwly-at
inittcuState Thus, in regard to the sever;
ntates IN what was formerly called tin
Northwest Territory" lying East of til
MIssisspN, their rapid advancement j
popniaton rendered it certain that State