Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-18
THE COLORADO VETO,
VIEWS OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON

IS lne ITeslu6llt nleo9dSc NONOiiS thS WIZ
RADIO bill:
To THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
STATES Il return TO the Senate, in which
il originated, the bill which has passed both
houses Of Congress entitled AN act for the
of Colorado into the Union" with
my objections.
From the information which | have been
able to obtain, / do not consider the estab-
lishment of State Government, at present,
necessary for the welfare of the people in
Colorado. Under the existing Territorial
Government all the rights, privileges and
interests of citizens are protected and secur-
ed. The qualified voters choose their own
Legislatures and their own local officers,
and are represented in Congress by a dele
CATION Of their own selection. They make
and execute their own municipal laws, sub
ject only to revision by Congress-an au-
thority not likely to be exercised unless in
extreme or extraordinary cases.
The population is small; some estimating
it as low as %, 900, while the advocates 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
beyond the limits of the Territory, if cir
cumstances shall render them more Inyi-
ting.
Such population cannot but find relief
from excessive taxation, if the territorial
system, which devolyes expenses of the Ex-
ecutive, Legislative and Judicial Depart
ments upon the United States, is for the
present continued. They cannot but find
the security of person and property increased
by their reliance upon the National Execu-
tive power for the maintenance of law and
order against the disturbances necessarily
incident to all newly organized communi-
ties.
SECONDLY. 1t is not satisfactorily estab-
iished that majority of the citizens OF Colo
RADIO desire, and are prepared for an ex-
change of a Territorial for a State Govern
ment. In September, 1864, under the All
thority of Congress, an election was law
fully appointed and held for the purpose OF
ascertaining the views of the people upon
this particular question. 6,l92 votes were
cast and of this number a majority
of 3,115 was given against the proposed
change.
In September, 1865, with any legal au-
thority, the question was again presented to
the people of the territory, with The view OF
obtaining reconsideration of the result OF
the election held in compliance with the act
of Congress- approved March 81, 1864. AT
this second election 1904 votes we're polled,
and the small majority of l55 was given in
favor of a State organization.
1t does not seem to me entirely safe to
permit this last mentioned result, so irregu-
iarly obtained, to outweigh the one which
had been legally obtained. Regularity and
conformity to law are essential ID the preser-
walton of order and a stable government,
and should, as far as practicable, always be
observed in the formation of new words.
THIRD. The admission of Colorado at
this time as a State into the Union appears
to me TO be incompatible with the public
interest of the country. While it is desira-
bic that Territories, when sufficiently ma
tured, 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 Senators in Congress,
The largest State has a population of four
millions; several other States have pepu-
lation exceeding two millions, and many
others have a 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 Rep
resentative 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 thirty-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 hap
pened where the inequality was so great
When such an inequality has been allowed,
Congress is supposed to have permitted il
on the ground of some high public necessity,
and under circumstances which promised
that it would rapidly disappear through the
growth and development of a newly admit
ted State.
Thus, in regard to the several States in
what was formerly called the Northwest
Territory, lying east ofthe Mississippi, their
rapid advance in population rendered it GER
tain that States admitted with only one or
two Representatives in Congress, would in a
very short period be entitled to a great in
crease in representation. When California
was admitted on the ground of commercial
and political exigencies, it was well foreseen
that that State was destined rapidly to be-
come a great, prosperous and important
commercial community.
In the case of Colorado | am not aware
that any national exigency, either of po-
litical or commercial nature, requires de-
parture from the law of equality, which has
been so generally adhered TO in our history
If the information submitted in connection
with the bill is reliable, Colorado, instead Of
increasing, has declined in population. Al
an election for members for Territorial
Legislature, held in 1861, l0,5S0 votes were
cast. At the election before mentioned, III
1864, the number was 6,I92, while at the
regular election, held in 1865, which is as
sumed for basis oflegisative action at this
time, the aggregate number of votes was
5,9O5.
Sincerely anxious for the welfare and
prosperity of every Territory and State, as
well as for the prosperity and happiness OF
the whole Union, | regret the apparent de
cline of population in Colorado. But 1t Is
manifest it is owing to the emigration which
is going on from thai Territory into Others
within the United States, which are, in fact
or believed bv the inhabitants of Colorado
TO be, richer in mineral wealth and agrlcul-
tural resources. If, however, Colorado has
has not really declined in population, an
other census, or another election under
authority of Congress would place the ques-
ton beyond doubt, and cause but little delay
in the ultimate reception of the Territory as
a State if desired by the people.
The tenor of these objections furnishes
the reply, which may be repeated to an ar
gument in favor OF the measure, derived
from the enabling act, which was passed by
Congress on the DIST day of March, 1861.
Although Congress then supposed that the
condition of the Territory was such rs war
rantcd its admission rs 4 State, the result OF
two years experience shows that every rea-
son which existed Cor the institution of a
Territorial instead of State Government
in Colorado at its first organization, still
continues in force.
The Constitution of the Union, at the
present moment, is calculated to inspire eau
ton in regard to the admission OF new
States Eleven of the old States have heen
for some time, and still remain unrepre-
scented in Congress. Ii is common interest
of all the States, rs well for those repre-
sentod as those unrepresented, that integrity
and harmony Of the Union should be re-
stored as completely as possible; so that all
those who are expected to bear the burdens
of the Federal Government shall be con-
suited concerning the admission of new
States; and that in the meantime no new
Stale shall be pramaturely and unnecessarily
admitted To a participation in the political
power which the Federal Government