Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-05-16
VETO OF THE coLoRApo BILL.

ne State into the Union:
10 tAs Senate ef ae GATED ssase,,
return 70 the SENATE, In which 10 orixipssea,
the bill which has passed both Hossee of Sou-
eress- entitled An act for the admission Of
the State OF Colorado into the Cnioa,s win
my objections to its becoming \ iaw q, mis-
time.
First. From the beet information vh,cA 4
have been able TO obtain, do nos consider
the establishment Of 3 Stair Governr.>ut st
present necessary for the welfare Of The pseple
in Colorado. Under the existing Ternteesal
Government all the rights, privileges sna in
terests Of the cItizens protected and secured.
The qualified voters choose their own leeis-
tors, and their own local officers, and are
represented in Congress BY delegase Of tber
own selection. They make and execute their
own municipal laws, subject only to re-
vision Of congress, an authority no, likely
TO be exercised. unless in extreme or extrAor-
binary cases. The population is small, some
estimating 1t so low rs twenty five thousand,
while advocates Of the bill reckon the pumser
at from thirty i've thousand to forty thousand
souls. The people are principally recent
settlers, many Of whom are understood to be
ready for removal TO other mining districts
beyo the limits OF the Territory, f circum-
stances shall render them more inviting
Such a population cannot but In re-
lief from excessive taxation IL the terri
torial system, which devolves the expensesio Of
the executive, legislative and judicial depart
ments upon the United States, is for the pres
ent continued. They cannot but find the Sc
curity of person and property Increased by
their reliance upon the national executive
against the disturbances necessarily Incident
TO all newly orgacized communities.
Second. 1t is not satisfactorily established
that majority OF the citizens Of Colorado
desire or nrPDareQ for eNclanQe Of A
territorial :or a State government. In Sep
tember, 1sC4, under the authority of Congress,
an election was lawfully appointed and held
fer the purpose OF ascertaining the views
of the people upon that particular question.
SIX thousand one hundred and ninety
two votes Were cast, and of this number
majority OF 3, l52 was given against the pro-
posed change. In September. 65, without any
legal authority, the question was again pre-
sented TO the people Of the Territory with the
view OF obtaining reconsideration Of the re-
suit OF the election held in compliance with the
act of Congress, approved March u, 1854. At
this second election 5,9O5 votes were polled,
Of a State organization Ii does not seem
TO me entirely safe to receive this
last mentioned result so irregularly obtained,
as Sufficient to outweigh the one which had
been legally obtained in the first election.
Regularity and conformity 10 law are essential
10 the preservation OF order and stable govern
ment, and should, as far as practicable. always
be observed in the formation of new
States.
Third. The admission OF Colorado AZ this
time, AZ State INTO the Federal Union.
public interests OF the country. While
II is desired that Territories sufficiently
matured should be organized as States, Yet the
spirit OF the Constitution seems 70 require that
there should be an approximation towards
equality among the several States comprising
the Union No State can have more than two
Senators in Congress; the largest State has q
population Of four millions, several OF the
States have population exceeding two mil.
lions, and many others have a population e1-
A population OF IL, 600 is the ratio OF appor-
tionment Of representatives among the several
States. II this ball should become law, the
people Of Colorado, thirty thousand in nnm-
Der, would have in the House Of Representa-.
tives one member; while New York, with q
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 il is believed that none have
happened where the inequality was 30 great.
When such inequality has been allowed, Con-
% gress Is supposed oppose @S TO have have permitted 1t on The
DER circumstances which promised that it
would rapidly disappear Through the growth
State Saps fsralG TO q.
States in what was formerly called
the "Northwest Territory" lying east OF
the Misslssippi, their rapid advancement in
mitted with only one or two Representatives
IN Congress would in a very short period be
entitled en- & 10 = great increase Of represestation
ground OF commercial and political ext
gencies, il was well foreseen thar that
State was destined rapidly to become a great
nifty. In the case Of Colorado, i am not aware
that any national exigency, either of political
or commercial nature, requires a departure
from the law OF equality, winch mas been so
generally adhered 70 In our history.
IL information submitted IN connection with
this bill is reliable, Colorado, instead Of IN
election for members sf Territorial LegisIa-
ture held in 1861, 1850 votes were cast AT
the election before mentioned, in 1884, the num-
Der OF votes cast was 6,192; while at the irregu-
lar election held in ls65. which is assn med as
a basis for legislative action al this time, the
aggregate Of votes was ,eO5. Sincerely anx-
Territory and State, as well ae for the pro..
perity and welfare Of the whole Uni
i regret this apparent decline Of population
IN colorado, but IL is manifest that IL is due 70
emigration, which lie going ont from thai Ter
ritory into ether regions within the United
States, which are either in fact, or are believed
By the inhabitants OF Colorado 70 b richer iu
mineral wealth and Agricultural rssources-
IL however, Colorado has not really de-
ci,ned in population, another eensM or an
would place the question beyond doubt and
cause but little delay in the ultimate admis
sion OF the Territory as State, II desired by
PcVpte. ttuOE OF tneSe ObRCtlOU9
furnishes the reply which may be expected
TO an argument in favor oft measure derived
from the enabling act which was passed ky
Songress on the 2lst day Of March, ls6i. Al
though Congress then supposed that the con-
dition OF the Territory was such as 10 warrant
It's admission as a State, the result of two wears
experience shows hatevery reason which ex-
isted for the institution Of Territorial iustead
OF State Government in Colorado, at its nrst
organization. still continues in force
The condition Of the Union n the present
moment is calCutafoH 70 Snex
gard 70 the admission of new States Eleven
OF the old States have been for some time and
sun remain unrepresented in Congress- II In
q common interest OF an the States as we'll
those represented as those unrepre sented. that
the integrity and harmony Of the Union sheuId
be restored as completely as possible 90 that
all those who are expected to bear the burthens
OF tne FEDERAL Government shall be cons ulted
concerning the admission Of new States And
tnat IN the meantime no new State shail -
prematurely and unnecessarily Admitted H. n
participation In the political mower yuhirh 49,