Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-05
CeIorada.

of the National Legislature, and needs
only the Presidents signature to become
a law. The opposition to it in both
houses was quite strong, the bill passing
the Senate by 10 ayes to 10 noes, and the
House by so ayes to IS noes. Three
classes of politicians opposed the bill-the
Democrats and Johnsonites, because its
passage would give the Union party a
clear two-thirds majority in the Senate
the equal suffrage Republicans because
the constitution of the new State excludes
the negroes from the suffrage, and several
other Republicans, because Of the scahti-
ness of population in the proposed state
The support of the bill came from two
elasses-those Republicans who wanted to
see the Radical majority in the Senate in
creased, and those Western men who be-
lieve in developing the resources of the
Great WA by admitting the Inhabitants
of its territories SIS rapidly as possible to
the protection and privileges of state
laws.
The territory of Colorado was organized
March I'd, 1861, with John Evans as Gov
ernor. 1t has IN area of LOG, AIS square
miles. being more than twice as large as
Ohio. 1t lies between Kansas and Utah.
bounded on the North by Nebraska and
on the South by New Mexico. The
Rocky Mountain chain traverses IT, and
anon the valleys of these mountains are
the rich silver mines, the discovery of
which have given the growth Of the terri
tory such an impetus. Its principal towns
are Dsnver City, Central City, Golden
City and Colorado City. Its population
p IN 1868 was estimated at 10000, but it is
claimed that it has since decreased instead
of increasing, its inhabitants passing west
ward to Montana, and that it now num-
beers less than 10000 inhabitants. The
elections of the territory would seem to
confirm this statement. In 1851 at the
election for Ds.egate, there were 1924
votes cast. In 1863. at the election Cor
DELEGATE, there were 8 III votes cast. In
1866, at the election for Congressman,
e.74s votes were cast In these figures we
read the history of the decline Of Colorado
in population with all possible clearnea
In 1864, Congress passed an enabling
act for the territories of Nevada, Nebraska,
and Colorado, authorizing them to organ
fze State governments, and providing for
their admission to the Union, without
further action of Congress, by prociama-
ton of the President. Under this ena-
bling act, Nevada organized and was
admitted. Nebraska has taken no
action on the matter, and Colorado
at first rejected the proposition In
1866, however, she thought better Of
it and, organizing a state government
applied for admission, with John Evans
and Jerome D. ChsfFee as Senators, and
George NJ. Chilcott IS Representatives,
ali Republicans. The President refused
to admit the state by proclamation, being
of opinion that 1t had forfeited the privi-
leges Of the enabling act of 1854 by once
rejecting it. He however recommended
its admission 10 Congress. The matter
has lain in allegiance until lately, when it
assumed a party aspect and has been
pushed through.
Although Mr.. johnson is on record in
favor of the bill, it IS presumed that he
will 7eto it. 1t is no new thing, be it
remembered, for him to veto a bill to
which, before its passage, he gave his
sanction. Nor, in this case, shall we
quarrel very much with his action. Colo
rade ought not now TO be made q state.
The simple. primary and sufficient reason
against admitting it is its want of popu-
lation. 1t should be made a principle,
and that principle rigidly enforced, that
no territory should be admitted as a state
until its population Is equal 10 that of one
Congressional district. Colorado has not
this population, nor one half, nor one ,
third of il. And the worst feature of the
case is that there is retrogression instead
Of increase in the territory. Its popula- .
ton is falling of. 1t has passed its per- !
igee- Let us have nc more pocket states,
no Old Sarum constituencies. Nor
should we admit to the Union any more
states which refuse equal suffrage to their
Inhabitants. Whatever doubt may exist :
as 10 the authority of Congress TO make :
equal suffrage a condition of the readmis- :
sion of the Southern states. there can be
none as to its right to make it a condition
here. We are sorry that this was not ,
done by the Union majority in Congress. :