The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-02-08

1850 70,6S0 92,597
Oregon, 1853 93,492 4l630
Minnesota, 1858 3,492 13S,9OO
Kansas, 1861 93,492 107, ,206
w. Virginia, 1862 1892 3i9,62S
Nevada, 1864 112,700 ....,....
*ln 1850.
Colorado, which it is now proposed
to admit as State, claims, as'has al
ready been stated, a population less
than twonty-eight thousand, while the
present ratio of representation is one
hundred and twenty-seven thousand.
There can be no reason that / can per-
ceive for the admission of Colorado that
would not apply with equal force to
nearly every other Territory now or
ganized, and l submit whether, if this
bill becomes a law, it will be possible to
resist the logical conclusion that such
Territories as Dacota, Montana, and
Idaho, must be received as States when
ever they present themselves, without
regard to the number of inhabitants
they may respectively contain. Eight
or ten new Senators, and four or five
Representatives would thus be admitted
to represent population scarcely ex-
ceeding that which, in any other portion
of the nation, is entitled to but a single
member ofthe House of Representatives
while the average for two Senators in
the Union, as now constituted, is at
least one million of people.
1t would surely be unjust to all other
sections of the Union to enter upon
policy with regard to the admission of
new States, which might result in con-
ferring such disproportionate share of
influence in the national legislature
upon communities which, in pursuance
of the wise policy of our fathers, should
for some years to come be retained under
the fostering care and protection of the
national government. If it is deemed
just and eXpedient now to depart from
the settled policy of the nation during
all its history, and to admit all the Ter
ritories to the rights and privileges of
States, irrespective of their population
or fitness for such government, it is sub
mittcd whether it would not be well to
devise such measures as will bring the
subject before the country for considera-
ton and decision.
This would seem to be evidently wise,
because, as has already been stated, if it
is right to admit Colorado now there is
no reason for the exclusion of the other
Territories. 1t is no answer to these
suggestions that an enabling act was
passed authorizing the people of Colora-
do to take action on this subject. 1t is
we'll known that that act was passed in
consequence of representations that the
population reached, according to some
statements, as high as eighty thousand,
and none less than fifty thousand, and
was growing with rapidity which, by
the time the admission could be consum-
mated, would secure a population of
over hundred thousand.
These representations prove to have
been wholly fnllacious, and in addition,
the people Of the Territory, by delib-
crate vote, decided that they would not
assume the responsibility of State gov
ernment. BY that decision they entire
ly exhausted all power that was confer
red by the enabling act, and there has
been no step taken since in relation to
the admission that has the slightest
sanction or warrant Of law. The pro-
cecdings upon which the present appli-
cation is based was in utter absence of
evidence that the votes on the question
of the formation of State govern
ment bear any relation whatever to the
sentiment of the Territory. The protest
of the House of Representatives prcvi-
ously quoted is conclusive evidence to
the contrary.
But if none of these reasons existed
against this proposed enactment, the
bill itself besides being inconsistent in
its provisions in comforting power upon
q person unknown to the laws, and who
may never have n legal existence, is SC
framed to renader its execution almost
impossible. It's, indeed, a aquestion Whe'
ther ii is not in itselfa nullity. To say tho
least, it is of exceedingly doubtful pro
priety to confer the power proposed il
the bill upon the Governor elect" fol
as by its own terms the Constitution il
not to take effect until after the admis
sion of the State, he, in the meantime
has no more authority than an any othe
private citizen. But even supposine
him to be clothed with sufficient author
ity to convene the Legislature, Wha
constitutes the estate Legislature" t.
which is to be referred the question o.
the conditions imposed by Congress
Is it a new body to be elected and con
vened by proclamation Of the Governo
elect, or is it that body which met NOR
than year ago under the provisions oI
The State constitution? BY reference It
the second section Of the schcduleand t.