Evening star., 1867-01-28


Wisconsin. .ls45 1O,6sO 2sa.e7
california 1850 70,6S0 92597
Oregon. -lSss G,,i92 A63o
minnesota. JESS 3.492 1880
Kansas. 1861 a3,&92 I0126
West Virginia. isG2 ss.is2 34a.62s
Nevada: -. 1864 l2'.0o0 Not known
- In 1850.
Colorado, which is it now proposed to admit
as State, contains. as has already been stated
population less than twenty -eig ht thou sand
WEI. the present ratio Of representation rs one
hundred and twenty seven thousand.
There can be no reason, that 1 can perceive
for the admission of Colorado that would not
apply with equal force 70 nearly every other
Territory now organized; and 1 submit
whether, II this bill becomes a law, it will be
possible TO resist the logical conclusion that
such Territories as Dacotah, Montana, aud
IDAHO, must be received States, whenever
they present themselves. without regard to
tne number Of Inhabitants they may respect
lively contain. Eight or ten new Senators and
four or five new members Of the House of
Representatives would thus be admitted to
represent population scarcely ex xceeding that
which, in any other portion of the Nation IS
ehutled to but single mem Der Of the House of
Representatives, while the average for two
senators In the Union. as now constitu tn ted, is
AZ ieast one million OF people. II would surely
be unjust to all other sections Of the Union TO
enter upon policy with regard to the ad-
mission OF new States which might result IN
conferring such a disproportionate share of
inffnence in the National Legislature upon
communities which, in pursuance of the wise
policy OF our Fathers, should for some wears 10
come be retained under the fostering care
and protection OF tae rational Government
III II Is deemed just and expedient now TO de-
part from the settled policy of the Nation
during all its history. and to admit all the
territories to the rights and privileges of
States, irrespective OF their population or
htncrs for such government, il is submitted
whether il would not be well TO devise such
measures as will bring the subject before the
country for consideration and decision This
would seem to be evidently wise, because as
has already been stated. II it is right to admit
Colorado now, there is no reason for the exclu.
sion Of the other Territories.
lt is no answer TO these suggestions that an
enabling act was passed authorizing the people
OF Colorado to take action ON this subject 1t
Is well-known that that act was passed in con.
sequence Of representations that the popula-
tion reached according TO some statements as
high as eighty Thousand, and to none less than
which by the time the admission could De con.
sunmated, would secure Population OF over
a hundred thousand. These Representations
Prove TO have been wholly fallacious; and in
addition the people Of the Territory, oy a de.
liberate vote, decided that they would not
ment
BY that decision they utterly exha haustsd ali
and there has been no step taken since in rela.
uon TO the admission that has had the slightest
sanction or warrant OF law. The proceeding
upon which The present application is based
was in the utter absence OF all law in relation
TO II, and there is no evidence that the votes on
the question Of the formation Of state gov
sentiment OF the Territory. The protest Of the
Hoose OF Representatives previously Quoted
is conclusive evidence to the contrary.
But II none OF these reasons EXISTED against
this proposed enactment, the bill itself, be-
sides being inconsistent in its provisions in
conferrinG power upon person unknown to
the laws and who may never have legal ex.
letence, 10 so framed as to render its execItieu
almost impossible. 1t u indeed q question
whether IL IL not in itself nullity. To say the
least, II is OF exceedingly doubtful propriety
the "Governar elect for as, by its own terms SRon
the constitution 10 not TO take effect until after
the admission Of the State, he in the mean
time has no more authority than any other
private citizen. But even supposiRg him to
be clothed with sufficient authority to con.
vene the Legislature. what constitutes the
" State Legislature" to which is to be referred
the question OF submission to the conditions i'm.
posed by Congress Is 1t q new body to be
elected and con vened by proclamation Of the
"Governor elect" or is it that body which
met more than year ago under the provisions
BY reference 20 the second section Of the
schedule. and to the eighteenth section of the
fourth article Of the State Constitution, IL will
House OF Representatives and that Of one .ha II
OF the members OF the Senate expired on the
first Monday OF the present month. Ii is clear
that II there were no intrinsic objections to the
bill itself in relation to the purposes TO be ac.
compltsned, this objection would be fatal: as IL
is apparent that the provisions Of the third
seetien Of the bill 70 admit Colorado have ref.
erence TO q period and a state Of facts entirely
different from the pre- ent, and affairs as they
now exist; and IL carried into effect inst ueces.
earily lead to confusion. f'..a
Even ifit were settled that the old. aud no.
new BODY were TO act. II would be found i'm
practtble to execute the law, because q consld-
erable number Of the members, a. am in.
formed, have ceased to be residents Of thu Ter
Legislatare 10 to be convened after the passage
Of the act, there would not be sun1cient time to
I'LL the vacancies BY new elections, were there
any authority under which they could be
1t may not be improper to add that il these
proceedings were eli regular, and the result to
be obtained were desirable, simple justice to
the people OF the Territory would require
longer period Ihan sixty days with which
TO obtain action on the condit ons proposed by
the third section of the bill. There are, as is
well known, large portions OF the territory
with which there Is and can be no general
communication, there being several counties
which, from November TO May, can only be
reached by persons travelling on foot, while
with other regions Of the territory occupied
by q large portion OF the pop polatiou
there 10 very little more freedom OF access.
Thus. IL this bill shoald become law, it would
be impracticable to obtain any expression Of
with view to enlighten the Legislature. II the
old body were called together; and Of course
equally impracticable to procure the election
of new body. This defect might have been
remedied by an extension OF the time and a
submission Of the question TO the people. with
falr opportunity, 70 enable them to express
their sentiments. -t-l ei .Iaa.H
The admission Of d new State has generally
been regarded as an epoch in our history,
marking the on ward progress OF the Nation;
but After the most careful and anxious inquiry
on the subject, cannot perceive that the pro-
posed proceeding IL in conformity with the
nOlicV h. n N.
ment, has uniformly prevailed an the admts-
sioa Of new States, i therefore return the bill
to th0 SonAto without nay signature 49,
ss,.f ..ss ANDREW JoHssoN.
,o .,,.s.s. .Hsl's o4aeFs usIa1.s t