The national Republican., 1867-02-18
THE POSITION OF COLORADO.


GENTLEMEN: As our far-ofr Territory is |
now apparently cutting considerable figure
in the political world, have concluded to |
have few words to say. ! understand that |
Messrs. Evans and Chaifec, claiming to be
Senators elect are in Washington urging the |
admission Of Colorado as o State and that
in order to aid them in their scheme, report
that the State party, so called, which they
represent, are the Radical Union Republican
party Of the State, and in order that you and
the real friends Of our Territory in Wash.
ington may understand how much truth there
is in this claim, will give you a short his
tory OF the State fight, and Of the condition
Of things in our Territory.
The Thirty-Eighth Congress granted to
Colorado an enabling act, containing condi-
tions, which, when complied with, the new State
was to be declared member of the Union.
The question was submitted to vote Of
the qualified electors Of the Territory in the
month Of November, 1864. AT the same
time q full set of candidates was put in nomi-
nation to fill the various State Offices.
Col. Chivington was put at the head of this
ticket for Congress and the result was q
most fearful defeat, although fraud and cor
ruption that would have put Lecompton to
shame was rcsorted to to carry the State.
Poll-books were tampered with everywhere
by the officials and q military order issued
by Col. Chiyington TO seize and destroy every
vestige of the election poll-books, records,
&C., in two Of the most southerly counties Of
the Territory. The Governor for the pur-
pose Of carrying the State, organized the
Third regiment, but ostensibly to wipe out
the blood.thirsty red men Of the plains. He
took good care, however, to commission no
man in this regiment that was not pledged
to the State movement, and in order to get
men Of that kind he commissioned some Of
the worst men in the Territory, while it is also
true that many Of the officers were good men.
Putting Col. Chivngton in nomination
would secure, as was supposed, the support
Of the officers Of the First (his regiment,) as
many Of them were anxious to get him out
of the regiment at any price, while all were
anxious for promotion. The Third regiment,
when organized, was kept idle at Denver until
after the election which shows the object of
its organization The fact is well known that
Evans came here as Governor for the sole
and only purpose Of making himself q Sen
ator, after having failed in Nebraska, and to
succeed he will sacrifice his entire fortune.
But TO continue the history
The terrible massacre Of helpless and
, friendly Indians, men, women and children,
by Col. Chiyington, at Sand Greek, resulted
in removing Evans as Governor, and ended
Chivington's military career. All good men
, in Colorado asked, sis no one to be punished
for this brutal and unprovoked murder?"
This, in addition to the Waterloo defeat at
the polls few weeks before, led us to be-
, lieve that the State question was finally at
rest; especially as many of the frauds prac-
Q ticed by the official and State party had been
, detected and proven. As, for instance, VIC
proved that al least half of all the pri-
Q vato soldiers and all the rural vote was cast
! against the State; yet not q single return
4 from any Of the military camps that was sent
TO the board of canvassers but had been tam.
y pered with or made wholly anew to suit the
plans Of Chivngton and his associates. So
bunglingly and bare-iacedly was this done
that Evans and his secretaries were com.
PEELED to throw out the entire soldiers vote,
leaving three thousand two hundred majo
, ity against the State, which result would
have been about the same had the soldiers
. vote been counted as polled. Thousands OF
!. earnest and true radical Republicans opposed
f the State movement purely on local grounds
knowing full we'll that the permanent set.
tiers would have the State government to
Z support, and that they positively were moi
, able TO do it. | know that more Republic
. cans opposed than supported the State
while such leading pro-slavery Democrat:
q as j. NJ. Cayanaugh, l.. l.. Bowen, Vim
|. Wonless, Geo. w. Perkins, Judges Smith
n and Gorsinc supported the State movement
q As before said, we had hoped that will
the first election and Sand Creek VIC woult
n be allowed to rest at least until a few year.
4 Of peace TO the country and prosperity to IL!
would enable us to maintain the new dignity
l. Of State. In this We we're disappointed
/. Early in the summer of 1868 the ambitious
" and uneasy politicians Of both parties agaiI
began to agitate the question, and new com
binations were made looking to the setting
aside Of Evans and Chevington, they beinl
1t considered dead weights. The Doctors dol
n lars and experience was too much for thes
- managers and they were compelled to tax
e him in, but Chiyington was thrown over
% board and a compromise effected whereof,
Ia the Democrats got more than half; as, 70
IS instance Judges Smith and Gorsline, boil
hard-shcll Democrats, are elected Stat,
Judges; Mr.. llnsdGle, Lieutenant Governor
j. X. Gest, Secretary Of State; Mr. Wolly
n Trcasury-all DcmOcrats-the Lieutenan
Governor being regular "cop." This is tn
o. kind of q feast Messrs. Evans and Chafie
n would invite the true and tried loyal mem
le bers OF Congress to sit down to.
Y. Congress appears TO consider our cas-
10 identical with Ncbrnska-at least Judge s
~ from the papers. There is wide difference
especially in our ability to maintain Stat
~ government Nebraska being much lnor
III able. Besides, the constitution of Nebrask
n was framed by her Legislature; consequent
rs her Legislature is competent to act on tn
amendment lately proposed by Congress!
while our constitution was framed by cor
vention called for the purpose, which cor
r. vention has ceased to exist, and hence W
claim that our Legislature is not competen
n to act. All VIC ask Of Congress land for thi
we most earnestly and respectfully plead an
., pray is that she will again refer this que'
u ton to our people, to be acted on under tn
sanction and safeguards Of congressional law
G. For it is well known that at the last election
D, the gamblers and advcnturers held hig
tn carnival with money furnished by parties il
ce terested-m0ny voting dozen times on tina
day. The First ward of Denver polled 40
i. votes more than are male inhabitants therein
of am as strong Republican as lives, an
when our permanent population will warran
:, it, will be ready to vote for State organiz'
IL ton. | am certain that we have not 60
25 900 population in the Territory, and shoul