Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-02-08

have become members of the Union, had
for their object the single purpose OF pre-
venting any Infringement OF the Constitu-
ton of the country. If Congress is salts
fed that Nebraska, at the present time,
possesses sufficient population to entltle
her to full representation in the councils
of the nation, and that her people desire
an exchange of Territorial for State gov
eminent, good faith would seem to de-
mand that she should be admitted without
| further requirements than those expressed
in the enabling act, with all of which, 1t is
asserted in the preamble, her inhabitants
have complied. Congress may, under the
Constitution, admit new States or reject
them !; but the people of a State can alone
make or change their organic law, and pre-
scribe the qualifications requisite for cleo
tors. Congress, however, in passing the
bill in the shape in which it has been sub
mitted fer my approval, does not merely
reject the application of the people of Ne
| braska for present admission as State into
the Union, on the ground that the constl-
tuition which they have submitted restricts
the exercise of the elective franchise to the
white population, but imposes conditions
which, if accepted by the Legislature, may,
without the consent of the people, so change
the organic law as to make electors of all
persons within the State, without distinc-
ton of race or color.
In view of this fact, suggest for the
consideration of Congress, whether it would
not be just, expedient, and in accordance
with the principles of our Government, to
allow the people, by popular vote, or
through convention chosen by themselves
for that purpose, to declare whether Or not
they will accept the terms upon which it is
now proposed to admit them into the Union.
This course would not occasion much
greater delay than that which the bill con-
templates when it requires that the Legis-
ature shall be convened within thirty days
after this measure shall have become law,
for the purpose of considering and deciding
the conditions which it imposes, and gains
additional force when we consider that the
proceedings attending tie formation of the
State constitution were not in conformity
with the provisions of the enabling act
that in an aggregate vote of 7,776, the ma
jority in favor of the constitution did not
exceed one hundred, and that it is alleged
that, in consequence of frauds, even this
result cannot be received as fair
expression of the wishes of the people
As upon them must fall the burdens of
State organization it is but just that they
should be permitted to determine for them
selves a question which so materially affects
their interests. Possessing a soil and
climate admirably adapted to those indus
trial pursuits which bring prosperity and
greatness to people, with the advantage
of central position on the great highway
that will soon connect the Atlantic and Pa
cifc States Nebraska is rapidly gainingin
numbers and wealth, and may, within a
very brief period, claim admission on
grounds which will challenge and secure
universal assent. She can, therefore, wise
ly and patiently afford to wait. Her popu-
lation is said to be steadily and even rapid
ly increasing being now generally conce
ded as high as forty thousand and estima-
ted by some whose Judgment is entitled to
respect at still greater number At her
present rate of growth, she will in very
short time have the requisite population
for representative in Congress; and, what
is far more important to her own citizens,
will have realized such an advance in ma
terial wealth as will enable the expenses of
IL State government to be borne without
oppression to the taxpayer, Of new COM
munities, it may be said with especial force
and it is true of old ones-thlt the in
ducement to emigrants, other things being
equal, is in almost the precise ratio of the
rate of taxation.
The great States of the Northwest owe
their marvellous prosperity largely to the
fact that they were continued as Territories
until they had grown to be wealthy and
populous communities.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, january 20, 1867.