, 1876-11-24

It Is gravely Asaerteu hy many democratic
newspapers TINT tho vote Of Colorado shall
not be counted in the Presidential election,
because tho Btate, they insist, is not now
State Of the Union, and cannot be without
further legislative action. Rejecting the
votes Of Colorado, as not givon by State
of tho Union, will reduce tho whole number
Of Electors to 36G, Of which 18t (tho vote
for Tn.DzN) will DO tho majority, and that
gentleman will thereby become President.
The pretaxt upon which it Is proposed to
refuse recognition to Colorado as o State is
q very weak ono, and wholly unsupported by
law, fact, precedent, or even a respectable
ground for opinion. Ip the House Of Rep
rosentatives, Juno 8, 1874, AIr. CnAFFgE
moved to suspend tho rules and pass the
bill to enable tho people OF Colorado to
form Constitution aud State Government,
and for the admission Of the said State into
the Union on IN equal footing with tho
original States" This motion WAS agreed
to,-yeaa, 1G7; naya, Go,-32 Democrats
voting yea, and furnishing tho two
thirds vote necessary to pass the bill.
Among those voting no was Alr. ".
A. WHEELER, Of New York. The bill
went to the Sonato, and was not aoted
on there until Feb. 24, 1875, when 1t was
amended and passed,--yoas, 43; nnys, 10.
On the 3D. Of March, 1875, the House agroed
to the Senate amendments, and passed the
bill as amended,-yoas 104; nays. 70,-tho
Donocrats in this instance, rs before. fur
niahing votes enough to glvo the two-thirds
vote necessary to pass tho bill. In no event
could the bill have passed without Domo-
cratic votes. III fact. at that timo many
Democrats expected that Colorado would be
Democratic State, and voto for a Domo-
CRITIC President In 1876. The bill was ap-
proved by tho President, aud became law
Maroh 0, 1876.
This act for tho admission Of Colorado ia
mainly In tho general form Of all enabling
ACTS. It autlorizoa the people to form a
State Government, with tho namo Of the
6tato OF Colorado; prescribes the bounda~
riea; deaues tho suffrage for md the quail
Acations for members OF the Convention;
authorizes call for an election OF delegates,
which call shall be Issued within ninety days
after Sept 30, 1875; that the delegates shall
moot within sixty days after the election,
aud declare for the people Of tho State that
they adopt tho Constitution OF tho United
states; and they ara authorized to form q
Constitution aud Stato Government, "p.o-
vided that the Constitution shall be repub-
loan in form," etc. The Convention is re.
quired 10 declare by ordinance irrevocable
various things ordinarily required in bill Of
rights. The law then proooedss
SEC. q. That in case the Constitution md stste
Government shall b formed Tor tho peoplo of said
Territory Of Colorado In compliance with tho pro-
yl4ons Of thls act, said Convention forming tho
sa,no shall provide, by ordinance. for submitting
ssid Constitution to The people Of said State fot
ratification Or rejection u an election to be hold At
such time. th ths month Of July eiahtsta haadrsd
aud ssrsaty.tLr, and At such parea aud under such
regulations - msy bo prescribed by said Coasen.
tion. at which election the lawful votBEt Of sald
Stats shall voto directly for sgaat tho pro-
posed Constitutlau; and the returns Of aatd Ucc-
tion shall bs niado to tho Acting Governor Of the
Territory, who, with tho Chlof Justice aud tnitod
6ta!cs Attorney Of said Territory, or auy two ot
them, shal canvass tho tsu; aud II majority oi
legal yotcs shall u cast for said constuttontn said
proposed btate, tho sai4 Acting Governor shu cer.
y thu sAnu u the President Of tho United Suites,
together with copy Of tha ssid Constitution snl
ordinances; whefaapou It shall be tho duty Of tha
rtoetdAnt of tho United StAteS to l6Auv hlS rfoQ-