The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1877-02-09
THE TERRITORIES.

We have been asked to describe the
exact place the United States Terrific
ries hold in the Government and their
relation to it. Perhaps it is not gener-
alIysls.iown that tliereis not a word in
the Constitution that refers to Terrific
ries. This is a Government of United
States. The whole system of terrific
rial government has grown up since the
Union was formed. It rests upon the
right every country must have, of gov
erning such possessions as il has outside
of its organized limits.
The power of Congress to form terri
torlal governments has often been ques-
toned, and the right OF citizens of Ter
rltories to govern themselves has been
warmly maintained but this policy
Will probably never be changed, SO long
as we have possessions not included in
the States themselves.
The basis of all the laws controlling
the Territories, is the so-called ordinance
of 1887, which organized the Territory
northwest OF the Ohio, now included
in the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan, Wisconsin, and that part of
Minnesota east of the Mississippi river.
The system then adopted, with a few
alterations, still exists
The governor, secretary and Judges of
the Territories are appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate.
The people choose n legislature Which
passes laws on certain subjects. but Con-
gress can declare null and void any law
of Territory. The salaries of the Off
GERS who are appointed by the President,
and some other expenses, are paid from
the Treasury of the United States. The
rest are borne by the Territories them
selYes.
Each Territory sends a delegate to
the lower House of Congress. The del
egate has every right of member of
Congress excepting that he has no vote.
When the seats are drawn, his chance
is as good as that OF any member, and
he draws as. much pay. He can intro
duce bills, and make motions and
| speeches. But he cannot vote on any
question.
1t was once the custom 20 appoint
territorial delegates and committees to
consider questions affecting their con
| stituents, but this is no longer done.
We believe the first delegate. from a
Territory was William Henry Harrison,
afterwards President, who was delegate
from the Northwest Territory from
1899 to 1901 though there may have
been an earlier one.
1t viii be seen that the people of the
Territories have but partially the right
OF selfgoyernment, and that they do
not share at all in the privileges of the
national government. They have no
Senator, and they do not vote for eec-
tors of President and Vice President
They only ge: these privileges when the
Territory is admitted as a State, as Col
orado has just been admitted.
The District of Columbia is really a
Territory, though it is governed on a
very different system. A few years ago
| the experiment was tried of giving it
the rights of a Territory, with governor,
Regis AZURE ana delegate. Bnt 1t turned
out badly, and was abandoned. The
District is now governed by commits
sioners, and has lao delegate.
The usefulness of the territorial sys-
tenn has often been proved. This is
specially evident at this time. Utah
has twice as many inhabitants as Colo
RADIO, and New Mexico has larger
number still. But Utah will never be-
come a State while polygamy exists
there ; and the population of New
Mexico is largely composed of semi-bar.
barous Mexican-Spaniards, Indians and
halfbreeds. Ia time, no doubt, the
vast region now included in the Terri
tories will be settled by intelligent and
enlightened men, and then the whole o.
our ample domain will be divided into
self-governing States.