The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-20
The Admission Of Colombo.

The Admission Of Colorado.
In commenting upon the recent election in
Colorado, we took occasion TO say that tho
admission Of that State into the Union was
among the fatalities which seemed to attend
the Presidential election, and that the Dem
ocratic House of Representatives in the
last Congress was responsible for an act
without which the defeat OF MIR. TILDEN
could not have been compassed, even with
the aid of all the frauds OF the Returning
Boards. That statement has been contested
In a friendly manner, and we now propose
u make it good in the same spirit
In the expiring hours of the Forty-thrd
Republican Congress an act was passed and
approved March 3, 1875, to enable the peo-
pie OF Colorado to form Constitution and
State Government and for the admission OF
that State into the Union" This Law placed
the power OF prescribing the timo and the
rules and regulations for elccting repre-
sentatives to II convention exclusively In
the hands OF 1.-THE Governor the Chief JUS
tice. and the United States Attorney, or any
two OF them" Thus the whole political
machinery was in the hands Of GRANTS
Administration, and the people who were to
constitute the new State had no part In the
preliminary work. More than that this
trio was invested with authority after the
election "to fix the day for the meeting Of
the Convention" within a limited period.
Section 1S provided that any balance Of
the appropriations "for the legislative
expenses of said Territory of Colorado
remaining unexpended shall be applied
TO and used for dcfraying the expenses Of
said Convention and for the payment OF
the members thereof" at the rate of mem
bcrs OF the Territorial Legislature. No
obligation was incurred TO pay the mileage
and per diem Of members of the Convention,
and none was promised in any form. Con-
gress simply voted, rs had been done In the
case Of Nebraska, any balance that might
remain In the Treasury after defraying the
expenses Of the Territory.
THOMAS NJ. PATTERSON, Democrat, was
elected Delegate from Colorado Territory 10
the Forty-fourth Congress, on the tidal
waye OF 1874. He was filled with the notion,
resulting from that passing success, that like
could press through the admission prompt
ly, he would be the first and foremost Som
atOr Of the new State Congress met ON Dec
G. 1875, and on the 18th of December he intro
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the expenses Of the Constitutional Convcn-
ton Of Colorado, which WAS referred to the
Committee OF which Mr.. RANDALL was then
Chairman That bill was reported back adj
versely and killed ON Jan. 81, 1876, on letter
OF the Comptroller Of the Treasury, in answer
to an inquiry from the Committee, in which
he said: 81 find that in no case was any ap-
preparation made to defray the costs incl
dent thereto" l.. e., the holding of u Consti-
tutional Convention. But the snake was
only scotched. not killed
Mr.. PATTERSON few days before that ac-
zion, aud doubtless in anticipation OF it, in
troduccd another bill To amend the enabling
act, Jan. IL, 1876, although the Convention
had been sitting under the act Of March 3,
1875, since the 10Th Of December, 1875, or
nearly full month. II" WIS more fortunate
in the second than in the first reference.
Mr. SoUrHARD. Chairman Of Territories, re-
ported that bill back with two amendments,
OIL Feb. IL, 1876, which materially changed the
character OF the original act. The first re-
duced the qualification of voters for the rat
ifcation Of the Constitution from Il resi-
uence or twenty months 10 six months The
second appropriated $4,000 for the expenses
OF the Convention. in the teeth of a former
vote OF the House, and in defiance OF all
precedents, Tor there is no such example in
the whole history Of the Government.
Mr.. PATTERSON was specially urgent for
the money amendment on which he relied
greatly for support at home. He was sus-
tained with much zeal by Mr.. SoUTHARD
and Mr.. BEEBE on the Democratic, and by
Mr.. FRYE. Mr.. HosKINs, Mr.. PHILLIPS Mr.
Fort, and Mr. BAKER on the Republican
side, who knew well what they were about
and had no dclusiOns Of ambition, such NJ
troubled the little brain OF PATTERSON. Mr..
RANDALL and Mr.. BLoUNr OF the Appro-
prlatlon Committee resisted the money fea-
ture, because IL was wholly indefensible and
set II bad precedent
But, as too often happens, tile House fol-
lowed the Committee that reported the bill
and 1t passed without even call of the yeas
ana nays. The Democrats had been told bv
PATTERSON that he was certain the State
would vote their ticket and send him to the
senate Pretended reasons were whispered
III lhelr ears by others that perhaps had
more effect than his assurances Mean
While the Republicans were laughing in
their sleeves at this self-deception and i'm
becllity OF Judgment. with the whole pat
rohage OF the Territory TO wield at pleas
ure, and the certainty Of any money that
might be needed TO carry the election, II at
81 doubtful. they were playing the highest