Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-04-06

the latter is exceeded by only four Of
them-Vermont, Louisiana, California |
and Kansas. Most of them fall far |
below this Territory in this regard.
Owing to the wonderful growth of
these new communities, their popula.
ton at the date Of admission can only
be estimated approximately. Evident.
ly, however, no more than 6ve at the
utmost of these in the list equalled this
Territory at the present time. These
were Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Min.
nesota and Colorado BY the time
its constitution can bs made aud its
admission accomplished, its population
will doubtless exceed every one Of these
new States when admitted, with but
two exceptions, Michigan aud Wiscon.
sin.
The ordinance OF 1887, for the gov.
ernmont Of the territory northwest of
the river Ohio, contained six separate
ARTICLES Of compact between the orig
inal States and the people and States
in said territory" Provision was made
in the 9th article for tho subsequent
subdivision Of such territories into
''states," or what are now termed or.
ganized Territories; and it was therein
expressly declared that "whcnever any
Of the said States have 10000 free in.
habitants therein, such State shall be
admitted by i's Delegate into the Con.
gress OF the United States, on an equal
footing with the original States in all
respects whatever, and shsll be at lib.
erty to form permanent constitution
and State Government"
The act of Congress May &c, 1890,
establishing Government for the ter
ritory south Of the Ohio river declared
that the inhabitants Of said territory
"shall enjoy oil the privileges set forth
in the ordinance Of the late Congress
for the government Of the Territory
northwest Of the Ohio" BY common
acceptation at the time, this was regard
cd as solemn compact with such Ter
ritories as might be organized out of
the same, Of suitable dimensions for a
State, though fewer in number than
those into which the north west terri.
tory was to be subdivided; that each
should be admitted into the Union
whenever its free inhs bitants should
number 10000. When the bill for
admission of Tennessee was under dis
cussion in Congress, this construction
and application we've given to these
clauses by both the advocates and op-
pouents Of the measure, aud, indeed,
no one seemed to regard them in any
other light.
An act of Congress Of August a.,
l84S, for the government of the Oregon
Territory, employs language even
stronger and more explicit than that
of the government Of the territory south
Of the Ohio. 1t declared, "that the
inhabitants of said territory shall 10
entitled to enjoy all and singular the
rights, privileges and advantages grant.
ed and secured to the people Of the
territory of the United States north
west of the river Ohio, by the articles
Of compact contained 10 the ordinance
for the government Of said territory on
the 18th day Of July, 1881" The
Oregon Territory has since been sub
divided, as contemplated BY these arti
cles, into smaller organized Territories
suitable in size to be erected into such
States as compose our American Union
Oregon, the largest of these, as soon o.
she was supposed to have, and before
she actually had, the. required 100000
free inhabitants" was admitted on
February IA, 1859. The friends Of
her admission, in the debate in thi,
House, efectually urged compliance
with this compact. Mr.. Stephens, now
a venerable member of this body, speak
ing for the committee having charge Of
the measure, and other promoters. con
tended for her admission under thi,
compact, though it was generally con
ceded that her population was much
below the existing basis of Consression
al representation.
This compact, made with the peopl,
Of the whole of the original Oregon
Territory, for the benefit alike of every
person Of it, in order "to provide fol
the establishment Of States and perm
anent government therein. and fol
their admission to share in the Fed
eral Councils on an equal footing with
the original States, at as early period
as may be consistent with the genera
interest,"" and which was to ''foreve
remain unalterable, unless by common
CONSENT" should be just "a available il
behalf of one subdivision as another
The people Of Washington Territor!
are guilty Of no act or practice incom
patible with our laws and institutions
and have in no way forfeited thei
claim to its benefits.
And now, after having admitted ST
many Territories with SO much les
financial ability to support State gov
ernment, so much less of the element
of undeveloped wealth and grcatnes,
and so much less population; after hav
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