Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-19
How States Nav BE Admitted.

How states May Be AunlltIoV'
We are pleased 20 learn that our articles
In regard to the night of Congress to aodi-
cate its functions and empower the Presi-
dent Of the United States or any other OH
cial 10 admit new States into the Union
have attracted some attention in Washing
ton city. II is not amatter of insignificant
importance. as the Philadelphia Telegraph
thoughtlessly says. hut one that involves
the good name and the prosperity of the
country. Will the Telegraph read what we
are about TO saw on this subject
The Federal Constitution provides that
"the Congress" may admit new States
into the Union. But Congress itself has
no right to admit into the Union State
which has not republican form of gov
eminent, for the Constitution also provides
that the United States shall guarantee TO
each State a republican form of govern
ment. Now. who is TO decide rs to whether
the form of government soon 10 be adopted
in each one of the four proposed new
States is OF is not republican in formI We
answer that this question ought to be de-
cided by Congress.
Examine the act of Congress framed for
the purpose of getting Washington, Mon
tana, North Dakota, and South Dakota
into the Union before the meeting of the
next Congress. Each Of those proposed
States is 20 frame q constitution. Then
the people are TO vote upon the question of
ratifying the constitution. We now quote
from the law
"lf a majority of the legal votes cast
shall be for the Constitution, the Cover
ner shall certify the result to the President
of the United States, together with state
ment of the votes cast thereon and upon
separate articles or propositions, and
copy Of said Constitution, articles, pro-
positions, and ordinances. And II the
constitutions and governments of said
proposed States are republican in form,
and if all the provisions of this act have
been onmpAied with in the formation
thereof. il shall be the duty of the Presi-
dent of the United States to issue his pro-
clamation announcing the result OF the
election in each, and thereupon the pro-
posed States which have adopted constl-
tutions and formed State governments as
herein provided shall be deemed admitted
by Congress INTO the Union" &c.
Now, it is plain that Congress has abdi-
Gated its functions. As, however. that
son the power TO decide III" the coDstitu-
tons and governments are republican in
form, or ''if" all the provisions of the en-
aiding act have been complied with. Con-
gress actually omits to perform this duty.
Read the law carefully, and you will find
that here is q most important duty to be
performed by somebody, but that nobody
sfgr 70
form it.
There is no explanation of this omission
possible except upon the assumption that
the President is by implication authorized
TO decide whether the institutions and
governments are republican in form, and
whether all the provisions of the enabling
act have been complied with. And if this
excuse be made, what becomes of the con-
stitutional requirement that the new States
shall be admitted "by he Co,s9reSS"9
Nobody knows what features the four
proposed new States will have in their
new constitutions. Suppose that HENRY
GKoRGE's single-tax scheme should be
adopted; or that prohibitory liquor law
should be put into constitution; or a sin
gle legislative body be provided for instead
of two houses; or tax of one thousand
dollars be levied upon every saloon; or Mr..
BLKwETT's proposition be adopted and the
Constitution be so framed as TO provide that
if at any time the people or Legislature
adopt prohibition the State shall purchase
all breweries and distileries and indemnify
those engaged in the business for the cost
Of their plants; or woman suffrage be pro-
vided for or Mr.. WARREN's proposition be
adopted providing that there shall
be no Sunday laws we say, all
or any Of those features may be put into
any one OF all Of the new constitutions,
and yet without regard to them the Presi-
dent may issue his proclamation an
nouncing the result of the elections" and
thereupon the four new States shall be
deemed admitted by Congress into the
Union"l Is that sort of legislation con-
stitutional or permissible?
On the other hand suppose that for any
reason the President shall refuse 10 issue "a
proclamation announcing the result of
the election": Would that refusal operate
10 continue the status of the four Terrific
ries as Territories? The law, as we have
said. does not delegate 10 the President or
anybody else the right to decide either of
the questions upon the decision of which
the admission Of the States depends
nevertheless. the President will probably
claim and exercise that power.
Or suppose that a Governor should de-
cline to certify to the President the result
OF the election: Would that refusal ope-
rate to keep the new State out of the
Union?
Reflection ought TO satisfy everybody
that there is only one constitutional
method of admitting States into the Union.
Congress must admit them, and must ad-
NIT them afLcr that body has decided for
itself all preliminary questions. The ac-
tion Il Congress should be Immediately
followed by the admission of the States.
No intermediary should be tolerated.
AS 70 a Platform.
We subioin the SttLte' = reioInder 10 Low