New-York tribune., 1890-03-31
ADMITTING NEW STAT

A correspondent, speaking of the admission
of Wyoming, asks us to tell him what are the
conditions which fit Territory to become
State The question is not new one, though
il has never been defined with legal precision.
Soon after the Articles of Confederation were
adopted the United States began to acquire
land Before we were in any certain sense
nation Congress was engaged in considering the
terms under which new States should be Or
ganized and admitted. The principles adopted
then have not materially changed. In the main,
they still guide and determine Congressional
action. They were formulated by Thomas
jefferson more than by any other one man.
Mr.. Jefferson's mind entertained magnificent
ideas on the subject Of National expansion and
wonderfully practical notions about local sell
government In the formation OF our system
he held to internal affairs a relation not unlike
that Of John Quincy Adams to foreign affairs
Students of history differ somewhat as to Mr..
Jefferson's capacity as an administrator. but all
agree that he knew how things ought to be
done.
When Virginia. Massachusetts and Connectl-
cut ceded to the United States their claims and
possessions northwest of the Ohio, Mr.. Jciier'
son formulated plan for the government OF
the country thus transferred He had borne %
conspicuous part in the negotiations by which
the States were induced to relinquIsh their
lands Passages in his correspondence with
Washington, Madison and Monroe lead to the
belief that his largest motive in these efforts
was to give strength to the Confcderacy-to
give the States a common interest and TO re-
move the occasion of numerous quarrels. lie
~. of .la
The cession being accomplished he at once en-
tered upon the consideration of the Territories
welfare and of the principles which should con-
troll the National authority over them. In the
main his ideas prevailed and are still con-
trolling He devised the scheme of subdivision
into sections and square miles. His forethouGht
suggested that noble and invaluable provision,
the school section Il was his idea that when
State possessed n population OF $1,000 Tree
persons it was sufficiently pOpuous to deserve
admittance. This was based on smaller divls-
ions than have been made in the far West.
At least 100 900 people are now thought 10 be
necessary before the machinery of State toy
ernment can prolitabiy set in motion. Jcirer-
sons other dcas-that they must lie people in
svmpathy with our National system, that they
must DO 'ii"' '"'f
capable of sustaining a state government ana
able 10 contribute TO the eral wealth OF the
country and that they must give their adhesion
to a constitution republican in form and con-
sistent in It's provisions with the Federal system
are all avowed to-day.
OF course, the rule governing the policy OF
admission are necessarily elastic. \ state
ought in our judgment 10 have population OF
200, 900 under present circumstances, and ye'
il would scarcely be fair TO insist on this If Us
people are rich enough to stand the burdens OF
self government and qualified morally and in
tolcciually to he a part OF the Union. itN
people should be Americans; that is. fully IN
sympathy with the Union. II should be able 10
furnish citizens of substantial ability 20 fill all
It's Offices Federal and state. il should have
plenty Of natural resources and an active citi-
zcnship engaged in thcil development. i
should have number OF wcll-bnt cities. and
the preliminary experiment OF Territorial GOV
ernment should have been sufficiently tried 20
prove that the people are sober. industrious
thrifty and able 10 take care OF themselves.
Whether these conditions exist cor not rcciirs.
OF course upon every request for admission. and
each application should he considered on iiS
ouk tnafifc