The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-12
THE CASE OF NEVADA.

An Eastern paper announces that if the
Democrats secure control of the country in
1882, one Of their party measures will be a
bill TO Telegate Nevada TO the condition of
Territory.
If any politician, Democratic or other,
entertains any such idea as this, he had
better keep il to himself. if he does not
want to cover himself with ridicue There
is no power in Congress, or anywhere else,
which can strip sovereign State Of its
sovereignty. While community is in a terri
torial condition, Congress may almost do
what 1t likes with it-may annul the acts of
It's Territorial Legislature, may split it into
several Territories, and may admit the whole,
or some Of them, and not the others, to men,
berShip in the Union. But when once it is ad-
mitted as State, it is clothed with absolute
sovereignty, becomes full partner in the
political firm, and under the restrictions
imposed by the Federal organization is as
independent of outside control as the nation
itself.
This is a matter which was thoroughly
ventilated in the period of reconstruction
which followed the war. 1t was then pro-
posed to organize the States lately in re-
bellion as Territories, and to readmit them
to the Union after a term of probation.
But the soundest lawyers i'll the Republican
party held that the rebel States had not for
feited their sovereignty through pretended
ordinances of secession and appeals to arms
in support thereof that the ordinances
we're void, and the appeals TO arms were mere
popular outbreaks, which involved no alter
alton in the political status Of the States in
which they occurred. 1t was perhaps un-
fortunate that this appeared to be the law.
For reconstruction through probationary
process, during which the rebel States had
be II recognized as Territories, would have
obyated much of the disorder and friction
that occurred through the resumption OF the
old relations between the ex-insur5ents and
the Federal Government. But the lawyers
were clear On the point, and there was
nothing to be done but to follow their ad-
vice.
1t is a pity that Nevada is declining in
population and that it has now become a
question whether her people can afford the
luxury OF State Government. But so is
Maine declining in population, and as be-
tween the two there is really as COED show
for recovery in Nevada as there is in the
New England State. Nevada abounds in
valleys which are overlaid with a deem
stratum of alluvium and only need water to
make them highly productive. Any day the
Federal Government or some land company
may provide an extensive system of irriga-
ton which would lead to an influx of people
into the SagebruSh State. There are spots
now in Southern Nevada where the finest
fruit in the world can be grown, and would
be grown if there were cheap transporta-
tion for the fruit to market. Some day that
will come. 1t is quite sure that the cost of
mining will be reduced in the years to come,
and that mines which now lie idle in con-
sequence of the expense of working them
VIII be reopened and will draw to the State
new supply Of labor
1t IS too late now to indulge in HON lilies
about the necessity of studying the pros
poets OF new States before admitting them
to the Union. Everything has been said
that can be said on that proposition and the
policy OF the nation may be assumed TO he
settled. New York aud PENNSYLVANIA have
voted, through their representatives, to adj
NIT as equal partners in the Senate States
which cannot in the ordinary course of
events have over a single representative in
the House for many years to come. 1t must
be supposed that they saw no danger in the
proceeding, nor, practically, is there. In
the Senate, as in other deliberative bodies.
brains govern. The ablest men in the
chamber will rule it, whether they repre-
sent millions of people or only thousands,
and other Senators, whether they come
from mighty commonwealth or from pocket
Doronghs, will follow their lead.