Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-09-07
A PLEA FOR STATEHOOD.
New Mexico will seek Admission to tie
Unlon.

Delegate Joseph Of New Merio6 ID prepar-
Ing to make n strong attempt to secure the
admission Of New Mexico Is q state this ses-
sion, and as both houses Of Congress are
Democratic he has some satguine hopes Of
success. He has prepared bill which he
will present during the course of the present
week or at the first opportunity. This bill
provides an enabling act for the people Of the
territory of New Mexico, by the terms OF
which constitutional convention will be held
In the territory aud the constitution framed
and submitted to the people for their satifica-
Lion or rejection All persons who hayc re-
dded within the limits Of the proposed stats
Tor sixty days, and are otherwise qualified by
The laws OF the territory to vote for the repre-
,entatives of the Legislative Assembly thereof,
ire authorized to vote for delegates to form
The convention.
An apportionment Of delegates 70 the con
'ention is made by the bill III strict Accord-
lnce with the population of the territory, as
shown by the last census. The governments is
authorized to order the election on Tuesday
after the first Monday in November, 1894.
The number Of delegates in the territory is TO
De seventy five. The constitutional conven-
iIon will assemble at the capitol on the first
Monday of December, 1894, and when assem-
sled 1t shall adopt the constitution Of the
United States and proceed to tho formation Of
1 state constitution.
The bill specially provides that In all the
public schools the English language shall be
;aught The constitution shall be submitted
70 the people for their ratification or fejeo.
lion at m election TO be held In said territory,
Tuesday after the first Monday In April, 1895
II a majority Of the votes cast shall be for the
! constitution, the government of the territory
hall certify the result TO the president Of the
United States, who shall then Issue his pro-
,lamation announcing the result Of the cleo
lion and the state of New Mexico shall then
, DC deemed admitted into the Union.
Delegate Joseph is fully prepared to meet
he arguments urged against the admission Of
New Mexico on account Of the large proper
Ion Of Mexican speaking population. He
'ays: "Can 1t be said native Of New Mex
co who renowned his allegiance to the re-
! public Of Mexico over forty years ago has less
interest In the government Of the United
| states, less devotion to the republican princi-
J pies or less fitness for American citizenship
than subject of European kingdoms, who
| ,ns within few years left his native homei
"Seventeen years after the territory be-
same part Of the United States, Now Mexi-
70 was called upon to furnish soldiers to de-
lend the Union. There was no hesitation in
| responding to the demand New Mexico
rave 5000 soldiers 10 the Union during the
nte war, being more than was furnished by
, I'll the other existing territories combined,
Including the present states Of Nebraska.
Nevada, Colorado, Washington, the Dakotas,
Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.
| tpThean froOna were n OreatRr mart cOm-
nanded by persons Of Spanish descent and
The ranks were filed by the same race, but
although seventeen years citizens of the coun-
try, the people OF the territory did not hesl-
tate to devote themselves to the country AZ
readily rs II born under Its flag. Numerous
Wealthy citizens voluntarily loaned money to
The government Mt the outbreak of the war on
the request of the military authorities when
The country had no funds In the territory.
More than thirty years have passed since then
and yet It is said the people of New Mexico
| are aliens.
"Out of population reported by the cen
sus at 1853, ,593, the popular vote for delegate
was 80 ,355, proportion Of voters rarely ex.
seeded, and the more remarkable because Of
The great distances and difficulties in reach
'ng the polls in q country not thickly settled.
"The flag Of this country Is large enough tc
ioat alike over persons Of English and Span.
sh descent; the principals Of the constitution
are great enough to command the admiration
II all lovers Of liberty.
1.-THE people Of New Mexico are as much
sitizens of the United States as the people Of
Ohio, Indiana or Illinois. What they want II
to be admitted to the full rIghts Of citizen
ship and allowed TO bear their share Of the
burdens of the common defense and genera
Welfare. II New Mexico becomes . state hel
mines will be developed, her railroads extend
I'd, her schools enlarged, and she will take
,pon herself a new encouragement for pro
yress. When once the natural resources o1
New Mexico are developed the whole nation
will wonder why SO rich . section Of oui
country should SO long have remained q terri.
.ory.n