Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-08-30
AN ENABLING ACT.
Another Statehood Measure for New
Mexico to be Laid Before
Congress.
The Constitutional Convention to AS
se,nble at the Capital in Dec
ember 1894

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28.-Delegate Joseph
has prepared a bill for the admission Of
New Mexico, which will be laid before
the house at the first opportunity. II
provides for q constitutional convention
and the submission to the people of the
results of it's labors for ratification ol
rejection. All residents of the proposed
state who have dwelt therein for sixty
days and who are otherwise qualified by
the laws of the territory to vote for the
representatives of the legislative assem-
bly, thereof are authorized to vote for
delegates to form the convention.
An apportionment of delegates to the
convention is made by the bill in strict
accordance with the population of the
territory, as shown by the last census.
The governor is authorized to order the
election on Tuesday after the first Mon
day in November, 1894. The number of
delegates in the territory is to be rs. The
constitutional convention will assemble
at the capital on the first Monday of De-
cember, 1894, and when assembled it shall
adopt the constitution Of the United States
and proceed to the formation of state
constitution.
The bill specially provides that in all
the public schools the English language
shall be taught. The constitution shall
be submitted to the people for their rati
fication or rejection at an election to be
held in said territory Tuesday after the
first Monday in April, 1895. If majority
of the votes cast shall be for the consti-
tuition, the governor of the territory
shall certify the result to the president of
the United States, who shall then issue
his proclamation announcing the result
of the election and the state of New Mex
leo shall then be deemed admitted into
the Union.
Delegate Joseph is fully prepared to
meet the arguments urged against the ad-
mission of New Mexico on account of the
large proportion of Mexican speaking
population. He says: Scan it be said
that a native of New Mexico who re-
nounced his allegiance to the republic of
Mexico over forty years ago has less in
terest in the government of the United
States, less devotion to the Republican
principles, or less fitness for American
citizenship than a subject of European
Kingdoms, who has within few years
lett his native home!
Seventeen years after the territory be-
came part of the United States, New
Mexico was called upon to furnish SOL
diers to defend the Union. There was no
hesitation iu responding to the demand.
New Mexico gave 5000 soldiers to the
Union during the late war, being more
than was furnished by all the other exist
ing territories combined including tha
present states of Nebraska, Nevada Colo
RADIO, Washington, the Dakotas, Montana,
Idaho and Wyoming.
'These troops were in a greater part
commanded by persons of Spanish de-
scent and the ranks were filled by the
same race, but although only seventeen
years citizens of the country, the people
of the territory did not hesitate to devote
themselves to the country as readily as if
born under it's flag. Numerous wealthy
citizens voluntarily loaned money to the
government at 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 a population reported by the
census at 153,593, the popular vote for
delegate was 32,355, a proportion of
voters rarely exceeded and the more re-
markablo because of the great distances
and difficulties in reaching the polls in
country not thickly settled.
"The flag of this country is large
enough to float alike over persons of
English and Spanish descent: the prin-
ciples of the constitution are great
enough to command the admiration of
all lovers of liberty.
"The people of New Mexico are as
much citizens of the United States as the
people of Ohio, Indiana or Illinois. What
they want is to lie admitted to the full
rights Of citizenship and allowed to bear
their share of the burdens of the COM
mon defense and general welfare. If New
Mexico becomes state her mines will be
developed, her railroads extended, her
schools enlarged, and she will take upon
herself a new encouragement for prog
ress. When once the natural resources
of New Mexico are developed the whole
nation will wonder why SO rich section
of our country should 80 long have re-
mained a territory"