Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-11-06
THE BIRTHDAY O+ NEVADA
TIIIIiTY-NISE YEARS AGO
Ih" ~t"ry rmId bY Chn-. \. Damn Ia
The sun

Th" >'"ry r"id bY Chn-. \. Dana IN
The sun
Saturday WHR the thirty ninth nnui-
/ vcrtnry II th~ admission of Nevada to
statehood. th, f,iloNrng account nf
| Hevad"'s hir,Einy w:a gwen 10y Cha.
! a. Dana in the New Yrs sur:
| Lincoln was II supreme io'ticiln lie
understood rulitics because n. under.
stood hGman natur3 ! had an illustrn.
ton oi thi' iii the srrrnr nf 1861. The
administration had decided that the
| Constitution of the United Sratcs should
be amended 50 slavery should he pro.
mbitcd. This WIS not only change in
our national policy, it WIS also most
important military measure. II was in.
tended not merely rs Il means ~ aboi.
lshing slavery forever, but rs "A means Of
affecting the Judgment and feelings and
hntlripatIons of those in rebellion. II
was believed tha! such an amendment
to the Constitution would he equivnl.
cnt 10 new armies III the field, TINT
| 1t would I've an intcllec ctunl army that
would tend 10 paralyzo the enemy
and break thc continuity Of his
! idea.
In order thus To- amend the Cnnstitu-
! tIou II was necessary liTsi To- have the
proposed amendment approved by three.
! f"urths of the States. When tln, qucs-
tiIn came tu bc considered the issue wns
seen Ia br 50 clos" that nnr state more
WIS lie rScsaary. The State II Nevada
was nrgHniz Il and ndn.ittrh INTO ,hc
union for That purpose. | have some.
timr- heard people complain 0f Nevada
us supcriluous and prtty,unt big enough
! t" he a State; but when hear that com.
| plant always hear Abraham Lincoln
say nag, Il is easier to admit Nevada
| than Ia raise another million Of sold.
icrg."
! In March, 1861, the question Of allow.
| irH Nevada to form II State government
| finally came up i'll the liouse OF Repre-.
scntativcs. There was strong opposi-
tiop Ia il. For Il long time beforehand
the question had been canvassed anx.
inusly. At last. late one aftern0o IN, the
| President came into my office, in tho
third story Of the War Department. He
used ,o come there sometimes rather
thnn send for me. because to get away
from the crowds III the White House He
came III aud shut the door.
-Dana,- he said. Il am nnxinus about
this vote, 1t has got to be taken next
week. The time is very short. II IA
going to be "a good deal closer than |
wish it was"
"Thero are plenty OF Democrats who
will vote for it," | replied "!'hcre is
James r.. English oi Connecticut;
| think hc ia sure, isn't hc?"
"Oh yes. hc is sure on the merits of tie
! question:
"rhcn." said "thcrc'e Sunset Cox. Of
Ohio IIow's hc?"
ale ia surc and fearless. But there
are some others that am not suro
about. There ARE three TINT you can
deal with better than anybody else, per.
haps. ns you know them all. ! wish
yoG would send tnr them"
lie told inr who they were; it isn't
necessary 10 repent the nnmcs here.
One man VIA from Now Jersey and t~o
from Ecw York.
swim, will the! he likely Ia wnnt?-
| asked.
II don't know said tho President. al
don't know. Il mnl;cs no difference
though. what they wunt. Here is the
alternative, that We carry this vote, or
he compelled tn raise another million
AMI don't know how many more men.
aud tight. no one knows how long. 1t
il n question oi three votes or new mr.
mica
"wcll eir,- ruid |, "whnt shall say to
these gCnilCmcnY
al don't know said hc, "but Whatever
promises you make them | will per.
form"
srni for them aud saw them ono by
one. found tlnt they were afraid of
the pnrty They said TINT fellows in tho
rnrty would bc down on them. Two of
thcm wanted Internal revenue collect.
ore appointments. AVON shall hnvc il,
I said, Another one wnntcd II very
important appointment ah"ui the Gus
ten hOuac in New York
knew the man well whom he wanted
io have appointed. lie was Rrruhli.
can, though the Congressman wns II
, Dcmoctnt had served with him IN
the Republican county committee oi
New York. Tho Office was worth per
hnps 10000 year. When the Con
rrcesmnn stated the ease asked him
r 40 you want thniy'
q "Yca. said hr,T understand, Gf course
, tha, you nrc no, emyiug this on your owr
! authoriiy?'