Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-09
ADMISSION DAYAND WHY
CALIFORNIA CELEBRA TES 1T
Peculiar Circumstances Governed It's Creation State
Had Organic Existence Before 1t Obtained State
hOOd-Born Amid Stirring Events
BY LIONEL A. SHELDON


Ex-Governor of New Mexico and
None of the forty-flve states of the
Union except California has adopted
the custom of celebrating the ami
versary of admission and making 1t a
legal holiday. The question arises why
California does this and other states
| do not.
In all of the states there is more or
less local sympathy and state pride,
but 1t is not these alone that cause
California to do what is so conspic-
uously exceptional. The reasons are
found in the circumstances and condi-
tions under which statehood was
achieved here. 1t may be worth the
while to give these. therefore, a mo-
ments consideration.
California was the first state to be
admitted on the Pacific coast, and to be
carved out of the immense territory
then recently acquired from Mexico.
| This was accomplished in quick time;
| only about two years elapsed after
the cession was made. Territorial
magnitude and population at once
made it the leading commonwealth on
one ocean as New York is on the
other.
Another fact is peculiar in her case.
| The original thirteen states did not
pass through the process of admission,
as they became members through their
| own volition and action by simply as
senting to the federal constitution.
Maine was cut off from Massac achusetts,
Vermont maintained for time sort
of independence by herself, though both
New Hampshire and New York claimed
jurisdiction till 1891. West Virginia
was taken from old Virginia, ,andTexas
as an independent nation became
state of the union by joint resolution
of the legislatures of both countries.
These seventeen states were never
under the territorial tutelage of the
general government.
All the other states were, except Cal
ifornia. They were given organic acts
of local government and were only per-
mitted to form state governments
through enabling acts of Congress.
Never a Territory
California was never under territorial
tutelage after her cession to the United
States. In her case there was neither
an organic nor an enabling act. The
people elected a convention, adopted
the constitution it framed, chose and
installed a Legislature and state Of
f1cers in the assertion of the original
right Of sovereignty that inheres in
the people. In this the action of the
people of California was radical as
we'll as exceptional
More than this, the application of
California for statehood was when the
slavery issue was under the bitterest
discussion. Since 1920 it had been the
policy to admit states in pairs, one free
and the other slave. There was no
territory to be brought forward to pair
with California. She had come with
a free constitution and admission
would give preponderance to the free
states in the senate, in which body 1t
had been the policy to keep the balance
| even.
The question of dividing the state
was more than once mooted, the idea
being a state on the south that would
be opened to slavery. On account OF
the immense size of California it did
not seem Objectionable to make two
states of her territory, and 1t was pro-
vided by the constitution that a di-
vision might take place, not for the
sake of providing state for slavery
but as matter of convenience in gov
ernment; and also that the Pacific
coast might have more power and in
f1uence in the senate. The admission
Of California, giving the free states a
preponderance in the senate, was an
important step toward ultimately max
ing the whole nation free. 1t may be
said to have been the turning point OF
the tide in that direction.
Should Study II
It would be interesting and instruc-
tive to young Californians today tc
make a study of the speeches in the
senate, especially while California;
application for statehood was pending
There were then giants in the senate
California passed through an ordea
of discussion that no other aspirant to
statehood experienced, except possibly
Missouri. 1t was not in respect to hei
alone, but concerning other measures
more or less cognate to the slavery
question, one of which was the fugi
tive slave law. Including the admis