The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1920-10-23
OF NEVADA
KILLED SLAVERY
Charles A. Dana Tells How Alb
raham Lincoln Unanswered
To Secure Admission

there appears a story taken IRON
Charles A. Dana's works which has
special reference to the admission OF
Nevada to the Union.
The article in question is headed
vast Power of the American Presi-
dent" and deals with the activities of
President Wilson in war times, in con-
tradistinction to the methods en-
ployed by his predecessors.
Reference to the Nevada situation
is as follows:
And the President-if he has a
genius for politics. and many a Presi-
dent has possessed that gift-can
sometimes actually control the max
ing of laws, and there is no more IL
Illustrative instance of this than Lin
coins maneuvers to secure the adop-
ton of the thirteenth amendment,
which freed the slaves. Charles A.
Dana tells the story:
"'In order" thus to amend the con-
stitution 1t was necessary first to have
the proposed amendment approved by
th~ree-fourths of the States. When
that question came to be considered
| the issue was seen to be so close that
one State more was necessary. The
State of Nevada was organized and
| admitted into the Union to answer
that purpose. l have sometimes heard
| people complain of Nevada as super
fuous and petty, not big enough to
| ho a Cfatn. hrtf Whnn hnar that
complaint l always hear Abraham
| Lincoln saying, "It Is easier to admit
| Nevada than to raise another million
| of soldiers"
"In March, 1864, the question Of
allowing Nevada to form a State gov
eminent finally came up in the House
of Representatives. There was strong
opposition to it. For a long time be-
forehand the question had been a n
vassed a%nxiously. At last, late one
afternoon, the President came into
my Office, in the third story of the
War Department.
"'"Dana," he said, 81 am very
anxious about this vote. 1t has got
to be taken next week. The time is
very short. 1t is going to be a great
deal closer than I wish it was"
There are plenty Of Democrats
who will vote for it." Ireplied There
is James E. English of Connecticut;
| think he is sure. isn't he?"
"'"Oh, yes; he is sure on the mer-
it's of the question"
Then" said 1, there's Sun
set Cox, of Ohio. How is he?"
"-"He is sure and fearless. But
there are some others that / am not
clear about. There are three that
you can deal with better than any,
body else, perhaps, as you know them
all. I wish you would send for them"
He told me who they we're; it is
not necessary to repeat the names
here. One man was from New Jer-
sey and two were from New York.
"'"What will they be likely to
want?" l asked.
"'"I don't know" said the Presi-
| dent; 81 don't know. 1t makes no
| difference, though, what they want.
Here is the alternative: that we car
! ry this vote, or be compelled to raise
another million, and l don't know
how many more men, and fight no
one knows how long. 1t is a ques-
ton of three votes or new armies"
lowell, SIR" said l, what shall
l say to these gentlemen"
"'"I don't know" said he; "but
whatever promise you make to them
l will perform"
"'I sem for the men and saw them
one by one. I found that they were
afraid of their party. They said that
some fellows in the party would be
down on them. Two of them wanted
internal event collectors appoint
ments. You shall have it. l said
Another one wanted a very important
appointment about the customs house
of New York. l knew the man well
whom he wanted to have appointed
He was a Republican, though the
the Congressman vas a Democrat.
had served with him in the Republic
can county committee of New York
The Office was worth perhaps $20,00(
a year. When the Congressman stat
ed the case I asked him, do yot
want that?"
"'"Yes," said he.
lowell" l answered, you shall
have it,"
"'"I understand, of course" SAID
he, that you are not saying this oil
your own authority"
"'"Oh, no." said L; II am saying
it on the authority of the President.
We'll, these men voted that Ne
vada be allowed to frame a State gov
eminent, and thus they helped secure
the vote which was required. Thu
next October the President signed thu
proclamation admitting the State. II
the February following Nevada wa
one of the States which ratified thu
thirteenth amendment by which slav
erv was abolished by constitutions