Year: 1866

4. Message frons President johnson.


The following is the Presidents veto message on
the Colorado bill:


To the Senate the United States:


return to the Senate in which Houseit originated.
the bill which has passed both Houses of CONGRESS-
ehtltIcd An act for the admission of the State of
Colorado into the Union" with my objections to its
becoming law at this time.


,tirst-From the bestinfo-mation which have benn
able to obtain. do not consider the esabI nf


state Government at present necessary for the well
l4ro OF the people in Colorado. Under the existing
territorial Government, all the rights privileges and
interests OF the citizens are protected and secured:
the qualified voters choose their LEGISLATORS an
their own local officers and are represented in Con-
gres by delegate of their selection; they make
ana execute their own municipal laws, subject only


70 revision by Consress-an authority not likely to be
exercised unless IN extreme extraordinary cases;
the population is small, some estimating it as low as
2og0, while advocates of tho bill reckon the number
at from $1,000 to 900 souls; the people are ali prin
clpay recent settlers, many ofwhom are understood
10 De ready tor removal to other mining districts be-
yond the limits of the Territory. if circumstances
shall render them more inviting Such population
cannot but find relief from excessive taxation of the
executive legislative and judicial departments on the
United state, II for the present continued. They
cannot but ind the security of persons and property


increased by their reliance the rational execu-
tive power for the maintenance of law and order
against the disturbances necessarily incident to all
newly organized communities.


Second-It is not satisfactorily established that n
majority of the citizens of Colorado desire or are
prepared for exchange OF Territorial for a State
thority of Congress, an election was lawfully ap-
pointed and held for the purpose of ascertaining
tne views OF the people upon this particular ques-
uon Six Thousand one hundred and ninety-two
votes were cast, and of this number a majority Of
three thousand one hundred and ffty-two was given
against the proposed change. In september, 1862
without any legal authority, the question was again
presented to the people Of the Territory with view
OF ootalnin% reconsideration Of the result of the
election held in compliance with the act of Congress-
approved March 81. 1861. At this second election
5,sOo votes were polled and majority of l55 was
given in favor OF State organization. 1t does not
seem to me entirely safe to receive this last mention
ed result, irregularly obtained sufficient to out
weigh the one which had been legally obtained in
tho first election Regularity and conformity to law
are essential to the eservaton of order and State
G0yernment, and should, rs far practeable al
ways be observed in the formation of new states


Ihlrd-The admission of Colorado at this time as a
compatible witt the public interests of the country
Whileit is desirable that Territories when sufficiently
matured should be organized as States yet the spirit
OF the Constitution seems to require that there should
be an approximation towards equality among the
several States comprising the Union. No State can
nave less or more than TWO Senators IN Congress.
The largest State mas population of 1900 0O0. Sev
er&l OF the States have population exceeding 2000
wy and many others nave population exceeding
100000. If the bill should become law the peope
OF ColOrado-thirty thousand in number-would have
in the House of RepreseD tativeS member, while
but hrty"one; Colorado would have in the Electoral
College threa votes, while New York has only thirty
three; Colorado would have in the Senate two votes
Whue New York has no more. inequalities of this
character have already occurred but it is beliey ed
that none have happened where the inequality was
so great. When such inequality has been allowed,
Congress is supposed to have permitted il on
the ground Of some high public necessity, and
under circumstances which promised that it would
rapidly disappear through the growth and de-
velOpment OF the newly admitted State. Thus in
regard to the several States in what formerly
called the Northwest Territory" lying east Of the
Mississippi, their rapid advancement in population
rendered it certain that States admitted with only
one or two Representatives in Congress would in a
very short period be entitled to great increase of
Representatives. so when California was admitted
on the ground Of commercial and political exigen-
cies, it well foreseen that the State was destined
rapidly to become great prosperous and Important
mining and commercial community. In the case of
Colorado am not aware that any national exigen-
quires departure from the law of equity which has
been generally adhered to in history. IF in
formation submitted in connection with this bill is
reliable, Colorado, instead of increasing, has de-
clined in population. At election for members
of Territorial Legislature held in 1861, ten thous
and five hundred and eighty votes cast at the
election before mentioned in 1854 the number of
votes cast six thousand one hundred and ninety
Two; Whlle at the irregular election held IN 1865,
which is assumed as a basis for legislative action
at this time, the aggregate OF votes five
thousand nine hundred and five. Sincerely anxious
for the welfare and prosperity of every Territory and
state as we'll as for the prosperity and welfare of the
whole Union, regret the apparent decline OF popu-
emigration which is going from that Territory
into other regions within the United States. which
eitner are IN TACT or are oeeyed by the Inhabitants
OF Colorado to be richer in mineral wealth and agri
cultural rrSnnrces- II. hnwovor' Colorado has not
really declined Ill pOpulatlUn, another census
another election under the authority of Congress
would place the question beyond doubt, and cause
but little delay in the ultimate admission of the
Territory as State if desired by the people The
tenor of these objections furnished the reply which
may be expected to an argument in favor of the
measure derived from tho enabling act which was
passed by Congress the 2lst day of March 1864
Although Congress then supposed that the condition
of the Territory such warrant its admission
as State the result Of two years experience shows
that every which existed for the institution of
a Territorial instead Of State Government in Col
orado at its first organization still continues in force


The condition Of the Union at the present moment
Is calculated to inspire caution in regard to the ad
mission of new States. Eleven Of the old States
have been for time, and still remain, unrepre-
sented in Congress. 1t is common interest of all
the States well those represented as those unre-
presented. that the integrity and harmony of the
Union should be restored as completely as possible
so that all those who are expected to bear the burth
ems of the Federal Government shall be consulted
concerning the admission of new States and that in
the meantime no State shall be prcmaturely and
unnecessarily admitted to participation in tho poll
tical power which the Federal Government wields,
not for the benefit of any individual State or section
but for the safety and welfare and happiness
OF the W hole country.


~ (Signedj ANDREW JOHNSON.


WASHINGTON, D. c.. May Is. 1866.