Year: 1866

SENATE.


WASHINGTON May 10, 1899


THE COLORADO BILL


After the reading Of the journal the Chair laid before
the Senate the message Of the President the
Colorado BILL which was read by the Chief Clerk fol-
lows


THE VETO MESSAGE.


To THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES


return TO the senate In which house ii originated
the bill which has passed both houses Of Congress en-
titled An for the admission Of the Of Colorado
into the Union" with my objections To It's becoming
law at this time.


Frx-From the best information which I
have been able TO obtain, / do not consider
the establishment Of State government at present
necessary for the welfare Of the people Colorado Un
der the existing Territorial government all tho rights,
privileges and interests Of the citizens protected and
secured. The qualified voters choose their legis
latures and their own local officers, and repre-.
sented in Congress by delegate Of their selec-
tion. They make and execute their municipal
laws, subject only to revision by Congressman au
thorty not likely TO be exercised unless ex.
treme or extraordinary The population is small
estimating 1t low twenty five thousand while
the advocates Of the bill reckon the number at from thr
tynve thousand to forty thousand The people prn
cpay recent settlers OF whom understood to
be ready for removal other mining districts beyond
limits Of the Territory, II circumstances shall render
them more inviting. Such population cannot but find
relief from taxation IL the Territorial system
which devoves the expenses Of the executive legislative
and judicial departments upon the United States,
is for the present continued They cannot but find tho
security Of person and property increased by their re
upon the national executive power for the main.
enance Of law and order against the disturbances
earilv IN all ewlv zed m


Second-It is not satisfactorily established that ma.
jony Of the citizens Of Colorado desire prepared
for exchange of Territorial for State government
In September 1854 under the authority Of Congress-
election lawfully appointed and held for the purpose
Of ascertaining the views Of the people.


Upon this particular question six thousand one hun
dred and nnetytwo votes and Of this number
a majority Of three thousand hundred and nfytwo
was given against the proposed change In September
1855, without any legal authority. the question
again presented TO the people OF the Territory with
view Of Obtaining reconsideration Of the result Of the
election held in compliance with the act OF Congress
approved March 81, 1854. Al this second election
FIVE thousand nine hundred and FIVE votes were
polled and small majority OF hundred and hfty
FIVE given in favor of State organization 1t does
entirely safe receive mention
ed result iregulariy obtained, TO outweigh the
which had been legally obtained In the first election
Regularity and conformity TO law essential TO the pre-
servaon Of order and stable government and should
far practicable always be observed the formation
Of States.


TAird-The admission Of Colorado at this time
as a State into the Union appears 70 me To
be incompatible with the public interests Of the
country. While II Ia desirable that Territories
when sufficiently matured should be organized ~
satcs yet the spirit Of the constitution require



among the several States comprising the Union. No
state have less than two senators in Con
grsss The largest State has population Of four mil
lions Several other States have population exceeding
two millions, and many others have population
ceedng million. n this bill sh ,uld become a law
the people Of Colorado thirty thousand In number
would have In the House OF Representatives one
member while New York, with a population Of
four millions has but thirty lone. Colorado would
have In the Electoral College three votes, while
New York has only thirty three Colorado would have
In the Senate two votes, while Now York has more
Inequalities Of this character have already occurred bu,
u 10 believed have happened where the inequality
was 70 great


When such inequality has been allowed, Congress is
supposed to have permitted II on grounds Of
high public necessity and under circumstances which
promised that It would rapidly disappear through the



Thus In regard the several States what former
ly called the Northwest Territory" lying east Of the
Mississippi their rapid advance In population rendered


certain that States admitted with only or two rep
resenatives Congress would, In very short period,
be entitled TO q great increase OF representation So
when California admitted the ground of CONNER
cial and political exgencies well foreseen that
that destined rapidly TO become great pros
porous and important mining and commercial commu-
nifty.


In the case Of Colorado that any national
exgency either Of political commercial nature, re.
quires departure from the law OF equality which has
been so generally adhered TO in our history.


II information submitted In connection with this bill
s reliable Colorado instead Of increasing has declined
in popoulation At an election for members Of Terri
ora Legislature held In 1891 thousand hve hundred
and eighty votes were Al the election before
toned in 1894 tho number Of votes six thou
and one hundred and ninetytwo while at the regular
election held In 1885, which h assumed for q basis OF
legislative action s this time the aggregate number Of
the votes i've thousand nine hundred and Ave


Sincerely anxious tor the welfare and prosperity Of
every Territory and STATE well for the prosperity
and welfare Of the whole Union regret this apparent
decline Of population 10 Colorado; but Il manifest
that II 10 due emigration which 10 going on from
that Territory into other regions within the United
States, which either In fact, are believed BY
tho inhabitants Of Colorado 70 BE- richer In mineral
wealth and agricultural resources II, however Colo
rado hes not really declined In population another
census or another election under tho authority Of
Congress would place the question beyond doubt and
but little delay In the ultimate sfmsion Of the
Territory ssAis ~ desired by the people The tenor
OF these objections furnishes the reply which BE-
expected argument In favor Of the measure derived
from the enabling 80 which vas passed by Congress
on the 2ia day Of March. 1894 Although Con
srcs then supposed that the condition Of the
Territory vW such ~ 70 warrant " admission ~
STATE, the result Of two year experience shows
that svsy which existed for the institution Of
Territorial instead ef s.ae government in Colombo Al
is nrst organization sti continues In force The oondi
ton II the Union s The present moment n calculated
70 inspire caution regard 10 the admission a
new sases Eleven Of the old states have bsen
for some tune, and still remain, unrspressnsed
In Congress- II is . common Interest Of all the
states, a. well those represented tboss unrep-
.~~.o,sA th.s ths introvtv and hsrunonv "A the