236 



CONGRESS, UNITED STATES. 



Lave permitted it on the ground of some high public 

 necessity, and under circumstances which promised 

 that it would rapidly disappear through the growth 

 and development of the newly admitted State. Thus, 

 in regard to the several States in what was 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 a great increase of 

 representation. So when California was admitted 

 on the ground of commercial and political exigencies, 

 it was well foreseen that that State was destined 

 rapidly to become a great, prosperous, mining, and 

 commercial community. In the case of Colorado, I 

 am not aware that any rational exigency, either of a 



Eolitical or commercial nature, requires a departure 

 om the law of equality which has been so generally 

 adhered to in our history. 



If information submitted in connection with this 

 bill is reliable. Colorado, instead of increasing, has 

 declined iii population. At an election for members 

 of a Territorial Legislature held in 1861, 10,580 votes 

 were cast. At the election before mentioned, in 

 1864, the number of votes cast was 6,192; while at 

 the irregular election held in 1865, which is assumed 

 as a basis for legislative action at this time, the ag- 

 gregate of votes was 5,905. Sincerely anxious for 

 the welfare and prosperity of every Territory and 

 State, as well as for the prosperity and welfare of the 

 whole Union, I regret this apparent decline of popu- 

 lation in Colorado, but it is manifest that it is due to 

 emigration, which is going out from that Territory 

 into other regions within the United States, which 

 either are in fact, or are believed by the inhabitants 

 of Colorado to be, richer in mineral wealth and agri- 

 cultural resources. If, however, Colorado has not 

 really declined in population, another census or 

 another election under the authority of Congress 

 would place the question beyond doubt, and cause 

 but little delay in the ultimate admission of the Ter- 

 ritory as a State, if desired by the people. The tenor 

 of these objections furnishes the reply which may be 

 expected to an argument in favor of the measure de- 

 rived from the enabling act which Was passed by 

 Congress on the 21st day of March, 1864. Although 

 Congress then supposed that the condition of the 

 Territory was such as to warrant its admission as a 

 State, the result of two years' experience shows that 

 every reason which existed for the institution of a 

 territorial instead of a State government in Colorado 

 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 some time, and still remain, unrep- 

 resented in Congress. It is a common interest of 

 all the States, as well those represented as those un- 

 represented, 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 bur- 

 dens of the Federal Government shall be consulted 

 concerning the admission of new States, and that in 

 the mean time no new State shall be prematurely 

 and unnecessarily admitted to a participation in the 

 political power which the Federal Government wields 

 not for the benefit of any individual State or sec- 

 tion, but for the common safety, welfare, and happi- 

 ness of the whole country. 



ANDREW JOHNSON. 



"WASHINGTON, D. C., May 15, 1866. 



The message was read, and with the bill laid 

 on the table, and ordered to be printed. 



On May 21st, Mr. Hendricks, of Indiana, 

 moved to take up the bill. After much debate, 

 the motion was agreed to, and the consideration 

 of the bill postponed one week. It was not 

 acted on during the session. 



On December 18th, a joint resolution passed 

 both Houses of Congress, expressing a desire to 

 testify their sensibility upon the occasion of the 

 public bereavement by the tragic death of Pres- 

 ident Lincoln, and a purpose to meet on Feb- 

 ruary 12th, in the hall of the House, and listen 

 to an address upon the life and character of the 

 deceased. 



At twelve o'clock and ten minutes p. M., on 

 February 12th, the members of the Senate, fol- 

 lowing their President pro tempore and their 

 Secretary, and preceded by their Sergeant-at- 

 Arms, entered the Hall of the House of Rep- 

 resentatives and occupied the seats reserved for 

 them on the right and left of the main aisle. 



The President pro tempore occupied the 

 Speaker's chair, the Speaker of the House sit- 

 ting at his left. The Chaplains of the Senate 

 and of the House were seated on the right and 

 left of the presiding officers of their respective 

 Houses. 



Shortly afterward the President of the Uni- 

 ted States, with the members of his Cabinet 

 entered the Hall and occupied seats, the Pres- 

 ident in front of the Speaker's table, and his 

 Cabinet immediately on his right. 



Immediately after the entrance of the Pres- 

 ident, the Chief Justice and the Associate Jus- 

 tices of the Supreme Court of the United States 

 entered the Hall and occupied seats next to the 

 President, on the right of the Speaker's table. 



The others present were seated as follows : 



The Heads of Departments, with the Diplo- 

 matic Corps, next to the President, on the left of 

 the Speaker's table ; 



Officers of the Army and Navy, who, by 

 name, have received the thanks of Congress, 

 next to the Supreme Court, on the right of the 

 Speaker's table ; 



Assistant Heads of Departments, Governors 

 of States and Territories, and the Mayors of 

 "Washington and Georgetown, directly in the 

 rear of the Heads of Departments ; 



The Chief Justice and Judges of the Court of 

 Claims, and the Chief Justice and Associate Jus- 

 tices or the Supreme Court of the District of 

 Columbia, directly in the rear of the Supreme 

 Court ; 



The Heads of Bureaus in the Departments, 

 directly in the rear of the officers of the Army 

 and Navy ; 



Representatives on either side of the Hah 1 , 

 in the rear of those invited, four rows of seats 

 on either side of the main aisles being reserved 

 for Senators. 



The Orator of the Day, Hon. George Ban- 

 croft, at the table of the Clerk of the House ; 



The Chairman of the joint Committee of Ar- 

 rangement at the right and left of the orator, 

 and next to them the Secretary of the Senate 

 and the Clerk of the House ; 



The other officers of the Senate and of the 

 House, on the floor at the right and the left of 

 the Speaker's platform. 



When order was restored, at twelve o'clock 

 and twenty minutes p. M., the Marine band. 



