I04 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



in 1864, but the constitution framed in accordance with it was rejected 

 at the polls. The following summer saw a change of feehng, bringing 

 with it a new and ratified constitution ; but President Johnson declined 

 to issue the proclamation of admission on receiving it, on the ground 

 that the time for such action had expired. He transmitted the constitu- 

 tion with extracts from the reports of the convention and his reasons 

 for refusing to act in Sen. Ex. Doc. 10; 39C.1; Serial 1237, on Jan- 

 uary 12, 1866. Congress followed this message by passing a second 

 enabling act for the territory, only to receive back this act with a veto 

 message of May 16, 1866. The printed message, Sen. Ex. Doc. 45; 

 39C.1; Serial 1238, contains a copy of the vetoed act. A third enabling 

 act was passed the following January by this same Congress, and was 

 likewise vetoed by the President. The second veto message, Sen. 

 Ex. Doc. 7; 39C.2; Serial 1277, contains elaborate reasons for the 

 veto, the chief ground being the small population of the territory, its 

 recent shrinkage in numbers, and the injustice of such admission to 

 the older states. 



While the statehood agitation was in progress, the territory suffered 

 from constant Indian attacks. Incidental to these attacks are the 

 investigation into the Indian finances of Governor A. B. Cummings, 

 H. Misc. Doc. 81; 39C.2; Serial 1302, and the statement of the expen- 

 ses of the First Colorado Regiment in a campaign of 1865, H. Ex. Doc. 

 7; 40C.2; Serial 1330. 



The interest of Congress in the territory and its Indian troubles 

 is followed by the beginning of popular curiosity, as to the new country. 

 Among the articles which cater to this demand are two which are found 

 in Harper^s Magazine for June and July, 1867. In the latter issue» 

 Vol. XXXV, pp. 137-150, there is an account of the trip across the 

 plains by F. R. Davis, entitled "A Stage Ride to Colorado." The 

 Hfe of the pioneer emigrant is described in this account of a journey 

 by the Smoky Hill route from Omaha to Denver. Some interesting 

 statements are made as to the condition of the railroad end of the 

 route. A month earlier than the account of Davis, A. W. Hoyt has 

 in the same magazine, Vol. XXXV, pp. 1-2 1, a brief description of 

 a similar trip "Over the Plains' to Colorado," of which the more impor- 



