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Show 312 HISTORY OF PUBLIC LAND LAW DEVELOPMENT adopting a constitution which was accepted by Congress provided the state would immediately remove the provision restricting the franchise to free white males. This was done and Nebraska was admitted on March 1, 1867, with the same donations Congress had , offered in 1864.82 A mining population in the early stages of a community's development is notably unstable, uninformed about outside issues, absorbed in its struggle for the precious minerals and disinterested in everything else. However, ambitious politicians appeared everywhere on the American frontier, anxious to gain a following, and the power that went with it. Colorado had grown rapidly and the inevitable issue of statehood was raised early.83 Voters of Colorado decisively rejected the first opportunity for statehood, partly because of fear of high taxes but also because of political complications, growing factionalism, and personal rivalries. A swift change of sentiment followed in 1865, a second constitution was framed, a state government was formed, and admission was requested. Colorado votes were no longer needed, however, and Johnson had replaced Lincoln in the White House. The new President stood on the same ground as earlier opponents in giving as a reason for refusal to admit Colorado that it had insufficient population and wealth and had not been authorized to form a government. Thereafter sentiment for admission waned.84 In 1875, when the territory had a population at least up to the Federal ratio, Congress adopted a second enabling act with favorable changes. The amount of land for public buildings and for a peni- 82 Olson, History of Nebraska, pp. 129 ff. By an Act of March 30, 1867, the provisions of the Agricultural College Act were extended to Nebraska. 15 Stat. 13. 83 Carl Ubbelohde, A Colorado History (Boulder, Colo., 1965), pp. 135 ff. 84 Percy S. Fritz, Colorado. The Centennial State (New York, 1941), pp. 233-38. tentiary was increased from 12,800 acres each to 32,000 acres each, and like Nebraska the state received 46,080 acres of salt springs and 46,080 acres for a state university. The 5 percent fund was to be used for internal improvements. An additional section which was to be inserted in enabling acts for all states subsequently admitted established conditions of sale for the school lands. In Colorado they were not to be sold for less than $2.50 an acre. On August 1, 1876, Colorado was admitted as the "Centennial State" by Proclamation of President Grant.85 Omnibus Enabling Act for Four States Utah Territory, which had 30,273 people in 1860 and 86,786 in 1870, was the only other territory (except New Mexico) having a population large enough for admission in 1864 (it exceeded all three of the territories considered for admission in 1864) but it was to be punished for another generation for its adherence to Mormonism, the economic policies of its predominant church, and the practice of plural marriages. Political considerations continued to play a major role in the admission policy of Congress in the years after 1876, the more so because of the closeness of party divisions in the Congress. Neither the Republicans nor the Democrats were anxious to admit new states that might provide additional electoral votes for the other party or greater strength in the two Houses. Consequently, five territories, six if we include Utah, were denied votes in Congress and participation in the selection of Presidents in 1884 and 1888.86 85 Act of March 3, 1875, 18 Stat. 476. Ubbelohde, A Colorado History, pp. 145-49. 86 Other issues such as the division of Dakota Territory, the repudiation of some county bonds given to a railroad and a brand of extreme factionalism and bitter political strife are discussed in Howard R. Lamar, Dakota Territory 1861-1889: A Study of Frontier Politics (New Haven, Conn., 1956), and Herbert S. Schell, History of South Dakota (Lincoln, Nebr., 1961), pp. 203 ff., passim.; James McClellan Hamilton, From Wilderness to Statehood. |