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Show sa 404 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY NEW MEXICO DURING THE calcd CIVIL WAR 405 action on the part of the democrats in the house proved a fatal political blunder for, at the national election in 1876, the electoral vote of the Centennial state was cast for Rutherford B. Hayes for the presidency, thereby defeating Samuel J. Tilden, the nominee of to vote for the admission of any new states. They were certain that, could it be made a caucus measure, there were republicans enough, and to spare, in both branches to give the territories statehood. Whether the republicans did make their admission a caucus measure, I never learned positively, but it was understood at the time the bills were introduced that the republicans of both houses would, with practical unanimity, support the measure. The bills were introduced in the house at the same time, and were referred to the committee on territories. They were both reported back to the house with favorable recommendation at the same time, and the house passed both bills at the same with the feeling of the south, where carpet-bag rule and negro domination were in the balance, can judge of the bitterness of that feeling. There was a young republican congressman in the house from Michigan. He was then unknown to fame, except that a rumor from the wilds of Michigan set him down as a Columbian orator of prodigious carrying power. His name was Julius Caesar Burrows . . . who madea speech on the ‘force bill;’ he grilled the southerners from head to foot, and tortured them in the fires of his oratory. It was a bitter, exasperating speech, and the southerners listened with gleaming eyes and gritting teeth. Burrows closed with a flood of invective that brought republicans and democrats to their feet, and as he sat down, the republican side and the galleries burst out with hand-clapping and applause. Mr. Elkins came into the chamber about five miuntes before Mr. Burrows closed his speech. He entered it through a door very close to the desk from which Mr. Burrows was speaking. He was immediately attracted by the orator and stood, as if spell-bound, listening to him. He was manifestly carried away by the fervor and swelling voice and earnest manner of Burtows, and when Burrows closed he rushed up to him, and was the very first to shake him by the hand and congratulate him upon the mastery of his effort. Scores of other members gathered about Burrows’ seat and shook his hand, but Elkins was the very first. Fatal enthusiasm! The fervor of Columbian oratory would not move the experienced and self-poised Elkins to-day to so foolish an act — foolish, I mean, having in mind the admission of a state or the — particularly The democ any other matter of half the importance. rats Southern ones, those who had been won over to Colorado and New Mexico stateh — witnessed ood Elkins rush for Burrows and his congratulations with set teeth and ominous mutterings. That evening it was known that a number of them who had been counted friends of statehood would vote against New Mexico, at least, and Colorado might possibly be included in their wrath. We time, and with practically the same vote. After their passage by the house, both went over to the senate at the same time, and were referred to the committee on territories. This all occurred at the first session of the 43d congress, in the early part of the year 1874, and though that session held well into the summer of that year, the bills were allowed to slumber in the committee without action. Not that the friends of the measure in the senate did not urge action, but a majority of the committee were in no hurry then, as they have never been since, to accelerate the admission of new states into the sisterhood. That was the situation when I was elected delegate in the summer of 1874. The second session of the 43rd congress would convene in December, 1874, and since the session must end on the fourth of March, 1875, and all measures uncom- pleted at that time must totally fail, I made up my mind to go to Washington immediately after the new year of 1875, to add whatever influence I could bring to bear in behalf of the measures. When I reached Washington the bills were yet with the senate committee on territories, but Chaffee and Elkins succeeded in having them favorably reported back by the committee shortly afterward. The measures went to the senate calendar, there to remain fixtures until that body could be moved to take action upon them. . . The senate passed both bills, but before doing so amended them in four or five minor particulars. Not one of the amendments was important, but it was necessary all set about fixing up the dislodged fences, but how well the work was done to amend them to carry out the plans of the senatorial cabal that was opposed to the admission of new states. Upon their passage by the senate the friends of the two ambitious territories went into consultation. They ap the dangers that beset them, should the regular course be adopted — that 0 referring them to the house committee on territories —so a desperate remedy was resorted to as the alternative. The friends agreed that, instead of referring them to the committee, they would have them laid, in parliamentary aad guage, ‘upon the speaker’s table.’ The enemies of statehood were quite s ing that they should be given that chute, for it would require a two-thiras vote of the house to take them from the table to ratify the senate amendments and pass the bills as then amended. But on sending them to the speaker § table the shoals and quicksands of the committee, and the deadly perils of a filibuster in the very last days of the Session, were all avoided. . - o ‘‘About a week before the close of the Session, however, we were a : count the necessary two-thirds, and the friends of the measure were ready ny action. But right then there occurred an unlooked for and very cine event. It put the plans of statehood up in the air very badly, and it oa statehood for New Mexico and took some of the votes from Colorado it wou r otherwise have had. What was called a ‘force bill’ had passed the senate roi could not be told until the votes were actually recorded. I had been a witness of it all—had seen Mr. Elkins when he entered the chamber, saw him stand as if rooted to the floor, saw him rush up the very first to congratulate BurTows, and felt intuitively that the delegate from New Mexico had committed I will never forget the event of that I was not mistaken. a fatal blunder. It was final vote on the bills for the admission of Colorado and New Mexico. James 4th. — March two o’clock in the morning of the last day of the sessio n He was not in the chair in the early part 7 Blaine was speaker of the house. He had been an honored guest at some of the night, nor until after midnight. important function. He entered the chamber between twelve and one o'clock, clothed in full evening dress, just as he had left the fashionable dinner It then became a mere question as to when the votes might be taken. function. Some matters of perhaps greater importance even than statehood had to be At length Speaker Blaine was ready for the test. gotten out of the way. He was the friend of statehood, and he was to determine the most propitious moment for the effort. He gave the signal to the member who was to mare he ‘Mr. Speaker,’ the necessary motion, and he arose in response to the call. Said, and Blaine recognized him. It was understood that the test should come ‘TI move,’ said the recognized member, in a loud clear on Colorado first. ing struggle to defeat it. The feeling upon both sides was bitter 1n nae 4 treme. Fiery speeches had been made; the southern democrats drew the io of personal friendship along the debate. They believed they were i preserve their states and homes from negro domination, and those fam} the senate, be taken from the speaker’s table, that the amendments of the Senate be concurred in, and that the bill as amended do pass.’ ‘Immediately there was a loud demand by the democrats for the ayes and noes, and the Speaker, ruling that the demand was seconded by a sufficient was before the house. Sam Randall was leading the democrats in a filibus s Voice, ‘that the bill for the admission of Colorado, with the amendments of |