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Colorado Statehood First Veto: 1. There was such a small population in the area, Johnson felt Colorado would fare better as a territory without the added taxation of statehood. 2. Also due to the small population, Colorado would have only one representative to speak for the people in Congress. (New York, on the other hand, had thirty-one). 3. Johnson felt the citizens of Colorado were not prepared for, and not all wanted, statehood. Johnson wanted to hold a census or an election there first. This would ascertain the number of people in the area, as well as find out what their strongest desire was. Second veto: 1. Johnson didn't agree with the Edmunds Amendment which said that Nebraska and Colorado had to give equal suffrage to blacks and whites as a statehood condition. Johnson felt this was unconstitutional because Congress couldn't regulate a state's franchise, and the people had not been allowed to vote on it. 2. After holding a census, Johnson felt the population was still too small for statehood. NOTE: In addition, Johnson did not feel right about adding new states to the Union when the Confederate States had not yet been readmitted to the Union and were still unrepresented. Congress sustained the veto. |
Last updated: April 14, 2015