Speech #440014308

I will state the object of this bill. By the terms of the original enabling act. all those were made voters and allowed to vote upon the constitution to be submitted for adoption or rejection to the people of that Territory who were then. at the time of the passage of the enabling act. entitled to vote. By the terms of the bill as drafted. a constitutional convention was provided for. to meet at an early day. and had the bill passed in that form. that provision would have been proper. but by an amendment placed upon the bill in the Senate prior to its passage. the time for the meeting of the constitutional convention. and consequently for the action of the people of Colorado on the constitution which was to be offered. by that convention to the people. was deferred for more than a year. so that the people of Colorado are to vote upon this constitution on the 4th of July next. There are a large number of voters. made up by emigration which has gone into that Territory since that time. who will then be voters under the laws of the Territory. and who properly and rightfully ought to vote upon the adoption or rejection of the constitution.