Speech #490032513

He has not presented the amendment which he suggested. and I wish to say a word or two in the hope that I may persuade him to withhold the amendment which he suggested and which. as I understood. he said he would feel it to be his duty to present. which was to the effect that it was not constitutional or if constitutional it was not expedient to admit States having formed the constitution provided for in the enabling act simply by the proclamation of the President. I may say that all the argument which the Senator from Alabama has made in favor of the admission of Washington Territory as a State is an argument in favor of its immediate admission. The considerations which he urges in connection with our relations to Great Britain in favor of the admission of Washington Territory are considerations which apply to the present and to the immediate necessity of establishing a State government there which shall invite capital and invite immigration and stimulate the building up of a strong. healthy. powerful State upon that Pacific shore. But this is not a new question. sir. If it were. the suggestion would come with greater force as it seems to me than it does now.