NEBRASKA.

The State of Nebraska was included in the Louisiana purchase of April 3, 1803, and formed a part of the "District," and afterward the "Territory," of Louisiana, until changed to “Missouri Territory" in 1812. After the organization of the State of Missouri in 1821, the remainder of that territory remained for many years without organization. The earliest attempt to organize this territory was made December 17, 1844, when Senator Douglass, of Illinois, introduced a bill to establish the Territory of Nebraska. It was referred, and on the 7th of January, 1845, an amendatory bill was reported, but no further action was then taken. On the 15th of March, 1848, the same Senator introduced, on leave, a bill for the same purpose, which was reported without amendment April 20th; recommitted December 28th, 1848, and not reported. The measure then rested until brought up with the Kansas question in 1853-4.

The "Territory of Nebraska" was organized May 30, 1854, embracing the region bounded south by the line of 40° north latitude, from the Missouri river to the crest of the Rocky Mountains; thence along said crest to the line of 49° north latitude; thence east along the national boundary to Minnesota Territory, and thence along the White Earth and Missouri rivers to the place of beginning. It will be observed that these boundaries included, besides the present State of Nebraska, the whole of Montana, the western part of Dakotah, the greater part of Wyoming, and the north-eastern part of Colorado Territories. The triangular tract east of the Rocky Mountains, west of 103° west longitude, and south of 42° north latitude, was formerly a part of Mexico, and finally became the property of the United States by the treaty of 1848.

The Territory of Colorado, formed February 28, 1861, took from Nebraska all south of 41° north latitude, and west of 25° west from Washington.

The Territory of Dakota, formed on the 2d of March, 1861, took off all of Nebraska north of a line running from the Rocky Mountains east, on the parallel of 43° north latitude to the Keha-Paha or Turtle Hill river, and thence down the same, and the Niobrara or Running Water, and the Missouri rivers, to the line of Iowa. Small parts of Washington and Utah Territories west of the Rocky Mountains, between 41° and 43° north latitude, and east of 33° west longitude from Washington, were annexed to Nebraska. Finally, on the 3d of March, 1863, on the formation of Idaho Territory, all west of 27° west longitude was included in the new Territory, and Nebraska was reduced to her present limits. In the question of the formation of a Territorial government, Nebraska was associated with Kansas, and they were both established as Territories by the same act. There was however, little of that violence and disorder witnessed upon her soil that formed so prominent a feature in the early history of Kansas, and the two were manifestly united in the controversy with the view of securing the institution of slavery in one, by granting freedom in the other.

The question of forming a State government was submitted to the people of the Territory in March, 1860, and disapproved, by a vote of 1,877 to 1,987.

In accordance with a request of the Territorial Legislature, passed on the 16th of January, 1864, asking for the passage of an enabling act, and for allowing the people to vote upon the question of a Convention, such an act was passed by Congress, and approved April 19, 1864, authorizing the inhabitants to form a State government, upon condition that the Constitution formed should be republican,

and not repugnant to the Constitution of the United States, and the principles of the Declaration of Independence; and provided further, that it should contain an article forever irrevocable without the consent of Congress:

1st. That slavery or involuntary servitude should be forever prohibited in said State.

2d. That perfect toleration of religious sentiment should be secured, and no inhabitant of said State to be ever molested in person or property on account of his or her mode of religious worship.

3d. That the people of the Territory should disclaim all right to the unappropriated public lands within its borders; that the lands of citizens of the United States, not residing within the State, should not be taxed higher than the land belonging to residents, and that the land or property of the United States should not be taxed.

An election was to be held on the first Monday of June, and the Convention then elected was to meet on the first Monday of July. The result of their labors was to be submitted to the people for their ratification or rejection on the second Tuesday of October, and if a majority approved, the President was directed to make proclamation accordingly, declaring the State admitted to all the rights and privileges of the original States..

The estimated population of the Territory, at this time, was about 30,000, and there were many inhabitants who did not favor the proposed measure, holding that they "ought not to tax themselves for any thing which the general government is willing, or is bound to pay."

It is believed that a Convention was elected and assembled, but that they adjourned in January, 1865, without at that time forming or submitting a Constitution.

While the war continued, the growth of the Territory was checked, and Indian hostilities tended to render immigration uninviting, if not in some sections hazardous. But upon the establishment of peace, a rapid increase of num bers led to a desire for a separate State government, and early in 1866, the Territorial Legislature, without calling a Convention, undertook the task of framing a Constitution, which was completed and approved by them February 9, 1866.

Their labors were submitted to the people at an election held June 21, 1866, and ratified by a vote of 3,938 to 3,838. The first Legislature under the State government was convened July 4, 1866.

A bill for the admission of Nebraska as a State, was passed by both Houses of Congress, July 28, 1866, just before their adjournment, but was neither signed nor rejected by the President. A bill for this purpose was again passed in Jan uary, 1867, but was returned by the President on 30th of that month with his objections, the principal of which were, that the bill embraced conditions not mentioned in the enabling act, that the proceedings attending the formation of the Constitution were different from those prescribed; and that the population did not at that time justify the admission of Nebraska as a State. The bill was, however passed, over the President's veto, in the Senate, February 8th, by a vote of 30 to 9, and in the House the next day, by a vote of 120 to 44.

The bill admitted the State into the Union upon an equal footing with the original States, with the following express condition:

"3. And be it further enacted, That this act shall not take effect, except upon the fundamental condition, that, within the State of Nebraska, there shall be no denial of the elective franchise, or of any other right, to any person by reason of race or color, except Indians not taxed, and upon the further fundamental condition that the Legislature of said State, by a solemn public act, shall declare

the assent of said State to the said fundamental condition, and shall transmit to the President of the United States an authentic copy of said act. . . . . .

Upon receipt of this, the President was required by proclamation to announce the fact, and from that time, without further proceeding on the part of Congress, the admission of the State into the Union was to be considered as complete.

Upon the 19th of February, 1867, the Governor of Nebraska issued his procamation calling the Legislature, to take action upon the conditions proposed. The Legislature convened at Omaha on the 20th of February, and after due deliberation (not regarding the lato act of Congress, or the conditions therein contained, "to be in violation of any right of the State of Nebraska, or of the people thereof, or as abridging, or in any manner infringing any of the privileges enjoyed by the citizens of Nebraska while in a Territorial condition"), they enacted, "That the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled 'An act for the admission of the State of Nebraska into the Union,' passed February 9, 1867, be and the same is hereby ratified and accepted, and it is hereby declared that the provisions of the third section of said act of Congress shall be a part of the organic law of the State of Nebraska."

The compliance with these conditions was announced by proclamation of the President, March 1, 1867.

By an act of the State Legislature, passed June 14, 1867, the Governor, Secretary of State and Auditor were appointed Commissioners to select from the lands belonging to the State in certain countios a site for a permanent State capital, to be known as "Lincoln," to which, after the erection of public buildings, the public offices were to be removed. This site has been selected and the seat of government established there.

A Convention for revising the Constitution of this State having been decided upon, Delegates were elected May 2; met June 5, and adjourned August 19, 1871, having completed a Constitution, which was submitted to the electors September 19 of that year. The result was against its adoption by a vote of 7,986 to 8,627. Five separate questions were submitted as follows: For individual liability of stockholders of banks, 7,286; against, 8,580.- For prohibiting county or municipal aid to corporations, 9,519; against, 2,859. - For compulsory education and reformatory schools, 6,276; against, 9,958. - For the section relating to inhibition and license for sale of intoxicating liquors, 6,071; against, 10,160. For extension of right of suffrage [permitting an act allowing females to vote], 3,502; against, 12,776.

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