Mr. CRAGIN. Mr. President, it was not my purpose to say a single word on this subject; but the course of the discussion here, and the fact that I voted for this bill in committee, seem to impel me to saya few words, and only a few. The same reasons which influenced me to vote for this bill in committee will influence me to vote foiit here. Coming into this body a new member and into this ComTerritor, I found that congress by an actpassed in 1864 had authorized this Territory to form a State government, or, in other words, had passed an enabling act. I supposed that congress were in earnest and meant what they said when they passed that act. I found that the people of this Territory had tried once under that enabling act and ha voted down their constitution, and on a 2nd trial had adopted a constitution and came here asking for admission into this Union. I say I supposed that congress were in earnest when they invited them to do this thin in 1864. I believed that they did right; an therefore I voted for this bill. In the committee, Mr. President, if my recollection serves me, there was no discussion about the want of population; no discussion about any irregularity in arriving at this conclusion. Not a word was heard on that subject; I have heard that here today for the 1st time; and hence it is possible that if this argument had been presented there, I might have arrived at a different conclusion. But, sir, after all the discussion we have heard here today, I am convinced, and thoroughly convinced, that not a single reason exists to dayfor refusing this Territory admission that did not exist when the enabling act was passed. I believe conscien tiously that this Territory has more population today than it had in March, 1864. I believe, too, there is a wrong impression conveyed here on that subject. I am thoroughly convinced that the opnlation of Colorado is equal to 40,000 mt this moment. I am convinced of it from reasons that are satisfactory to me. 1st, I have a friend now residing in the city of Denver who has written me frequently in relation to matters in that Territory, and he has informed me, without any reference whatever to this question, that the population of that city alone is from 7 to 10,000 inhabitants and a gentleman who occupies a seat on this floor, one of the membersclect from Colorado as a Senator informs me that the county of Gilpin where he resides has a population of from ten to 12,000. Gentlemen have laid great stress upon this matter of voting. To me it is no evidence whatever of population. especially in a mining Territory. it is no evidence, because in many of our old settled States the mere number of voters is no indication of the population of those States. I say, Mr. President, that I arrived at the conclusion in committee that the same reasons existed now for admitting this Territory that existed when the enabling act was passed. I have not been convinced today that any different reasons exist. I say again that I believe the population of this Territory is greater now than it ever was before. If the people of that Territory had happened to adopt their constitution in 1864, when they tried 1st, they would be here today represented by their Senators; they would have been admitted by the proclamation of the President; and if any great ca lamity had befallen this Republic in case that state of things had happened, it would have been attributable to those older members of the Senate who voted for the enabling act which allowed them to come in. I see no reason that exists today why they should not be admitted that did not exist when the enabling act was passed. The only objection that I had heard outside the Senate before today why this territor should not be admitted is the fact that the wor “white” is in the constitution. As I believed that they were acting substantially under the enabling act, that Congress had authorized them to form a constitution, I thought they should not be excluded on that account. For these reasons, and others which might be given, I shall cast my vote for the admission of this Territorv asa State of the Union.