largely for the tide of immigration. The pre-emption and homestead laws of the United States served to bring the matter of lands and homes more sharply to the attention of eastern citizens and promised them undisputed possession of western farms. The rapid settlement of Nebraska, too, was made, notwithstanding the unfavorable opinion in the East about the quality of Nebraska soil. Had the toiling farmer of New York and Ohio known that in a few years Nebraska would outrank all the other states in its yield of corn per acre, would not the rate of immigration have been more surprising? The settlements, as a rule, proceeded from the Missouri River westward. Some particular circumstance here and there, such as the location of a fort, led settlers to go far out on the frontier to make homes for themselves. There was also a tendency to settle near the usually traveled wagon routes, along which freighters stopped on their way to Pike's Peak, Utah, and California. In 1859 the white population extended from the river 140 miles westward, and the number of counties had grown from eight in 1855 to thirtyfive four years later. In this first decade great strides had been made towards accumulating material wealth and establishing prosperous homes. Population had increased marvelously. Assessors' rolls for the year 1866 showed a million and a half of dolOF THE lars invested in merchandise, $143,000.00 TORY in manufactures, and upwards of $85, WEALTH TERRI 000.00 in household furniture. For that time such material progress means much. Agriculture was firmly established, and the richness of the soil of Nebraska was abundantly proved. The value of farm stock lacked little of three million dollars. Altogether the wealth of the Territory was placed at eighteen millions. REVIEW. Dictionary Study: Code; criminal; civil; procedure; bonds. Bound Nebraska Territory. What causes the southwest corner to be cut out? The formation of what territory took away all north of 43d parallel? Who was the first governor? Who appointed him? Where did he come from? When did he come? Who started the government? How often did the territorial legislature meet? Compare the legislature of a territory with that of a state. How did Nebraska Territory get its first set of laws? When did the change take place to the laws of Ohio? When did Nebraska Territory have prohibition? How much did slavery affect Nebraska? Why? Who was John Brown? Who pays territorial expenses? Does a territory cost more or less than a state? (See under Chap. VI.) Where was the territorial capital? Why is it desirable for a city to be the capital? What caused the rapid settlement of the country? FORMA- Before the Territory was scarcely five years old, the question of changing to a state government began to be discussed. The greater part of the message of Governor Black to the legislature in December, 1859, was devoted to it,' and that body passed a bill providing for an election in March, 1860, to decide whether or not a state organization should be effected.2 The vote of the people favored the continuance of the territorial form. The FIRST 3 AT. subject appears not to have been disTEMPT cussed seriously for four years. In February, 1864, the legislature asked Congress to permit Nebraska to become a state, and about two months later their petition was granted in the passage of an "Enabling Act". However BLING the only action taken in Nebraska under ENA ACT this provision was to elect members to a convention, which met and adjourned without accomplishing its purpose. The legislature did not discuss the subject again until the session of 1866. This time it was left to no "constitutional convention" to draw up a constitution, but that work was done by a committee and was submitted 1 Council Journal, 6th Sess., 15-22. to the people for approval on June 2.1 The contest was very close and exciting, and the new form of government was adopted by a majority CONSTI- of only one hundred out of nearly 7,800 TUTION 2 In OF 1866 votes cast. Two political parties, taking opposite sides of the question, nominated full sets of officers and completed a thorough organization, The republicans favored and the democrats opposed the adoption of the new constitution. their stump speeches the orators talked only about the advisability of state government or no state government, but the political leaders were mainly concerned with the effect of the issue upon national politics. TWO LEGISLA TURES AT ONCE From the election in June until early in 1867, Nebraska had both a territorial and a state form of government. The authorities of the Territory continued in office, and the territorial legislature, on January 10, 1867, met for its twelfth and last session. Meanwhile, the new state legislature had its first meeting July 4, 1866, and was again called together February 20, 1867, only two days after the last territorial legislature had adjourned, in order to accept a certain requirement imposed by the Federal Government. The constitution of 1866 was not satisfactory to a large number of people, so that a convention to draw up another was authorized by the 1 Council Journal, 11th Sess., 129, 170, 184. 2 Hist. of Neb. (Chicago, 1882), 128. Vote: 3938 to 3838. NEW ONE IN 1871 legislature at its eighth session.' The election of members of the convention came in May. CONSTI-The document which they drew up was TUTION submitted to the people for their approval, September 19, 1871. Several amendments were proposed, each of which aroused the opposition of a particular class. One provided for the taxation of church property, another for compulsory education, and a third that counties and cities should not vote aid to corporations, such as railroads. Five such amendments were voted on separately, and all were rejected along with the constitution itself. Four years later, on October 12, 1875, the peoED IN ple adopted a more satisfactory constitution. At the same time two separate propositions voted upon were also approved. The constitution of 1875 went into effect November 1, of that year, and still continues almost unchanged (1898). ONE 1875 3 2 From 1866 to 1897, inclusive, twenty-five sessions of the state legislature have been held.' 1 2 3 Statutes, 1871, 63-66. Vote: for, 7986; against, 8627. Hist. of Neb. (Chicago, 1882) 145. Vote: for, 30202; against, 5474. H st. of Neb. (Chicago 1882), 151. 4 The following are the twenty-five sessions. Those marked * were special or extra sessions: 18.-Jan. 2-Feb. 26, 1883; 42 days. 19.-Jan. 6-Mar. 5, 1885; 43 days. 20.-Jan. 4- Mar. 31, 1887; 61 days. 21.-Jan. 1-Mar. 30, 1889; 67 days. 22.-Jan. 6-April 4, 1891; 71 days. 23.-Jan. 3-April 8, 1893; 68 days. 24.-Jan. 1-April 5, 1895; 71 days. 25.-Jan. 7-April 9, 1897; 74 days. |