Message from President Lincoln Regarding the Nevada Territory
4/29/1864
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This message from President Abraham Lincoln passes a letter from Nevada Territorial Governor James W. Nye on to the Senate.
Governor Nye describes the "rapid progress in all things pertaining to moral & material improvement" in the territory. He describes the industry and farming there, as well as relations with Native Americans. Nye conveys the territory's loyalty to the Union. He also relays the news that the Nevada Territory recently framed a state constitution in order to ask admission as a state into the Union, though the people did not vote for its ratification. Nevertheless, Nye expresses hope that Nevada will soon become a state.
Later that year, eight days before the 1864 presidential election, Lincoln proclaimed, in accordance with an act of Congress, that Nevada was admitted into the Union.
Governor Nye describes the "rapid progress in all things pertaining to moral & material improvement" in the territory. He describes the industry and farming there, as well as relations with Native Americans. Nye conveys the territory's loyalty to the Union. He also relays the news that the Nevada Territory recently framed a state constitution in order to ask admission as a state into the Union, though the people did not vote for its ratification. Nevertheless, Nye expresses hope that Nevada will soon become a state.
Later that year, eight days before the 1864 presidential election, Lincoln proclaimed, in accordance with an act of Congress, that Nevada was admitted into the Union.
Transcript
[left corner] S. H. Sonegal[top center page] 1/2
To the Senate of the United States.
In compliance with the Resolution of the Senate of the 27th instant, requesting information in regard to the condition of affairs in the Territory of Nevada, I transmit a copy of a letter of the 25th of last month addressed to the Secretary of State by James W. Nye, the Governor of that Territory.
Abraham Lincoln
Washington,
29th April, 1864.
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Governor Nye to Mr Seward
[left margin] Gordon. [right margin] Territory of Nevada
[right margin] Executive Department
[right margin] Carson City, Mar. 25, 1864
Hon. Wm. H Seward
Secretary of State
Washington D.C.
Sir:
This territory since I had the honor last to communicate with you, has been making rapid progress in all things pertaining to moral & material improvement. Churches have been built; schoolhouses erected. In almost every form in the territory, substantial improvements in every brand of industry are made, giving us quite the appearance of an old settled country. Business is becoming thoroughly systemized, & carried on with a rigor I never observed in any other locality. Obstacles that would seem insurmountable in many places, here seem only to quicken the pace & the energies of our people; they fly themselves to their reward with a will absolutely irresistable. Mountains are tunneled; shafts are sunk thousands of feet through solid rock; rivers are turned from their channels; canals are made conducting water for 50 or 60 miles; roads are constructed over our highest mountain peaks with a wonderful facility & rapidity; mines are opened & quartz mills erected as by magic; cities sprung up like the "gourd in the night"; wealth is going out & coming in to the territory with a power of current in its flow, that bears us
[top left corner] Angella
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along on the wave of excitement, not unlike the early days of California discoveries. We have taken out of our mines & exported within the last year about Twenty millions of dollars. Much of the proceeds of this wealth has been laid out in permanent improvement in the Territory. In machinery for the hoisting of ores; pumping the water out of the mines; building of mills, improving of farms; opening new mines; improving those already worked, & in various ways indiscribable, this amount of money has been laid out in the territory. I entertain no doubt that much more has been expended here than our mines have produced. Large amounts of foreign capital are constantly coming, & being expended in developments before anything is realized from the mines or the improvements. This will undoubtedly be the case for many years to come, so long as new discoveries are made. The discoveries of mineral wealth in the last year are truly wonderful, & are constantly being made by our [^] enterprising and hardy propsecters [sic], who are seen everywhere, on the desert & the mountain side -- in the valleys and the plains, with the implements for digging & the chemicals for testing all at hand. If successful in discovery, in a few weeks will be seen the shaft or tunnel with a flourishing settlement around it.
The last year has demonstrated that our soil will produce well wherever water can be produced for irrigation. --This fact has turned the attention of many of our people to cultivating the soil, & they reap a rich reward from their labors-- Whenever irrigation is reduced to a system & pains taken to obtain & encourage the use of water, we shall raise all of the vegetables
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and much of the coarse grain we shall need for consumption.
[Written in margin Lyman]
During the past few months we have had considerable political excitement in our territory. The Legislature of 1862 [illegible] a law authorizing a convention for the purpose of framing a state constitution with a view of asking admission as a state into the Union at the present session of Congress. The Convention convened, passed a most excellent Constitution (a copy of which has been forwarded) & submitted it to the people for ratification which they failed to adopt. The reasons why it was not ratified are very obvious to those who were here and cognizant of the circumstances. The constitution contained quite stringent provisions in regard to the rights of suffrage--This amazes all the disloyal or [illegible] element against it. It likewise contained a provision for the taxing of mines, which was unpalatable to the miners (or some of them). Neither or both of the above causes would have defeated it, but it was submitted at the same time that the election for state officers was held & the dissatisfaction with some of the state ticket, & the proceedings of some of the county conventions caused its opponents to act in concert, & all combined, they were strong enough to defeat it. The convention held in Virginia City, in the County of Sterey, the largest city in the Territory, which together with the county was entitled to one-third of the entire representation of the territory, instructed their nominees for the Legislature to vote against taxing the mines, thereby nullifying one of the plainest provisions of the Constitution. The action of that convention alarmed the ranchmen or farmers for the reason that, if the Legislature should not pass laws for the taxing of mining property, the whole burden of supporting a state government would fall on
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them. Acting under this apprehension, many of this class of persons joined with the disaffected for other reasons and defeated it.
[In left Margin] Grady
There is no doubt of the loyalty of the people; good true Union men have a majority in every precinct of the territory. It is true there are too many disloyal people here; enough to annoy and perplex us all the time. The more recent immigration across the plains is strongly tinctured with secession proclivities. Most of it is from Missouri, Southern Illinois & Southern Indiana. And many of them from the scattered rebel armies of the Southwest. This character of immigration will be greatly increased the coming season; still I think the increase of the Union population will be more than adequate to keep them in a minority. The struggle between the two parties has been an earnest one, & many times embittered. I have exerted myself to the utmost to keep it under control, & have succeeded better than I expected. The real heart of this people is with the Government & nothing can alienate it. The people approve of all the measures adopted by the administration to put down the rebellion, & heartily desire that the utmost exertions of the nation shall be put forth to accomplish that object. Nevada will cheerfully give her men & treasure to aid & assist the Government in any way indicated by it.
We have raised in the Territory within the last two years one company of Infantry, now attached to a California regiment, a battalion of Cavalry, consisting of six companies, four of which are in the field; the remaining two will be there also, as soon as they can be mounted. In addition we are raising a
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regiment of infantry, now in a good state of forwardness, & we can raise a brigade easily if necessary.
[Left margin] Dennison
The Indians throughout the Territory have been quiet & peaceable, & I think will remain so. They seem to be peacefully inclined. The whites are getting so numerous that I apprehend no difficulty from Indians.
The Legislature at its last session passed but few laws of a general nature. What they did pass were beneficial & clearly within the scope and purview of the "Organic Act." They passed a law or rather incorporated a provision in the practice act, embracing substantially the features of the California Specific Contract Act. I thought it had a tendency to depreciate the currency of the country, & I vetoed it. It occurred to me that it was not becoming in a dependency to do anything detrimental to the interests of the country. I hope my action upon that question will be approved.
We have learned by telegraph that Congress has passed an enabling act for the admission of our Territory as a state, prescribing what some of the features shall be. I doubt not the provisions suggested will be readily adopted by our people. Indeed the Constitution submitted recently had all the main features required by the enabling act, & very few among the Congress objected to it for that reason.
I am confident that the people will gladly avail themselves of the opportunity afforded them by the enabling act to take their stand as a sister state, by the side of those now battling for their rights.
We are about to hold a territorial convention for the purpose of sending delegates to the National Convention, whether allowed to vote therein or not. We are willing & anxious to meet & mingle our efforts with the states for the preservation of our glorious institutions, and
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ratify by our action our gratitude for the energy & integrity displayed by all having in charge our country's management & administration.
Our territory is quite free from debt; we owe less than $15,000- & when the revenue of the present year is collected, we shall have a surplus of more than that amount. In this respect I think we compare favorably with our sister territories.
[written in left margin] J.E. Dowling
The Government currency does not meet with much favor here. Most of our inhabitants have been so long in California and accustomed to gold & silver as a currency, it will take time for their prejudices to wear away. If we could have a bank established here, it would do more for this country & this coast than anything else to convince them of their error upon this subject. I understand that such an institution is contemplated. I hope it may be done.
We here flatter ourselves that the present season will bring our troubles so near a close as to dispel as least any apprehension for the future of our beloved country- and a nation's gratitude will be fully awarded to these who have labored so incessantly for its honor & integrity.
I have the honor to be,
Your humble & obedient servant
James W. Nye
Governor of the Territory of Nevada.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Senate.
National Archives Identifier: 306440
Full Citation: Presidential Message of Abraham Lincoln, transmitting a letter from James W. Nye, Nevada Territorial Governor; 4/29/1864; Presidential Messages to the 38th Congress Suggesting Legislation or Submitting Specific Information or Documents; Presidential Messages, 1789 - 1875; Records of the U.S. Senate, Record Group 46; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/letters-nevada-territory, April 17, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.