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It took New Mexico more than half a century to shed its territorial
status and become a state. New Mexico's citizens first attempted
to gain statehood in 1850, when local officials drafted
a state constitution which was overwhelmingly approved by
voters. A legislature and executive officers were elected.
That same summer, however, this statehood plan was nullified
when Congress passed the Compromise Bill of 1850 which granted
New Mexico territorial status. Other attempts to develop
and implement a state constitution followed, including proposed
constitutions which were defeated at the polls in 1872 and
1889. There was even an effort at joint statehood with Arizona
in 1906, but this too was defeated by the voters.
Many reasons have been suggested why
it took New Mexico so long to become a state. Early efforts
were hampered, in part, by a general ignorance about the
territory and suspicions towards its people. Statehood was
opposed by those who felt that New Mexico's predominantly
Hispanic and Indian population was too foreign and too Catholic
for admission to the American Union. There was even periodic
debate as to whether a new name for the territory would
help the cause of statehood. Names such as Navajo and Lincoln
were suggested and seriously considered.
There were also questions about the
loyalty these recently conquered people had for their new
country. This issue was slowly laid to rest by the honorable
service of New Mexico's citizens in the Union cause during
the Civil War and later in the Spanish American War. But
a different racial issue, however, figured significantly
into the delay. During the reconstruction period following
the Civil War, New Mexico's chances for statehood seemed
assured. In 1876 however , that chance was destroyed by
one inadvertent handshake.
During an 1876 Congressional debate,
Michigan Representative Julius Caesar Burrows, an admired
orator, rose to speak in favor of a bill designed to protect
the civil rights of freed Negroes. Stephen B. Elkins, New
Mexico's delegate to Congress, was not present for most
of the speech, but entered the House chamber just as Burrows
was bringing his rousing oration to a close. Unaware of
the full nature of Burrows' speech, Elkins shook his colleague's
hand in congratulations, a gesture many Southern Congressmen
interpreted as support for the civil rights legislation.
Elkins' handshake is blamed for costing New Mexico several
Southern votes it needed for passage of the statehood bill,
and while Colorado was voted into the Union in 1876, New
Mexico remained a territory for another 36 years.
Despite the myriad racial, religious,
political, and economic issues which delayed every attempt
at statehood, New Mexico's efforts never ceased. Finally,
on June 20, 1910, President William H. Taft signed an Enabling
Act which authorized the territory to call a constitutional
convention in preparation for being admitted as a state.
On October 3 of that year, one hundred delegates elected
from every county in the territory, convened at Santa Fe
and drafted a constitution which was approved by voters
on January 21, 1911. New Mexico had taken the final step
in its long journey towards becoming a full part of the
United States of America.
A proud and distinguished delegation
from New Mexico was present in Washington, D.C. when President
Taft signed the proclamation admitting New Mexico as the
47th state. After signing the long-awaited document at I
:35 P.M., January 6,1912, the President turned to the delegation
and said, "Well, it is all over. I am glad to give
you life. I hope you will be healthy." New Mexico's
long struggle for statehood was finally over.
A few days later, on January 15, 1912,
William C. McDonald stood on the steps of the capitol building
in Santa Fe, and was inaugurated as the first Governor of
the State of New Mexico. Our state then began the on-going
struggle to prove itself a worthy addition to the Union.
Two world wars, innumerable economic and political changes,
and the relentless march of progress have made New Mexico
a place which would have been beyond the imagination of
our aboriginal ancestors, the Spanish conquistadores, Mexican
farmers, French trappers, American soldiers, Jewish merchants,
and all those who came to this place and made it their home.
As we commemorate the 400th anniversary
of the Juan de Oñate expedition which brought Spanish
settlement to New Mexico in 1598, we continue to recognize
all the men and women who came to New Mexico during the
past four centuries who have contributed to make our state
a unique place; a place where scientists such as those at
the National Laboratories in Los Alamos, one of New Mexico's
youngest cities, pioneer uses of nuclear fission; while
an hour's drive away, the residents of Acoma and Taos Pueblo
maintain traditions of great antiquity, and choose to live
in two of North America's oldest continuously occupied communities
without electricity or other modern conveniences.
Truly an enchanted land.
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