succeeded in 1857, by Hon. William A. Richardson, of Illinois, who resigned in April, 1858. Hon. J. Sterling Morton, Secretary of the Territory, acted in the interim, and was relieved by Hon. Samuel Black, appointed by President Buchanan, in 1859, who served until succeeded by Hon. Alvin Saunders, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 1861, appointed by President Lincoln. Governor Saunders continued in office until the admission of the State in 1867.
 

NEBRASKA ADMITTED AS A STATE.

     In March, 1860, the question of forming a State Government was submitted to the people and disapproved by a vote of 1,877 to 1,987. On April 19th, 1864, an enabling act was passed by Congress providing for the admission of Nebraska into the Union, but the necessary action for admission was not taken at that time by the Territory. The continuance of the war and the prevalence of Indian hostilities checked the growth of Nebraska; but prosperity came with the return of peace. Early in 1866 the Territorial Legislature framed a Constitution, which was ratified by the people on June 21st. The first Legislature under the new Government assembled July 4th. On the 28th a bill for the admission of Nebraska as a State was passed by Congress, but did not receive the signature of the President. In January, 1867 another bill for this purpose was passed, but was vetoed by the President on the ground that it embraced conditions not contained in the enabling Act, that the proceedings attending the formation of the Constitution were different from those prescribed, and that the population of the Territory did not justify its becoming a State. The bill, however, was passed over the executive veto by a vote of thirty to nine in the Senate, February 8th, and one hundred and twenty to forty-four in the House on the following day. The act was not to 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." This act was ratified by the Legislature which assembled at Omaha on February 20th for that

purpose, and compliance with the Congressional conditions was announced by proclamation of the President of the United States, March 1st, 1867.

     Immediately after the admission of the State the Legislature decided to move the Capitol from Omaha to some other point. Commissioners were appointed to determine where this should be. In October, 1867, LANCASTER, a town of half a dozen houses, in Lancaster County, was selected, and this selection was approved by the Legislature, the new Capitol was named LINCLON [sic], in honor of the President.

     David Butler, the first Governor, was elected in 1866, but did not commence the duties of his office until the admission of the State into the Union, in 1867. He was re-elected October 8th, 1868, and October 13th, 1870. He was impeached and removed from office June 2d, 1871, the vacancy being filled by the Secretary, William H. James, until the inauguration of Governor Robert W. Furnas, on January 13th, 1873. Hon. Silas Garber was elected Governor in October, 1874, and re-elected in October, 1876.

     Governor Albinus Nance, the present incumbent, was inaugurated January 9, 1879.

     On May 2d, 1871, delegates were elected to a Convention to frame a new State Constitution. This Convention was in session from June 5th to August 19th, and completed a Constitution which was rejected by the people September 19th. However, the need for a new fundamental law being urgently felt, a second Constitutional Convention was convened at the Capitol during the summer of 1875, and the new instrument submitted by it was approved by the people at the general election held in October, 1875. The first Legislature under the new Constitution met on the first Monday in January, 1877. The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives shall consist of eighty-four members, and the Senate of thirty members, until the year 1880, after which time the number of members of each House shall be regulated by law; but the number of Representatives shall never exceed one hundred, nor that of Senators thirty-three.

     The first United States Senators from Nebraska were John M. Thayer and Thomas W. Tipton, and the first Representative, after its admission into the Union, was John Taffe.

     The following is a list of United States Senators from Nebraska since its admission.