It remained then for Congress if they reduced the amount of land asked
for in the ordinance, either to provide the mode in which the
inhabitants should accept or reject the modification or leave them to
do it in such manner as they might adopt. The convention was defunct,
the legislature was black republican and thought to be entitled to
little confidence, and it seemed to be better that Congress should
itself provide the mode of ascertaining the public will than leave
that duty to the territorial legislature, such as it was believed and
proven to be. It was a mere question of expediency, and I think the
best course was pursued.

To have admitted the State without modification of the ordinance,
would have been to grant five times as much of the public land as had
ever been given to a State at the period of admission.

There was nothing to justify such a discrimination, and otherwise the
State could not be admitted without referring the question or
violating the principle of State sovereignty.

As a condition precedent, the general government may require the
recognition of its right to control the primary disposal of the land,
but can have no right to impose a condition with the mandate that it
shall be subsequently fulfiled and no power to enforce the mandate if
the State admitted should refuse to comply. Not for all the land in
Kansas, not for all the land between the Missouri and the Pacific
ocean, not for all the land of the continent of North America, would I
agree that the federal government should have the power to coerce a
State.

The necessity for having all conditions agreed upon before the