Battle Born

On October 31, 1864, Nevada became the 36th State to join the Union (I just got that BB-36 was USS Nevada!). While most States that joined the Union did so with certain conditions that varied with the era in which they were admitted, most of them had similar conditions, vis-à-vis republican governments and the banning of slavery and so forth. Nevada on the other hand, was unusual in that its first attempt at a Constitution had been rejected by Congress. It was over a taxation issue, and given the circumstance in the Territory, Congress wasn’t about to allow any hanky-panky with tax revenues. But it was another condition that cause the biggest conundrum, even today. As we have seen in the last decade, many conservatives, who in 1864 pushed for the condition, now find themselves with almost no understanding of why – by law – 85% of Nevada is and will always be owned by the Federal government. On the surface, the answer makes sense. When you dig deeper, it’s more than common sense, it’s downright… wise…