The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-25
SENATOR EDMUNDs ON RECI-
PROCITY.

When doctors disagree, VINO snail ueclues
The Vermont legislature and Senator Ed
mupds are at loggerheads. They don't
construe the national constitution alike.
The legislature says ii does, the senator
saws It don't. And 1t is all because the
"wisdom and virtue" Of Vermont-or to be
more exact the men ''most noted for these
qualifications, and 1t don't take much to
become ''most noted in this state-resolv-
ed that reciprocity in trade SIS not pro-
per matter of treaty stipulation, but be-
longs to Congress" the senator says
1t is proper matter Of treaty stipulation.
While saying this the senator was sorry
to differ from the Legislature" "for the
members of which, individually and col
lectively, he entertained the highest re-
spect." This 'highest respect" was reci-
procal last October, when he respected the
legislature and they respected him enough
to re-elect him United States senator, and
having obtained this he still entertained
the "highest respect" for them ''indivdn-
ally and collectively" but not particle for
their legal knowledge or acquaintance with
the constitution. Their opinion on reci-
procity, in his opinion, is not worth rush,
and so he apologies to the senate for pre-
sen,ng the resolutions. 1t wasn't a reci-
procity of respect that the legislature re-
solved about, but of trade. He, therefore,
''chterfully obeyed the instructions of the
legislature" but he must beg the indulgence
of the senate while he proceeded to demon.
stratc how little the legislature, which had
just reelected him, knew about the consti-
tuition or treaties. Proceeding, he demon
strates, apparently, to his own satisfaction
by an argument, the last part of which
completely answers the first part, that he il
right and his constituents wrong, and con
cludes with the remarkable statement tina
the president and senate have "the treaty
making power" because the United States
supreme court so decided. Du tell! Pray
who ever denied or doubted it ? But be
cause they are the treaty making power
can they make treaties upon all subjects
for instance, could they, by treaty, plac'
the United States under the government
of England2 If they cannot then the fac
that they arc the treaty making power i
not conclusive on the subject of recipro
city, is it? But to the other portion of tn
argument The senator says he is RICH
and the legislature wrong, because Presi
dent Washington sent message t
congress TO that effect, and L..ause
in 1916, the question arose bctwee
the two houses of congress and wer
TO q conference committee. Well, what c
it 1t Is the first time that infallibility ha
been ascribed to Congress and, moreover
the average Congressman has not alway
been blessed with brains or overstocke
with knowledge of law or constitutions
construction. Having thus proved his pc
sition, he overthrows it, by stating that Ii
sis aware" that, in 1874, Rufus Choat
presented report, from the committee o
foreign relations, taking the opposite view
as did, also, Mr.. Archer, from the sam
committee, subsequently. We apprehen
that the opinion of Choate and Archer
thoritY than a scoro of reports from
many conference committees. We Apr
bend, moreover, that but little is require
of conference committee except to patt
upa compromise, and we must COME
that it sounds somewhat strange to he
George F. Edmunds pit such repo
against the opinions of such sound cons,
tutional lawyers as Messrs. Choate, Arch
and their colleagues on the committee
foreign relations. With all due deferen
to the Senator's great requirements. ,
should prefer Choate to Ldmunds on IL
point And with similar Difference, we a
inclined to agree " it'll Justin s. Morrill,
thinking that the legislature of Vermont
right, and that ii is not in the power of t
Senate to ''ratify treaty which mig
compel either the raising or lowering of
tariff" 1t might be placed thusly 4
constitution declares that "all bills
raising revenue shall originate in the Hot
of Representatives" but Edmunds decla
that the President and Senate may alter
abrogate these revenue laws at will-whi
is right, the constitution or Senator i
munds? We believe in Senator Nor
and, this time, with the legislature of V
mont. We are now, as ever, ready
stand or tall with Justin 8. Morrill, on
questions relating to the tariff, and we
lieve that he is now, as he always has be
pretty near right