The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-13
ANNEXATION OF CANADA
THE SUBJECT COMES UP BEFORE
THE SENATE.

THE SENATE.
Appointment of Select Committee
on Relations with Canada the
Ground for the Debate-Sherman
Believes Annexation or War Inevi-
table at Some Time-Mr. Morrill,
Thinks it Preposterous.
WASHINGTON, March 12-In the con-
tinued atsense Of the Vice President, Mr..
Ingalls, acted to-day, as yesterday, as pre-
siding officer pro tenn. of the Senate. A
message of the President transmitting the
papers in the case of Louis Riel was present
ed and laid on the table. After q wait of
several minutes, Mr.. Edmunds broke the
stiffness by a statement that he had been
requested by Mr. Platt to say that
the gentlemen representing both sides Of
the chamber, who had in charge the recon-
mendations for the committees of the Sen
ate, would be ready to call attention to the
subject in very short time, and TO ask the
| Senate to remain in session, or to take
| short recess. No motion for recess was
made, and the Senate continued in session
without any attempt to transact business.
sUsPENDING A RULE.
AT is o'clock Mr.. Platt asked and OBJ
| tanned unanimous consent to have sus-
! pended so much Of the rules as require the
standing committees to be elected by bal
| lot, and as require the election of the COM
mlttee on expenditures of pubic moneys,
that committee to be represented by one on
the Organization, conduct and expendi-
| lures of The executive departments"
Mr.. Platt then offered resolution (Which
was agreed to) for the election of the stand
| ing committees, full list of which was en-
| bodied in The resolution.
Mr.. Platt next offered resolution ap-
| pointing the select committees, the full list
being named in like manner.
RELATIONS WITH CANADA.
Mr.. Payne called attention to the select
committee on relations with Canada, aud
| moved to strike it out of the list. Upon
this motion long and interesting debate
| arose. Mr. Payne said he regarded such an
| investigation by the committee of the Sen
ate rs usurpatory of the functions of the
executive He also looked upon the ap-
| pointment of a select committee on the
| subject as an interference with the duties of
| the committee on foreign relations.
Mr.. Hoar explained that on account of
the lateness of the long session and of the
political campaign which followed, the
special committee appointed at the first
| session of the last congress, on his motion,
had not been able 10 discharge its duties;
and therefore, it was decided to renew the
appointment
THE ANNEXATION ELEMENT.
1t was useless, he said, to be blind to the
fact land no discretion required silence as
to it, that there was large and growing
body Of mon in Canada that desired annex
alton to the. United States But nobody
proposed to accomplish it without the free
and Intelligent and unrestricted will of both
countries. So far as there being a thought
of disrespect to the last executive ia the
| original appointment, the proposition had
met with the hearty concurrence Of demo
cratic senators who were supposed to have
been in the closest relations Of confidence
with President Cleveland.
Mr.. CullOm did not think there could be
| too much investigation into the relations
existing and to exist between the United
States and Canada. He very much desired
that such an investigation and progress
should be made as would ultimate in the
two countries becoming one.
SHERMAN FAVORED 1T.
Mr.. Sherman favored the appointment Of
| the select committee. He did not believe
that with the long stretch of border be-
| tween them the two countries could long
continue in peace. There would be great
nation springing up to the north of us, and
| that fact would necess:tate a standing army
publican form Of government.
Mr.. Edmunds said that ne would vote for
a standing committee, but with the reserve
that the vote would not commit him to the
idea Of favoring annexating or political
union. That step once taken would be in-
dissouble
Mr.. Morrill, said that he was quite will
| ing to have the committee appointed as IL
| afforded an opportunity for steam to be
| b11uvn off on the uupqfOn q rapardnd tha
whole agtatian of the subject as preposter-
| Gus, as there never had been time when
Canada was more loyal to Great Britain
than she was now.
MR.. HALE's VIEWS.
Mr. Hale also favored the appointment OF
the committee, but did not consider il in
any sense an annexation committee, or
that IT'S bent and purpose were to faver an
nexation.
Mr.. Sherman said he did not desire at all
| to hasten the matter of political union. II
would have to be a popular movement and
not movement on the part of the govern
ments. He believed that the people OF the
| United States and Canada would gradually
melt into one government and be under
the same common flag, with, he trusted, the
hearty good will Of the mother country.
NEW ENGLAND FAvoRs UNION.
Mr., Rlair disclaims the inferences to be
! drawn from the remarks of the Vermont
senators that New England was not in favor
of political union. He said that feeling there
was as strong as in any portion Of the
| United States.
| Mr. Butler suggested that if it we're gwen
out that the select committee had an inten-
| ton OF con idering the question Of annexa-
| tiOn its members would be arrested as
| hlibusters when they or 1ssed the line. Mr..
| Batter is member Of the committee.