Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-27
Nm Ohiect Lesson.

an Object Lesson.
las, week We endcayorcd 20 show in
these columns why u WAS wrong for Con
gross TO abdiCate It's functions ~ the sole
judge Of the times when and the circum-
stances under which new States might be
coustitu'ionally admitted into the Union,
and delegate ul4i power 90 persons or OIL
cals nowhepl mentioned IN the Federal
Constitution in connection with the mat
Ter. The constitutional provision Is that
new States may be admitted 10y the Con-
grcss into this Uuion": and according 10
the maxim that the authorizing of one
agent implies that no other agent
can act the SAID constitutional pro-
vision means that new States can
be admitted into the Union only hy Con-
crcss itself The Bristol Ne,rs reminds us
that a Democratic House Of Representa-
tives consented thus 10 surrender the con-
tr0l Of Congress over the admission Of new
States but this fact does not make the act
itself any better. The Democrats IN the
House Of representatives. were in so great
a hurry 10 admit the new States that they
forgot 10 examine the constitutional
questions involved in the enabling act,
and out-Herodcd HrEoD in their efforts
10 mako States 81 tho four Territories
of North Dakota, South Dakota, Mon
tana, and Washington. 10 was a
Llundcr on their part. If il is "A hlunder
that cannot be corrected, the act for which
they are censurablc WAS wrong without
a remcdy-a wrong that cannot De righted.
But was il such wrong Has not each
house Of Congress control over the qucs-
tiou Of admitting tho members who may
claim To be elected TO that houseE I'm
doubtodly, SO far as the election quail
fcations, and returns arr concerned, but
not over tho admission IL the Territories
as StatcA This Will have been done before
the meeting Of Congress-; for "a soon as
the returns are certified 90 the President
Of the United States he viii issue lT0cla-
nation announcing the result of the
elections" and then, without any action
on the part Of President or Congress the
new States VIII bee "deeua admitted into
the Union"
See what may result in the new State Of
Washington On "Wednesday last the Con
sttutional Convention passed without de
bate an article providing that i'm no county
shall the inhabitants or the property
therein loo released OF discharged from Its
or their proporiionato share Of taxes to be
levied for State purposes. nor shell COM
mutation for such taxes te authorized IA
in any form whatever
A telegram in the New York Times says
that this arbcle il construed 10y the best
LAWYERS t. mean and was intended 10 tax
churches. private schools and charitable
instituti0us-in fact, everything of what
ever character not owned or controlled 10y
the STATE.
Suprosr at that article shall be in the
Constitution when 1t /, perfected: What
vii you no VIII it?' The new state vii!
have nevertheless government republ-
can in form. ondall the requirements of the
cnablinr act viii have been complied with.
Wetrus sea how the Congress has tied
its own hands There are four Territories
which viii become States ON their own
terms. The Congress has already set them
free. They may TAX churches and schools,
ard vet .ucre isno power residing anywhere
which cau prevent them from becoming
S,atcs. The case is even worse, for there
ls no person, no official, no body Of men,
authorized by the enabling act To decide
whether the proposed States have govern
urr republican in form or have COM
with all the requirements of the en-
tact. That the President has 90 de-
'fese questions Is IA mere Inference or
ton, having no better foundation
.... ue fact that nobody else Is mention
.. 30 connection with the matter.