Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-20
The Nicaragua Canal.

We said in our last issue that there were
strict constructionists in Congress VINO
would not vote for the Nicaragua-canal
bill because they regarded 1t as unconsti-
tutional. We might have said that there
are members who cannot vote for 1t. see
ing that TO do so would be TO violate their
oath to support the Constitution oil the
United States. 1t is perfectly legitimate,
however, for members who believe the OIL
10 be constitutional to endeayor to con-
vince the other members that they are ms
taken on that point.
We have heretofore quotedSenator NOR
GAN and REPRESENTATIVE OATES on this
question of the constitutionality OF tue
Nicaragua-canal bill. We Will add
that Mr.. OATES took the ground that
the Government of the United states
could not engage in such works as the
Nicaragua canal within the territory Oh
this country, yet it could engage IN sucn
works without the territory of the United
States This results" SAID Mr.. OATES
from the fact that the Constitution Is
compact-national it is true, in regard 10
every power by it delegated to or vested
IN the Federal Government, but that gov
eminent under the decisions OF the
Supreme Court. as well as by the best pre-
cedents of Congress, has no power except
that which is derived from that lnstru-
ment with reference TO any matter
within the territorial jurisdiction OF
the United States. But when TINS
nation deals with others 1t does not
act through the States but as one
nation" This fact is recognized. sald DIT.
OATES. by other nations. They do not
treat with the States of the United states
but with the Federal head. Great Britain
does not know of any compact between
the several States of this Union. Italy
did not seek nor get redress from Louisi-
ana for the wrongs done to Italians IN
Louisiana. 1T was perhaps wisely leIt
by that instrument to the sound discretion
Of Congress and the President to decide
what powers may properly be exercised in
dealing with other nations" ms Is al
most a necessity.
Mr.. O,rEs's argument is able and lnge-
Mons. II IS said to have convinced some
of the members OF Congress that the Mica
ragua. canal bill IS constitutional. 1--WE
quote his emphatic conclusion
"Ihe trainers Of the constitution thought
proper 10 deny TO Congress any other powers
than those delegated In the instrument TO be ex-
ercised over the people who were parties 70 its
creation but as 10 other peoples, as to foreign
nations, there is no limit, and Congress can do
Whatever il pleases, being responsible to the
people,
las to foreign nations there IS no limit
and Congress can do whatever 1t pleases'
being responsible TO the people" This IS
strong lang uage; but as his argument led
him directly to that conclusion Mr.. OATES
did not hesitate TO accept II.
So we saw Congress can DO whatever 1t
pleases in regard to the Nicaragua canal
Let the bill be passed and the commerce
of the world be poured into the United
States. The southern States ofthis Union
will become the richest States in the
world. Mr.. BENTON predicted and declared
long beford there was any Pacific railroad,
There lies the East" as he pointed due
west. So Mr.. OATES NAV hereafter point
with pride TO the part which he will have
taken in bringing to our shores. by route
that our fathers knew not OF, the rlch
commerce bf Australia, of the Sandwich
Islands, of the republics on the eastern
and western South American coasts lying
nearer this banal than does Cape Horn, OF
California nd the whole Pacific region.
and the immense commerce which Nicara-
qua itself il yet destined TO develop Inc
prospect is indeed inspiring. By all means
let us have the worlds canal. Let us open
highway that shall extend from the
rivers TO the ends of the earth"