Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-15

transitional work no far as tho rest OF the
world is concerned. Without denying
| its national character, We regard 1t as
work in which the people OF the South
ern States have deep aud peculiar IN
terest, which should command for it the
support OF all good southrons.
The NICARAGUA Canal and the South.
Mr.. MORGAN, OF Alabama in the
seuatel. and Mr.. OATES. OF the same
State lin the House OF Representatives,,
have made arguments wellnigh un-
snswerable TO show the constitutionallty
of the Nicaragua canal bill. The same
contention was maintained by an argyll
mens TO the same purport addressed to
the Senate by its Committee on For
eirn Relations, consisting OF some OF the
ablest constitutional lawyers in Con-
press. which committee, composed OF
Republicans and Democrats, reported,
unanimously we believe, in favor OF the
enactment OF the said bill into
a law. OF Mr.. OATEs's argument we
have heretofore given brief statement.
He contended that though the United
States Government had no powers ex-
cept those which were derived from the
Federal Constitution with reference to
any matter within the territorial juris-
diction OF the United States, yet when
this nation deals with another it does
not act through the States, but as one
nation, and is recognized as one nation
by foreign governments. He contended
further that It was perhaps wisely left
by that instrument to the sound dlscre-
ton of Congress and the President TO
decide what powers may be wisely exer-
cised in dealing with other nations. We
regret that any southern congressman
should be prevented by constitutional
objections from extending his sup
port to this great project OF uniting
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and
making the southern States the richest
in the Union for, as has been said IN
this paper by "A Business Man !" OF
Richmond, the construction OF the
Nicaragua canal will give our southern
and middle States great advantages in
trading with the western coast OF South
America. with Australia, with all the
Oriental countries, and with the South
Seas. and turn the flow Of the wealth OF
the Indies, as well as the best trade of
Europe, near enough to our southern
shores TO make these shores rich IN the
wealth that must be the portion OF the
countries which are benefited by that
trade.
Mr.. GEORGE, of Mississippi, once
made a speech in the United States
Senate on q subject kindred to the one
under consideration. He showed by
numerous citations of facts that Con-
gress had exercised in many instances
such powers as he asked the Senate to
exercise in the case then before this
body. Congress sent supplies to the
suffering Irish thirty-odd years ago.
Congress has furnished seeds to the
farmers OF the overfiowed Mississippi
Valley. Congress has exercised, in
fact, SO many powers, and Is day after
day engaged in exercising powers OF 80
much more doubtful cOnstitutionallty
than the Nicaragua bill demands the
exercise OF, that we sometimes feel as
if we might say of that body. "a is
affirmed Of the British Parliament, that
it is omnipotent. We once heard an
ex.United States senator say that he was
willing to "stretch the law little IN
order to make it cover an aggravated Of
fence. So we might say in the case OF
the Nicaragua bill-we would be willing
if necessary TO "stretch the Constitu-
ton ga little TO secure such blessing
as that canal to all mankind, and espe-
cially to the southern States OF this
Union. But it is not necessary. Let
us act upon the judgment OF the able
constitutional lawyers who have told us
that the Nicaragua-canal bill is const.tu-
tional.
We add, to prevent misrepresentation,
we, of course, fully concede that it is
every congressmans right and duty to
decide for himself whether he can or
cannot conscientiously support q bill
against which the point of unconstitu-
tionalitv is made