Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1894-01-11
REPORT ON HAWAII.
MINORITY CHARGES VIOLATION
OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Tho Republican Members of the Foreign
Af7Airs Committee Say President Ileve-
taad Overstepped His Powers Tariff
wlti Freeede other Legislation.
Unworthysthe Nation.

Wa1hinaton corresponds nce:
The minority report en- the reselu-
iiol& resented by Chairnial Met,reary
,n Ahc day Congress adjourned as =
sul51Hitute for tbs Hit resolutions has
.eaA finished. 1t was prepared by Mr..
3tn1er of Ohio, and Is signed by Messrs.
Hit. Harimer, Blair, Draper. and Van
vorhis OF New York. II IS very volum-
iipbsls, and goes in detail into the whole
Ibistry of Mr.. Blount's appointment
"a commissioner paramount and the
jeasSse si the administration. 1t reads
IN pat:
| When President Cleveland was inaugurated
| Isrch =. 1s.s. ths Hawaitans were under the
| control OF republican go.err tnept recognized,
| aot only by the United States bat by every
| nan,c provisional, but was, in fact, to remsi:i
| n existence for an indefinite period, until the
| ime when terms of union with the United
| Minister Plenipotentiary of the Tn ted
| states to Hawaii was in pers on at his post
lnd the Senate of the United States was in
/ session. Tie President cent to the Senate the
aatme OF Mf. Gresham, cs ssm etarv Of state,
and that body March s., confirmed the ap-
ooint ent. II was at that ,imc publicly
stated, though as yet not officially known, that
! lanes NJ. Blount started fton Washington
| March on . mission to the Hawaiian Islands
| With verbal secret instructions from the Pres
Instructions, r. OF made pubic until November
| asst, must have been forwarded to Nj. BIonnt
after his departure from Washington. as they
bear date March H. The treaty sent to the
senate by the OUTGOING administration Feb.
| IA, was wit lidrawn by the President March 8,
between the time OF Mr.. B!onnt's departure
| and the date Of his WRIT Il Instructions.
Then follow co. les Of the instructions
to Mr.. Blount. with Mr.. Cleveland .
greeting to President Dole. The mar
rative then proceeds to relate Mr..
| Blount's actin in hauling down the
| American flag and tho investigation
which he made. Il then discusses at
length the President power to APP
point a diplomat c officer arnol with
wers given to Mr.. Blount without
The consent of the Senate. The Iort
goes On:
This covers all that is needed to show how
the President ignored the plain language Of
the constitution. He has assumed to appoint
Of his own yolitioh, without the advice of the
senate, a diplomatic officer with paramount
powers. To try to argue that Mr.. Blount
was not diplomatic officer OF the United
States, but only my represt ntative Is idle"
There is no ground OF debate now whether
The present Hawaiian Government was rightly
or wrongly established nearly twelve months
ago. The issue is directly before the House
whether to apl rove and commend the course
of the present administration as disclosed by
himself. IL a President without the consent
Of the Senate, eau send n paramount dtrlo-
matte officer to supcrsede minister, leaving
the latter only routine duties, he may do 1t in
Great Britain or In Germany as well rs In the
Hawaiian Islands. That officer, according
70 the Presidents apologists. is only
The Presidents commissioner and not
sn officer in the Diplomatic services
asserted here to appoint an ainb ;ssador under
The name OF q commissioner would allow the
President to appoint any agent OF his own
without conference with any other branch Of
the government to exercise judicial functions
paramount to judges already in Office by and
with the Eenate's const mt. After review ard
consideration of the course Of this administ1a-
lion as appears from Its own records, the mi
nority o. yonr committee have no hesitation
In recommending the adoption of the following
substitute for the resolution reported by the
majority:
Congress disclose that the executive depart
ment has been furnishing to a Minister neni-
pots ntary OF the United States ecret instruc-
licns to Conspire with the representatives. and
as ents OF a deposed and discarded monarchy
for the overthrow Of friendly republican
sovernment duly recognized by all the civil
lied nations to which said minister wa. &C
credited. and to which his public instructions
pie dyed the good faith and sympathy Of the
President the Government and The people OF
The United states:
Resolved That 1t fs the sense of this House
tha. such intervention by the executive OF the
United States. it's civil or military representa-
tives or officers, without authority of Congress
Is a dangerous and uuwarranted invasion OF
the rights ar d dignities Of the Congress of the
United States, and o violation Of the law of
nations, and further
Resolved That the manner Of such at
tempted intervention by the executive and
methods used aIe unworthy of the executive
department cf the United States, while the
confessed intent OF such intervention is con-
trary Ia the po icy and tradition of the Repub-
10 n ipU