The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1897-01-20
BACON ON GROVER.
CUBAN SITUATION MADE THE
CASE IN POINT.
Secretary Olney Arraigned for His De-
fiant Attitude Towards
Congress.

The feature of Wednesdays session of
the United States senate was strong,
able and convincing speech by Senator
Bacon against the position assumed by
President Cleveland, Secretary Olney
and their senatorial satellites, who con-
tend that the sole power to recognize a
government is in the executive.
He was given close attention by the
senate and galleries, and replying to
questions thrust at him by Hoar Hale,
White and others met every objection
urged.
His contention was that 1T was legis-
latve function; one exclusively for de
termination by congress. Even where
the recognition was by the president its
validity, Senator Bacon argued, was de-
rived from the assent of congress, either
direct or implied. If the president had
such exclusive power it was greater
than any which any constitutional mon
arch welded.
Never, Senator Bacon said, was chal-
lenge of power more sharply made than
by the secretary of state in the matter,
and never was defiance of authority
more boldly given.
Senator Bacon introduced his subject
by remarking that in December last he
had introduced concurrent resolution,
which h MI hnap raFarrad 70 tho i,,d;o;or x,
committee, declaring that the question
of the recognition by this government
of any people as free and independent
nation is one exclusively for the deter
mination of congress.
1t was undeniable, he said, that all leg
islatiVe power was vested by the the con-
stitution in congress, except as modified
! by the presidents right of veto; and
therefore, the test Of whether the recog-
milton of a government belonged to the
executive or to congress was, ''would such
recognition make the law which wasanot
law before?" If it did, then the power
lay in congress and not in the executive.
He argued that the recognition of new
power did create new legal status, and
was thereby exclusively within the prov.
ince of the lawmakers power.
When the act of recognition was by
the president it derived its validity from
the assent of congress, either director
implied. His proposition was this
That the ultimate power to determine
whether nation should or should not be
recognized was in the law-making branch
Of the government, and that when that
branch, in full knowledge of what is 60
ing on, permits the executive to act in
the matter it is a confirmation of the
presidents act.
Mr.. White, democrat of California, put
the case of the recognition by the pr0si-
dent of minister representing new
government and asked Senator Bacon
whether that recognition was final and
bound congress and the country.
Senator Bacon gave decidedly mega
tive response; and when Mr.. Hale, repub-
lican, of Maine, followed up Mr.. Whites
question by asking whether congress
might order such minister to be sent
home, Senator Bacons response in the
Affirmative was equally positive.
Senator Bacon went on to argue that
if the president had the sole and exclu-
sive power of recognizing or refusing to
recognize a new government no monarch
ever welded more absolute power and
there was not on earth today con-
stitution | monarch that welded such
power. 1t was safer he argued, that
the determination of such a great
question should not be within the control
of one man but should be under the
control of the law-making power
"The Secretary of State Senator Ba-
con continued, "has denied the power of
| congress, has defed It's authority and has
proclaimed through the press to foreign
nations that even if such proposed action
shall be placed on the statute book In
due form of of law the president will not
obey it. He has practically threatened
congress with the veto of the president
and has added if passed over the veto it
will be thrown back in the face of con
gress as so much waste paper. Never
was challenge of power 50 sharply made.
Never was defiance of authority more
boldly given"
Senator Bacon was warmly congratu-
lated by fellow senators upon his speech,
those who disagraad with him ON his