The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1897-01-15
JAS TEXAS VIEWS IT
SPEECH by SENATOR MILLS ON THE
CUBAN QUESTION.
sharp Words Directed Against the
President and His Secretary Of
State.

than ~ senator's In their seats today Wher
business began. The vice president an.
nounced a communication from the sec.
rotary Of the interior, giving the amounts
u to the sinking funds of the Cnion anC
Central Pacific railroads on account OF
mail subsidies paid by them to the Pa,
cific Mail Steamship Company. They
were the accounts which it was reported
could not be found, but subsequently
We're discovered in the interior depart
ment.
A joint resolution was offered by Sen
ator Bate to authorize the secretary OF
the treasury to solicit proposals and make
contracts for the building for the gov
eminent exhibits at the Tennessee ex-
position without public advertisement
and was agreed to.
On a motion by Senator Hoar, the house
bill for a Uniform bankruptcy law was
made a special order for Monday, Jam
uary %.
Senator Mills on Cuba.
senator Mills called up the resolution
introduced by him, declaring that the de-
termination of the expediency of recog-
nizing the independence of a foreign gov
belongs to congress, and when
congress shall so determine, the execu-
tive should act in harmony with the Leg
i%slative department of the government
also recognizing the independence of the
republic of Cuba, and appropriating S1O,-
OOO for the salary of a minister thereto,
and proceeded to address the senate up
on 1t.
Senator Mills began by saying that the
secretary of state had challenged the au-
thority of congress to recognize the in
dependence of a foreign state, and said
that a bill passed over the veto of the
president would be of no effect.
Il propose to meet that statement he
announced. "The authority of congress
in this matter has never been challenged
but once, then the challenger was signally
rebuked, and l have no doubt he will be
now"
He did not know where the secretary of
state found the authority for his state
ment. A government must exist before
1t could be recognized, for to recognize
1t a diplomatic officer must be sent to it.
Congress must create the officer. 1t had
sole power to create an office and must
DO SO before the president could send an
ambassador to a government.
This Is a most remarkable statement
commented Senator Mills upon Secretary
olney's declaration, from which he quot
ed. The respect that 1 nave for the
secretary of state and the high office he
holds Restraints me from saying any more.
He has his duty, and l have mine. The
president must not say to the congress of
the United States, This is none of your
business"
From President Monroe.
Senator Mills read from President Mon
roes message of March, 1923, relating to
the recognition of South American re-
publics in revolution against Spain.
Monroe, he said, had ~ecognized that
both branches of the government had a
duty imposed upon them in the recogni-
ton Of foreign governments, and that
there must be cooperation. Monroe had
not said. Il have sent an ambassador"
but, eff congress should concur in mis-
views, he would recognize the new gov
ernments. How, in the face of that prece-
dent, he inquired, could the president ann
secretary of state stand before a foreign
government with which they were to have
commercial relations?
Senator Mills recited as precedents the
cases of several South American repub-
lies and the state Of Texas, "whose ser
XII u Sdiu, L nave lut honor 10 De.
Senator Mills said that he would not
speak of the propriety of a secretary
of state discussing in public a measure !
on which congress was to pass, and pre-.
dieting disaster if it became a law.
In paying a tribute to President Mon
roe, he said: There was a man on whose |
boards of trade and stock ex
changes never put their shackles."
IF was SOmathipp strapra Of +b;, l,+o
day, in the closing hours of the nine
teenth century, that the president had
discovered that he alone had power over
the recognition of foreign governments
and set at defiance a resolution of con-
gress, even if it should be passed by a
twO-thirds majority.
IF such an occasion arises this govern
ment will not be wanting in power to !
carry into effect the acts entrusted to
it by the constitution" he said.
Secretary Seward.
The methods of the recognition of Hun
gary, Liberia and Hayti were canvassed. +
and then Senator Mills recalled a dis
patch written by Secretary Seward in
1864, to the United States Minister t.
France, regarding the recognition of the
Maximillian monarchy in Mexico. Even /
in this dispatch Secretary Seward haa
spoken of a resolution passed by the
house, declaring against the recognition
of the monarchy of Mexico. He said that
recognition was an executive function,
and that unless the house resolution
should be passed by both houses and sign. /
ed by The president, or passed by both
houses over his veto, the president would
not at present change the governments |
present policy. Thereupon the foreign
committee had reported to the
senate a resolution expressing surprise
the president had seen fit to apprise |
a foreign government of Il difference
between two branches OF this govern |
ment.
A substitute for this resolution. in near. |
ly identical terms, had been adopted by
a unanimous vote, and Senator Morrlli
and another, afterwards president of the
States, had been among those vot- !
ing for its adoption.
when such a declaration had been
made in time of war by a secretary of
state so highly honored as Mr.. seward,
and a president so dear to the people rs |
Mr.. Lincoln said Senator Mills, the
had denounced it, am. would |
no better fate now" 1t was only |
when there was nc doubt of the propri- |
ETY. of the course to be taken that the |
could properly recognize a new |
governments; in such a case as the over |
throwing of a dynasty. When the presi-
dent took such a step of his own no.