The San Francisco call., 1898-12-13

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-Discussior of two questions, each of importance and interest at this session, was be- gun by the Senate at its session to-day Territorial expansion and the construc- ton of the Nicaragua canal occupied the attention of the body during the greater part of the afternoon.
 As soon as the routine morning busi- ness had been disposed of, Vest (D.) ot Missouri called up his resolution of fered last week declaring 1t to be un- constitutional for this Government tC acquire foreign territory except fol coaling stations or some like purpose unless it's intention was to confer statehood upon the territory and citi- zenship upon it's inhabitants. Vest de- clared that it was a basic principle ot this Government that ''the powers of the Government were derived from the consent of the governed" and main tained that the Federal Government had no authority, either in morals or in the constitution, to go beyond that principle. He held that the principle had been sustained by the Supreme Court in various decisions, and that no public man of prominence or recog-
  enough to controvert it.
 Morgan opened the debate on the ca nal bill with a three hours appeal for action at this session. The whole country, he said, would be disappoint- ed if Congress did not act. He was willing to take any measure which would result in the building of the ca nal. In the course of his remarks he agreed to accept an amendment spe- officially excepting the canal from neu- trality with regard to any country with which the United States might be at war.
 Hoar and Hale presented resolutions from citizens of their States remonStrat- ing against the extension of sovereignty over the Philippine Islands and against the acquisition of foreign territory with out the consent of the people of sucn ter ritory. The resolutions were referred 10 the Committee on Foreign Relations.
 Pettigrew introduced a bill authorizing M A. Bartlett to raise the oattleshp Msne and transport it to the United States.
 Hoar introduced the following resolu- tion:
 That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire and report as soon as may be whether some policy may not be es- tabished by law by which soldiers In the regular army who have families or parents de- pending on them for support, or whose educa- tion or opportunities for business will be seri- ously interfered with by longer continuance ir
 
 war, or under assurances that they would be held only while the war lasted, may be prompt ly discharged and their places, so far as neces- sary, be flled by new recruits.
 Vest of Missouri then called up his reso- lution, offered last week, declaring that the constitution confers no power on the Federal Government to acquire territory to be held and governed permanently as colonies, and addressed the Senate thereon. He did not propose, he said, tc do anything that would necessitate 8 KlTz 11h bod Sv,N1 tTar, Xr discuss any treaty now pending, or which was to be proposed hereafter, but il seemed to him peculiarly appropriate tC discuss the powers of the United States Government under the constitution.
 Vest thought it was the purpose of the expansionists to adopt the European pol icy of colonization, notwithstanding that the principles of this Government were the granting of citizenship to all within alone the Indians. In the act of cessior of the territory of Louisiana from France to the United States is found g provision that the inhabitants, as soon as possible, shall be made citizens of the United States and the territory of Louisi- ana be made State of the Union. So il was, declared Vest, when Oregon was taken from Great Britain and Alaska from Russia.
 When, where, how" he asked, "have we surrendered the great idea that this is a confederation of States? I cannot cen ceive 1t to be possible to point out any other form of government under the con- stitution."
 Vest maintained that the overwhelmine argument of the eXpansionists was that the constitution applies alone to the