The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-12-13
VIOLATES CONSTITUTION.
Senator Vest Declares Government
Has No Right to Acquire Ter
ritory as Colonies.
MAKES A SPEECH on HIS RESOLUTION.
Quotes the "Principal Law Omcer
of the Government'' as Saying the
Constitution IL Too Small for Press
emit Conditiors-Time TO Inquire
What That Constitution In.

Washington, Dec. 12.-In the senate
Monday Senator Hoar and Senator Hale
presented resolutions of citizens of
their states demonstrating against the
extension of American sovereignty
over the Philippine islands and against
the acquisition of foreign territory
without the consent of the people of
such territory. The resolutions were
referred to the committee on foreign
relations.
Senator Pettigrew introduced bill
authorizing A. A. Bartlett to raise the
battleship Maine and transport it to the
United States.
Senator Hoar introduced resolution
for committee to prepare and carry
out plans for the celebration of the
centennial of the city. of Washington,
as capita! Of the United States.
To Relieve Men IL Regular Army.
Senator Hoar introduced also the fol-
lowing resolution:
'.That the committee on military be In
structcd to inquire and report as soon as
may be, whether some policy may not be
established by law by which soldiers in the
regular army who have families or parents
depending on them for support, or whose
education or opportunities for business will
be seriously interfered with by longer con-
tinuance in the military service, and who
enlisted for the war, or under assurances
that they would be held only while the war
lasted may be promptly discharged and
their places, so far as necessary, be filled
by new recruits"
senator Vest Speaks.
Senator Vest (Mo.) then called up
his resolution, offered last week, de-
claring the constitution confers no
power on the federal government to ac-
quire territory to be held and gov
erned permanently as colonies, and adj
dressed the senate thereon. He did
not propose, he said, to say anything
that would necessitate secret session,
as he had no intention to discuss any
treaty now pending, or which it was to
be proposed hereafter to be offered
1t seemed to him peculiarly appro-
pirate to discuss the powers of the
United States government under our
constitution. "When the principal law
officer OF the government" said he.
"says that the constitution is too small
for the present conditions of our gov
eminent, it seems to me time to in
quire what that constitution is"
Senator Vest said that our forefa-
theirs had fought for four years against
taxation without representation.
The Declaration of Independence had
been drawn up with the idea that all
governments derived their just pow
ers from the consent of the governed.
1t was incredible that the founders of
the government could have looked for
ward to the time when millions of hui
man beings could be held without
their consent, merely as chattels, to be
disposed of MS the sovereign powers
of the mother country might choose.
The bred Scott Decision.
He then quoted from the bred Scott
decision of the United States supreme
court in support of his proposition, and
declared:
II assert now that not one tribunal or q
single public man has contradicted that
part of the bred Scott decision until with
In the last six months, when the craze OF
expansion seems to have taken possession
of the American people.
when, where, how he asked, "have we
surrendered the great power that this is
confederation of states? I cannot con-
ceive it to be possible to point out any other
form of government under the constitu-
tion."
Take Up Nicaragua Bill.
The Nicaragua canal bill has been
taken up in the senate Senator Nor
gan took the floor to make speech in
support of it.
In the House.
Washington, Dec. 12.-Frank A. He
Lain, who was elected to fill the va
cancy caused by the death of the late
Representative Love, of Mississippi,
took the oath at the opening of the ses-
sion Monday.
Mr.. Grout (rep., vt.) reported the
District of Columbia appropriation bill,
and gave notice that he would call it
up Tuesday.
The house then, under the rules, pro-
ceeded with District of Columbia bust