The Portland daily press., 1898-12-20
SEDATE'S BUSY DAY.
Mr.. Platt Speaks Against the Vest
Resolution.
ARGUED THAT AMERICA CAN AC-
QUlRE FOREIGN TERRITORY.

Senators Hale and Proctor Express
Divergent Views Upon the Cuban
Commission Question--The Maine
Man Claims 1t Would Be In Bad
Taste and Useless.
Washington, December 19.-The Senate
had busy day and there were several
Important speeches Mr Platt of Con-
neoticut spoke against the Vest resolu-
tion which declares that the United States
has no power to acquire territory. He
said that the power of nation to acquire
territory was as inherent as its sover-
eignty. The United States had the right
to govern such territory In the best pos
sible manner until the people Of the
acquired islands were capable of self
governments. Mr. Proctor Of Vermont
and Mr.. Hale of Maine exchanged diver
gent views upon the subject of com.
mission of senators to visit Cuba.
Mr.. Proctor thought surh commission
was necessary, while Mr. Hale said he
thought 1t would be in extrenaly bad
taste and useless.
The Nicaragua canal bill was brought
up during the last part of the day and
Senators Berry, Allen, Hoar, Caffery and
Morgan discussed the measure.
Washington, December l9.-At the OPEN
ing of the Senate's session today, the
Vice. President announced the committees
on the centennial of the city of Washing
ton, as the Capital of the nation, as fol.
lows: Senators Hoar. Hale, Simon. Me-
Laurin, Clay and Turley.
MIR. Lodge from the committee on for
eign relations favorably reported the fol-
lowing joint resolution anil asked for its
immediate consideration.
stThat the President be and he is here
by requested to communicate to Congress,
so far as the same may be done without
detriment to public interests, all the In
formation in his possession concerning
certain alleged outrages committed upon
the person Of Bishop Earl Cranston and
other American citizens in the city of
Pekin. China. by subjects of the Emper-
or OF China; and what steps, If any, have
been taken by the stnte department. in
the matter Of demanding suitable redress
and indemnity therefor. :,
The resolution was agreed to at once.
Mr.. Platt of Connections addressed the
Senate on the Vest resolution declaring
that under the Constitution of the Unit.
ell States no power Is given to acquire
territory to be held and governed per-
mansntly as colonies. Mr.. Platt's speech
was constitutional argument, main
tanning the legal right OF the United
States to acquire territory and was par
intended as refutation OF the
position taken by Mr.. Vest in support of
his resolution.
81 do not propose to discuss the policy
of expansion" said Mr. Platt, in tho
preface of his argument. 81 shall main
tain that the United States has shown a
great capacity for government IN all try
ing times under many trying conditions
and that it is capable to meet any emer-
gency likely to arise.
81 propose to conine myself to the
question OF the right of power denied by
the resolution. l shall contend that the
UnitedStatesSis nation and that as. such
1t possesses every sovereign power not
reserved by the Constitution to the states,
or to the people themselves; that the
right to acquire territory was not re-
sci we'd and that, therefore, the right is an
inherant right, a sovereign right, a right
to which there is no limitation. I shall
show also that In certain instances, this
Inherent sovereign right is to be interreQ
from specific clauses of the constitution
i self. =
MIR PIatt then launched into con-
sJitutional argument, quoting extensive
ly from authorities treating of the ques-
T,, IN tan of his rnsiJJQn 0f
the right of the United States to acquire
foreign territory he quoted from the opin-
ion OF Justice Gray In the Chinese exulu-
sion case. He declared that in the dis.
cussion of the annexation OF the H8-
waiian islands the declaration OF this
rights to acquire foreign
territory was considered thoroughly and
the Senate had settled it satisfactorily
and rightly.
"Ws did not annex the Hawaiian isl.
auds as state" said M-. P1att, "or
with any declaration that the territory
should become state. We took it by ces-
sion. Our title to the territory is perfect
and complete and constitutional He
held that the United States ''have the
right to acquire territory in all ways
that are oeded to other sovereign nations
of the Worlu.
Further along Mr.. Platt suggested that
it might become necessary in the inter
eStS OF c0mmero3 or some 0tner Interest
Tor the United States to acquire terri
tory in Africa. Shall we be bound by
the constitution to organize a state
from such ncquired territory and to
admit its inhabitants to citizenship
At D. M, the unfinished business
the Nicaraguan canal bill, was informally
laid aside in order that Mr.. Platt light
conc ude his speech. In response to an in
curry MIR. Cullom said he would not call
-, tho ri lptpn hill todoy
Continuing, Mr.. PIatt contended that
the doctrine he was presenting was not
new, but 1t was the doctrine of the
fathers, and he quoted Gov. Morris as ad-
vancing the theory that acquired territory
might be governed as province, but not
as state. The remark applied to the
possibility of the requirement OF Louisi-
ana and Canada.
In response to a question from Mr.;
Allen, Mr.. Platt said that he did not
think there was any limitation on the
power of the United States TO acquire