The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-13
He Explains the Measure and Status
of Treaties, and Accepts an Amend
ment offered by Mr.. Hoar.
FEATURES OF NEW MEASURES
HEPBURN'S BILL FOR CONSTRUCTION
OF THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
Petitions Against Annexation of the
PhiIippines-Little Probability that
Germany Will Get Samoa


WASHINGTON, Dec 12-Discussion of
two questions, each of interest and impor-
tance at this time, was begun by the Senate
at it's session to-day. Territorial expansion
and the construction of the Nicaragua
canal occupied the attention of the body
during the greater part of the afternoon AS
soon as the routine morning business had
been disposed of Mr.. Vest called up his
resolution, offered last week, declaring it to
be unconstitutional for this government to
acquire foreign territory except for coaling
stations or some like purpose unless its in
tention to confer statehood upon the
territory and citizenship upon its inhabi-
tants. Mr. Vest declared that it was a basic
principle of this government that 1.-THE
powers of the government were derived
from the consent of the governed and
maintained that the federal government had
authority, either in morals or in the
Constitution, to go beyond that principle
He held that the principle had been sus-
taned by the Supreme Court in various de-
cisions and that no public man of promi-
nence and no recognized tribunal had ever
been reckless enough to controvert it.
Mr.. Vest thought it was the purpose of
the expansionsts to adopt the European
system of colonization Notwithstanding the
fundamental principle of this government
was the granting of citizenship to all with
in the jurisdiction of the government, except
alone the Indians. In the act of cession of
the Territory of louisiana from France to
the United States is found a provision that
the inhabitants, as soon as possible, shall
be made citizens of the United States and
the Territory of Loisiana be made State
of ha MI Go xroc rod Mr. Vest
when Florida was acquired from Spain and
when Alaska was obtained from Russia.
"When, where, how" he asked, "have we
surrendered the great power that this is a
confederation of States? cannot conceive it
to be possible to point out any other form
of government under the Constitution.
MAY ACQUIRE TERRITORY.
'I do not deny" continued Mr.. Vest, "the
power of the federal government to acquire
territory, but 1 do deny it's power to ac-
quire territory peopled with millions with
out their consent and with no intention of
comforting on them citizenship. l may be
answered that the point is not good, that
it may be evaded by the taking in of vast
tracts of lands peopled with barbarans to
be held merely for commercial advantages.
When the Congress of the United States
shall become so degraded as this it is only
a question Of time when the end will come.
I'VE are a great people," concluded Mr..
Vest. I'VE are told that this country can
do anything, Constitution or no Constitu-
ton. We are a great people, it is true, but
we cannot do more than another great peo-
pie did-a people that conquered the world,
not with steel ships and modern cannon.
but with bare swords and primitive galleys.
The colonial system destroyed all hope of
Zoo mic in, oI1 iS an
pendago of monarchy. 1t can exist in no
free country, because it uproots and elimi-
rates the basis of all republican institu-
tions-that governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the governed.
/ know not what may be done with the
glamour of foreign conquest and greed of
the money y-making classes of this country.
For myself, would rather quit public life
this minute-nay / would be willing to
yield life itself-rather than give my con-
sent to this fantastic and wicked attempt
to revolutioaize our government and to sub
stitute the principles of our hereditary
enemy for the teachings of Washington and
his associates"
Mr.. Platt, of Connecticut, in expressing
the hope that Mr.. Vest would not ask for
immediate action on his resolution, said he
desired to offer some remarks on it, but was
not prepared to-day to do so. He did not,
he said acquiesce in the law as stated by
the Missouri senator. He believed that the
power to acquire territory was inherent in
the Nation and was not subject to limta-
ton In the remarks he proposed to sub
nit he would endeavor to establish this be-
lief. He thought it perfectly evident that
if the United States, in fighting a war,
came into possession of territory. the prog
Of 70 oAtt1A H.
stopped until the constituted authorities
should declare whether it was the purpose
of the government to hold the acquired ter
ritory, with the ultimate intention of con-
ferring statehood upon its inhabitants.
In response to an inquiry by Mr.. Hoar
Mr.. Platt declared that the power Of the
government to acquire territory was full
and penary.
To this proposition, unless 1t were accom-
panied by declarations to the purpose of
the government with the territory acquired
which purpose should be within the power
of the Constitution to confer, Mr.. Hoar said
he desired TO enter his emphatic dissent
THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL.
Mr.. Morgan called up the Nicaragua
canal bill, which was read in extenso, and
Mr.. Turpie thereupon suggested to Mr.
Morgan the advisabiity of postponing the
consideration of the bill until after Jan. l.
He called attention to the fact that the
President, in his message, suggested that
matters should remain in statu quo until
the report of the canal commission was
made. 1t was an open secret, he said that
the commission would report by the first
of the new year The report would deal
with questions timely and vitally important
in connection with the bill. 1t would report
officially upon the feasibility of the enter
prise, the practicability Of routes and the