The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-13
VEST OPPOSED TO EXPANSION.
TIE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE A
NEW CRAZE, HE SAYS.

Unconstitutional for This Govern
ment TO Acquire Foreign Territory |
without Comforting Statehood.
Senator PIatt Thinks the Govern
ment Has Fun Power to Acquire
TerritOry-Mr. Morgan Wants
Early Action on Nicaragua Canal
Bill.
Washington, Dec. 12.-Discussion Of two |
questions. each of interest and importance |
at this time, was begun by the Senate at
its session to-day. Territorial expansion
and the construction of the Nicaraguan
canal, occupied the attention of the body
during the greater part of the afternoon.
As soon es the routine morning business
had been disposed of, Mr. Vest of Mis-
souri, Democrat. called up his resolution,
offered last week, declaring 1t TO be un-
constitutional for this government TO ac-
quire foreign territory, except for coaling
stations or some like purpose, unless it's
intention was to confer statehood upon the
territory, and citizenship upon its inhabit
ants
Mr.. Vest declared that II was 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 no authority either an morals or in
the constitution, to so beyond that prin-
ciple. He held that the principle had l52ee
sustained by the Supreme Court In -
rious decisions, and that no public man
of prominence, and no recognized tribunal
had been reckless enough to controvert it,
until within the last SIX months, when
the craze of expansion seems to have taxi
en- possession of the American people"
Mr.. Vest thought 1t was the purpose OF
the expansionists to adopt the European
system OF colonization. lie pointed out
that Great Britain had In the mother
country 12O979 square miles of territory.
and in her colonies 1861, Oh square miles.
The disproportlon of population was about
the same.
Mr. Vest maintained that the fundamen-
tai principle of this government was the
granting of citizenship 10 all within the
jurisdiction of the government, excepting
alone the Indians. He did not believe that
anybody would be reckless enough to say
that Thomas Jefferson, who penned the
words, "All governments derive their just
powers from the consent Of the governed,
was not accurate in the light of our con-
stituton.
In the act OF the cession of the terri
tory 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 Louisiana be made
state of the union. So 1t was, declared
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 doctrine that
this is a confederation of states? / can
not conceive 1t to be possible to point out
any other form Of government under the
constitution?
Mr.. Vest declared that the United States
Supreme Court had settled that question
for all time. Mr.. Vest maintained that
the overwhelming argument of the eX-
pansionists was that the constitution ap-
plies alone to the states of the union. In
favor of what he termed this monstrous
proposition," he said, the eXpansionists
quoted Daniel Webster, for whose opin-
ions he himself had the highest respect.
The argument of Mr.. Webster referred
TO had been made~in debate with John
| c. Calhoun, when slavery was the domi-
! nant issue. Mr. Calhoun had maintained
that inasmuch as slavery was recognized
bv The federal constitution, its extension
| into the territories acquired by the union
of states was constitutional Then 1t was
! that Mr. Webster had declared that the
constitution applied to the states alone.
ITO say" declared MIR. Vest that ctl-
zens of a territory are excluded from the
privileges guaranteed by the bill Of rights
| ana are merely the subjects OF the arbi-
| trary will of Congress, Is a monstrous
| proposition; but, fortunately, the Supreme
! Court has determined that question in
/ many cases"
"the power of the federal government to
| acquire territory but l do deny Its power
to acquire territory peoDled with Millions
| without their consent, and with no in
tention Of conferring upon them citizen-'
/ shin. ] may be answered that the point
! T., not good, that ii may be eyaded by
1 the taking in of vast tracts of land peo-
pled with barbarians to be held merely for
! commercial advantages. When the Con
gpess Of the United States shall become
so degraded as this, It is on.y question
OF time until the end shall come.
1--WE arc a great people concluded Mr..
Vest. I'VE are told that this country can
do anything. constitution or no consttu-
\ ton. We are a great people, IL Is true,
/ but we cannot do more than another great
] people 0l1-d people iiIhA toiHAutitN tils
world not with steel ships and modern
! cannon, but with bare swords and priml-
tive gallies. The colonial system destroy
ed all hope OF repubicanism in the old
time. 1t Is an appendage Of monarchy.
II can exist in no free country. because
It uproots ana eliminates the basis Of all
republican nstituti0ns-that governments
derive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed.
II know not what may be done with the
glamour Of foreign conquest and greed Of
the money-makiug classes of this coun-
try. For myself, / would rather quit pub
lie life this minute-nay ! would be will
ing to yield life itse.f-rather than give
my consent TO this fantastic and wicked at
tempt to revoiutionlze our government.
and to substitute the principles OF our
hereditary enemy for tho teachings OF
| washington and his associates"
Mr. Plat of Connecticut ian expressing
the hope that Mr. Vest would not ask for