The record-union., 1898-12-20

considered thoroughly, and that The
Senate had settled it satisfactorily and
thoroughly.
1T might become necessary" he
said, 'tin the interests of commerce, or
some other interests of the United
States, to acquire territory in Africa
Shall we be bound by the Constitution
to organize a State from such acquired
territory and admit its inhabitants 10
citizenship?
Suppose he continued, ''that the
Senator from Alabama (Morgan) Sc
cures the passage of his bill for the
construction of the Nicaragua Canal
(and / pray he may), and it should be
deemed necessary for the United tSates
to acquire a strip Of land along the
route Of the canal of >, 100000 acres-I
think that is the amount suggested
can We not take it? If we take it, what
caluse of the Constitution, direct or i'm
piled, says we must organize the ac-
quired territory or confer citizenship
upon the people who inhabit it?''
Platt declared that Chief Justice
Taney's opinion in the Dred- Scott case
was mere dictum," and that it was
too late in these days to resurrect the
stitutional action on the part of the
United States.
Hoar asked Platt whether he decried
the doctrine that Governments derived
their just powers from the consent of
the governed
Platt replied that the consent of all
those governed was not always neces-
sary. When he first became a voter he
I,1 80
to receive the privilege of voting
In conclusion, Platt said he could not
understand the sentiments or motives
Of those who wished to circumscribe the
powers of the nation. Why" he asked,
should we belittle those powers or
strive by subtlety and sophistry to
hamper the progress and growth of the
country? Rather than pursue this
course, why should Senators not wish
the nation godspeed in its mission Of
extending our free institutions as far as
possible" AS for himself, he knew our
people to be a liberty loving and right
doing people, and he had no misgivings
that any administration of the United
States would fail in it's duty toward
the people Of an acquired territory. He
mad faith in the Government and faith
in its future, and had no disposition 20
condescend to carping criticism or
craven fear. He had not lost confidence
in the doctrine that right makes right
and with a nation guided by that prln-
cipie, as he believed this nation to be.
there could be no doubt that it would
0are do its duty bravely toward any
people which might fall within the linn
its of it's Jurisdiction.
the conference report on the urgency
defic ency bill was agreed to.
The bill granting the right of way
through the San Francisco Mountain
forest reservation in Arizona to the
Saginaw Southern Railroad, which
passed the House, was reported to the
Senate
Gallinger, from the Committee on
General Expenses, then attempted to
report the resolution introduced by
Proctor providing for the appointment
of a select committee of the Senate to
visit Cuba and report upon the con-
ditions prevailing there.
The effort on Gallinger's part devel-
oped stern resistance from Hale and the
occasion of a short explanation from
Proctor.
The Senate then took up the Nicara-
qua Canal bill, and Berry of Arkansas
spoke on his amendments to the meas
ure. He announced prellminarily that
on general principles he was favorable
to the construction of canal across
the isthmus and he had been so for
many years before he felt that such an
enterprise would promote the interests
of the Southern States; but always con-
Tod Nv ba
erenment of the United States. He had
been hopeful on this occasion that it
might be possible to eliminate the Mari
time Canal Company from the question
entirely He had voted against the
company's charter in 1887. Still, said
he, Morgan insists that this accom-
plishment is out of the question at pres
ent. If this be true, the question now
was whether the work of constructing
the canal should proceed under the
name of the Maritime Canal Company
or be suspended entirely. He did not
commit himself to vote for the bill,
even if his amendments We're adopted,
but would determine that question
when a vote was reached.
Berry then explained the provisions of
his amendments.
Allen OF Nebraska followed Berry.
He was not opposed to the canal
scheme, he said, because he antago-
nized certain features of the bill. One
of its most pernicious features would
be eliminated by the adoption of the
Berry amendments, namely, the bond
feature.
Caffery of Louisiana, at the request of
Turner, who was unavodably absent,
read the latters motion to postpone the
consideration of the bill until January
10th.
Hoar said he thought the canal
should be built, and at once.
Morgan maintained that the cOnces-
sion of Nicaragua and Costa Rica was
not for next October. Morgan said that
the Berry amendments for financing the
enterprise We're more acceptable to him
than the provisions of the committee.
He predicted that the United States
would secure at least D per cent. divi-
dends upon its investment, and drew
glowing picture of the use to which the
funds could be put.
At 0:10 p. m. the Senate went into