New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-13
SENATE AND PEACE TREATY
Mr.. VEST OPENS THE ANTIRATIFICA-
TION CAMPAIGN.
BUT FAILS TO WEAKEN OR DISCREDIT
PLATT WILL ANSWER HIM.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSEl

fBY TELEGRAPH TRIBUSE.l
Washington. Dec l2-Mr Vest. OF Missouri,
and the other Constitutional experts in the Sem
ate Of the Joe" Bailey school. who stand pre-
pared to oppose the ratification Of the Peace
treaty, are already breaking ground for a cam
pagn Of protest and argument. II. however.
the guns trained or the Administrations policy
OF acquiring and holding as dependencies the
islands surrendered by Spain carry heavier
pellets than those discharged by Mr. Vest this
afternoon IN his speech on the unconstitutional
ity Of the colonial form OF government the
friends Of the Paris Treaty will not often have
10 run 70 cover behind the bombproofs.
Mr.. Vest introduced resolution in the Sem
ate last week which declared that II was not
competent under the Constitution for the United
States TO acquire possessions TO be held and
governed permanently as Colonies At this
harmless target OF straw the Missouri senator
discharged his customary broadsGes OF con-
tempt, denunciation and sarcasm, leaving num-
berless rents and scars on the straw man, but
in no way weakening or discredlting the policy
which was the real object Of his attack. As
the United States has never attempted 10 govern
any Of its territorial acquisitions a. colonies"
but has encountered fair degree u success In
administering them either as organized or un-
organized territories Mr. Vests resolution
seems to have been drawn 80 as to avoid the
real issue he raises. whether or not ii has been
constitutonally competent for the United States
to govern Arizona and New Mexico for in
stance as Dependencies FOR the last hfty years.
Besides. what does permanent mean In the
lexicon Of Mr. Vests anti-expansonist elo-
quence? II the Federal Government still re-
tains Arizona and New-Mexco in the subor-
dinate condition Of mere territories. after ffty
years of possession. what limit is 70 be put on
the period during which other acquisitions are TO
be deprived of the enjoyment of that consent
Of the governed" without which the Mis-
souri, Senator seems 70 think community
can exist integral portion Of the United
States?
Mr.. Vest is always interesting. but when he
begins 10 split hairs on the Constitution. he
seems 10 be talking 10 quite another Senate
that shadowy gathering Of almost forgotten coli
leagues. which held its last sessions In Rich
mond nearly thirty-four years
SENATOR VESTS SPEECH.
Mr.. Vest said he did not propose say any
thing that would cause secret session. as he had
intention 70 discuss any treaty now pending. or
which hereafter % he offered. II seemed 20
him peculiarly appropriate 20 discuss the powers
Of the United States Government under the Con-
sti,uton. When the principal law officer Of tho
IS too sn AL for present conditions Of Cove
eminent It seems TO time TO inquire what that
Constitution is"
Mr. Vest said our forefathers had fought for
years against taxation without representation. Tho
Declaration os Independence had been drawn Up
with the idea that all governments derived their
Just powers from the governed II was incredible
that the founders OF the Government could have
looked forward u the time when millions of human
beings could be held without their consent. merely
ftyn
powers Of the mother country might choose. II
seemed 10 him the historic argument that the just
powers OF the Government were derived from me
cosent Of the governed fully covered his position.
lnasnuch az II had been fully maintained by the
courts He then quoted from the Dred Scott de-
cis.on os the Un.ted States supreme Court IN sup
port u his proposition and declared: 4 assert
now that not one tribunal or single public man
has con,raGic,ed that part OF the Dred Scott de-
cislon unit within the las; six months. when the
craze OF .ans!on seems " nave taken possession
o. The American people"
Mr Vest thought IL the purpose Of the ex-
pansionisis 70 adopt the European system Of
colonization. He pointed ~ that Great Britain
had IN the mother country 10 Ns square miles Of
territory and IN her colonies ls.TGl square miles.
The dlsproporrior of population was about the
same lie nair,alQs1 ;hat the fundamental prin-
ci3le of this Government was the granting OF
citizenship 70 all within the jurisdiction OF the
Government except alone the Indians. The ques-
ton M Yes, thought The result of the ef-
forts o. dos. .rat- dis.utants who appear In the
public press day hy day and attack public me1
because they a:here 20 the Constitution and resist
ms new eyangel lie DID no, believe that any
body would d. reckless enough 70 say that Thomas
jefferson. who peanei the words, "A.l governments
derive ineir Just powers from the consent OF the
yoyerred Z" was not accurate IN the light of the
Constitution In the act q he cess.on u the ter
r,ory u Louisiana from France 70 the United
States is found provision that the Inhabitants
soon as possible shall he made citizens Of tho
United States and the Territory Of louisiana be
made s,ate Il the Un.on. 81 II Vas. declared Mr.
Vest WHEN Florida vas acquired from Spain and
when Alaska 1cs obtained from Rufsia
when where how" he ASKED. have We eur
rendered the great doctrine that this is con'edera-
.,on o, States cauno, conceive Il % be possible
% ooiu, ou, any other form q Government under
the Constitution"
DANIEL WEBSTER AND EXPANSION.
Mr Yes, declared that me United States Supreme
Court had settled that question for all time. He
maintained that the overwhelming arglinen, OK
ne 4.oansionis,s wa that the Constitution applies
alone 70 the States # tn Union. II favor % what
~ termed This nonstrous proposition" he said.
The exoans!on!.,s quoted Daniel Webster. for
whose opinions he himself had the highest respec;
The argument % Mr. webster referred 70 had
been made IN Il debate with John =. Calhoun. when
slavery was the dominant Issue. Nr. Calhoun had
maintained that inasugch a. slavery was rscox-
uized In the Federal Constitution IS extension into
The territories acquired by tie Union = States WAS
Then Il was that NJ webster
declared that the Constitution applied ~ the states
alone.
ITO say declared Nj vest "tha, citizens OF
TERRITORY are excluded from me privileges gsaran-
,eea By ne bill ., rlghs and are merely subjects or
the arbitrary VII .. Congress r. nonstrous pro2o-
si,ton. tii, fortunately TIE Supreme cour; has DE-
,erm!ned that question II many cases
RIGHT 10 ACQUIRE TERRITORY.
y do no, deny" continued Nj Vest; The power
n. me Federal Government 70 acquire territory but
-, d, -. noyer 70 acquire territory peoplet with
-,uuo,s Without :heir consent and with no inten-