The record-union., 1898-06-21

war measure He thought the Senate
ought not to adjourn at or ) in the
afternoon, but should sit as long as
possible, in order to facilitate the con-
sideration of the resolutions, which,
he added, ought to be passed at an early
date. He did not think that the Chair
man of the committee ought to wait
for Senators to get ready to speak, but
should demand that all who desired to
address the Senate be prepared on time.
Frye then asked that upon the taking
up of the resolutions the yeas and nays
be called.
White of California instantly rose and
made the point of order that the reso-
luton was already before the Senate,
and that he yeas and nays could not
be had upon a dead issue.
The point was sustained by the Vice
President, who announced that he had
already declared the resolution to be
before the Senate.
Jones of Arkansas said he desired to
say in response to Frye's statement
that if harsh meausres were made in
the beginning by the friends of annex
alton he wanted to warn them that it
would be necessary to keep quorum in
the Senate chamber at all times
We'll, We'll keep a quorum here" re-
piled Frye, las We. ought to do at all
tines
Morrill, of Vermont then took the floor
to address the Senate in opposition to
the resolution. The venerable Senator
spoke in a conversational tone, but was
accorded close attention by the SEN
ate
Morrill, said he was unable to concur
with the learned Committee on Foreign
Relations in regard to such annexa-
ton. whether by treaty, by joint reso-
| luton. by fragrant executive usurpation
or in any manner which leaves an open
| door for their admission into the Union
as State.
| AT the conclusion Of MOrrilPs speech
Bacon of Georgia entered upon a dis
cussion of the constitutional objections
! to annexation as he viewed them. He
| maintained that measure which pro-
Vldes for the annexation of territory
| is necessarily and essentially the sub
| Ject matter of a treaty
At this point Jones of Arkansas made
the point of no quorum and the roll
was called. disclosing the presence of
sixty-One Senators.
! Il made the point of no quorum, 4"
explained Jones, mot because / desire
pending
resolution. l insist that if the rigid
! methods are to be resorted to with
which we were threatened this morning.
quorum shall remain in the Senate
to listen to the arguments presented. I
do not want to delay the proceedings,
| but l do insist that Senators shall re-
main here, and l shall deem it my
| duty to make the point of no quorum
when quorum is not present
| This statement brought Wilson of
Washington to his feet. If" said he,
with some heat. I'VE on this side Of
| the chamber, are to be continually en-
barrassed by points of order / hope
the Chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee will exercise his right under
| the rules to move that the Senate pro-
coed to the consideration of this mat
| ter in continuous session. If the gaunt-
let is to be thrown down by the oppo-
sition in the first hour of the debate
| We ought to take it up
MesSrs. White. Jones, Frye and Hoar
then had mutual explanation of the
| statement made at the opening of the
debate by Frye.
Frye disclaimed any idea of making
threat. and then repeated what he
said earlier in the day. He had made
his statement, he said, because he did
| not desire the bankruptcy measure
should be allowed to interfere with the
Hawaiian discussion.
Resuming, Bacon contended that the
joint resolution now before the Senate
was direct blow at prerogative of
the Senate, in that the proper method
of annexation of foreign territory was
by means of treaty. He urged the i'm
portance of maintaining the constitu-
tional method in so important an I'M
dertaking. In this connection, he dep
recated the suggestion that the Presi-
dent could seize the Hawaiian Islands
without the concurrence of the SEN
ate. The President would have no more
i right thus to seize Hawaii than he
would have to seize Jamaica. Still,
! such a seizure would be as legal as
would annexation by joint resolution.
! Platt of Connecticut interrupted to
| inquire whether, if the Hawaiian Gov
eminent made a cession of territory to
this country without treaty, that Con-
| gress could accept it?
Bacon, in reply, maintained that such
! acceptance would require the assent of
| the treaty making powers.
In concluding his speech, Bacon said
that if the Senate passed the pending
resolution Congress would enter upon a
| revolution which would raise the flag of
! the United States over country whose
people We're entirely and essentially
different from our own people; a revo-
/ luton. too, in which the Senate, because
the majority has the power, would sur
render its treaty making power.
Teller said that while he had no de-
sire to discuss the question at length,
he wanted to call attention to the false
assumption of Bacon that there was
some constitutional barrier to annex
alton by Act of Congress. He was not
| afraid he said, that the common sense
and patriotism of the American people
would lead the Government to acquire
undesirable territory.
Continuing, he said: Mr.. President,
you cannot make the American people
| believe that the Government of the
| United States is not capable of eXer-
| cising the powers of control in the
| Philippines, or in any other part of the
| world or that we cannot give to that