Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-12-22
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.

! Washington, Dec. 12-The discus
sion Of two questions, each of interest
and Importance at this time-terri-
torial expansion and the construction
| of the Nicaraguan canal--was begun
| by the senate Monday. Mr.. Vest (dem
MOI called up his resolution offered
last week, declaring it unconstitutional
for this government to acquire foreign
territory except for coaling stations or
some like purpose, unless the intention
was to confer statehood upon the terri
tory and citizenship upon the inhab-
| itants. Mr. Vest declared ii was a
basic principle of this government that
| the powers of the government are de-
| rived from the consent of the gov
erned," and he maintained that the fed
| eral government had no authority,
either in morals or in constitution to go
beyond that principle. He held that
| the principle has been sustained by the
| supreme court in various decisions, and
no public man of prominence had ever
| been reckless enough to controvert it,
| Mr.. Vest thought it was the purpose
of the expansionists to adopt the Euro
pean system OF colonization, notwith-
standing the fundamental principle Of
| this government was the granting Of
citizenship to all within the jurisdic-
| ton OF the government, except alone
| the Indians. In the act of the cession
of the territory OF Louisiana by the
French to the United States, one provi-
| cit hot inh no I IA
as possible, be made citizens Of the
| United States, and the territory of
| Louisiana be made a state of the union
! So 1t was declared, Mr.. Vest said, when
Oregon was obtained from Spain and
| Alaska from Russia. Mr.. Vest declared
that the United States supreme court
! had settled the question for all time
| II do not deney," continued Mr. Vest
"the power of the federal government
| to acquire territory, but do deny the
power to acquire territory peopled with
millions without their consent, and
with no intention of comforting upon
them citizenship"
Mr.. Plat rep, Comm took issue
with Mr.. Vest. He announced that at
some time in the near future he would
! offer some remarks upon the resolu-
ton, in course of which he would en-
deavor to show the Missouri senator
was wrong in his Interpretation OF the
constitution and inaccurate in his de-
| auctions from the law.
Mr.. Morgan (dem., Ala.) opened the
debate on the canal bill. The whole
country, he said, would be disappointed
il congress did not act. He was will
ing to take any measure which would
result in the building of the canal. In
the course of his remarks he agreed
| to accept an amendment specifically
| excepting the canal from neutrality
with regard to any country with which
the United States might be at war.
Morgan said the language of the bin
specifically excepted such cases.
Mr.. Hoar rep. Mass.) differed with
Mr. Morgan. If the United States
were at war with England and Eng
land should dispatch hostile feet to
San Francisco, could that fleet pass
through without interruption asked
Mr.. Hoar. Morgan said that no nation
would misunderstood the language of
the bill, but he was willing to accept
any language that would make our
right mere specific. Mr.. Hoar sug-
gested that the clause relating to the
eutrality of the canal be amended to
read: Except as to nations at war
with the Uaited States" Mr.. Morgan
| said that he would accept the amend
ment as no senator would vote against
the bill on this account. Mr..
Morgan said that president in whom
| congress wisely entrusted a fund OF
$50, 600. 600 to be used "at his discre-
ton" could certainly be trusted TO
overcome the objections of Nicaragua
or Costa Rica or the stockholders
the Maritime Canal company. Mt
Morgan said that his plea was for ac-
ton. This bill did not seek to build a
canal, II simply placed the question in
the hands of the president
Washington, Dec. 12-ln the house
| Mr.. Hepburn rep, la introduced a
Joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the constitution as follows:
mo new state the territory of which
was not part of the United States and
under its jurisdiction and sovereignty
on January /, 1898, shall be admitted
into the union until three-fourths OF
the members elected to each house oil
congress shall vote affirmatlvely for
such admission 1t was referred &c
the judiciary committee. Mr.. Hepburn
also introduced bill authorizing the
president to acquire by purchase from
the states of Costa Rica and Nicaragua
full ownership, jurisdiction and soy
erelgnty OF the land 5''-aole and nee
essary to construct an isthmian shlr
canal. The president is also directed
TO construct such canal and the bill ap-
propriates 100000 TO complete 1t
Washington. Dec. 14.-The session 81
the senate was largely consumed III
the discussion OF the Nicaraguan cana
bal. Mr.. Turpie ldem., Ind made
"a 30, hsnh