The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-13

tanned from Russia.
When, where, how" he asked, "have
we surrendered the great principle that
this is a confederation of states? !
cannot conceive it to be possible to
point out any other form of government
under the constitution
A INDUSTRIOUS PROPOSITION.
Mr. Vest declared that the United
States supreme court had settled that
question for all time. He maintained
that the overwhelming argument of the
eXpansionists was that the constitution
applies alone to the states of the
Union. In favor of what he termed
this monstrous proposition" he said,
the eXpansionists quoted Daniel Web
ster, for whose opinions 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 a dominant issue
Mr.. Calhoun had maintained that, in
asmuch as slavery was recognized by
the federal constitution, its expansion
into the territories acquired by the
Union of states was constitutional.
Then it was that Mr.. Webster had de-
clared that the constitution applied to
the states alone.
ITO say declared Mr.. Vest, chat
citizens of a territory are excluded
from the privileges guaranteed by the
bill of rights, and are merely the sub
jects of the arbitrary will of congress,
is a monstrous propositions; but, for
tunately, the supreme court has deter
mined that question in many cases.
II do not deny" continued Mr.. Vest
'the power of the federal government
to acquire territory, but I do deny its
power to acquire territory peopled with
millions, without their consent, and
with no intention of comforting upon
them citizenship. [ may be answered
that the point is not good; that it may
be evaded by the taking in of vast
tracts of lands peopled with barbarians,
to be held merely for commercial ad-
vantages. When the congress of the
United States shall become SO degraded
as this, it is only a question of time
until the end shall come
APPENDAGE OF MONARCHY.
eve are a great people," concluded
Mr. Vest. I'VE are told that this coun-
try can do anything, constitution or no
constitution. We are q. great people, it
is true, but we cannot do more than
another great people did-a people that
conquered the world, not with steel
ships and modern cannon, but with
bare swords and primitive galleys. The
colonial system destroyed all hope of
republicanism in the old time. 1t is an
appendage of monarchy. 1t can exist
in no free country, because it uproots
and eliminates the basis of all repub-
lican inStitutions-that governments
derive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed l know not what
may be done with the glamor of for
eign conquest and greed of the money
making classes of this country. For
myself, I would rather quit public life
this minute-nay, [ would be willing to
yield life itself-rather than give my
! consent to this fantastic and wicked
attempt to revolutionize our govern
ment and to substitute the principles
of our hereditary enemy for the teach
! ings Of Washington and his associates -
PLATT DISSENTS.
Mr. Platt of Connecticut, in express
! ing the hope that Mr.. Vest would not
ask for immediate action upon his reso-
luton, said he desired to offer some re-
| marks upon it, but was not prepared
today to do So He did not, he said,
acquiesce in the law as stated by the
| Missouri senator. He believed that the
power to acquire territory was inherent
in the nation and was not subject to
| limitation. In the remarks he proposed
! to submit, he would endeaVor to estab-
lish this belief. He thought it perfectly
evident that if the United States in
|
Of territory, the progress of it's army
and navy could not be stopped until the
| constituted authorities should declare
| whether it was the purpose of the gov
| eminent to hold the acquired territory,
with the ultimate intention of confer
ring statehood upon its inhabitants.
In response to an inquiry by Mr..
Hoar, Mr.. Platt declared that the pow
er of the government to acquire terri
| tory was fI11l and Dlpn1T-V
To this proposition, unless it were
accompanied by declarations as to the
purpose of the government for the ter
ritory acquired, which purpose should
be within the power of the constitution
to confer, Mr.. Hoar said he desired to
enter his emphatic dissent
NICARAGUA CANAL BILL.
Mr. Morgan called up the Nicaragua
canal bill, which was read in extenso
and Mr. Turpie thereupon suggested
to Mr.. Morgan the ACCESSIBILITY of post
poning the consideration of the bill
until after Jan. l. He called attention
to the fact that the president in his
message suggested that matters should
remain in statu quo until the report
of the canal commission was made.
/ Mr. Morgan said that the country haC
reached a conclusion upon this ques
ton and would not be satisfied, HI
thought, to see this session pass with
out the enactment of legislation which
would secure the building of the canal
Mr.. Morgan said Nicaragua and Cos
ia Rica recognized, and it was the uni
versal opinion of mankind, that tn,
canal across the isthr-us must be bull
under the protection, control and man
agement of some maritime power.
Mr. Hoar suggested that the claus
relating to the neutrality of the cana
should be amended so as to read: Eek
cept as to nations at war with tn
United States"
Mr.. Morgan said he would accept. tn
amendment. No senator should vot
against the bill on this account.
. AT the conclusion of Mr.. Morgan
speech the senate, at $40 p. M, ad
journed.
An order was issued from department
: and First battalion of the New York reg