The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-13
MORGAN SPEAKS
ON THE CANAL
Made Three Hours Appeal for
Action.
ACCEPTED AN AMENDMENT
Excepting the Canal from Neu-
trality in Time of War.
VEST OPPOSES ANY EXPANSION
Speaks on His Resolution introduced
At Beginning of Session.
PRINCIPLE OF THIS sGovERNMENT
That the Powers of Rule Are Derived
from the Consent of the Govern
Speaks on His Resolution introduced
At Beginning of Session.
PRINCIPLE OF THIS GOVERNMENT
That the Powers of Rule Are Derived
from the Consent of the Govern
ed Acquisition of Terri
tory Unconstitutional.

Washington, Dec. 13.-Discussion of two
questions each of interest and Importance
at this time, was begun by the senate at
its session today. Territorial expansion and
the construction of the Nicaragua canal oc-
cupied the attention of the body during the
greater part Of the afternoon.
A. soon as the routine morning business
had been disposed of, Mr.. Vest, democrat,
OF Missouri, called up his resolution, offered
last week, declaring it to be unconstitution-
el for this government to secure foreign
kerritory except for coaling stations or
fome like purpose unless its intention was
TO confer statehood upon the territory and
citizenship upon its inhabitants. Mr.. Vest
declared that 1t was basic principle of
this government that the powers of the
government are derived from the consent Of
the governed, and maintained that the fed
eral government had no authority either in
morals or the constitution to go beyond
that principle. He held that the principle
had been sustained by the supreme court
in various decisions and that no public
man; of prominence and no recognized tri-
bunal had ever been reckless enough to
controvert 1t.
The Canal Bill
Mr.. Morgan opened the debate on the Mic
araguan canal bill with a three-hour appeal
for action at this session. The whole coun-
try, he said, would be disappointed If con-
gress did not act. He was willing 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 specia-
cally excepting the canal from neutrality
with regard to any country with which the
United States might be at war
In addressing the senate In favor Of his
resolution against expansion. Mr.. Vest
said:
'@Fhe declaration of independence had
been drawn up with the idea that all gov
ernments derived their just powers from
the consent of the governed. 1t was in
credible that the founders of the govern
ment could have looked forward to the time
when millions Of human beings could be
held without their consent, merely as
chattels, to be disposed of as the sovereign
powers of the mother country might
choose.
He then quoted from the Dred- Scott de-
cision of the United States supreme court
in support Of his proposition and de-
clared:
81 assert now that not one tribunal or
a single public man has contradicted that
part of the Dred-Scott decision until the
last six months when the craze of expan-
sion seems to have taken possession of the
American people,"
Monstrous Proposition
ITO say" declared Mr.. Vest "that citizens
of territory are excluded from the prvi-
leges guaranteed by the bill or rights and
are merely the subjects Of the arbitrary will
of congress, is a monstrous proposition, but
fortunately 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 do deny its power TO acquire
territory peopled with millions and with
no intention of comforting citizenship upon
them.
81 may be answered that the point Il not
GOOD that 1t may be evaded by the taking
In OF vast tracts of lands peopled with bar
barians to be held merely for commercial
advantages. When congress shall become
SO degraded as this 1t is only question
of time until the end shall GOMEZ
Mr. Morgan called up the Nicaragua
canal Dill, which was read In extenso, and
Mr. Turpie suggested to Mr.. Morgan the
advisabiity of postponing the consideration
of the bill until after Jan. /. He called at
tention to the fact that the president In his
message suggested that matters should re-
main in statu quo until the report of the
canal commission should be made 1t was
an open secret that the commission would
report by Jan. I. The report would deal
with questions vitality important 1t would
report officially upon the feasibility of the
enterprise the practioability of routes and
the estimated expenditure. The work of
the commission had cost a quarter of a
million Why not. wait7 Why 60 in blind?
Excepted Such Case
"A question was raised as to the language
of the bill guaranteeing the neutrality Of
the canal in case the United States were at
war with foreign country. Mr.. Morgan
said that the language Of the bill specifcai-
1y excepted such q case.
Mr.. Hoar differed with Mr.. Morgan. II