The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-12-09

appointed by the speaker, and who can
address the house an any matter under
consideration, but who cannot vote in
the house ON any question whatever.
-
Senator Vest of Missouri has intro
duced resolution which will open up
the Constitutional debate on the subject
of territorial expansion.
THAT under the Constitution of the
United States no power is given to the
Federal government to acquire territory
to be held and governed permanently as
colonies.
The colonial system of European
nations cannot be established under our
present Constitution, but all territory
acquired by the government, except such
small amount as may be necessary for
coaling stations, correction of boundaries
and similar governmental purposes, must
be acquired and governed with the pur-
pose of ultimately organizing such terri
tory into States suitable for admission
into the Union"
This resolution will be supported only
by the extremist of the strict construc-
ton school of Constitutionalists. Not
all the Democrats in either House will
vote for it. for number of them have
already declared themselves in favor of
territorial expansion and of the reten-
tion of the Philippines archipelago. It
will, of course. receive but soant. if any,
support from the Republicans.
~
So far as the explicit question itself is
concerned of the holding of colonies by
the United States, the Constitution is
silent. The only reference in that docu-
ment that can be construed as bearing
upon this question is contained in clanse
2, of section 8, of article 4, which reads
as follows:
Congress shall have the power to dis
pose of and make all needful rules and
regulations respecting the territorial or
other property belonging to the United
States.''
What we are accustomed to call,
technically, territory is in reality a
form of colony. Congress derives all its
authority over that portion Of the terri
tory of the United States not included in
any of the States, or in the District of
Columbia, from that clause, and has
therefore the power to give to it any
form or style of government it sees fit.
We have in existence to-day five terri
tories and the District of Columbia, and
in these six communities there exist four
different forms of government. Arizona,
New Mexico and Oklahoma have what is
called a complete territorial form of
government. Alaska has Governor,
but no Legislature and no delegate to
Congress. The Indian Territory has no
common Governor and no delegate in
Congress, but each of the so-called five
civilized tribes have tribal form of
government of their own, electing their
own chiefs as Governor and legislative
councils. The District of Columbia is
legislated for directly by Congress, while
the executive power is vested in three
commissioners appointed by the Presi-
dent and confirmed by the Senate. 1t
will thus be seen that Congress is not
bound down to any particular form of
government for any territorial possession
it may be called upon to govern, but,
under the clause cited, can dispose of
and make all needfuI rules and regula-
lions respecting" them that may seem to
be best for the interests of the United
States and the people thereof.
E. w. B.