The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
REPLY TO Mr.. VESTS SPEECH
TANEY'S OPINION IN DRIED SCOTT
CASE HELD TO BE .'MERE DICTUM."
Nicaragua Canal Bill Discussed by MIR.
Berry and Others-Outrages ON
Americans i'm China.


power to acquire territory. He said the
power of a nation to acquire territory was
as inherent as its sovereignty. The United
States had the right to govern such terri
tory in the best possible manner until the
people of the acquired lands were capable
of self-government Mr. Proctor, of Ver-
mont and Mr.. Hale. of Maine, exchanged
divergent views upon the subject of COM
mission of senators to visit Cuba. Mr.. Proc
tor thought such commission was neces-
sary, while Mr.. Hale said he thought it
would be in extremely bad taste and use
less. The Nicaraguan canal was up during
the last part of the day and Senators Berry,
Allen, Hoar, Caffery and Morgan discussed
the measure
At the opening of the session the chaplain
in his invocation, made touching reference
to the affliction of Mr. Jones, of Arkansas,
''over whose threshold of late thrice passed
the shadow of DEATH" and one of whose
sons is i'll now.
The President announced the committee
on celebration of the centennial of the city
of Washington as the capital of the Nation
as follows Senators Hoar, Hale, Perkins
Simon, McLaurin, Clay and TurIey
Mr.. Lodge, from the foreign relations COM
mttee, favoraby reported the following
joint resolution and asked for it's immediate
sconsidera ton:
THAT the President be and is hereby re-
quested to communicate to Congress as far
as the same may be done. without detriment
to public interests, all the information in his
possession, concerning certain alleged out
RACES committed upon the person of Bishop
Earl Cranston and other American citizens
in the city of Picking, China, by subjects of
the Emperor of China, and what steps if
any, have been taken by the State Depart
ment in the matter of demanding suitable
redress and indemnity therefor.
The resolution was agreed to at once.
THE SCALPING BILL.
Mr.. Cullom gave notice that he would ask
the Senate, at the conclusion of Mr.. Platts
speech, to take the anti-scalping bill from
the table for consideration.
Mr.. Chandler inquired if it was Mr.. Gull
lom's purpose not to have the bill referred
to the Interstate-commerce Commission.
Mr.. Culom replied that he proposed to
ask for consideration at this time
well, l give notice, Mr.. President" re-
sponded Mr.. Chandler. that there are SEN
ators here who will insist that the bill shall
go to the committee.
Mr.. Sullivan protested against what he
termed IAN extraordinary proceeding" and
demanded to know what Mr.. Culloms pur-
pose was
Il propose to call up the anti-scalping
bill Tor consideration" replied Mr.. Culiom.
We can discuss questions relating TO the
request when we come to them.
Mr. Teller gave notice that tomorrow he
would address the Senate on Mr.. Vests anti
expansion resolution.
In accordance with notice previously given
Mr.. Plat, of Connecticut, addressed the
Senate opposing the resolution offered by
Mr. Vest declaring that under the Con-
Ell Of
given to acquire territory to be held and
governed permanently as colonies. Mr..
Platt,s speech was a constitutional argument
maintaining the legal right of the United
States to acquire territory. He said he did
not propose to discuss the policy of eXpan-
SiOn nor the features of the government we
might establish in any foreign territory we
might acquire. Expansion, he said, has been
a law of our national growth, the main
spring of our national development, and
added: II shall maintain that the United
States has shown a great capacity for gov
eminent in all trying times and under many
trying conditions and that it is capable to
meet any emergency likely to arise. l shall
contend that the United States is a Nation
and that as such it possesses every sovereign
power not reserved by the Constitution to
the States or to the people themselves; that
the right to acquire territory was not re-
served and that, therefore, that right is an
inherent right-a sovereign right right to
which there is no limitation. / shall show
also that in certain instances this inherent
sovereign right is to be inferred from spe-
cific clauses of the Constitution itself.
A CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Plat then launched into a consitu-
tional argument, quoting extensively from
authorities treating of the question, and
also declaring that, in the discussion of an
nexation of the Hawaiian islands the entire
question of this governments right to ac-
quire foreign territory was considered thor
oughly and that the Senate had settled it
satisfactorily and rightly. THE United
States,' he said, have the right to acquire
territory in all ways that are conceded to
other sovereign nations of the world" 1t
might become necessary in the interests of
commerce, or some other interest for the
United States to acquire territory in Africa.
Shall we be bound by the Constitution to
organize a State from such acquired terri
tory and to admit its inhabitants to citizen
ship? he asked.
Suppose" he continued that the sena-
tor from Alabama (Mr. Morgan) secures the
passage of his bill for the construction of
the Nicaraguan canal (and j pray he may)
and it should be deemed necessary for the
United States to acquire a strip of land
along the route of the canal of $500 900
acres-and 1 think that is the amount sug-
what clause of the Constitution, directly or
implicitly says we must organize a State
of the acquired territory or confer citizen
ship on the people who inhabit it?'
Mr. Platt declared that Chief Justice
Taneys opinion in the Dred-Scott case was
mere dictum'' and that it was too late,
decision as a basis of constitutional action
on the part of the United States
In response TO a question from Mr. Allen
Mr. Plat said that he did not think there
was any limitation on the power of the
United States to acquire territory.
LAS complete as the power of Russia for
instance, in such matters?' asked Mr. Allen
Yes: the right to acquire territory is az
element of nationality And 1 do not be.
lieve that there is any obligation to give
to the people of acquired territory the right
of enlightenment until such time as they
are fit to exercise that right. If we believe
the people of a country acquired was fitted
for the government of themselves. ii is our
duty to give them the most liberal govern
ment they are capable of accepting and Is
educate them as best they may Ia the point
where they are capable of self-goyernment
The Constitution does not confer the right
of suffrage
A MATTER OF REGULATION.
He went into this point at length, citing
the fact that women and children are cti-
zens. but do not vote: that neither do citi-
gems of the District Of Columbia; that in
Massachusetts those who cannot read and
write cannot vote, and that other States de-
MED suffrage in part. 1t was. he said,
matter of state regulation.
Mr. HOar asked Mr. Plat whether he de-
MED the doctrine that governments derive
their just powers from the consent o. the
governed.
Mr.. Platt replied that the consent OF all
those governed not always necessary
When he first became a voter he had 10 pay
$134 for real estate in order TO receive the
In c conclusion MIR, Plat said he could not