The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-20
PLATT WANTS PHILIPPINES.
HOLDS THAT THE UNITED STATES
HAS SOVEREIGN POWERS.

ANfEAtofy hs w Dtu uhWNAi-tSFeu
scott Decision Too old to Bank
On-says Acquired Territory Can
BE Governed az "a Province.
Washington, Dec. 19.-The Senate had
busy day, and there were several import
ant speeches. Mr.. Plat OF Connecticut
spoke against the Vest resolution. which
declares that the United States has no
power TO acquire territory.
Il shall maintain" said Mr.. Plat, that
the United States has shown great ca
pacity for government in all trying times
and under many trying conditions, and
that 1t is capable TO meet any emergency
likely to arise. 1 propose to conine my
self to the question of the right or power
denied by the resolution.
Il shall contend that the United States
is a nation, and that as such It possesses
every sovereign power not reserved by the
constitution 10 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, a
right 10 which there is no limitation.
shall show, also that in certain instances,
this inherent sovereign right Is to be in
ferred from specific clauses of the con-
stitution itself"
Mr.. Platt then launched into a constitu-
tlonal argument, quoting extensively from
authorities treating of the question. In
maintenance Of his position OF the right
OF the United States to acquire foreign
territory he quoted from the opinion of
Justice Gray in the Chinese exclusion
case. He declared that in the discussion
of the Hawaiian Islands, the entire ques-
ton of this governments right to acquire
foreign territory was considered thorough
ly, and that the Senate had settled 1t sat
isfactorily and rightly.
Hawaii Not TO he a state.
1--WE did not annex the Hawaiian Islands
as state" said Mr.. Plat, "or with any
declaration that the territory should be-
come a state. We took 1t by cesslon. Our
title to the territory is perfect and COM
plete and constitutional"
Mr.. Plat maintained that our right to
Florida did not rest alone upon the quit
claim from Spain but upon a deeper and
broader right He held that the United
| States ''have the right to acquire terri
tory in all ways that are conceded to other
sovereign nations of the world"
Further along Mr.. Platt suggested that
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
territory. and to admit its inhabitants to
citizenship" he asked.
A Point in View.
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 l pray he
may) and suppose in this connection it
should be deemed necessary for the United
| States TO acquire a strip of land along the
route of the canal Of 2,50o.00O acres--I think
that is the amount suggested-can we not
| take it? IL we take It, what clause of the
constitution directly or implledly says we
must organize a state Of the acquired ter
ritory, or confer citizenship upon the peo-
pie who inhabit?"
| Referring to MIR. Vests reliance upon
! certain parts of the Dred Scott decision.
Mr.. Pratt declared that, In the light of
years Chief Justice Taney's opinion be-
| came a "mere dictum," and that it was
! too late in these days to resurrect the
Dred Scott decision as a basis Of constitu-
tional action on the part Of the United
| States.
Doctrine Not a New One.
Continuing, Mr.. Platt contended that the
! doctrine he was presenting was not new,
! but it was the doctrine Of the fathers; and
| he quoted Gov. Morris as advancing tho
! theory that acquired territory might pe
1 governed as a province, but not as a state.
| The remark applied to the possibility
! Of the requirement of Louisiana and Can
! ada.
! In response to a question from Mr. Al
! len, Mr.. Plat said he did not think there
| was any limitation in the power Of the
| United states to acquire territory.
CAS- complete as the power Of Russia,
for instance, in such patters?" asked Mr..
/ Allen.
Yes; the right to acquire territory =
| an element of nationality, and I do not
believe that there is any obligation to
| give to the people Of the acquired territory
| the right of self-government until such
| time as they are ht TO exercise that right.
! If we believe the people of a country ac-
! quired are not fitted for the government
! Of themselves II Is our duty to give them
| the most liberal government they are
capable, Of accepting, and to educate them
! up as best we may TO the point where
they viii be capable of self-government.
| The constitution does not confer the right
Of suffrage"
Calls It n False Assumption.
Mr.. Plat said he could not agree with
those who conteded that the requirement
| OF such territory as that embraced IN
! Porto Rico and the Philippines Is a menace
to the existence of our republic. This mis-
/ take, he said, arises from the fact that
| Mr.. Vest and others who agree with him
assume that tho constitution guarantees
! the right Of suffrage and the right OF a
| citizen living IN n certain territory 10
| have Il admitted as a state. This assunn-
ption was without foundation as there was
/ no such guarantee in the fundamental iaw,
True the fifteenth amendment prohibits
| the abridgement Of the right of SUFFRAGE
! fer reasons specified, but that ala I OF
amount 20 prescribing the right 10 vote.
Mr.. Hoar asked Mr. Plat whether he
/ deserted the doctrine that governments
| derive their Just powers from the consent
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