Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-15

pOrlal expansion and the construction
Of the Nicaraguan canal-was begun
by the senate Monday. Mr.. Vest (dem
MOI called up his resolution offered
last week, declaring it unconstitutional
for this government to acquire foreign
territory except for -coaling stations or
some like purpose, unless the intent
was to confer statehood upon the terri
tory and citizenship upon the inhab-
itants. Mr.. Vest declared it was
basic principle of this government that
the powers of the government are de-
rived from the consent of the gov
erned, and he maintained that the fed
eral government had no authority,
either in morals or in constitution to go
beyond that principle, He held that
the principle has been sustained by the
supreme court in various decisions, and
no public man of prominence had ever
Mr.. Vest thought it was the purpose
of the expansionists to adopt the Euro
pean system of colonization, notwith-
standing the fundamental principle of
this government was the granting of
citizenship to all within the jurisdic-
ton of the government, except alone
the Indians. In the act of the cession
Of the territory of Louisiana by the
French to the United States, one provi-
sion was that the inhabitants, as soon
as possible, be made citizens of the
United States, and the territory of
7 n11iciaIn no mo do cfa 70 If ~
So it was declared, Mr. Vest said, when
Oregon was obtained from Spain and
Alaska from Russia. Mr.. Vest declared
that the United States supreme court
had settled the question for all time
Il do not deney," continued Mr.. Vest
the power of the federal government
to acquire territory but / do deny the
power to acquire territory peopled with
millions without their consent, and
with no intention of comforting upon
them citizenship
I'VE are a great people," concluded
Nj. Vest 1--WE are told this country
can do anything, constitution or no
constitution. We are a great people,
it is true, but we cannot do more than
another great people did-people that
conquered the world. It is an appendage
of monarchy. 1t can exist iu no free
country, because 1T eliminates the
basis of all republican Institutions
a government derives just powers
from the consent of the governed. |
know not what may be done with the
glamour of foreign conquest and the
greed of the money-making classes of
this country. For myself, | would
rather quit public life this minute
nay, | would be willing to yield life it
seli-rather than give my consent to
this fantastic, wicked attempt to revo-
lutionize our government and substi-
tute principles of aa hereditary enemy
for the teachings of Washington and
his associates"
Mr.. Plat (rep., Comm took issue
with Mr.. Vest. He announced that at
some time in the near future he would
offer some remarks upon the resolu-
ton, in course of which he would en-
deavor to show the Missouri senator
was wrong in his Interpretation of the
constitution and inaccurate in his de-
auctions from the law.
Mr.. Morgan (dem., Ala opened the
debate on the canal bill The whole
country, he said, would be disappointed
IL congress did not act. He was will
ing 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 specifically
excepting the canal from neutrality
with regard to any country with which
the United States might be at war.
Morgan said the language of the bill
specifically excepted such cases.
Mr.. Hoar rep, Mass.) differed with
Mr.. Morgan. IF the United States
were at war with England and Eng
land should dispatch a hostile fleet to
San Francisco, could that feet pass
through without interruption? asked
Mr.. Hoar. Morgan said no that natiCn
would misunderstood the language of
the bill, but he was willing to accept
any language that would make our
right more specific. Mr.. Hoar sug-
gested that the clause relating to the
neutrality of the canal be amended to
read: Except as to nations at war
with the Tnited States" Mr. Morgan
said that he would accept the amend
ment as no senator would vote against
the bill on this account. Mr.
Morgan said that president in whom
congress wisely entrusted a fund of
S50,000,000 to be used Eat his discre-
tion," could certainly be trusted to
overcome the objections of Nicaragua
or c. sta Rica or the stockholders of
the Maritime Canal company Mr.
Morgan said that his plea was for ac-
ton. This bill did not seek to build a
canal, it simply placed the question in
the hands Of the president.
Messrs. Hoar and Hale presented re-
monstrances of citizens of their states
against the taking of the Philippines or
any other territory without the con
sent of the people of such territory Mr.
Pettigrew introduced bill authorizing
A. A Bartlett to raise the battleship
Maine and transport it to the United
States.
HOUSE.
Washington, Dec 13.-In the house
Mr.. Hepburn (rep., la introduced a
joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the constitution as follows:
No new state, the territory of which
was not part of the United States and
under its jurisdiction and sovereignty
on January 1, 1898, shall be admitted
into the union until three fourths OF