The evening times., 1898-04-19
ture and near the White House. the
New York sun says:

tufe ana near the w nlte Iiouoc' ING
New York sun says:
Late on saturday night Senator Allison re-
ferred 10 this question one which mas beeh
in controversy since the days of Washington; and
he spoke of ''the assumption of Congress to de-
clare the independence of nation" as beng
s.iu contravention Of the well-known principle Of
international law
n is quite true that this involves difficult
question of constitutional interpretation, and one
which has never been determined satisfactorily
either by legislation or by judicial construction.
But il is not a fact that the constitutional power
OF the Congress to recognize the independenee OF
a nation has been steadily denied by the Presi-
dents Of the United States Mr.. Cleveland and
Mr.. olncy. it is true. denied it ofhand But
another Democratic President, whose frnness
Of character by no means disposed him to sur
render or relinqush any prerogative of his office,
clearly admitted the power of Congress 10 rec
ognize the independence of a new nation ihat
was Andrew jackson. in the case of the republic
Of Texas President Jackson opposed TO
recognition of Texas premature. and yet, IN
his message of December 2l, 1886, he declared
that the decision was with Congress and NOT
with the Executive.
We commend to Mr.. Mckinley the
natriotic words in which Gen. Jackson
conveyed his views on this subject to
Congress. He was not disposed 10
stand upon vanity or technicanty. In
his day there was not Spanish pono'
oil and sugar conspiracy TO stand IKE
a lion in the path of national action or
national honor. Mr.. Mckinley endeaV-
ored to invoke the shade of the old hero
of New Orleans to help him out with
the argument of his message, and
failed. Now let him make another try
and adjust himself TO the noble stand
taken by Jackson when in position
analogous to that which the White
House man is in today. Gen. jackson
wrote TO Congress:
Nor has any deliberate inquiry ever been in
stituted in Congress, or in any OF our legislative
bodies, as to whom belonged the power OF origi-
nally recognizing state-a power the ex-
ercise of which is equivalent, under some cir
cunlstances. to declaration of var-a power
nowhere expressly delegated, and only granted
in the Constitution. it is necessarily involved
in some of the great powers given to Congress;
in that given 10 the President and Senate TO form
treaties with foreign powers and to appoint am
bassadors and other public ministers, and in that
conferred upon the President to receive ministers
from other nations.
In the preamble to the resolution of the House
Of Representatives it is distinctly ntimated that
the eKpediency OF recognizing the independence
Of Texas should be left 10 the decision OF Con
gress In this view, the ground of eXpedi'
ency l am disposed to concur, and do not. there
fore consider it necessary to express any opinion
/ as to the strict constitutional right of the EX
ecutive either apart from in conjunction with
the Senate. over the subject. 1t is 70 be pre-
srmed that on no future occasion will a dispute
arise. as none has heretofore occurred. between
| the Executive and the Legislature, in the ex
ercise Of the power of recognition IL viii always
/ be considered consistent with the spirit OF tb'
/ Constitution. and most safe, that 1T should b'
exercised, when probably leading to war; witt
/ a preyious understanding with that body by
whom war alone can be declared, and by whom
all the provisions for sustaining its perlis mus
I be furnished. Its submission to Congress which
1 represents in one of its branches the States o
/ this Union and in the other the people OF tht
I United States, 3here there may be reasonable
ground TO apprehend so grave a consequence
would certainly afford the fullest satisfaction e
| our own country, and perfect guarantee L
all other nations Of the justice and prudence o
the measures which might be adopted.
Mr.. President, who is the greater au'
thority on patriotism and duty, Andrew
jackson or Grover Cleveland? Under
which king, Bezonian?'