Evening star., 1899-02-02
Senator Spooner on the Policy of
Expansion.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE CONSTITUTION
He Was Frequently Interrupted by
Senator TilIman.
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL


We're fi'cd-
Mr.. Ilarr CN " laid before the Senate
the resolutions adopted by the legislature
Of New York urging the immediate ratlfl-
cation Of the peace treaty. in this conhec-
tfon Mr Chandler IN. H.) called the atteh-
tion Of senator's to similar resolutions
adopted by the legislature of New Hamp-
shire
Meszrs. Hale Perkins and Faulkner were
named as the committee of conference 1or
the Senate on the consular and diplomatlc
appropriation bill.
Mr. Aldrich (R. II presented number
Of memorials from business mems associa-
tious Of Boston New York and Chicago
urging that the terrIJOTy, except Cupa, ac-
quired by the United States during the
tate war he retained until such time as
Congress may determine its final DISPOSE
Lion.
Mr.. Chiffon CTex1 presented the creden-
tiaIs Of Charles a. CulbeTsOn, e-ected
senator from Texas Tor the term OF SIX
years from March /, 1859. They were h!ed-
Mr. Tilman Is. c. offered the following
resolution. which was adopted: That the
President be requested, if not incompatl-
bic with the public interest, 20 inform the
Senate whether any franchises or conceS-
sioHs of any character are being or nave
been granted by any municipality in Cuba
and Porto Rico since the military occupa-
tioH thereof by the United States; If so,
what they are, for what length of time and
the authority by which they have been
granted"
Mr. SpoOner Addresses the Senate.
AT the conclusion of morning business
Mr.. Spooner CWls) addressed the Senate
upon the Vest anti-expansion resolution.
In beginning, after a brief statement of
his reasons for speaking at all. he said:
4 find 10 objections. constitutional in ma
ture. to the ratihcation of the pending
treaty. The senators from Connecticut
(P.att. Colorado tGelierD. Ohio tForaker).
Minnesota tNe.sOn) have fully presented
the views on thaJ point which L entertain.
Ii held the view that the United States
could not within its constitutional limita-
lions acquire territory which was not to
he erected into states / could not give my
consent to the acquisition of the Philip
pine Islands. This Philippine proposition
Is one of the fruits Of the War-to me one
"f the bitter fruits. l can conceive of no
circumstances under which | could give my
consent Ia the admission of that archipel-
ago as d state, or as more than one state,
of the American Union"
Mr.. SpDOuer then presented an argument
in cOutravenJiOn of Chief Justice Taneys
decision in the Dred Scott case. which, he
said, was the foundation of all the opposi-
iiou 10 the acquisition of territory by this
government. After an analysis Of the Dred
Scott decision. IN The course of which he
paid high tribute to Chief Justice Taney
a. an able judge and patriotic citizen, he
Nr'i't tsttL = L'iEt ui!t-N : tttiStIl was Sitl
an argument as learned. able and ingeni-
"us lawyer would have made who held
brief fer African slavery"
Further along he said: That decision
ceased years ago to he referred to as d cor
rect Interpretation OF the law upon this
Question
Mr. Spooner maintained that the United
States undoubtedly had the power as had
previously been shown in the Senate. to
acquire territory beyond our own domain
and with that power was coupled of
course. the collateral authority 10 govern
that territory.
Mr.. Bacon (Cfa) called Mr. Spooner's at
tenuon TO the fact that the doctrine that
Jhe hlt~'i States had no power to acquire
forelgn territory except with the intention
OF coLlerrIlg upon II statehood did not rest
alone upon Justice TaEey'S decision More
than forty years before the decision was
promulgated Representative Quincy in the
House had laid down the same principle
j" this Mr.. SpOouer maintained that the
doctrine laid down by Mr. Quincy did not
AFFECT his argument, and he pointed out how
Impossible it was That these dicta should
De- taken a a permanent construction of
IN" Constitution. He knew. he said Of TO
reason why territory and the people of a
territory should not he governed by Con
SreSs, as every right 20 life. liberty prop
rrty and trial by jury would be fully safe
guarded OF course. he maintained, it was
NOT to he supposed the same system OF gov
eminent would be made applicable to all
acquired territory. Congress was given the
provisions for the territory and its people
he pointed ont that although the territory
"i Alaska did EOt enjoy Se!f-go"ernment.
It's rights ana those Of its people We're
amply sal guarded by Congress.
Right OF the Natives to Come Here.
Mr.. Ti.lman IEterrupting Mr. Spooaer. in
qUired If We acseI,, the Philippines would
the Inhabitants Of Jbat territory have the
tight To come without hindrance 10 this
country
Mr.. Spooner-"Yes; for the purposes of
my argument I am disposed to admit it."
Ar Fiatt Ccnn-)-"They have that right
Mr- Ttllman inquired whether the in
habiJauts Of "A territory could be prevented
from entering the states
Mr SpooHer said The senator from Con-
n"rii.Gt HlatD was inclined TO believe they
could he. but he himself doubted it,
MIR. Tillman further along pressed his
question as 10 the right IF the Fiipinos to
COME here, ard declared that by admitting
the Islands by treaty Io't1pao people of
that territory could take the first ship for
this country and upon arrival here could
enter into competition with American labor
That was the reason why he would vote
against the treaty.
Mr.. Sp"Crer said he had no doubt about
the CcnstitJtionality Of the cessiCn of the
Philippines or Of our right to accept them
or OF The Presidents authority to govern
IN those Islands until Congress should pro-
vide proper government Tor them Yet
he could See nothing Inconsistent in that
70 the carrying 70 rhe Inhabitants of the
Islands all the rights guaranteed by the
'puStii utlon. He then adycrtTd 20 the situ-
alton on the Islands p, for, The war with
Spain and defended Spaip's right to exer-
else sovereignty there. He referred to the
capture Of Havna by the British and the
subsequent transfer of the control of the
city back 20 Spain. ard maintained that
although Spain may have governed the
colony by tyrannical methods it stiu had
complete sovereignty.
Mr.. Caffery O.aD-'Then no longer
tyranny is exercised in q colony ey a gov
ernnent the more firmly fixed becomes its
sUvereicuty-Z -
Ny Spprner-''The senator knows I do
not mean that. and he knows. too. that
that i not true He knows too. that an
unsuccessful resistance Of tyranny does
not displace ths sovereignty Of the control
Hing power.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
it,