Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-14
s,cx,rIc,Nr ANNOUNCEMENTS.

! epondcnt is very close TO those III '"V
co,6dopce Of the administration, says
that action has been taken by the Sta'e
4 Doportment looking 10 the collection Oh
important data respecting the trade OF
the United states with foreign countries
and OF such countries with each other,
which will be presented to Congress about
January 1st. The information Will. adds
| the special be used to show the necessity
| of establishing department not only lor
the administration Of Colonial affairs put
for the protection and extension Of Amer
lean commerce. 10 be known as the De
nartnocut of Colonial Affairs and Foreign
! Commerce.
This IS a most significant am ounce
nenf Although in dealing with the PM
ipnipe problem the President, in the eN-
| erciee of his war powers" has or seNe-
! raj occasions shown disposition 10
camp outside Of the Constitution, mere
we have what may be regarded as the
first definite declaration that he had de-
| termined upon a permanent eXtra-cohsu-
! h,tional policy. and would ask Congress
to endorse it,
The idea OF a Colonial system-anu
| hence Of a Department Of Colonial Al
! fairs--is obnoxious TO the doctrines OF the
! fathers as laid down over and over again.
! ord the establishment of such system
and such department would be viola
| ton Of the Constitution. as the Consttu-
! ton in its bearing upon that question:
has been interpreted by the supreme judi
cial authority Of the country. That we
cannot acquire territory except for the
purpose Of making OF 1t state or states
| is a cardinal and great underly-
/ ing principle OF our institutions. MI
! Jefferson recognized this principle in spe-
cifc terms as far back as the time when
ne presented to the Continental Congress
Virgiuia's deed Of cession Of her north
west territory. and submitted a plan Oh
government for the embryo States ana
/ that recognition he emphasized IN MS
message to Congress setting forth his rea-
| sons for making the Louisiana purchase.
| Mr.. Madison urged the adoption OF the
/ Federal Constitution as safeguard
against conditions that might open the
door for maintaining dependencies, and
! as we know, his fears in respect 10 this
matter were shared by nearly all Of the
! other earlier statesmen.
And last, but not least, the views on
! this point held by Mr.. jefferson and MI
! Madison and their contemporaries have
becn formulated into clear, distinct
and unmistal1able deliverance by the Su-
preme Court Of the United States. AL
though the decision in which this deliv-
orancc appears has been reversed as to
the primary issue involved in it, that
part which relates to the question under
consideration stands unassailed and I'M
assailable. We quote:
"There is certainly no power given by
the Constitution 10 the Federal Govern
ment TO establish or maintain colonies
bordering on the United States, or at
distance. to be ruled and governed at us
own pleasure; nor 10 enlarge its terrific
rial limits in any way, except by the au-
mission of new States That power is
plainly given, and if a new State is adj
mitted it needs no further legislation by
! Congress, because the Constitution .'selt
! defines the relative rights and powers
and duties of the State, and the citlzens
/ of the state, and the Federal Govern
ment. But no power is given 10 acquire
territory to be held and governed in
| that character"
Now mark This Is not an anti-anneX-
alton opinion. 1t grants the ''annexa-
ionists" all the latitude they could de-
sire, providing they are willing to take
the consequences of repudiating the Mon
roe doctrine. 1t 'says the power to ac-
ouire territory by the admission OF
new States is plainly given. And for the
consolation of the "annexationists," we
would note that it accentuates this con-
clusion. yet 1t also accentuates its de-
nunciation Of colonalism, and conse~
quently of its concomitant, imperialism
''The power" 1t iterates, ito expand the
territory of the United States by the ad-
mission of new States is plainly given
but territory. it continues, sis acquired
| TO become a State, and not to be held as
n colony" And again: "a power, there
fore in the General Government to OBJ
tain and hold colonies and dependent ter
ritory would be inconsistent with
its own existence"
/ Considering all this, may it not be SAID
| that the Herald's special shows the de-
termination of the administration TO
ruthlessly trample the Constitution under
foot, if possible? We think so.