Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-03
MR.. SPOONER'S VIEWS
Wisconsin Senator Against the
Vest Resolution
CONCESSIONS IN WEST INDIES
Mr.. Tillman Sets on Foot Inquiry
Respecting Them.
THE PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC
Badger Statesman Says II IL Only n
Tin-Horn Affair, Anyhow-Pitcb-
fork WieIder Afraid of Labor Com
petition from Aguinaldo's Realm.
THE PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC.

WASHINGTON. February IA nota-
BILE speech was made in the Senate to-day
| by Mr.. Spooner, Of Wisconsin. He took
| for his text the anti-expansion resolu-
| tion offered by Mr.. Vest but did not CON
| fine himself to that proposed declaration
of policy.
Mr.. Spooner spoke for three hours. and
| through his brilliant oratory. fine ability
as a close and astute reasoner. splendid
| qualities as an advocate. and adroitness
and cleverness OF repartee, held the care
ful attention Of an unusually large num-
Der Of senator's and a large audience in
! the galleries.
At the opening Of the session Mr.. Chill
ton. of Texas, presented the credentials
| Of Charles \. Culberson. elected sena-
tor from Texas for the term OF six years
from March T. 1899. and they We're filed.
FRANCHISES IN CUBA.
Mr.. Tillman, OF South Carolina. offered
the following resolution. which was
adopted:
"That the President be requested, If
not incompatible with the public interest.
| to inform the Senate whether any fran
chises or concessions of any character are
! being or have been granted by any muni-
| cipaity in Cuba or Porto Rico since the
military occupation thereof by the United
| States If so. what they are, for what
! length Of time, and the authority by
which they have been granted
! NO CONSTITUTIONAL OBJECTION.
At the conclusion Of the morning bust
| ness Mr.. Spooner addressed the Senate.
| In beginning. after brief statement or
his reasons for speaking at all. he said:
II find no objections. constitutional IN
their nature. to the ratification OF the
! pending treaty
'If | held the view that the United
States could not Within it's constitutional
| limitations acquire territory which was
| not TO be erected into States, | could not
give my consent to the acquisition OF the
Philippine Islands. This Philippine pro-
position is ono OF the fruits Of the wor--
to me one Of the bitter fruits. can
conceive Of no circumstances under which
/ could give my consent to the acquisition
of that archipelago as a State. or as more
than one state, of the American union.'
DRED SCOTT DECISION.
Mr.. spooner then presented an argument
in contravention Of Chief-Justice Taney s
decision i'm the Dred Scott case, which, he
said. was the foundation Of all the oppo-
sition TO the acquisition of territory by
this government.
"That decision" he said. "ceased years
AGO 10 be referred to as a correct inter-
pretation 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 do
ha al.
of course, the collateral authority TO gov
en that territory
OTHER AUTHORITY THAN TANEY.
Mr.. Bacon, of Georgia. called Mr..
Spooner's attention to the fact that the
doctrine that the United States had no
uower 10 acquire foreign territory, eX-
cent with the intention Of comforting upon
# statehood. did not rest alone upon JUS
tice Tanev's decision. More than forty
wears before that decision was promul-
gated Representative quincy. In the
House. had laid down the same principle.
To this Mr.. Spooner maintained that the
doctrine laid down by Mr. Quincy dld not
affect his argument, and he pointed out
how impossible il was that these dlcla
should be taken as permanent cohstiuc-
tion of the Constitution. lie knew ne
said. of no reason why territory ana the
people OF a ltliAtois ''''''' 49,
erned by Congress.
PHILIPPINE LABOR COMPETlTlON'
Mr.. Tilman. interruptng Mr. Spooner'
injured IF we accept the PhinppiileS
would the inhabitants OF that territory
have the right 20 come without hiiiui ""No
TO this country
Mr.. Spooner: Yes, for the purposes OF
my argument, | am disposed TO admit II.
Nr Tillman inquired whether the IN
habitants OF a Territory could De pre-
vented from entering the States.
Mr.. Spooner said the Senator from con-
necticut CHr Plato was inclined TO pc
lieve they could be- but he himself douDl-
ed it. 1900, ~.
Mr.. Tillman further along pressed his
question as TO the right or the flilplnos
TO come here. and declared that uhuer
the terms of the treaty 100000 inhabit-
ants Of that country could take ship for
this country. and on arrival here could
enter into competition with American Ia
hor That was the reason why he would
vote against the treaty
Mr.. Spooner said he had no doubt
about the constitutionality of the cessiOn
of the Philippines, or our right TO ae-
auire and govern in those Islands until
Congress should provide proper gov
ernment for them. Yet he could see no.
tnlnG lntOlSlNltNN III tlbA HiONA'iYA' 49,
q guarantee 10 the inhabitants or the
islands Of all the rights granted by the
Constitution.
SPANS RIGHT OF SOVEREIGNTY
lie then adverted to the situation on
the islands prior to the war win spain
and defended Spain's right to exercise
sovereignty there.
Mr.. Caffery, Of Louisiana: Ihen the
longer tyranny is exercised In q coiohy
by a government the more hrmly hNeu
becomes its sovereignty?
Mr.. Spooner: The Senator knows 90
not mean that. and he knows. 100 th1t
that is not true. He knows, too, that an
unsuccessful resistance OF tyranny "oe9
not displace the sovereignty OF the con-
trolling power. IL. T.,
Shortly afterward Mr.. Tiilman asalh III.
terrupted Mr.. Spooner with the statement
,hat If Spooner had been present at yes
terday's session he would not have MADE
certain statements. He then proceeded
IN cite from the reports oi the ih'eu
states Consul at Manila certain facts con-
cerning the progress of the revolution
against Spanish rule In the Islands.
EXECUTIVE SESSION SECRETS.
"Is not the Senator making public re-
piled MIR spooner, smiling some infor-
nation belonging to the executive sessions
of the Senate
"Yes, l am" replied Mr.. Tillman, but