The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-07
Spirited Discussion Over The Reso-
luton Of Senator Hoar
Calling for Information as TO Instructions 10
the Peace commI ssIoners.
The Resolution Finally Adopted in
Secret Session-Caffery of Louise
lana Concludes His Speech ON
the Vest Resolution in Oppose
ton to Expansion.

inc VesC 1teSo1uC1O0 IN OppOS1~
ton to Expansion.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6-The resolu-
ton introduced yesterday by Hoar
calling upon the President if not in his
judgment incompatible with the pub
lie interest, to- communicate to the Sem
ate the instructions he had given to our
Commissioners who negotiated the
treaty Of peace, the correspondence
which had passed between him and
the Department of State and the Com
missioners either to the Department
of State or to himself, was laid before
the Senate early in the session to-day.
Davis, one Of the Commissioners and
Chairman Of the Committee on For
eign Relations, moved that the resolu-
ton be referred to that committee,
Hoar said: II object to such a refer
ence of the resolution. 1t seems to ma
that the Senate ought to have the in
formation called for by the resolution
If, in the judgment of the President, it
would be proper to communicate it.
hope the motion will be defeated
Davis: Il hope the motion will pres
VAIL
After a debate, in which Hoar, White
of California and Allen of Nebraska
brought out the fact that the call on the
President for information was not man.
datory, and Davis said that not to re-
Ter the resolution to the committee in
charge of the matter would be unprece-
denied, the last-named invoked the
rules of the Senate and had the doors
closed for an executive session.
In the secret session the proceedings
continued on the same lines as in the
open session, the Senate finally agree
ing without a division to the resolution
calling for the instructions.
At 12:35 p. m. the Senate reconvened
in open session and Plat of Con-
necticut secured the adoption of res
olution calling upon the Secretary of
the Interior for information concerning
the cutting of dead and fallen timber
on the Chippewa Indian reservation in
Minnesota.
Gallery Of Louisiana then addressed
the Senate on the joint resolution Of
fered by Vest of Missouri, declaring
that, under the Constitution of the
United States, no power is given to ac-
quire territory to be held and governed
as colonies.
Caffery's speech was on constitutional
argument in support of the declarations
of the resolutions. He declared that
the resolution went to the root Of the
question Of the power of the United
States to establish permanently gov
ernments in territories far distant from
our own lands. He proposed, he said.
to institute an inquiry into the basic
principles of the powers of this Govern
ment
Caffery said that the sword and coun-
sells Of Washington made him the sa-
vior Of his country; that his supreme
patriotism and wisdom eminently quail
fled him to establish this Government
He referred then to that sentence of
Jefferson, that Governments can only
acquire their just powers from the
consent of the governed. declared that
the principle announced in that sem
tence marked Jefferson as greater than
king, prince or potentate.
1--WE have heard" he said, some
startling doctrines as to the power Of
the United States to establish govern
ments in foreign territory acquired by
the United States announced on this
floor" He declared that these an
than any which had ever before been
heard in the United States Congress
He quoted from the speech of Platt
(R) of Connecticut, to which his adj
dress was an answer, that part of the
Connecticut Senator's statement for the
powers Of the United States in which
he maintained the right to acquire for
eign territory was inherent and with
hot
Governments in such acquired
territory was inherent and sovereign
right.
IF the argument advanced by the
Senator from Connecticut be true and
sound" said Caffery. then the indi-
vidual rights of man are to be held by
the United States under a Congressional
despotism. Our Constitution knows no
despotis1n. 1t sedulously provides
against despotism, but right here is a
despotism Of the most fragrant char
acter."
Caffery then entered upon an elabo-
rate argument to- show that heretofore
it had been the unwavering policy OF
this Government to obtain from the
governed their consent before the reins
Of government were down over them.
CanerY Sd1Q even IL we ildu tlic iiSH
to incorporate these distant islands, in
habitated by a strange people, into this
country, freedom could not exist in the
The history of the world
shows that God has set the bounds
where the different peoples of the earth
shall abide. when look at the con-
iitions of the world, I am unaIterably
convinced that no permanent sway can
be held by the white man over the
black man in the sub-tropics, except by
l strong military and cruel despotism."
Caffery concluded at 1925 p. m.
At the instance of Hoar the House
Dill to extend the powers and duties Of
he Commissioner of Fish and Fisher
les. so as to include game birds and
,ther wild birds useful to man. was
passed. the Senate bill protecting song
birds being added as an amendment.
Morgan called up the Nicaragua Ca
,al bill, and explained the notifications
agreed to by the committee to the
offered by Berry before the
holidays.
At the request of Morgan the bill as
modified and amended was ordered
printed.
At 3:45 p. m. the Senate went into
executive session, and at 4:50 p. m. adj
burned.