The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-21
NELSON ON LIBERTY
Republican Senator InterpretS the
Declaration of independence.
OUR FATHERS MISTAKEN
CONSENT OF GOVERNED NOT AL
WAYS NECESSARY.
Immortal Declarations Were True
Only to Certain Extent-Minne-
sofa Senator Resents An Allusion
to His Norwegian Extraction
Senator Must Obey Instructions.


Washington, Jan 2o-In the senate
today Mr.. Nelson (AIinn) was recog-
nized to make a speech upon the Vest
anti-expansion resolution
His address was constitutional ar
gument in support Of the right Of the
United States to acquire and govern
foreign territory. He maintained that
it was no longer an unsettled question,
that this country had the power not
only to acquire foreign territory by dis
covery, conquest or treaty, but also to
govern territory so acquired. That ques-
ton, he said, had been settled by de-
clsion of the supreme court and was
scarcely longer open to debate. He re-
ferred to the territory that had been
acquired in the past by the United
States government and declared that in
no single case had the people of the
territory acquired been consulted or
their consent secured. In the TWO cases
of Texas and Hawaii we had more
nearly approached the point of consult
ing the inhabitants than in any other,
but even in these cases there was but q
shadow of consultation In that OF
Hawaii, less than 5000 of the inhabit-
ants had been asked for their consent
TO annexation.
Mr.. Nelson then entered upon an
elaborate constitutional argument, cit
ing numerous authorities in support OF
his position. He maintained that the
arguments that taxation without rep
resentation was tyranny, and that gov
eTnments derived their just powers
from the consent of the governed, were
true only in a limited extent. a ma
jority OF our people, he said, were with
cut direct representation. Women, mi
norS and imbecileS were without rep
resentation IN our government and mad
to bear their share of taxation. They
had, in other words, to U--jergo the
burdens of our government without any
ovice in its control.
n response to a question by Mr.. Ma
son Ilis.), Mr.. Nelson said that no
man could truthfully say but the rights
of Englishmen had been destroyed or
even in any sense impaired b.t Great
Britain's great scheme of colonization
Further replying to Mr.. Mason, he de-
clared that the United States, our own
magnificent government. was the prod
uct OF the colonization plans of England
and demanded to know whether Mr..
Mason would desire to blot out that
great work of England. What the peo-
pie Of England have done, said he, GER
tainly the people of the United States
could accomplish.
Colonies have not destroyed Eng
land. How Will they destroy u.s."
Mr.. Tillman Is. c., interrupted Mr..
Nelson and, referring to the contest be-
tween Sweden and Norway and the
practical severance of their relations
inquired why The Norwegians at home
wanted liberty, while those OF the
United States did not desire to give
liberty to the Filipinos-
This reference to Mr.. Nelson's Nor
Wegian birth aroused him.
am = citizen of the United States,
Mr. President" he replied, 4 am not
representing, either, the people or the
government of Norway, whose rights
and liberties I am satisfied are greater
than those of the people of South Caro-
lima" (Laughter.)
WHITES EXPLANATION.
Mr.. White OF California arose to a
question of personal privilege, relating
to the action of the legislature of Cali
fornia in instrucdng the senator from
that state TO vote for the ratification OF
the peace treaty. He read the leSisla-
tive resolutions and also the letter OF
his Republican colleague (AIr Perkins,,
asking Tor an expression OF opinion,
calling attention TO the fact that the
legislature was Republican, as was Mr..
Perkins. The question. he said, was
whether, as a senator, he was to vote
his own convictions, or to comply with
this request and vote in accordance
with the opinion of others.
Mr. White went on 10 say that he had
not joined with Mr.. Perkins in his re-
oueSL FOR Instructions from the lc5lSld-
lure and. therefore, did not consider
himself bound by the instructions
given 10 himself as well as his col
league. His colleague, in his letter. mad
given strong and cOgent reasons Tor
refusing to ratify the treaty, and he
was sorry that Mr.. Perkins was not at
liberty 10 Join with him in voting the
sentiments so well expressed by MIN.
He did not mean to minimize the I'M
portance Of public sentiment, and con-
fessed that he always took II into con-
sideration in deciding upon course OF 1
action but he was not in the habit OF I
actually voting upon It until he had
weighed ali questions in his own mind. !
True United States senators were, In !
q certain sense, agents OF the state they
REPRESENTED, but this cid not mean that
they were TO shift in position with eN-
cry turn OF the tide. The state leSlsla- I
lure had no right To instruct him in
matters involving the exercise Of mis- I
conscience or his convictions. II 50, q Z
senator elected as q Republican would I
naturally be expected TO become a 4
Democrat if the next legislature should /
chance TO be on that side.
As soon as Mr.. White had concluded, T
his Republican colleague, dr. Perkins, I
addressed the senate. He paid a high 4
tribute 10 the honesty, energy and abil- +.
jtv OF Mr. white, but, Notwithstanding
his able argument, he believed this TO .
oe a truly representative government. !.
So believing, he felt that his obligation .
Eas to the people of his state, and that .
when he had ascerJained what their 4
desires We're ne would be false 20 him /
self and to them II he did not heed their (
wishes I am opposed" said he, Ito I
the policy of acquiring the Philippine t
islands, believing such a policy 70 be q ]
menace to our government and its in
stitutions, but nine-tenths Gf the people .
of my state as their wishes are eX- .
dressed through a legislature recently .
elected. think otherwise. While I shall
vote for the pending treaty, IL VIII be .
under protest"
PHILIPPINE RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Caffery of Louisiana offered the
following concurrent resolution:
THAT the president be and is hereby
requested. if not Incompatible with the
nublfc interests, To furnish 70 the SEN
ale copies CT any communications re-
ceived by the state department from 4
any representative or agents of the
so-called Philippine republic; and also
70 furnish any information in his DOS
session or any documents fled before
4be state department relative to the
hounds of the territories in the Philip
nine islands, together with the number
Of inhabitants therein, held respectively
under the control Of the American
forces and the authority of the So
called Philippine republic showing par
ticularly what Islands or parts Of
islands, il any, can in any event be de-
livered by Spain TO the United States
The resolution went over, under OBJ