The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1899-01-19
Tho Right to Aoauire Territory.

There have been able speeches in the
y. 3. s ,nsts 10 regard TO our rights under
the constitution to acquire and govern
outside territory. Prot. Harry Pratt j ad
son OF the Univtr,it, OF Chicago has 81
exhaustive article in the Review OF Re
views 90 tins question and We qnote bis
conclusions;
The power to acquire territory Is no
longer seriously questioned The purpos
es Of annexation are not limited by the
constitution. but are at the political dis
erection OF the political branch OF The gov
srnment IL Is lot accessory, therefore,
that annexed territory should be destined
for statehood. II msy be held permsnent
y as colony, for purposes OF national
defense or from economic considerations
1t may be held 10 trust for the iohabi'
ants, with the expectation OF ultir slely
turning it over TO them should they so de
sire and should they prove themselves
capable Of orderly government. Mean
while the government Of sucb territory il
subject 10 the control OF congress.
The Inhabitants Of annexed territory do
40, BY virtue OF annex ,,ion necessarily oil
become ci,ix ne Of the u iited Ststes-ii
10 not beyond question that any Of them
90 90 become. Ths fourteenth amend
usnt 10 not OF neces ity 90 to be construed
. 10 make birth 10 annexed territory re
suit 10 American citiz nship. The four
teenth amends ent relstss 10 the 'Uaited
States" That 10 tern which has two
meanings; 10 the larger sense it includes
eli that 10 within the nstionsl boundaries
the whole American empire, 81 Chief
Justice Msubsli calls II: Il tho more re
stricted sense IL ioclndes only the states,
but excludes ell federal territory. IL is in
the second the restricted = sense thst the
term 10 used 10 the consultation ss demo,
ins the sovereign power 10 which the tern
tories have no share. We, the people OF
the United States do ordsin and establish
this Constitution II 10 by no mesDs
proved thst the term occurs asywhere 10
The co stitutIon 10 any other sense Ter
ritoii . sre not states" within the mean
ing Of The constitution. snd the "Uuited
5lstes" 10 lite restricted govern mental
sense 10 merely ihs "ttAtes" federally
united. From these considerations It fol
oss ihst s1me constitutional inconveri
sncee spprehe nded from sbn I.tiop OF
snds ever the sea and iphsbited bs infer
or rsce. ere not likely TO oecur. 1, isby |
10 mesnss settled ibins tbst pettoD
,orn 10 annexed territory arc by mere
'ree Of the fou rtesotn en- "a In sot citzsos
u The Uuilsd States. o The other hand
reasonable iatsrptet dion would limit /
hs eenstituuonsl requirement TO The
t,tes. leaving citiz snship within teriitor
e TO legislative discretion. Congress
nay lay direct tax 90 such territories.
ubiec, oal, - the constitutional limiis
iou Of proportion 10 population,
The liniission Of aniiormity placed by
be eonsuiniicn on the power 10 lay inai
esi tsrs IL condsed 10 ",he UHiied
.sles. which usy well tne.n the sisies.
'bus iaere souia be 10 iisni,s.ion 10 Tar
, territories are concerned. sn5 tenes
rcarea wcnld be quits free 10 msihtsis
stfsln each system Of du,irs aud excuses
! cirsamstsrccs may ssrfsn,, irftspsc
We Of policy eoa,roiiing The states. The
s'isstlon l.~s are c01siiiutionslly iinii
slso riib rsiereEes osly 10 toe states
aua ecnsrsss may. II il seems erpsiicr, I
J 10 DO. establish tie opsE door IN orr 9