Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1900-03-30

Senators Teller and Turner Object to
Any OF the Insular Territory Be-
coming a Part Of the United States
or Any OF its Inhabitants Citizens
Ofthe United States
Washington, March >4-Two argu.
ments were presented 70 the Senate to-
day in which almost antipodal posi-
tions were taken by the two Senators.
Mr.. Teller, of Colorado, in a brief
speech maintained that the Constitu-
ton could not extend over territory
acquired by the United States, while
Mr.. Turner, of Washington, elaborately
contended that the Constitution en-
braced the acquired territory the very
moment the United States took perma-
nent possession of it. Mr.. Teller held
that this government could make the
outlying territory into States or could
hold it as colonies as it saw fit; while
Mr.. Turner maintained that the United
( States could not hold colonies or de-
Tendencies. Aside from the constitu-
tional questions, the two Senators were
in practical agreement. Both were op-
! posed to the pending Porto Rican bill
and both objected to any of the insular
territory becoming a part of the Unite J
States or any of it's inhabitants citi
zens of the United States
Mr.. Teller. who expected to leave for
Cuba tonight took the floor first. In
a general way he announced he had no
doubt of the power of the government
! to govern the possessions it had ac-
quired. Mr.. Teller declared he could
find ample authority for legislation re-
lating to our insular possessions-au-
thority not derived from the Constitu-
ton. And I do not believe" said Mr..
| Teller, that the Constitution is in
force in any of our new possessions.
Congress, I believe, is supreme so far
as the making of legislation for ac-
quired territory is concerned. Of course,
in enacting such legislation, Congress
is bound by certain fundamental prin-
{ ciples that underlie this free govern
ment After a careful examination of
all Supreme Court authorities I have
been able to find only one case that
Will support the doctrine that the Con-
stitution goes of it's own vigOr into the
acquired territory
He believed in making the acquired
territories part of the United States
was optional with Congress and that
we have the same power as Great Brit
ain to hold colonial possessions. He did
not believe, nov eve, that such terri
tory should be regarded and governed
as incipient States Of the Union. Porto
Rico might, he thought, be held under
the sovereignty of the United States
and the people subject to our dictation
might make the laws of the island and
the United States might determine
what the inhabitants should or should
; not do. He found no legal difficulty in
dealing either with the acquired pos
sessions or their inhabitants.
81 do not want to make Porto Rico
and the Philippines a part Of the
United States and I do not want to
make their inhabitants citizens of the
United States" said Mr.. Teller. He
added that the relation he would es-
tablish between the United States and
the acquired territory was entirely
consistent with the history and tradi-
tions and principles of this country. If
/ he had time, he believed he could prove
that the fathers of the country con-
templated the acquisition and the hold
ing of colonies by the United States.
''1f any, he continued "can show a
better way out of the trouble than the
holding of the possessions we have ac-
I quired I am willing to consider it.
would a great deal rather make Porto
Rico and the Philippines colonies or
provinces than to make them States,
which would bring all their inhabitants
under the flag as citizens of the United
States. These islands are not a part of
the United States to-day. We don't
want the inha bitants of these islands
to be made citizens of the United
States. That is what this bill does and
if there were nothing else against it
that alone would induce me to vote
against it,
Mr. Teller said he desired all posi-
BILE and reasonable advantages and
privileges to be extended to those peO-
pie, but he would not have them par
ticipate in the election of a President
of the United States or would he give
them representation in Congress.
eff the people of Porto Rico are citf-
zens of the United States then we are
doing them a great injustice if we levy
a tariff on therproducts; if theyar not
citizens then we have the same right
to levy tariff on their goods as We
have to place tariff on the products
of Great Britain. The question of the
treatment Of Porto Rico and the treat
ment of the Philippines are entirely
different and distinct. The great ques-
ton is how can we do justice to the
inha abitants of those islands and do JUS
tice to ourselves at the same time. Bad
as this bill is it is infinitely better
than anything the people of Porto Rico
ever had before. -"
Mr. Turner then resumed his discus
sion of the Porto Rican measure, citing
more constitutional authorities in sup
port of the contention that the Con-
stitution followed the flag into all ter
ritories acquired by the United States
with the idea OF being held permanent
ly. Mr.. Turner challenged any Senator
to produce a decision of the Supreme
Court holding it to be necessary that
the Constitution should be extended by
act of Congress over acquired territory
or that the Constitution did not extend
ex propriO vigore over such territory.
In conclusion, he declared the pend
ing bill was manifestly uncOnstitutiOn-
al. It was undemOcratic, unrepublican
and an unauthorized exercise of power
over the inha bitants of Porto Rico; and
he thus warned the powers in the ma
jority: Beware unless you betray the
hopes of the future in the exigencies Of
the present"
The Senate then, at 8 p. m, ad-
journed.