New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-24
DEBATE on HAWAIIAN BILL.
SENATORS VEST AND FORAKER DISCUSS
CONSTITUTIONAL. QUESTIONS

washington. Feb 23.-At the close of Mr. Dam
.ei speech on the Quay the Hawaiian Govern
,ieht OH was taken up. and Mr. Morgan resumed
mas speech but yielded the floor to Mr. AIdrich
Currency bill
Inc hawaiian bill again taken I'D. and MI
vest addressed the Senate He had been intensely
opposed, ne said the annexation Of Hawaii but
that was now a dead issue Il shall vote for the
Dill said he. IT is above and beyond constitu-
tonal objection, and does not raise anv of the
ISSUES That are raised in relation TO Puerto Rico
and the Philippines" He thought the thanks OF
the people were due TO the Senator's who had Dre-
pared the measure There was no provision in ii
changing the tariff, and that implied that
fia"ah was not a part of the United States
REFERRING 10 the Philippines Mr.. Vest said: THE
proposition that the United States can hold terri
tory as a colonial possession and its people as
Fassals Is the most preposterous and dangerous
mat mas ever been advanced in the of my
pohucal NE Mr.. Vest discussed at length the
acquisition by the United States of foreign terri
tory, and strongly defended the decision in the
Dfeu scott case His application of that case was
that the Supreme Court unanimous in decIar-
ing mat the Constitution covered the territories
he held with Chief Justice fancy that the term
United States meant the empire OF the United
states'-ststes Territories and all other possess
sions.
In making request for the insertion in hts re-
marks Of certain decisions he had not read Mr.
vest said: In all Of these decisions-and 1 chaI-
lehge successful contradiction-the Supreme Court
e-'N N-S Poo+Ie OF territories and of the Dis
lrlct OF columbia all the rights privileges and i'm
munltles given TO the people of the States" When
vas II ever heard. he inquired. 1t was neces-
SAY Ior congress 10 pass extend the
Sonsututlon over acquired territory?
his new doctrine" said he, sis utterly abhor-
rent II violates every principle OF a republican
soEernIneht: II goes even further than England
mas gone with her colonies. Is Puerto Rico part
OF the United States? If so, where did Congress
Eet the authority TO impose duties upon imports
from that country? And why is IL proposed TO
pace an export duty upon its products when the
its such a tax?"
Mr. Foraker replied briefly to Mr. Vests re
markable argument" II too late to enter into
an extended discussion of the bred Scott decision
upon which Mr.. Vest largely had based his argu-
ment- He thought that decision had been dis
cussec quite adequately in the last Congress. He
asserted that the author of the Declaration of In
dependence entertained such views those ad-
Vanced by Mr.. Vest. and he sketched the kind of
government Thomas Jefferson himself engaged
IN setting up. He drew a distinction between ter
rtory belonging TO the United States and territory
which was part Of the United States.
There is he said the United States proper.
for which the Constitution is the organic law, and
there the territory outside of the United States.
which belongs TO the United States, but IS
part Of the United States"
The Senate at $40 p. adjourned until to-nor
row.