The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-27
Revival Of Calhounism.

The title of Bourbon. as applied to any
section OF the Democratic party. especially
that now controlling its destinies is mis-
homer In one sense The Bourbon family
were noted for never learning and never
forgetting anything The present Bourbon
element in the Democratic party. while
showing its lncapacity to learn. has also
exhibited a capacity to forget and depart
from what were once certain fundamen-
tai tenets OF the party. Any peculiarly
rank heresy, evolved for the purpose D,
meeting a temporary political exigency.
however is never forgotten. 1t may have
sunk into oblivion. forgotten outside of
| the party It may have become outworn.
! diseredted and apparently abandoned;
but soon or late the old heresy pops up
and is forthwith again accepted by the
obedient Democracy as controlling prin-
cipie.
Thus with the proposition. now. after
| front, that the constitution extends Of its
own vigor over all of the newly acquired
territory. That doctrine was the creation
| OF Calhoun. 1t was brought forward for
the purpose OF forcing slavery upon the
| territories. Thomas II. Benton was once
considered the highest OF all Democratic
followed Calhoun and Calhounism through
the successive stages of notification. Sc
eession and rebellion. In Benton's Thirty
Years In the United States Senate" Vol. 2.
| page 49, he gives the history OF this her
| esy Ms follows:
"A new dogma was invented to fit the
| case--that Of the transmigratiop of the
| constitution (the slavery part of in into
| the Notwithstanding and overruing
| the anti-slavery laws which II found
| there and planting the institution there
under Its own wing, and maintaining 1t
| there beyond the power of revocation
either by congress the people of the
/ territory. History cannot class
| higher than az a vagary of n diseased
Imagination this imputed self-acting and
| seh-extension OF the constitution. The
! constitution does nothing of itseif--not
even In the states for which II was made.
Every part of 10 requires law TO pat Il
! in operation. No part OF Il can reach n
territory. unless impaired 10 IL by an act
/ OF congress"
II Is 10 the doctrines OF Calhoun. In
spired solely by desire 70 force slavery
upon the people Of the territories, that
the Democratic party, eager TO haii the
Chinese and Malays of the Philippines as
their fellow citizens. are turning today.
| repudiating the Democratic doctrines of
Benton. the follower Of Jackson and Of
jefferson.
Fifty names are TO be Inscribed In the
Han OF Fame In the New York univer-
sIiy OF the thirty names so far select
ed. two are az men who won their high
est title to be thus honored on account
Of their standing as iurists--John Mar
shall and Daniel Webster. These two men
are selected as representing the broadcst
learning in the highest branch of Judi
eial knowledge, that OF constitutional law
Marshall was styled the "expounder or
services TO hts country were in defending
and preserving the principles OF the con-
stltntion, in the courts. In the forum.
and in the hail % the senate Of the Unit
ed States. from wrongful and hereiical
perversion. This Is SHAT John Marshall
had to say OF the power o. congress over
newly acquired territory. in the decision
handed down by him In the supreme court
ot the United states. in the case o. the
American Insurance Company vs.. canter,
coming ar from Florida. while that stale
WAS a territory;
THE constitution confers absolutely on
the government % the Union the powers
~ making war and ~ making treaties
consequently that government possesses
the power 81 acquiring territory. either
hy conquest or by treaty"
As 20 the status q the Inhabitants ot
the coded territory. he said.
'-They 90 not participate IN political
power they % not share IN government
untN Florida becomes O state .
Perhaps the power ~ governing territory
h,alenEinE 20 the Unitea States which has
not. hF becoming a state. acquired the
means 81 Esif-gnverpmeut may result
necessarily from tbs fact that it n not
Z WYNN tet &%ffFt tf8A w AfsN particular
state. fhg right io govern may b. the
Inevitable consequence ~ ihe riKht o. ac-
g4irc territory. Whatever may Dc the
seUrce from watch the power is acquired
the possession ~ u - uaquextiansa"
Webster met this question % ,he Ok.
tension ef the constitution fairly and rat
lY ia a speech Va ths Unliea States senate.
tn she roilosiag lanxuase
As TO ths power " congress. hsge
noi hiaE SO add 10 What 3 sald the other
| aay CeHgress has fuN power over sue
| subject Il uiAy establish ans sach gov
| eminent and any such laws In the terri
! tories a.. m Us discretion. is may see 81
" Is sussect. - course. 10 jhs rules of
Justice and propriety. but It Is under no
constitutional restraint"
This IS the lansasSe o. probably the
| aEeaInar cnnstltntLnnal lau,-a- ia. IA.