Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-06-16
NOTABLE DEBATE.
Senior Law Class Debaters Give
Good Performance
Large Crowd Out to Hear Them-They
Decided That the Flag Should be
Followed by the Constitution.
Speeches In Detail Judges are three
Well Known Morgantown Men.


Speeches In Detail Judges are three
Well Known Morgantown Men
A large crowd was out last night to
attend the debate between four mem
bers of the senior law class. They
heard an excellent performance and
enjoyed it thoroughly.
The questions discussed by four
members OF theSenior law class at Com
mencement Hail last night was we'll
handled by the young sprigs of the
law. After music well rendered by
the famous mandolin and guitar club,
Judge Johnson. who presided, came
on the stage followed by the four de-
baters who took their seats on the
stage The question is living one.
now at the door of the Supreme Court
OF the United States and demanding
solution. That question is docs the
Constitution Of the United States &c
propio uegore extend to the inhabitants
Of all the territory acquired by the
United States?"
The first speech was delivered by
George Rogers Clark Wiles for the af-
firmatiye. Mr.. Wiles will receive a
certificate. His speech was we'll de-
livered, and showed much study of the
question. He insisted that the gov
eminent of the United States is a
government of granted process; and
had no power to govern the people of
any of the territories but for that
clause In the Constitution giving Con-
gress that power; but that the power
was limited by other claims of the
constitution for the protection of
the lives, liberty and property of the
citizens of the United States. He cited
numerous decisions of the United
States Supreme Court which he claim
ed supported the position he bad Ia
ken.
He was followed by Thomas Cole
man, an Alb. Of Marietta College, an
A. M. from Columbia College and soon
to be a LII. B. Of the w. V. u. He
is a deliberate and forcible speaker
He laid down his proposition with
clearness and precision. He cited
declarations of eminent statesmen and
decisions of the Supreme Court of the
United States to sustain his position:
that, plenary power was given by the
Constitution to Congress to govern the
territories in any manner it sees fit,
and that this power is not limited by
any other clause of the Constitution,
so that Congress, If it chooses could
deny to the inhabitants of any of our
territories, the right of trial by jury,
the writ of habeas corpus, could deny
them due process Of law, that as to
the government OF the territories Con-
gress is as omnipotent as the British
Parliament. He made strong speech
from his point of view. Miss Nc
Murphy gave one of her soul inspiring
solos.
Coleman was followed on the same
side, the negative, by Charles Curtain
Rose, who is an A. b. from Waynes-
burg, and soon to receive LIB. here.
His speech was also forcible. He also
cited decisions from the Supreme
Court, claiming they hold that the
territories, are no part Of the United
States, and Congress may govern
them as it pleases, free from restraint
OF the Constitution. He claimed that
Congress for near century, by its re-
peated acts In reference to the gov
eminent of the territories, had assum-
ed that the Constitution, nor any of its
protection to life, liberty, or property
extended to the inhabitants OF the
territories, unless Congress by act ex
tended those principles to them. He
maintained that the Constitution was
made for the States, not the territor-
les. That the term "United States"
used IN the Constitution did not mean
territories, Dor include them, did not
refer to all our dominions from New
Mexico to Alaska and from Porto
Rico TO Hawaii and the Philippines,
but meant tie estates United He
made strong presentation of his
side OF the question
The debate was closed by Van Asa
Barrickman who will in few days
receive two degrees from the Univer-
sity which he has well earned, A B.
and LII. B. He was the only speaker
who during his speech elected APP
nlause from the audience. He re-
cerved this applause several times.
When in answer to the arguments of
his opponents he said that IL their POI
sitions were correct, then the very
capital OF the nation was not in the
United States, because it could not be
claimed that the District of Column
bia was state, the audience loudly
applauded. He made strong logical
speech. He showed how from the
structure Of our government Con-
gress could have no inherent power.
That all the power it had was grant
ed That it was true the power was
given to Congress to govern the terri
tories, but it must be done insubordi-
nate to those great protecting rights
guaranteed to every citizen of the
United States. That the Supreme
Court had repeatedly held, that it
was not in the power Of Congress to