Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-12-20
ATTY. GEN. GRIGGS' ARGUMENT
In the Cases Involving Status OF Porto Rico
and the Philippines.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-The United
States supreme court again was crowd
ed to its full capacity. today. TO hear
the concluding arguments in the cases
involving the status of Porto Rico and
the Philippines. Attorney General
Griggs. who began the government
presentation, yesterday. had four hours
remaining and the indications were
that he would consume practically the
entire day. leaving the close by Charles
Aldrich on the Philippine case TO be
presented. tomorrow.
The attorney general elaborated the
points enunciated, yesterday. one OF
these to which special attention was
given was the distinction between OF
ganzed territories and unorganized
territory under the jurisdiction of the
United States. Justice Brewer has
asked the attorney general to make
clear his views on this distinction. Mr.
Griggs took up territory after territory
showing in each case that it, the ter
ritory came under the operation of the
laws of the United States by an act of
Congress specifically ending the laws
to the territory and not eX proprio
Eigore He said that while Rhode Is
land and South Carolina stood outside
Of the union they We're treated as for
eign states. and when they ultimately
assented to the Union. Congress passed
a law extending the revenue laws TO
them.
Vermont had. prior to its admission
as a state. been a part of the territory
belonging to the United States. If the
revenue laws We're applicable to the
territory of Vermont pToprio vigore. it
was an act of superogation to extend
them to the state. In the case OF
Louisiana the attorney general pointed
out that all the declarations of Jeffer-
son were to the effect that in order "a
come under the operation of the laws
of the United States those laws must
be explicitly extended to new acquisi-
tions jefferson selected certain acts
to he extended and others TO be ex-
tended from the time to time as might
be found practicable.
The attorney general directed attention
III the instance of the acquisition Of Flor
ida to the fact that three America
statesmen. Monro" John Quincy Adams
and andrew jackson. united liz declaring
oficial'y :Fat the constitution did not ap'
ply of its own force to territory newly
acouired by this nation by virtue of act
Of ACQUISITION but that such extension
must be accomplished By the action OF
congress.
Mr. Griggs also specified the territora
orga MIA ton of Oregon. Missouri. Mon
Iana and Wyoming. in each case showing
hat Congress specifically extended tht
laws 10 these territories.
Finally. as to the extension of the law:
TO the territories. Mr.. Griggs said tina
by act of Congress in 1874 Congress hac
expressly extended the constitution an,
federal laws TO the organized territories
and to every territory hereafter organ
lied. But the act went no further thar
organized territories and could not b
interpreted to mean eXpanSe of countr!
entirely unorganized. The Guano island
Were cited in support of the proposition
that territory may belong to or be unde
tire jurisdiction of the United States with
OUT being a part of the United States
Over 20 different isianuS. keys and group
of islands have thus been taken posses
sion OF and made for such special pur
poses the property of the United States
They enjoy certain privileges under tn
Law and the United States supreme cour
has recognized their status. but they ar
not part of the United States.
turning from his books. Mr.. Griggs ey
claimed in impassoned tones: "Wh
should this government be considered I
nave less freedom of action in this ma,
Ter than other nations? Why are we $
usd and bound that are never to ST
cure The fruits of victory, never to az
aoire an island Of the sea- a belt acros