Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-03-21
Wrong Again.
Oamas Block =


the constitution for campaign pur-
noses. In its issue of last week,
speaking of the Porto Rican tariff
bill, it S Us; The supreme court
viii be called upon to decide
whether the federal constitution is
a real and binding obligation or is
only theory and makeshift. The
constitution is supposed TO guar
antee all citizens the same rights
and equality before the law, and it
is upon this principle that tie
whole structure of the government
is founded. The republican ma
iority in ngress now says, in eff
feet, that this principle is no longer
applicable, but citizens removing
or living in another part of the
United States can be taxed or 9th
erwise Disseminated against in
their dealings with other citizens
Of the common country"
This excerpt assumes that our
late possessions acquired under
Spanish treaty are territory be-
longing to the United States. The
assumption is undoubtedly correct
1t also assumes that the inhabi-
tants of these lately acquired pos
sessions are full-fledged citizens OF
the United States proper. This
assumption is erroneous. 1t also
assumes that the republican party
in congress is now advocating and
carrying into effect a different prin-
ciple on this question from that
which has heretofore been prac-
ticed. This assumption is wholly
and entirely erroneous.
The Tribune may not know
we assume it does know-that the
question here presented was the
immediate cause of the organiza.
ton of the republican party. The
republican party was organized i'll
1856. The democratic party held
its national convention that year
on the end day of June, and after
resolving and re-resolving in favor
of slavery, in order to cinch the
matter and leave no doubt in the
mind of any man as to where il
stuod, added mon interference
of congress with slavery in the ter
rtories or in the District of Colum
bia." Five days afterward the re
publican party held its first ma
tlonal convention, made its frs
platform and put this in as one o
its planks: Resolved, that thu
constitution confe1s upon congress!
soverein power over the territories
OF the United States for their gov
eminent, and that in the exercis,
OF this power, it is both the RICH
and the imperative duty of con
gress to prohibit in the territorie
the twin relics of barbarism, polyg
amy and slavery"
Now, sovereign power is suprem
power, unchecked or unlimited il
any way or M nner except by tn
Will and conscience of the legisla
tor. The taxing power is one G
the incidents of sovereign power
On this there is no dissent anon.
Jurlsts. The democratic party TN
der the leadership OF John c. Cal
houn of South Carolina the
ella med and advocated that tn
Constitution of Its own force an
vigor extended aud spread over III
te rltOries and had the same. fore
aud effect in them as it had III tn
States of the United States An
that congress in legis! ating for tn
territories was bound by all tn
limitations of the constitution
This construction of the constitu
ton as the instrument then stoo
would have conferred on the slay
owner the right 10 carry his hi
man chattels into all the terrific
ries OF the United States and
have them protected the same
any other property. Webster pr
nounced this Interpretation "a ne
dogma and "a dangerous polite
heresy." Tom Benton characte
izSd it in similar and perhaps eve
stronger terms, and called it tt
transmigration of the constlt'
ton"
In 1860 the republican par