The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-01
Some Treaty Provisions.


Mr.. Rdurke Cochrane processes to see
a great difference between the acaulsi-
ton OF Louisiana by Jefferson, and the
acquisition OF tho Philippines by Nc
Kinley. largely based on the fact that
the Louisiana treaty contained the fol-
lowing provision:
'sThe inhabitants Of the said territory
shall be Incorporated with the Union OF
the United States and be admitted as
soon az possible, according to the princi-
Pile OF tho federal constitution, 10 the en-
toyment Of all rights. advantages and
imfnuntties OF the citizens OF tho Uni
ted States, and in the meantime they shall
be maintained IN the free enjoyment OF
their liberty. property and the religion
they possess."
He does not. however. show what
Jefferson's Interpretation OF this treaty
provision wns Mr. Jefferson held. in
effect. and by his public actions. that
this treaty provision gave 20 the in
habItants OF Louisiana precisely the
same rights which any American citi-
zen had---in Louisiana. lie did not con-
slider that II gave 10 them the right to
have any voice whatever in their own
government, for he promptly procured
from congress authority to govern
Louisiana as he saw ut. The first ter
rltoriai government for Louisiana, SUBJ
seuuentIy established vested the APP
pointment Of all officers In the hands OF
the president. and absolutely barred the
voice In their own government Their
allegiance was transferred to this coun-
Try without their consent being asked
or received, and IN fact against their
indignant protest. which was not
backed up by arms solely because the
Louisiana people saw the hopelessness
II such struggle.
II II worth while 20 note that the
treaty with Russia. whereby Alaska
was acquired. contained provisions sim
ilar to those In the Louisiana purchase
treaty The provision In the treaty
with Russia follows;
'eThe Inhabitants AZ the ccded territory.
according 20 their choice. reRerving their
natural allegiance, may return to RUS
sia Within three years bat " they should
prefer % remain tn the coded territory
they. WITH 'Ae exception nr unclvilized
native tribes. shall be admitted Go the
enjoyment ~ all the rights, advantages
and immpnltcs of citizens % the tfsltei
States, and shall BE- maintained ard pra-
sta41 fst stIs.I
srts, property and religion"
Following the prcceaent set by JEFF
ferson, this government held. In prae-
,lee. that this provision operated In M
sense as limitation UPON It's powers
q government u the new territory.
and conferred no obligation 20 admit
the Russian Inhabitants ef Alaska 10
any yoscc or share IN the government
u that territory. A consequence.
Alaska VAS governed hy the president
directly, Without the passage by con-
gress ~ any act on the subject. for
more thaa 0ftocn years During taat
time. the sole form OF prntenso 81 gov
ernmeat In Alaska Was the win og the
military ~ naval commander who hap
penra 20 b. IN command % the United
states farc,s Ia the territory. ana this.
Withag, a line of writtea law 20 guide
hlal IA performlng HIS duties The oaiy
eiNH Officers In ,he district were those
n the cassom aouse and their only
duties we're tae collection % revenues
u may aieo be remarked TIA, the mill
tary authorities had occasion az vast
vaa times 60 Put down native revelts
ans "a SO aoias or<aslonSlly sae.lod
and destroyed native vuiage.
The truth % gae matter is that the
psmeesatic party IN Its present cutlery
against so-csilea imperialism. is just
about oue hundred years too late.
what this government has done ana
what It proposes 60 DO In the Phillip.
pines is strictly IN accordance with the
presidents which werc set when the
nrst territory was acquired by the new