Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-05-10

laws are continued in force until
altered by the Legislative Assembly
or the Congress Of the United States.
The civil government features Of
the act are not greatly different from
what is customary and usual for the
government Of territories.
All officials authorized by the act
shall, before entering upon the duties
Of their respective Offices, take an
oath ITO support the Constitution Of
the United States and the laws of
Porto Rico"
Neither the Constitution nor any
part Of 1t is in terms by the act ex-
tended over the island. Neither does
the treaty Of Paris, by which the
island was acquired, contain any stip-
ulation extending the Constitution
over IL, nor that the inhabitants
should "be corporated into the union
OF the United States and be admitted
at the proper time to the enjoyment
of all rights Of citizens Of the United
States according to the principles Of
the Constitution 80 was true Of that
with Mexico acquiring New Mexico
and upper California or those with
France and Spain for the cession of
Louisiana and Florida.
But the treaty by which Porto
Rico was acquired provides that "the
civil rights and the s.Slitical status Of
the native inhabitants OF the territory
ceded to the United States shall be
determined by the Congress."
The question then arises II the 9on-
stitution has no application TO the in
habitants of the leland and is not by
any law or by virtue Of the act Of
acquisition extended over 1t, why
should the officers created by the act,
native inhabitants or otherwise, be
required, on induction into office, to
take an oath to support the Oonstitu-
tion of the United states9
II the Constitution is by virtue Of
acquisition extended 30 far as 1t may
be applicable, then what is to become
of the revenue provision of the act
which provides that Gan msrchan-
disc coming into the United States
from Porto Rico and coming into
Porto Rico from the United states
shall be entered at the several ports
of entry upon payment Of fifteen per
oentum Of the duties which are re-
quired to be levied, collected and paid
upon like articles of merchandise im- |
ported from foreign countries?" For
the Constitution provides that "Ail
duties, imports and exoises shall be |
uniform throughout the United
States"
That great interpreter Of the Com |
stItution, whose decisions stand second |
only to the text of the instrument |
itself,i discussing in 1920 the meaning |
Of this clause said that the term United |
States as therein used meant the whole |
American Empire. ''Itisa name given
to our great Republic which is COM
posed OF states and territories."
The District of Columbia or the ter
ritory west of the Missouri is not less
within the United States than Mary
land or Pennsylvania, and it is not less
necessary on the principles Of our
Constitution that uniformity In the
imposition OF imports, dutieH and ex-
clses should be observed In the one
than in the other.
The revenue feature of the act is
only temporary, and under lite provis-
ions will SOON cease, yet there is In
volved in IL question OF vital princi-
pie to the Republic and constitutional
power demanding that masterful and
profound consideration accorded sub
iects by that non-political party, as 1t
has been called, composed OF the law
yers of the country, which "freely In
vestigates the teachings of Jefferson
and Madison, Of Hamilton and Mar
shall" alike, reconciling those teach
ings where it is possible, and IS is said
of them, always seeking the truth and
ultimately finding it.
The latter portion of the address lie
devoted to an enumeration Of the
most notable lava passed during the
year by the Legislatures OF the several
states. Commenting on this vast
amount of state legislation and con-
sidering its character, Mr.. Robertson
says:
When such legislation as this is at
tempted and has gone through the
forms of enactment to create law,
then we can appreciate the wisdom
and foresight of the founders Of our
IN the establishment Of q
tribunal, empowered to decide when
an act Of the legislative branch Of the
IL in conflict with that
which guarantees the lIber-
ty OF the individual and places q nmi-
tation upon the powers Of government
In the hands of agents.
An examination Of the great body Of
legislation of the last year will con-
vince any person that there is too
much of e disposition on the part of
legislators to interfere with the prI-
vate affairs Of the people. |