Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-04-02

support of the Porto Rican govelAuirai
bill, presenting the administration
view on the subject. lie said:
Mr. President. there are TWO prin
opal questions which lie at the yer,
foundation OF the pending bill On'
Is question OF congressional power
aud TIE other II question of nationa
policy. The first has been somewhat
exAaustiyely discussed, particularly
during the last few weeks, in both til,
senaLe ana the house. IN fact,
has been discussed more or less sine,
the Louisiana purchase almost cen
lUfy ago. Il Is Impossible 10 recai
q precedent or authority which has nol
Dcen invoked ia support OF one or the
other contention, aud with which the
ready become entirely familiar. The
fact is that So much attention has been
devoted TO tie constitutional question
by the able eXpounders OF the consti-
tutipH tAlsit Ststht iliS
been given To the question of policy;
that the urgency of the situation as
respects relief for Porto Ricans has
been largely overlooked.
/ shall not detain the senate by the
citation of authorities which have been
so frequently presented that its pa
fence is almost overtaxed. but shall
'ontent myself with some generaliza-
lions with respect to the power of con
sress over Porto Rico, which are
BASED upon what | conceive to be the
overwhelming weight of authority
md sound reason.
The federal government possesses
the most comprehensive manner all
.reignty of nations. 1t was not Gated
y the fathers with any limitation
pon those powers which are inherent
II the sovereignty OF the nations of
ne world.
Ii has been invariably recognized
hat one of the attributes of SOY
rtignty is the right TO acquire and gov
IN territory az tie result of war. and
am not disposed TO read into the
powers OF the United States an
bridgemcnt of those rights which per
ain 10 OTHER Soysrei@nties.
The federal government possesses
cry bread powers under the constitu-
ION which are distinctly expressed
r necessarily implied The implied
overs are such as are essential to
i've force and effect to those which
re expressed and are of eqlrsl force
nd virtue with the latter.
The constitution of the United States
learly vests in the federal govern
nent the exclusive function of declar-
ng war and of making treaties. As
IN Indispensable incident of this
aower the government is authorized TO
acquire territory In the language of
{ 'hief Justice Marshall. territory may
be acquired either by conquest or
by treaty" The authority to so ac-
Iuire territory without the amplest
power To govern and To legislate for
IL would be contradictory and abor-
tive. Our rights To govern it does not
however. rest upon mere implication.
that is quite sufficient. but
has been distinctly conferred by the
wherein il is declared
that congress shall have power TO dis
pose of and make all needful rules
and regulations respecting the terri
tory or other properties belonging to
the United states"
MAY ACQUIRE TERRITORY.
No matter what doubts have arisen
from time 10 time they have resolved
In favor OF the government To acquire
territory. Such WAS the case when
we acquired Louisiana in 1893 Florida
I'm 1919, Texas in 1915. California in
1913. the Gadsden purchase in 1888
Alaska In 1867 and Hawaii in 1895
acquisitions which are now the
the pride and glory of the
republic. How richly has been vindi-
Gated the wisdom of the statesmen
who invoked the powers OF govern
ment to extend the national sovereign
ty by the acquisition of territory, with
OUT which we would he unable today
to successfully challenge leadership
among the nations of the earth
Whether the constitution extends
automatically Ia a territory acquired
has been much debated question
Divergent views have been and are
still sharply entertained on the sub
ject. Such difference of opinion VIII
until the supreme court shat.
determine the question. Its supreme
iUtyppDr Viii he acfprNr,ai by The.
Until Ii shall interpret and
define the powers OF congress undo
the constitution the congress should re
serve 10 itself the widest possible lib
srty. the ample>t discretion in dealing
With the problems and conditions
which are now facing rs and which
we're not within the contemplation of
The wise trainers Of fhe constitution
Our constitution for which the
American people fave a respect aud
FeneraIion neNt oniy 10 their reSpec
ind veneration for Holy Writ wa
framed for the government Of a pee
pie who had in tAem the seed of SCI
which had terminated an
.rown for centuries. a people VII
we're familiar With the privileges col
erred and the duties Imposed by tLt
and who knew how Z;
'XerciSe and observe them IL WAS
ormed fer people whose wants and
were distinctly known and
In its essential gr.acinla< in its
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