The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-02-23

his colleagues as to the pending bin,
but he was compelled to dissent because
il involved nothing less than the prop
osition that congress in dealing with
the territories Of the United States had
absolute power, unfettered by any limit
atoms of the constitution John Mar
shall. as great d jurist as ever sat up
on the bench, declared in LoughbOr-
Gugh Us. Blake that the rule Of uni
fOrmity in the imposition OF duties ex-
tended to the territories.
Rule of Uniformity.
A third Of a century after the LOugh-
borough case the supreme court again.
when California became a territory. de-
cided that the rule Of uniformity would
apply to it.
IF congress is not bound by these
limitations against taxing uneQually, it
IS not by any limitation upon its power
in the constitution" said Mr.. Mccall
But we are asked to pass this bill be
cause somebody has called in question
our constitutional right TO do so. But
if you are going to pass an unjust
measure merely to show your strength,
why not begin by shearing your wolves,
New Mexico, Arizona and Alaska, in
stead Of shearing this poor little pet
lamb Of Porto Rico.
I think you are Unduly alarmed
about the effect of extending the 9rin-
ciple Of constitutional liberty wherever
our flag floats. But I say that if we
must give up either, constitutional lib
erty has been preserved to u at price
in blood and treasure greater than the
value Of a thousand archipelagOS.
I'VE impose by this bin certain per
cent OF duties upon goods passing TO
and fro between that island and this
country. How long Will it be before
some powerful interest viii demand
that they be recognized? Can there be
any doubt that the taxes VIII be levied
more and more for the benefit of the
great interests in this country, md that
the hapless people who We're told by our
generals that they were to receive the
glorious blessings Of American liberty
VINO crowned our soldiers with wreaths,
will become the victims Of our extor-
ton, rather than the sharers in our
freedom?
Chattels of the Government.
Il say far wider will it be. if. instead
Of entering upon a policy which viii
make her happy, sunny-hearted chill
dren the mere chattels of this govern
ment, we follow the humane recommen-
dation of our president and lay the
foundations of our empire deep IN the
hearts of those people.
Mr.. Moody (Mass.) spoke In favor OF
the bill. The BILL in taking of % per
cent of the regular duty on Porto Rico
goods confessed a privilege and adVant-
age to the people of that island and
their industries which would be boon
to any nation. MI. Moody declared that
the majority proposed to abide by Jhe
spirit of the constitution, rather than
4, z . IN
were guided only by a paper cOnstltu-
ton"
The chief reliance of the opposition
had been in the dictum of Chief Justice
Marshall in LOughbrough VS.. Blake, but
Mr. Moody said this case had been SUD
mitted to the court on Tuesday and de
cided on the following Friday, and ne
was not ready to accept such hastily
formed dictun as determining the very
destinies of the country
The attitude of Webster and the var
ious authorities were reviewed by Mr..
Moody. who declared that Mr.. Mccall,
in quoting Webster, had wrested por-
ton of the statement from it's context,
thus changing the meaning and placing
Webster in a position which should
make him turn in his grave.
Mr.. Parker IN. j. made legal argu-
ment in support of the regularity of the
proposed tariff, and also urged that It
would prove Of substantial advantage
to the island.
At , o'clock the house took a recess
until S p. m, when the debate con-
tinued-
At the night session speeches were
made by Wilson OF South Carolina
Lewis of Georgia and Spight of Mis-
sissippi in opposition to the bill The
session was entirely without note
worthy Incidents, and at p. N. the
house adjourned