New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-22
hdgety proposal for recognizing the sovereignty
O. the Transvaal
AN ANSWER.-SAID TO BE "HIGHLY IN
TERESTING"

We find the following inquiry to our address
in THE Washington Tines:
We are edited by a most wise and ponderous
argument INDUCED in by The New York Tribune
in connection with the appeal of Puerto Rico for
relief from the desoation of Dingleyism The
ground that Puerto Rico is not a part OF the
United States and such entitled TO domestic
free trade but is merely bit of outlying Ma
tional property Hence that 1t is not entitled to
consideration in matters of tariff except laws
may be passed by Congress for its benefit or
oppression.
1t would be highly interesting to know upon
what constitutional or other reasoning The
Tribune bases its opinion that Puerto Rico is not
an integral part of the United States. at least
to as great an extent as Oklahoma or Alaska.
Without wasting further wise and ponderous
arguments of our own, we shall trust to in
terest our courteous contemporary in the fol-
lowing remarks by Daniel Webster made in
the first quarter of the century, in a case
before Mr. Chief Justice fancy, which it will
find reported in the law books under the title
Am. ms. Co. VS.. Canter':
What is Florida? 1t is no part of the United
States. How can it be? How is 1t represented?
Do the laws of the United States reach Florida?
Not unless by particular provisions. The Terri
tory and all within it are to be governed by the
acquiring power, except where there are reserva-
lions by the treaty. Florida was to be
governed by Congress as she thought proper.
What has Congress done? She might have done
anything-she might have refused trial by jury
and refused legislature"
And lest 1t should be thought that this was a
hasty opinion of the ''wise and ponderous" Mr..
Webster, we venture to quote from his debate
with Mr.. Calhoun in the United States Senate,
over quarter of a century later in February,
1S49 when Mr.. Webster said:
What is the Constitution of the United
States? Is not its very first principle that all
within it's influence and comprehension shall be
represented in the Legislature which it estab-
fishes, with not only a right of debate and a
right to vote in both houses of Congress, but a
right to partake in the choice of President and
ePresident? The President Of the
United States shall govern this territory as he
sees fit till Congress makes further provision.
We have never had territory governed
the United States Is governed. / do
not say that while we sit here to make laws for
these territories not bound by every one
of those great principles which are intended as
general securities for public liberty. Bat they
do not ertSt in territories till introduced hy the
authority of Congress-"
1t appears therefore to have been the DELHI
crate and long maintained judgment of Mr..
Daniel Webster that territorial property situated
like Puerto Rico, only far more vitality con-
nected with the continent on which the Amer
lean Union is established, is not a part of the
United States. 1t is only needful to add that
substantially the same doctrine has been main
tanned in an unbroken line Of opinions of the
Supreme Court of the United States and of
subordinate courts from that day to this