The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-20

haustive legal argument to prove that the
constitution extended over our new posses
sions. quoting numerous decisions Of the
supreme court in support Of his contentious
Let us vote down this most dangerous
bill. l am proud to be able to say that
In my opinion, when the roll Is called on its
passage, not a solitary Democratic vote in
this chamber win be recorded In It's favor
All will stand by the Union and the consd-
tuition. We revere that instrument as the
best ever devised by the brain and intel
lect of man. 1t has been the hope and the
stay Of our people for more than .lun-
dred years"
Richardson spoke over an hour He was
several times interrupted by applause from
his side Of the house. This applause vas
especially vigorous when he said that every
Democratic vote would be against the bin
DaIseIPs Legal Argument.
Dalzell, the ranking member of the ways
and means committee followed in close
legal and constitutional argument in sup
port OF the contention of the majority, that
the constitution did not extend over our
new possessions.
by the treaty with SPAIN" he said. I'VE
acquired the islands constituting the Phil
ippines and Puerto Rico.
legislate for one OF these new possessions
we are told we must be governed by one
fixed unvarying system and that the sys-
TEN. which applies TO the United States
itself.
THE constitution was established by the
people OF the United States. for the United
States. II provides for the future admis-
sion of countries into the Union, and ax-
pressly confers upon congress the power
Of governing them as territories until they
are admitted as states. If the constitution
was In force In Florida. why was II neces-
sary to pass an act of congress extending
several Of the laws OF the United States
to Florida? Why did congress designate
particular laws such as the crimes ACES
the slave trade and revenue acts, and in
troduce them laws into Florida. il the
Inhabitants OF Florida were entitled to
them on the act of cession? II this rea-
soning of webster's be not correct said
Dalzel, then 1t being impossible % gov
ern these possession of the United States
are governed, we must either have a con-
sttutional amendment, abandon the ISL
ands or let the president govern them.
The same limitation that applies TO con-
gress applies to the president"
Dalzell expressed his opposition to free
trade with Puerto Rico at this time. I'VE
must be generous TO Puerto Rico. but just
to ourselves" said he. "If we must have
free trade with Puerto Rico. we must
with the Philippines. The result might be
the planting OF immense areas OF sugar
and tobacco. The low wages paid would
be a menace to labor In this country"
Turning to the question of the consent
Of the governed, Dalzeli asserted that in
a representative republic the right to gov
ern did not depend on the consent Of the
governed.
The method OF the government presciib
ed by the principles of Anglican liberty
as practiced in the United States would
be grotesaue in the Philippine islands, and
would bring to their people no advantages.
They would be, In point of fact. impossible
OF exercise.
THE guarantees Of liberty" he con-
Guided. do not exist alone In the constitu-
ton of the United States. They do not
depend upon the great instrument for their
strength and perpetuity. They would con-
tinue to live and flourish II that constitu-
ton were annihilated. They are the in
destruetabls heritage Of humanity"
Dalxell received an ovation when he fin-
ished.
The house then, at O'Clock. took a
recess until O'Clock. the evening session
TO be devoted to private pension bills.
Nothing Done In Night session.
Nothing was accomplished at the night
session OF the house. which was TO have
been devoted to pension legislation. Tai
bert. of South Carolina. made the point
OF no quorum, and blocked proceedings.
The house remained in session until 10
O'Clock in the hope of getting a quorum.
and then adjourned.