Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-23
SSH CONGRESS
Continued from page ~


the happiness of our own
Mcclellan was frequently applauded
by his Democratic associates.
Brantley, Ga, spoke against the bill.
He pointed out that a year had elapsed
since the treaty of peace and yet Con-
gress had failed thus far to lay down
a policy for the Philippines. 1t was
this inaction by Congress. he said
which spread uncertainty among the
Filipinos and nerved them to further
opposition. He declared that the new
Philippine commission could accom-
plish nothing.
Grosvenor spoke in support of the
Puerto Rico bill to a well-filled House.
GrosvenOr said in closing: But we
have got the Philippines on our hands
and | will tell you what we shall tell
the people of this country, my friends.
if you will listen to me now. We will
say we have acquired title To the Phil
ipines and Puerto Rico We did not
go after them, but they came to US
and we could not help ourselves.
"A gentleman went out into the
Orient, with a little more power than
he had authority and the first thing
we knew he had captured the Lord
only knows how many islands out
there We have never yet foud out
ourselves. But he took them ana We
are there and our flag is there and we
were aided in getting a perfect title
to them from the Democratic senators
in Congress without any protest from
anybody. We have got them and the
duty is upon us and we are going to
take care of them.
we a going a mako all the
out of the transaction we can by en-
larging our trade with the Oriental
countries and we are going to embalm
the doctrines of the declaration of in
dependence upon the statute books Of
the Philippines just as quick as W.
think the time has come to do it ana
are not going to do il one minute
before if all the Democrats on Gods
earth go bowling that we have got to
do it now. applause and laughter ON
the Republican side).
we are going to do it under the per-
suasive influence of the constitution Of
the declaration of independence. Of our
Christian civilization. We are going T.
do it is rapidly as it is possible to d.
il and in the meantime We propose that
every attribute Of The constitution shall
persuade us to treat these men with
absolute fairness.
Mccall, Rep, Mass. made the most
powerful speech of the day against the
bill
Mccall said that he regretted greatly
that he could not agree with his col
leagues as to the pending bill. but he
was compelled to dissent because it
involved nothing less than the propo-
sition that Congress, in dealing with
territories of the United States. had alb
solute power unfettered by any of the
limitations of the constitution. The
question is not, does the constitution
govern Puerto Rico, but does it govern
us? Can Congress. which is the crea-
ture Of the constitutions DO these things
which it prohibits?
"A great deal of learning and much
of it irrelevant, has been expended in
discussing the meaning of the term
United States 1t is patent that the
term could have been employed in the
constitution in any one of three differ
ent senses according to the context.
But there is another and broader sense
which has become justly fashionable
since the War of the Rebellion, and
that is that this government is not
merely close corporation Of states
but that it rests in the people az a
whole. a body polite created by the
constitution
But the question involved is far be
yond the dignity of any controversy
about SyntaX. our revolution was
based on the idea that one community
had no right to permanently levy taxes
upon another community ana the prime
motive which led to the establishment
of the constitution was a desire to do
away with the barriers upon trade.
which We're set upon the frontiers of
each state SO that trade might be free
~ carried on throughout the domain
of the United States.
AS our government is not a simple
and elementary government. but one
of limited powers under a written con-
stitution. the power to tax and create
barriers within our domain against
trade should. in view Of our history be
fore the adoption Of the constitution,
be most strictly construed. The power
of taxation and the method Of it's eXrr-
else are conferred in the same clause
and the method extends wherever the
power extends. If Congress has the
power to levy taxes over an area com
prising territories then the rule Of the
uniformly applies to that same area.
This is in accordance with the primary
rules of construction. But the decisions
of the supreme court put the matter
above Question John Marshall as great
a jurist as ever sat upon the bench. Dc
clared in I.oughburough Us. Blake thar
the rule Of uniformity in the imposition
Of duties extended 10 the territories.
fantastic theory which has been discoN-
cred ny modern 1llrlStS WITHIN Is