The Delta independent., 1901-07-12
a ForSorfen Cbaore--fn Hssro-y =

a Forgotten Chapter m Hfsfory
The sale OF Texas to Spain: Its
Bearing on Our Present Problems" Is
tho title Of an article. in the July
Forum by the Hon. Henry S. BouteIl.
There are few who know that the
United States held title to Texas prior
to the admission OF the Texas republic.
to the union, but such was the case,
and the transfer OF that title to Spain
by the treaty OF 1919 in exchange for
Florida has distinct bearing on the
question recently passed on by the
Supreme Court. That question is:
Have the President and the SEN
ate. by treaty. or Congress and the
President. by legislation, the consti-
tutonal power to control and deal
with territory which is not a part of
one OF the states OF the union in q
manner different from that in which
they are bound by the constitution to
control and deal with the territory
embraced in the several states?"
At the time when Napoleon sold the
Louisiana Territory to the United
States the Rio Grande was the dividing
line between French and Spanish pos
sessions on the Gulf Of Mexico. There
fore that river was the western boun-
dairy Of the Louisiana, purchase. But
Spain, secretly encouraged by Napo-
leon. insisted that Mexico extended
farther east than the Rio Grande. In
the opinion of James Monroe, John
Quincy Adams and Henry Clay. the
right Of the United States to all OF
Texas was incontrovertible. but the
south. for natural and justifiable rea-
and west Florida. which were not in
cluded IN the Louisiana purchase
Hence that treaty whereby the Fiori-
das were ceded to the United States
and the Sabine River was made the
dividing line between American and
Spanish possessions. On this subject
the Chicago Tribune says:
During the last two years Il has
often beeu asserted that ali territory
at once 'ah integral part thereof. and
Its Inhabitants become American cit
i1ens. There is nowhere in the con-
| stitution. says Mr.. Boutell. authority.
direct or implied. for the sale OF an
integral part OF the United States
and the expatriat!on OF American citt-
zens. Therefore President Monroe and
the statesmen OF hts day. when they
bartered OF Texas to Spain, did not
| consider that territory an integral
| part OF the United States. The view
they took Of the matter was that ter
ritory ouside the limits of the States
belonging to the United States could
be regulated and disposed OF by the
federal government regardless OF the
limitations and restrictions OF the
constitution. These men. II living.
would hold that the United States can
lawfully sell Philippines or Alaska.
The Wbfsky Famine IN Guam.
There comes q tale Of woe from dis
tant Guam. This is the remote island
in the Pacific where for some time
Captain Leary of the navy was be-
nevolent despot, forcing lazy Guamites
to work and unmarried ones to wed.
He appealed to the department for a
brass hand to aid in the civilizing OF
the Inhabitants but was unable to get
it. It is not a lack OF music, however.
which causes unhappiness in Guam.
1t is a scarcity OF whisky. The last
barrel of ''commissary" has been
stolen and drunk up by bad marines
on duty in the island.
This sad news is given in an order
issued by Commander Seaton Schroe-
der. U. S. ~. Governor OF Guam. In
it he calls the attention of the COM
mand to the "hoodlumism and law
lessness which are rampant in it" Per-
haps this language is not too strong
when the dastardly character OF the
crime which has been committed 10
taken into consideration. The Com
mander says eScitedly:
There Is reason for alludtng to the
theft a few weeks ago OF a barrel of
whisky from the naval hospital that was
the last and sole supply of the medical
fcer on duty here has since then been
so reduced by climatic fever that GER
tain amount OF whisky was considered
necessary to keep him from utter pros
tration. Fortunately. small supply was
obtained from n passing vessel Had that
accidental supply not been Forthcoming.
and had that officer succumoed. his death
would have rested upon the heads of the
Asoundrels who committed the theft.
Voiunrscrs Mustered Our.