The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-17

Washington, March 14.-Without the
transaction of any business in open ses-
sion, the senate today went into exec
utive session. Previous to the closing
of the doors, the official stenographers
and all the employees of the official re-
porters office were sworn to secrecy and
when the doors were closed one Of the
reporters was invited into the chamber
to make a detailed report of the pro-
ceedings with the understanding that
it should be published after the vote on
Tuesday next.
When the doors were closed, Senator
Spooner began his speech on the Pana-
ma canal treaty in reply to Senator
Morgan. Departing somewhat from his
usual directness, Mr.. Spooner introduce
ed his remarks with a series of cOmpli-
mentary illusions to Senator Morgan
in which he touched upon Mr.. Morgan's
great familiarity with al questions per-
tanning to an inter-oceanic canal, as we'll
as his generally acknowledged inter-
est in that subject. Much of his speech
was legal in it's character and was de-
voted to sustaining the point of view
presented by Attorney General Knox,
in his report upon the title which the
Panama Canal Company is capable OF
making to the canal property and fran
chises. He expressed the view thar
there could be no doubt that this com>
pany has come legitimately into pos
session of the canal concession and he
said that having SO acquired the props
erty it had an undobuted right to trans
fer it in turn to the United States or
to any other purchaser.
Senator Spooner took sharp issue with
Senator Morgan as to the necessity of
making inquiry concerning the creden-
tials of Senator Herran who was Colom-
bias representative in the negotiation
of the treaty with that country, saying
that such approaching on the part of our
country in negotiation with another
would be most extraordinary and that
it would certainly be resented. He
contended that one country in making
a treaty with another must recognize
the De Facto of government of the
other and that it could not enter upon
inquiry as to the origin or substantial
ity of the other government.
He also made reply to Senator Nor
gan's references to the religious affilia-
tionS Of the Colombian government.
Senator Morgan had contended that the
United States had practically allied it.
self with the church party in Colombia
and that it had in effect committed it
self to the terms of the concOrdia or
agreement. Pope Leo anG the ColOm-
bian government. This view Mr..
Spooner characterized as entirely con-
trary to the facts. He said that under
the treaty there would be no preteXt
for the interference by Colombian au-
thOrities with the religious conduct or
affiliations of Americans in the canal
zone. In his discussion of the title to
the Panama Canal company Senator
SpOoner traced the history of the liQui-
datiOn proceedings, concerning the ca
nal concession through the French
courts. Mr.. Spooner contended for the
regularity of every step taken and
therefore urged that the claim Of title
was perfectly good Senator Spooner
claimed that the United States would
have an indisputable right to fortify
the canal under the general provision
Of the treaty authorizing its defense.
Towards the close of his address Sen
ator Spooner was questioned by num-
Der of democratic senators, particular
ly by Senator Morgan.
In reply to their questions and also
of his own accord Senator Spooner said
that there were some features of the
| treaty which he would prefer to have
! otherwise, but that the terms were the
| best it had been possible to secure, and
| in view of the general popular desire
| for an inter-oceanic canal, he believed
| that eXpediency demanded that the
treaty should be accepted as it had been
| sent to the senate by the president.
Mr.. Spooner closed at five minutes
| past ) o'clock after speaking for just
| five hours. He was followed by Sen
ator Depew, who read a written speech
| supporting the treaty as in the Interest
Of the people of the entire country. He
| referred to the criticism that the ca.
| nal would be injurious to the railroad
| interests of the country, and said tha'
| as a railroad man. he was thoroughly
| convinced that such would not be th'
| case. On the contrary, he was of th'
| opinion that the construction of thf