The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-03-19
THE EXTRA SESSION
Senator norgan Still Speaks on the
Canal Question,

Senator Morgan Tuesday secured
the first material concession that has
| been made to him by the Senate in
connection with the Panama treaty
with Colombia. This convention con-
sisted Of an agreement to attach the
| Spooner Canal act bodily TO the treaty.
| This change was made In compliance
with q request which was presented
by Senator Lodge during the days
executive session Of the Senate and
after the necessity for 1t had been dis
cussed by Mr.. Morgan and also by
other members Of the Senate.
Senator uaniel expressed the
opinion that as the preamble to the
treaty calls for the attachment Of
copy of the act that attachment was
necessary to preserve the terms Of the
document intact. Senator Morgan con-
tended that without this attachment
the treaty was absolutely invalied.
Senators Teller and Hoar took the
opposite view, urging that as the act
was in existence and Of record in the
statutes Of the United States, the
physical annexation was Of no conse-
Quence whatever. Senator Lodge, how
ever. suggested that no injury could
result from the attachment of the act
and requested unanimous consent for
that purpose. There was no objection
and Senator Morgan's wish in this re.
! spect was gratified. It was specifically
stipulated, however, that this conces-
sion did not amount to an amendment
of the treaty.
Senator Morgan consumed the en-
tire time of the remainder Of the
closed session, discussing the canal
question from various points Of view.
and going over much ground which he
had already covered. Most Of his
| speech was written, and when Senator
Cullom asked him II the 3peech ne
was reading was new one, or an old
one, he replied with some manifesto
ton Of yexation that 1t was new,
adding that he did not have to repeat
his addresses. He discussed particu-,
larly the attitude Of the isthmian canal
commission Of which Admiral Walker
Is the head and criticised to some ex-
tent tie change Of view taken by that
commission in its last report. He also
dTelt upon the variation Of the terms
Of the treaty from those of the Spoon
er law. During the progress Of his ad.
dress Senator Morgan expressed a de-
| sire to have copies OF the correspond
ence between the United States gov
ernmert and the new Panama Canal
Company bearing upon the acceptance
OF the option given by that company
to tie United States to purchase the
canal for S4O,O00,000 and the Senate
| consented to make request on the
Secretary of State for those docu-
inelts. They had not arrived at half
past-3 O'Clock and as Senator Morgan
stated that ne would be unable to pro-
ceed without them Senator Cullom
moved that the Senate adjourn AMI
thi. motion prevailed.
During the day there was more or
less informal discussion Of the propo-
sition to permit Senator Morgan to
publish his remarks in The Congress
sional Record, but there was no effort
to reach O conclusion on tnis point.
Senator Cullom, chairman Of the com.
mittee On foreign relations, has taken
the position that this permission to
print shall not be granted unless Sena-
tor Morgan will agree to allow a day
to be fixed for the vote upon the
treaty. On the other hand, Senator
Morgan says that he is entirely inde-
pendent Of the Senate in these re-
spects because he says he can dis
cuss to any extent he please in the
public print former treaty between
the United States and Colombia, which
ic oil with handing
treaty and which has been made pub
lie.
During the day Senator Morgan for
warded to each Senator copies of
eight pamphlets prepared by himself
on the canal question. They dealt
usually under special titles, with the
following subjects: The History OF
Colombia's Canal Concessions and the
Organization of Canal. Companies"
"The Methods Employed to Put the
Old Panama Canal Into Operation in
France" "Colombia's Relationship to
the Canal Company; 1.-The Campaign
of Bo, Hutin and Cromwell Of Tempta-
ton, Insolence and Coercion" AT
torney General Knox, and the Law OF
the Case" and THE State OF Civiliza-
ton in Colombia"
In the second Of his pamphlets, SEN
ator Morgan contends against the
validity Of the title Of the new Pana-
ma Company, declaring that the
French courts had no power to dis
solve the old Panama Canal Com
pany or to appoint liquidatcr to hold
and control the property OF that COM
pany In Panama. Mr.. Morgan asserts
that the French courts oysrstepped
the jurisdiction in the matter Of trans
fer Of title. Mr.. Morgan accuses those
desiring to sell the canal Of riding
down the Colombia constitution" and
asserts that s1,000,000 in gold was
furnished by the new canal company.
together with the use Of its railroad
and ships to Colombian leaders in or
der to prolong the canal concession
by maintaining the army and continu-
ing the state of war. The trampling
Of their constitution under foot in this
manner he characterizes as very
bitter experience for the people Of
Colombia. Senator Morgan takes is
xx,:xl 4ho af