Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-07
Morgan Discusses War-mak-
ing Power of Government.
ACT OF RECOGNITION
IN PANAMA'S CASE UNFRIENDLY
TO COLOMBIA.
Believes That American Officers As
sisted in the Revolution on
the Isthmus.

Morgan took the floor to answer the speech
of Mr.. Lodge made Tuesday on Mr.. Nor
gan's resolution declaring that neither the
President, nor the President and the Sen
ate, as the treaty making power of the
United States. has the lawful power to
wage or declare war against any foreign
power without the consent of Congress,
when such power is at peace with the
United States"
Mr.. Morgan remarked in opening that he
proposed to have the ayes and noes on
various propositions advanced in his reso-
luton; that the debate on the resolution
had not controverted any of these PROPOSE
lions, nor had the debate been directed to
any question touching upon the merits OF
the resolution.
Mr.. Morgan described de facto, de jure
and independent governments; and speak
ing of Panama. said independence was a
lawful case for the future and not de-
pendent upon the recognition by the United
States of de facto government on the
isthmus. He said the President was not
justified in making facts to give him the
right to recognize government best suited
to his purpose.
Recognition an Act of War.
Colombia still has some rights under the
laws of nations" said Mr.. Morgan She
is 45O0, 600 strong. She has an area larger
than that of the state of Indiana. She is
recognized by all governments, including
the United States, as a free sovereign
power. She is the mother government Of
Panama, and according to Mr.. Bunau-
Vanilla, the Panama minister, we are
neither the father nor the mother of this
new republic. We cannot be unless by
some act we have created the government
Panama has no code of government except
that of Colombia. no laws for self-govern-
ment now, and certainly did not have on
November IS. 1908 when we recognized the
new republic. Colombia has the right under
the laws of nations to consider that recog-
milton as premature and an act Of war.
Whether Colombia does declare 1t to be an
act of war Is another matter. The third
power is not likely to be led into prema-
ture recognition unless affected by some
private benefts-until the mother country
has acknowledged the cessation of Its SOW
ereignty-just Britain proclaimed our in
dependence before the close of our war
with that country"
Mr.. Spooner asked If he had understood
rightly that we could not lawfully recog-
nize Panama as a de facto government un-
Ill Colombia had relinquished sovereignty
Mr.. Morgan stated that Colombia had the
right to consider recognition under other
circumstances as premature and an act OF
war.
"And I am compelled to say" said Mr.
Morgan, that tomorrow If the United
States government should withdraw its fleet
and marines from the isthmus, or contine
their operations to the protection Of the
railroad and to the passage across the 18TH
mus, Colombia would march in and capture
those eight men who organized the Panama
government, and drive them and their fol-
lowing of foreigners, negroes, Indians and
Cinnamon from the isthmus. Under such
conditions the position of the United States
would have been honorable, dignifed and
wholly consistent with her rights under the
treaty of 1S46. Our position would have
been In accordance with the teachings of
Washington. Adams and other authorities
that have been quoted here"
Mr.. Morgan had read an article from a
New York newspaper, purpOrting to give
the detailed history of the instruction In
Panama and the creation of an Independent
government. He said he had caused the
article to be read because 1t contained the
charge that two officers of the United
States had participa ted in the secession
and because the President had said that no
officers of the United States had taken part
in the uprising. Mr.. Morgan said the
charge should be accepted a fact, or 1t
should be traced to it's source and refuted.
He declared he believed 1t to be a true
statement of the facts.
Statements by Correspondents.
Mr.. Morgan also put into the Record a
large number of letters, written by CORE
spondents of many large newspapers,
which. he said. gave the facts concern ng
the OYerturnlng OF the colombian govern
ment on the isthmus. and which are not
disputed. except by the President in his two
messages to the Congress. Many of these
articles were described particularly the
references to Colonel Black, who is alleged
to have raised the first Panama flag on the
isthmus and to Consul Ehrmann, who is
alleged to have made the arrangements for
the raising of money to buy the peaceful
withdrawal of Colonel Torres and his
Colombian troops. The part played by the
United States, said Mr.. Morgan, was not
peaceful Intervention; 1t was intervention
by duress. by coercion, by threats and by
acts Of actual hostility.
Mr.. Culberson asked II the charge that
Mr.. Ehrmann had supplied the money to aid
in bringing about the withdrawal of the
troops was supported by the papers inserted
in MIR. Morgan's speech.
Mr.. Morgan said this was in the paper
and that he did not pretend to say whether
or not it was true.
Mr.. Cullom wanted to know whether the
charge was merely a newspaper publication
OF official, and Mr.. Morgan replied tartly,
There are no official reports on the sub
ject."
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATT