Speech #560021237

They establish these fundamental principles: That a power in the General Government to obtain and hold colonies as dependent territories would be inconsistent with the character of the Government. that the National Government is one of delegated powers granted and fixed by the Constitution. and no such power is conferred upon it. that new territory can be constitutionally acquired for but one purposethe erection from it of new States. that the power granted Congress by section 3. Article IV. of the Constitution to make all needful rules and regulations for the government of Territories must be so construed as not to conflict with other provisions of that instrument. and that so construed it is but a power to prepare them for statehood. that -in legislating for them Congress is subject to the fundamental limitations in favor of personal rights formulated in the Constitution and its amendments. that is. they must govern according to and under the Constitution. that the power conferred by section 8. Article I. of the Constitution upon Congress to levy and collect taxes and imposts. "which shall be uniform throughout the United States." is general and without limitation as to place and extends to the whole of American territory. that inhabitants of territory of the United States are citizens of the United States and under the protection of the Constitution. with all their civil and political rights secured to them. that when we annex a territory. whether by cession. treaty. or discovery. we annex its inhabitants. not as subjects. but as citizens. that "inhabitants of Federal territories and new citizens. made such by annexation of territory or naturalization. though without any status as citizens of a State. could. nevertheless. as citizens of the United States. lay claim to every one of the privileges and immunities of citizens." that it could never have been understood that any territory which should at any time come under control of the United States should permanently be held in a territorial condition. So far as I have been able to find. those cases have never been overruled or modified. Those principles stand today as judicial decision and authority to our Supreme Court when the status and rights of the native inhabitants shall be brought before it for final adjudication.