Page:Harvard Law Review Volume 12.djvu/505

OUR NEW POSSESSIONS. 485 States in presiding, lately, over a popular meeting in Washington, that we have no power to hold colonies except for the purpose of preparing them to come in as States, has no judicial quality whatever. It is simply, as I have already said, a political theory entertained by some persons, but resting upon no ground of con- stitutional law. 6. Furthermore, considering the danger which attends a close division of parties, and our unfortunate experience of recent years in admitting States ill-prepared to become members of the Union, we ought to guard against the excesses of party spirit on so grave a subject, by amending the Constitution and limiting the States of the Union to the continent. After the great convulsion of thirty odd years ago we found it necessary to amend the Constitution before settling down again. Equally after this war, attended by such momentous results, we have abundant reason to proceed in the same way. Such amendments are difficult, but they are not impossible ; nor are they necessarily so very long in being accom- plished. The Twelfth amendment was in force in about nine months after it was proposed. Guarded by such an amendment it appears to me that we might enter upon the new and inevitable career which this Spanish war has marked out for us, with a good hope of advancing the honor and prosperity of our country and the welfare of mankind. James Bradley Thayer, January, 1899.