Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-10
THE MORMON DELEGATE.
A QUESTION OF CITIZENSHIP.
The Election OF Apostle Cannon Con-
tested by a GentIle-CannOn De-
cIared an Alien and Ineligible for
the Position = The Governors
Ruling.

the Position = The Governors
Ruling.
SALT LAKE CITY, January s-When the
returns Of the late election for Delegate in
Congress were canvassed by Secretary
Thomas IN December, the Gentle candi-
date, Allen G. Campbell, filed paper with
Governor Murray protesting against the
issue OF certificate Of election to Apostle
Cannon, although it appeared that he had a
large majority Of the votes cast, on the
ground among others that he is not
citizen Of the United States, aud
being a polygamist is rot capable
OF becoming citizen in good faith. These
facts had long been notorious, and there
fore the votes cast for Cannon at said cleo
tion must be held void. He (Campbell)
being the only eligible candidate running at
said election, must have been elected, and
the Governors certificate should be Issued
accordingly.
Cannon's reply, in which he claims that
he was naturalizsd Ia due and legal form
twenty-six years ago, and that If he were
pOlygsmiSt, as charged by Campbell, it
would not disqualify him for the officelof
Delegate, was filed with Governor Murray
yesterday. Thereupon the case was argued
at length before the Governor by counsel
for the respective parties.
1t was shown by copy Of the actual
record of the court in which Cannon claims
to have been nsturalized, properly certified
by the Clerk of said court, that on the day
when Cannon claims to have been patural-
lied no such naturalization proceedings took
place. The Clerk also certified under his
seal that from the organization of the court
until the present, be having examined them
carefully, he was unable to find any record
In any OF said records of naturalization of
Geo. o. Cannon.
The pretended certificate relied upon by
Cannon does not puTport to be an exempli-
fcation OF any record of any court of
record, and is therefore void on its face.
No record OF the naturalization of Cannon
In open court, signed by Judge, exists,
and the naturalization act IN force at that
time makes such record the only proof OF
the fact, without which, the statute says
the party shall not be deemed to be a
citizen.
Ii was argued by Cannon's counsel that
IL all this were true, the Governor was not
authorized to take cognizance of it. 1t
should be left to the House of Representa-
tiVes.
The Governor did not take that view OF
1t. The act of Congress- organizing Utah
son who received the greatest number of
votes duly elected, and shall certify accord
ingly." An ac5 of Congress, approved June
Sth, 1872, provided that no person
shall be capable of voting or
Of holding office in any Territory
who is not citizen OF the United States,
excluding such as had declared their inten-
tiOns to become such.
The Governor held that this action Of Con-
gre.s and OF the Territory bound him to
take cognizance Of the fact, which he con-
sidered established, that Cannon is an allen,
and is therefore ineligible to hold the office
OF Delegate.
Under other circumstances" says
the Governor in his ruling, Cannon might
be naturslzed before his term OF office
begins, but it is charged by Campbell,
and not denied by Cannon, that the latter is
living ia violation Of the law Of 1862, MAX
ing polygamy felony, and he cannot there
fore be well disposed towards the Govern
ment Of the United States, not being cti-
zen, and being incapable, from his profes-
sion and manner of life, of taking the
oath of naturalization IN good faith,
and these facts having been no.
torious for years, It follows
that the votes cast for him as Delegate are
lost, and Allen e.. Campbell being in per-
son a citizen of the United States, and pos
sessing all the other necessary qualifications,
who received the greatest number of votes
at said election, the Governor is bound by
law to declare said Campbell duly elected,
and to certify accordingly.n
The Governor awarded the certificat OF
election to Allen g. Campbell this morning,
and Immediately left Salt Lake City. bound
to Louisville, on important business, which
he has postponed sc Ieral days that he might
hear the argument and decide on this Ques-
tion.
SALT LAKE CITY, January 9-The friends
of Mr.. Cannon last evening applied to Sec
retary Thomas for certificate of the state
ment of the count, aud Mr.. Cannon will
contest.
The -Mormons are very indignant. The
EgeRing AetoS says: "Governor Murray can
no logger command the respect of honorable
men, and his conduct is dastardly and con-
temptible and unworthy of any official with
the least claim to the title of gentleman.
The Gentiles feel as though they had at
last got the Mormon bull by the horns
instead OF by the tail, and they expect the
ADMINISTRATION of the new House and the
country to keep their hold"
The Tribune of TO day says: Governor
Murray has refused his certificate of cleo
tion to George Q Cannon and given it to A.
G. Campbell He has not questioned the
legality Of the votes cast for Cannon or the
fairness OF the election. He has simply
taken cognizance of the two facts which the
contest brought ous, and which are, first,
that George Q Cannon, being foreign born
and never naturalized, is not a citizen; and,
second, that 1t is not possible for Cannon to
secure his disabilities and become a
citizen before the All day of March
next. This being true. the votes cast
for him were thrown away, and A. G. Camp
bell being the citizen who received the
highest number of votes, the Governor gives
him the certificate. In a time of great
peril 1t is said that General Washington
issued this order: Put none but Americans
on guard tonight The order came to
Governor Murray from a higher power than
even Washington was: Issue certificates
to none but Americans In Utah. He could
not disobey."