The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-01-13
nISrRANCHISING THE MORM0SS.
The Governor of Utah Reiuscr Certificate
to Delegate Cannon, and Gives 1t to a
Minority Gentle Candidate.

The Governor of Utah Refuscr Certificate
to Delegate Cannon, and Gives 1t to
Minority Gentle Candidate.
SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. s.
When the returns of the late election
fer delegate to Congress were canvas:ed
by Secretary Thomas, the Gentle candi-
date, Allen Il. Campbell, filed a paper
with Governor Murray. protesting against
the issuing of certificate of election to
Apostle Cannon, although it appeared
that he had large majority Of the votes
cast. 1t is claimed that the Apostle is
not citizen of the United States, and
being a polygamist is not capable of be-
coming citizen. These facts had long
been notorious, and, therefore, the votes
cast for Cannon at said election it is
claimed must be held void He Camp.
belly 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
naturalized in due and legal form twenty
six years ago, and that if lie was Il po'
lygamist, as charged by Campbell, it
would not diSqualily him for the Office Of
delegate, was filed with Gov. Murray
yesterday. 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 naturalized, that on the day when
Cannon claims to have been naturalizcd
no such naturalization proceedings took
place. The clerk also certified under his
seal that from the organization of the
court unto the present time lie was una.
bic to find any record in any of said re-
cords of the naturalization of Geo. Q.
Cannon. The pretended certificate relied
on by Cannon does not purport to be an
exemplfcation of any record of the
Court of Record, and is therefore void on
its face. No record of the naturalization
of Cannon in open court, signed by a
Judge, exists, and the naturalization act
in force Mt that time makes such record
the only proof of the fact, without which
the statute says the party shall not be
deemed to be q citizen. II was argued
by Cannon's counsel that if all this were
true the Governor was not authorized to
take cognizance Of it. 1t should bc left
to the House of Representatives. The
Governor did not take that view of it.
The act of Congress organizing the Ter.
ritory Of Utah says the Governor shall
declare the person who received the
greatest number of votes duly elected,
and shall certify accordingly. An act
of Congress, approved June s, 1872, pro-
vides that no person shall be capable Of
voting or of holding Office in any Terri
tory who is not citizen of the United
States.
The Governor held that this act of
Congress and of the Territory bound him
to take cognizance of the fact which he
considered established, that Cannon is an
alien, and is, therefore, ineligible to hold
the office of delegate. Under other cir
cumstances, says the Governor in his
ruling, Cannon might be naturalizcl be-
fure his term of Office begins, but it is
charged by Campbell, and not denied by
Cannon, that the latter is living in vio-
lation of the law of 1862, making polyg-
amy felony, and caunot, therefore, be
we'll disposed towards the Government Of
the United States, not being a citizen,
and being incapable from his profession
and manner of life Of taking the oalhs
of naturalization in good faith, and these
facts having been notorious for years, it
follows that the votes cast for him as
delegate are lost, and Allen G. Campbell
being citizen of the United States and
possessing I'LL the other necessary quail.
fications the Governor is bound by law
to declare the said Campbell duly elected
and to certify accordingly. The Cover
nor awarded the certificate of election tn
Allen G.. Campbell this morning and
Immediately left Salt Lake, bound to
Louisville, KY, on important business,
which has been postponed several days
that he might hear the argument and de-
eide this question.
SALT LAKE CITY, January 9.-Thc
friends of Mr. Cannon last evening ap.
piled to Secretary Thomas for Il certified
statement of the count, and Mr.. Cannon
will contest Mr. Campbell's scat. The
Mormons are very indignant. The Ercn-
ing News says that Governor Murray can
no longer command the respect Of hon
orable men, and that his conduct is d;ls-
tardly and contemplate, and unworthy
of any official with the least claim to the
title OF gentleman.
The GenliIcs feel as though they had
at last got the Mormon bull by the horns
instead of the tail, aud they expect the
Administration, the new House aud the
country to help them keep their hold.
The Salt Lake Tribune Of to-day says:
Governor Murray has refused his certif-
cate of election 10 George G. 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 cogniz'
ancc of two facts Which the contest
brought out, and which arc: First, that
Geo. G. Cannon being foreign born and
never naturalized, is not citizen, and
second, that it is not possible for Cannon
to cure his disabilities and become cit
izen before the lth day of March next.
This being true, the votes cast for him
were thrown away, and a. &. Campbell
beiug the citizen wlo received the high.
est number of votes, the Go:crnor gives
him the certificate. In time of great
peril it is said Gen. Washington issued
this order: Put none bat Americans Oh
guard to.nightm The order caiuc to
Gov. Murray from Il higher power than
ever Washington was, Issue certificates
to none but Americans in Utah !" He
could not disobey.