The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-04-30
THE DEBATE.
Continuation of the Cannon
Campbell Contest in. the
House.
ReDresentaGIve ThOmpsOn's
Argument.
fContiDued from Saturdays Daily.)

| self WITH CbELlDk MJ fOeO StbHCL 4SA "
against such measures as were under con-
siderstion. l certainly have mad no am
| hilton at any time or under any circum-
stances to persistently and continually
sock q Mace upon the records OF the de-
bates of this House. AS l before ssid, l
! have always contented myself, and ex-
pect in the future AS q general thing TO
content myself, with simply casting my
vote for or against such measures as may
be under consideration. If I believe
thew are right I shall vote to sustain
them. On the other hand, if am con-
| WINGED they are wrong, 1 shall vote
against them. And I assure you, Mr..
! Speaker, that at the present time I should
not say single word were it not for the
/ fact thGt I find myself in about Rs lonely
q condition as any member of the com
mittee on elections ever appeared in
! before the House, having made a report
! in Which believe no other mem Der of
| the committee comedies with me in the
position have taken. had hoped and
trusted that this election case would be
decided simply REd purely upon Its
merits, as the evidence or admissions IN
the case presented it, and that it could
under no circumstances assume parti-
san aspect. / am sorry to observe, how
ever, that it has assumed such an aspect.
While as Legislator | am sorry for this,
as q politician, and looking only to the
success of the republican party, might
be glad of it. [ had hoped that there
would be no political controversy in this
matter when it was admitted, as I sup
! posed, until few minutes ago, that Mr..
Cannon, who was claiming a seat here,
| had never for single moment either
! through himself or his friends, made a
denial of the fact that be had continually
lived, that he was to-day living. and that
at the time of this investigation be was
! living In open violation of laws that had
been passed by the Congress in one body
| of which he sought seat. Now, wish
to call attention particularly to the fact
| that such a statement has never been de-
MED. And when the question was asked
my colleague on the committee where we
received this testimony and how it came
into the possession of the committee dur
ing this investigation, thought would,
when got the opportunity, state once
for all the exact facts. think my friend
from Pennsylvania Mr. Beltzhoover) has
stated them exactly as they occurred, but
I believe he did not have the
evidence before him at that time.
During the investigation, in June, 1881,
| and after the time had expired for tskiD g
| testimony, these parties came in and
made an agreement th6t su3h testimony
as each mi ht desire to take en- the Ques-
ton at issue might be taken irrespective
of the fact that the time for taking testi-
mony had expired. The consequence
was that portion of the testimony was
then taken, and among others there was
called, as a witness on the part Ofthe con-
! tsstant, Angus III. Cannon. In his eX-
| animation be was asked as to the peculiar
| belief Of Mr.. Cannon and the number of
wives that he then had; and because of
| the seeming ignorance of this witness Oh
! that point other witnesses were shout to
be examined. Now, 1 will state what
| took place in the presence Of Mr.. Cannon
and his attorney, aud In the presence of
| Mr.. Campbell and his attorney. It was
admitted by each and every one OF them
! land the facts are stated in the record,
which is in print to-day and in the posses
| sion of the House)that on the 1st of June,
| 1881, when subpenas were about to be is
sned for the purpose of proving Mr.. Can
mons polygsmons habits, he came be.
fore the officer taking the evidence and
! fled that written statement. 1t has never
| been denied from that dsy until heard
/ It questioned few moments ago in this
| House. It is his own solemn admission,
made in open court, by which he plead
! guilty to the Indictment in the presence
| Of the witnesses and the court. That ad-
| mission was entered solemnly Of record
aud by it he is bound. The taking of any
further testimony upon that point being
thus Obviated, the committee proceeded
upon that admission; and we did right in
doing so. But am not here for the pur-
pose of arguing that branch of the case
at all. l do not suppose 1t Is going to be
seriously commended that Mr.. Cannon is
entitled to q seat here. I have always
been in accord with the committee on
that QUESTION, as l am now. But l go
further and insist that while Mr.. Cannon
is not entitled to seat in this House Mr..
Campbell is entitled to the seat, and to
this branch of the case I propose to sd-
dress myself for very brief period. 1t
will not be denied that on the Goth of
January, 1881, Mr.. Canon gave notice
Of contest to Mr.. Campbell; that after
ward, and within the time prescribed by
the statute, Mr.. Campbell responded to
that notice of CONTEXT aud fled his
answer, in which he places in issue every
material allegation and charge contained
In the notice of contest, This House
seems to have forgotten the fact that Mr..
Cannon all the way through has been the
contestant; that Mr.. Campbell stsncs
here, and always has stood:since the COM
mencement Of the contest, as contestee.
From the time this question was first dis
| cussed st sll have heard repeated silu-
sions to the number Of votes cast for the
two candidates at the election held in
gssh on the ID of November, 1850. I
want to ask those Who are in favor of
seating Mr.. Cannon where under hesven
they get any evidence of that vote?
l ask this in good faith. l
ask gentlemen on the committee
who aa.are to follow me iE opposi-
ton TO the position am taking, where
at any time and under what circum-
stances have you found any evidence
that Mr.. Campbell received only GER
tsi1snumber of votes, and Mr. Cannon
received $4,000. I take it that the COM
mittee on elections. Notwithstanding its
mighty powers, notwithstanding the
powers it may be willing to arrogate tc
itself, il IS much the creature Of sta.
tute in the taking of testimony as any
justice of the peace in this broad land
that outside Of the statute the committee
cannot live, or move, or have its being,
Now turn to section l08 of the Revised
| Statutes Of 1873, and I read: