The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-01-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON. D. c., Jan. Is, 1882.
Congress is a good deal puzzled and
bothered with the Mormon question,
which is forced upon the attention OF
that body by the contest for the seat
of Delegate from Utah. There is no
politics in the contest as both claim
ants are Democrats but the Terri
tory, like some other Democratic To-
calities, needs recognizing. The
proposition which has been made to
divide it up and attach the parts to
adjoining States and Territories is
good one, and one that would break
the power of Mormondom, for they
would then be in minority in each
of the States and amenable to their
laws. Congress has been slow to
take notice of the institution of poly
amy, but now that the question is
brought where 1t must be met, and
now that the Republican party is in
control there is reason to hope that
Mormonism is doomed. It was one
of the original pledges of the party to
uproot this "twin-relict" with that of
slavery. The points at issue in the
election contest deserve to be clearly
Cannon, a. confessed
polygamist, undoubtedly received a
majority at the election. Campbell,
who contests the seat, received a
small minority only. Campbell's
friends claimed the seat for him on
the ground that he was the only per-
son voted for who was capable OF sit
ting. Governor Murray's certificate
was so worded as to give q color to
that claim. But the House sensibly
decided that both the cases of Camp
bell and Cannon must be referred to
the Committee on Elections, which
will report all the facts to the House.
1t is evident from the tone of the
debate so far, that the House does not
mean to admit Cannon; but to refuse
the seat to him will not necessarily
entitIe Campbell to it, and sound
lawyers on both sides doubt the right
or the propriety of Congress seating
man who received only a small
minority of votes. They believe that
this would be to set mischieyous
precedent; that so long as the people
of Utah are allowed to vote for Dele
gates in Congress only that person
who receives majority of the votes
is entitled to claim a seat; but that
the House, as the judge of the elec.
ton and qualifications of it's mem
bers. may refuse for cause to admit
the claimant, and thus say to the
voters of Utah that they have sent
an unfit person and must try again.
For number of years they sent as
their Delegate Mr.. Hooper, who was
not polygamist. The fanatical part
of the Mormon priesthood on several
occasions urged Brigham Young to
either oblige Hooper to become a
polygamist or allow them to send a
Delegates who had several wives.
Young for years resisted these de-
mands, saying: Leave brother
Hooper alone. He serves us very
we'll in Washington, and if he does
not want more wives than one that
is his business" But the fanatics at
last succeeded, and Hooper retired to
make way for Cannon. The latter
has already served in three Con-
crosses, nearly always having from
one to three wives here with him.
and he probably thinks it is rather
late to raise that objection. Another
point is that there is serious doubt
whether he is a citizen of the United
States.
1t is hoped that by the time this
letter is in print the Guiteau trial
will be ended and the assassin under
sentence of death. The closing argu-
ments are now in progress. In an
interview at the Jail the other day
with Mr.. Reed, one of his counsel,
the assassin proposed in all serious
ness that after the jury had acquitted
him he should take the lecture-field.
He declares that in a year he would
have $4,000, and would pay his
counsel Handsomely. Mr.. Reed said:
"Suppose now that the jury should
find you guilty, and the judge sent
ence you to be executed. Have you
Thought of that ?" Guiteau said he
had not, but the Lord would he with
him; the Lord would go right upon
the gallows and stand beside him
through it all.
Within the last few days political