The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-05-28

tleman Of the name Of Kinney, these
three men, whose names l have RiveI
have represented Utah Territory on tnI
floor during the entire period of the exist
eDce OF Utah az q territory, now nearly
thIrty-two years
During all that time not question ha'
been raised, except that to which aliu-
sion has been made in this discussion
the question in my own case. In the
Forty third Congress my seat was con
tested, IS the seat of my predecessor hao
been, not because ne was open to me
charge OF plural marriages, for 1t was
we'll known he had but one wife. His
seat was contested on the ground that be
; was Mormon, aud his contestant
claimed that no Mormon was entitled to
seat on this floor.
The first man who contested the seat
had los votes against upwsrt ~ lz,OOO
votes given for Mr.. Hooper. That man
came here and remained during the en-
tire session, annoying the sitting delegate
with his claim to the seat Il was during
that contest that all this matter was pub
lished which has been quoted on the
other side during this discussion. 1t was
| reported by 8 mem Der Of the committee
on elections from New York, who made
this report individually, and, though ap-
peariDg on the record, was responsible
for it. That report was entirely his own,
and it was &c pGTte and uncontrsdicted,
because there was no fair opportunity
given to the people whom it msligned to
meet and displove the statements which
it contained. And like other statements
which are constantly being made, they
are again and again quoted IS though
they we're true because they appear in
this report to Congress. And il contests
should continue, they will be again
quoted, and the same kind Of &c pGrte
statements, which ere equally unfOunded.
will probably be quoted from the
speeches which gentlemen have made
here to day, when 10 reality they will
not bear the least investigation, for they
are untrue and without found alton in
fact.
On the I'd day Of November, 1890,
n convention Of delegates from sll
parts Of the territory of Utah, received,
on my part, the unanimous nomination
for delegate to this House. Notwith-
standing all that has been said about
church and state, l assert here that there
is no place in the United States where
there is greater freedom and greater lib
erty for the expression of opinions by the
people respecting the men whom they
wish to serve them than there is in the
territory of Utah. Our political orgsni-
cation is entirely distinct from our church
organization. 1t is true that the mem
bers Of the church are members of the
political party, because they are all
that is, the great bulk Of the people, now
mum boring over 120,00 according to the
last censuS-membe rs of that church.
We have no salaried ministers. Every
man Is 8 preacher who is reputable
man among Us. From the midst CT the
congregation men are called to preach,
very frequently without any previous
notice. ALI the males over 81 years of
age, of good repute, hold Office in the
church. It is this, and this alone, which
there is connection between church and
stats.
Now, wish to say here that though l
have had probably ne much influence in
political matters as most Of the men IN
the territory Of Utah, occupying as l do
a position Of confidence among the peo-
pie, l can state on my honor that beyond
the expression of an opinion as citizen
when asked, at no time and under no cir
cumstsuces have 1 endesvored to intu-
ence any man or any body Of men in the
territory of Utah respecting the selection
OF any one they had in view for Office.
have not myself used any influence of
that kind that could possibly be called
by any one improper. When [ speak
this OF myself, of course l speak OF my
own personal knowledge. But think l
can say the same for the rest Of the lead
ing men of Utah. Whatever influence
they have used has been always to have
the people select and vote for men who
would worthily fill the Offices. Knowing
the jealousy there is abroad respecting
this matter, there is the greatest care ex-
ercised so SIS 10 prevent anything from
occurring which would give color to the
prejudice existing upon this point; yet.
Of course, where men have influence, II
their opinions are asked, their views will
always have considerable weight.
All the forms of political procedure
prevail in Utah as in other Territories
and in the States. The people hold their
primary meetings, elect delegates, and
those delegates meet in convention,
sometimes instructed whom they are to
vote for and sometimes not, and every
delegate has the right to express his
views IN favor of or against any canoi-
date, and to vote for whom he pleases,
and as the secret ballot prevails In Utah,
there can possibly be no interference on
the part Of any one to prevent citizens
from expressing their unbiased choice tor
any candidate. 1t was convention OF
this kind, composed ofdelegates from al
parts of the Territory, which nominated
me as delegate to Congress. had given
my friends to understand that was not
a candidate, and had done 81 upon
every previous occasion when had been
nominated; for you know, gentlemen
the position I have occupied here now
for nine years is one which no one caps-
Bile of filing the place would desire to
occupy. It is not pleasant to be made q
target for every man who wishes to gain
credit for his morality to aim his arrows
at. In coming here, however, bsve
been sustained by the consciousness that
I was st post of duty where it was necoo
esssry for some one to represent the peo-
pie, and that had the solid support Of
my constituents. 1t was the unanimous
feeling of the delegates coming from all
parts Of the Territory that l should be
nominated, and received their unani-
nous vote. At that time I was occupy.
ing the position Of delegate 10 Congress.
No question as to my eligibility had
arisen or coald arise. My constituents
had the best of evidence in their posses
sion that was eligible, from the fact
tLat was at that time delegate IN good
standing in this House with an unques-
f;0rad rirbt 70 m O eaat and Uas in the