Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-08
ROBERTS TO ALL The PEOPLE
Polygamist Congressman States His Case in
a Public Address.
STANDS BY HIS TRIPLE ALLIANCE

says ir Guilty of violating LAW ms
Charged lie could Not Re Arrested
-Mormonism Not the
Issue.
WASHINGTON, Dec brigham II. Rob
erts OF Utah. who was not allowed to be
sworn in as a representative in congress,
has issued an address to the American pCo-
pie, II contains much that was said by
Mr. Roberts on the floor Of the house and
by Mr.. Richardson, who opposed the resolu
tion OF Tayler of Ohio After reviewing the
facts and proceedings resulting in the ap-
pontment of the committee he says:
The member from Utah is not allowed to
take the oath of his Office and committee
guilt of ofenses charged. Nay even more
was granted than was asked, at least more
than was asked on the floor of this house
for a hostile committee has been appointed
to inquire into the case, Its membership Is
made up entirely of those who voted to
adopt the method of procedure. Not one
who voted against ii was allowed to md a
place on that committee, and If the creation
of such a tribunal for such a purpose be
mttee should not be made up of members
of one political faith-for the majority may
do as it pleases about that.
| ask the American people to stop and
think what this may mean to this country
in times of high political excitement and
party strife and passion.
Committee May Take Two Years.
l. a formidable minority in the house may
be reduced 20 a very insignificant minority,
or even blotted out of existence.
2. The representation to which state ts
entitled on the floor of the house may be
denied to it-as in this Utah case-for any
length of time this committee may elect TO
deny 1t such representation suppose that
in this case the committee shall see fit TO
ttsith Ar1n nla n
slider the case involved what Is there TO
hinder its denying action as long as II
or a year to make its invest stigations for
1T Is authorized to send for papers ana per
sons, to examine witnesses, and Is not even
instructed to conclude al as early date
as possible 1t can prolong its investiga-
tions for two years as well as month or
year if it so elects, and meantime deny
to state representation, and may deteat
altogether the expressed Will of people oil
a state as to their choice of a representa-
thus deprive Utah of her representation
there Is no reason why 1t could not deny
Virginia hers, even though she has ten rep
resentdtivcs, for ten representatives as
easily as one can be turned away from the
bar OF the house, and one state as well
as another If a bare majority in the mousse
publican house can do this in the case or
Utah, or Virginia, there is no reason why
the next democratic house could not pro pro-
Ceed in like manner with representatives.
from republican states under this new ana
unprecedented rule of procedure.
g. This new precedent also strikes down
the constitutional guaranty of right TO
one accused of crime to a speedy ana pup
lie trial by an impartial jury OF the State
wherein the crime shall be aleseu 10 nave
been committed.
Stands on Proper Court Records.
The proposition is not to deprive me of
my seat in congress by the presentation
of records of conviction for crime before
courts before which l have Deen lounu
guilty under the due forms OF law Inc
proposition is to try me before the commit
tee of the house, to send for persons ana
napers and witnesses to ascertain my guilt
or innocence of an alleged misdemeanor'
reported to have been committed IN Utan.
by saying that in the charge against me,
which resulted in the appointment OF TINS
extraordinary committee OF lnvestiigatip1l' it lrn
1t is expected that transcript OF tne Ptpa
ceedings of a court in Utah evidences s Ins
fact that the member from utah pleaeaooeu
guilty to- a nisdemea1or IN the year vas aeo' a
territory Whatever political d1sap.n.ieSS
were created by that event were renioNeeu e
bv the sovereign state of Utah, WneI IN IN
he adoption OF her state constitution IN
1895 she by her sovereign power declareu eclt
what should be the quailncatioIns I a, 2nd on
torate, and possess them an, an, anu the o. a..
this side of the enabling act and the L, eu-
mission of Utah ! am at the delianCe ot my ny
enemies to produce any court RECORD 90 oa
conviction for crime or at any tine TIN honse sInse
the misdemeanor of 1889, and the nouIe aiis
has no right to, proceed sds on any o'He' '
dence tnan SuCll COutI ,,ou,er of
| deny the existence OF laWLul P ,y,orn
the house to prevent me from peliS @ ,,idenca
in on the presentation oil the saliie 80 are
of prima facie right upon winch ot"e'S o."
admitted to membership; 20 ,orresen-
] deny the right OF tiie ,o nVu't ~ inetico Of
tatives to resolve ltsell lhto tile t rniede-
the peace court to try me lol "a, d ,tlitfad
meanor, alleged to nave Deeh Cnntinu az
in order to find GROUNDS LOT eNPuISiib eNPuThinb
exclusion from the hlgh once 70 Sa,.~ ~ NV
was elected. | deny its rlght 10 GU 2r we're
such power upon its commlIlSt, Ia - ",,an
guilty of the misdemeanor CIial 81 co,rId
flagrantly so-here in the caPlloIIc.n Icso ca
not even be arrested lor lhe oliettH'' 50
slight is it considered uhuer Ile , "a" of
The constitution gives the mSnlpeifS mem ',if faoL ot
congress immunity from aIrest ~ aone
meanors, except for Dreacn OF tlic @ - fo,,
and vet for alleged mlSdelnSaloi ~
which | could not be arrested VIII i i, ir' ' "a
tendance upon the house, or Wlnls sul'ls ~
or from It'll am deprived the r!gHt 70 an an
the oath of ofCe-my final rlsnl 10 my 80 -
is in jeopardy, the people OF ot one % +in,1 il@
sovereign states are denied represent III
so long as it shall suit the purpose J VI tti1
committee to have it so ana tIe eAP.s eAP.i esaCu
will Of the people of the state Is III ua'le'i
of being defeated.
n,o,s Iiherties in Danger.
-, =. tho american
But, why TINS appear 70 " .IHt Htnnad to
people? Because violence, e,,tiost ~ ~ bncause
the safeguards ol SoGt +t n,o iority in one
W We @ tis t,I soyereirn states of the union is be-
ing denied because the safeguards OF thJ