The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-27

power Will be exercised in this case.
Inc Courant continues:
Otah is no longer a territory, but a
State-aS independent within the metes
anu bounds established by the constitu-
ton as any one of the old thirteen. 1t
was not necessary to make Utah a
state; perhaps 1t was very impru6ent
and unWise; but it has been done and
cannot be undone. Connecticut has
now no more right to dictate TO Utah
Ioout Utah's purely domestic affairs
Inan TO Mexico, or Ontario, or Great
bfItaln, about theirs. Except as re-
SaIuS the delegations of power to the
CHueo States in the constitution, eyery
se1te or this Unicn possesses in full
NIsor the sovereignty, freedom, indie
P~enuehce, powers, Jurisdictions and
tISHps thai were possessed by the thir-
eeeh original states the day before the
Oo~.lSlItutlon went into effect.
foiygamy is quite as hateful to the
Gourant as it is to the author of the
LunlunGs act. But when the older Nor
mon heads of families ask us whether
our demand is that they shall leave
edIr supernumerary wives (whCm they
TOOK before the Edmunds act was
PASSED., and the children Of those
wives TO live or Starve as may chance,
We see that there are practical difficult
TIES 10 the situation. We think we see
ah0lher thing-that the right time for
c~ohsldering all the questions involved
~ the appearance at Washington of
GUY elected poIygamous representa-
tives, with regular credentials, was be-
hood"
The Post, resuming its comment.
says:
1t is not at all surprising that
the churches take this matter seriously.
bul they should take it sensibly as
Wen and recognize that Congressman
elect Roberts credentials give him a
perfect title to a seat-a title that a
only be set aside by expulsion on
moral grounds. The Post has no
doubt of the right of two-thirds of the
mouse to eXpel any member for any act
OF practice which the house, by that
vote, decided to be SO immoral as to
cah Tor expulsion. But there are con-
soCut1onal lawyers of excellent repute
VINO hold that Roberts cannot be eX-
peiled for acts that were known to his
constituents before his election, TO be
consistent with good morals They
hoId that the verdict of the electors in
a case of this kind must be accepted
as conclusive. There viii be two sides
When the question comes up for deter
Hllnatlon. a congressman may loathe
oOllO pOiy Sd4lA anu yet nOt pC
convinced that Utah has no right to BE-
represented by a polygGmist if she pre-
IerS such representation There is Il
chance for a great constitutional argu-
ment on either side Of the issue that
VIII be presented when a resolution to
eXpel Representative Roberts comes
before h house. And it will not be
surprising if some of the state rights
Republicans from New England take a
position hat Will astonish many Of
highly esteenemd constituents.
The Posts contention is undoubtedly
well-founded. There will be d number
of Republicans from New England OPP
posed to expulsion. The late Nelson
Dingley was one of those who pos
sessed strong doubts on the right Of
congress to expei o member for acts an
tedating his election and fully known
to his constituents.
There is no likelihood Of any serious
break in the Democratic column, Mr..
Bailey, the acknowledged leader, IS re-
ported as saying there will be none al /
all. Owing to the many misrepresenta-
tons which have been sent out from
Utah by those who claim to malign
the people for the peoples good, the
fight VIII be sharp and bitter. But the
session will be convened, if at all,
for other business than the discussion
OF Mornonism oT the alleged misde-
meanOrS of any memher-elec |