The age-herald., 1899-12-08

members of congress immunity from ar rest for misdemeanors, except for breach of the peace, and yet for an alleged misde- meanor for which I could not be arrested while in attendance upon the house or while going to and from it, I am deprived of the right to take the oath of office..
 'But why this appeal to the American people? Because violence is threatened to the safeguards of your liberties Because the right of tn rule of the majority in one of the sovereign state in the union Is be- ing denied. Because the safeguards of the rghts and liberties of the individual and of the state are being broken down and many of your representatives are too cowardly to even make protest against such pro- ceedings, because they fear they will en- hanger their chances for reelection if they voted against the high-handed meas- ures now taking place. It is true that the representative from Utah is a Mormon, but fragrant disregard of contract in the admission of our state is truly exempli- fled by the rejection of her choice by cleo ton.
 Tn the state of Utah a penalty is affixed by constitutional provision and the whole made unrepealebe without the consent of the United States and the consent of the people of Utah.
 The Crime is Punishable
 "Even continuing the relations formed be-
  their disruption was neither demanded by the enabling act nor contemplated in the provisions of the state constitution are un- der the law a misdemeanor and punishable; put 1t has not been regarded as necessary to good morals or public policy to persecutc people for this offense and neither by the republican or by the democrats has the ex- tstence of such relations been considered bar to political preferment until the polit- ical and religious enemies of the present representative from Utah thought to urge them against him. But such men have been elected to offices of high honor in the state of Utah and others against whom such charges were made by affidavit, were ap- pointed to federal offices in the state, not withstanding such objections were urged against them.
 'I submit to you the question, whether 1t is worth while for your representatives in the lower house of congress, to break down the safeguards which protect both the rights of individuals and the rights of the state and which menaces representative government itself in the states. I ask is it worth while to countenance procedure in- volving dangers herein set forth in order to reach one man charged with a misde meanor under the law of his own state, and which is the eye of the law anoffense so slight that under the rights guaranteed to him and his constituents, he could not be arrested for it while in attendance upon his duties in congress.
 "Countrymen it Is a Mormon today that is the object of public clamor, and may it not be tomorrow of the Catholic, the Meth odist or Freethinker, as this grand institu- tion might crumble like sand mound in mighty tempest.
 Without R Dollar
 ''I stand alone except for the very few who gave me their guarded support by voting against the monstrous proceeding that prevents me from taking the oath of office. I without a dollar at my com mand except the salary attached to my office with which to fight the battle now pending before the special committee. am without legal counsel except the kindly suggestions of here and there word from a lawyer acquaintenance or friend. And. indeed, prefer to be so now for my case is so firmly rooted in justice that it needs but a plain statement of the facts fair application of the law to them in order to make my right to my seat apparent, and I want the conditions here named to stand as refutation to the sensational charges that have been made about the Mormon church standing behind me with any amount of money for legal counsel, and the maintenance of a lobby in Washington. All we demand is justice to our statehood and her representative.
 (Signed) '.B. H. ROBERTS"