The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-12-13
MORMON'S PLEA
Congressman-eIect Roberts Issues
An Address.
ne Claims that Ghe Committee % In-
VestigntIOn IL Prejudieed Agninst
Him and that a had Rreee-
dentIs Being Established.

M14N80AMAAA--A@
Washington, Dec. 8.-Brigham H.
Roberts, Of Utah, who wos not allowed
to be sworn in as a representative in
congress of that state, has issued an
address to the American people. IL
contains much that was said by him
on the floor Of the house and by Mr..
Richardson, who opposed the resolu-
ton of Mr.. Tayler, of Ohio. After
reviewing the facts and proceedings
resulting in the appointment of the
committee, he says:
''The member from Utah is not al
lowed to take the oath of Office, and
a committee is appointed to try him
as to his alleged guilt of the offenses
charged. Nay, even more is granted
than was asked, at least more than
was asked upon the floor Of this house.
For a hostile committee has been ap-
pointed 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 it was allowed a place upon
that committee.
II ask the American people to stop
and think what that may mean to this
country in times Of high political ex-
citement and party strife and passion
IA formidable minority in the
house may be reduced either to very
insignificant minority, or even blotted
out of existence.
"2-The representation to which a
state is 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 It such
representation. Suppose that in this
case the committee shall see proper
to proceed with reasonable expedition
to consider the questions involved, but
what is there to hinder it delaying
its action under one pretext OF anOth-
er as long as it pleases. 1t may take
a week, a month, or a year to make
its Investigations, for IL is authorized
to send for papers and persons, to ex-
anime witnesses and is not even III
structed to report at as early cate
as possible. 1t can prolong its inve5-
legations for two years as well as =
month, or year, If it so elects, and
meantime deny TO state representa-
ton. If the present republican house
can thus deprive Utah of her represen-
tation, there is no reason why it could
not deny Virginia hers, even though
she has ten representative, for ten
Representatives as easy as one can be
turned away from the bar of the
house, and one state as well as ancth-
er if bare majority in the house
chooses to have it so. And II rhe
present republican house can do thIs
in the case of Utah or Virginia, there
is no reason why the next democratic
house could not proceed in like man.
ner with Representatives from repu5-
Iican states, under this new rule OF
procedure.
'.3-This new precedent also strikes
down the constitutional guaranty of a
right to one accused of crime to q
speedy and public trial by an imPar-
tial jury in the state wherein the
crime shall have been committed The
proposition is not to deprive me of my
seat in congress by the presentation
of records of conviction for crime De-
fore courts before which | have been
found guilty, under the due forms OF
law. The proposition is to try me
before the committee of the house. to
send for persons, papers and wit
nesseS to ascertain my guilt OF inno-
cence of an alleged misdemeanor,
''The constitution gives the mcm-
bers of congress immunity from SE-
rest for misdemeanors, except foE
breach of the peace, and yet for an az
legged misdemeanor for which could
not be arrested while in attendaLee
upon the house, OF while going to OF
from It'll am deprived the right "a
take the oath of Office; my final right
to my seat is in jeopardy; the people
of one of the states are denied repre-
sentation, so long as it shall suit the
purpose of the committee to have II
so, and the expressed will of the peo-
pie of state is in danger of being de
feated.
1T is true that the representative
from Utah is a Mormon, and jHsL nov
there is against the Mormon peopl-
wave of popular sentiment, ereate1
by falsehood, chiefly by the charg'
that Utah has broken her cotspaet
with the United States in the matter
of polygamy; that her people conteu
plate the revival of polygam1Is mar
riages; that the seating OF UtahI
representative would be regarded b
her Mormon population as IN eudurse
ment of polygamy and wOuld Gs :
menace to the American home. IpoI
my honor as a representative fron
Utah / solemnly deny those charges
They are not true.
american citizens, it is dOrmOI
who is the object Of the popaIsl
clamor to-day, may il not be TIE tatis
ole, or the Methodist or rhg sre'
thinker tomorrow. If the rights o
the representative from Utah and o
his state cannot be safeguarded b.
the provisions of the constitution an
the laws, from the frenzy OF popuE1
fury, set on fire by falsehOod and dis
t5rtion, what guaranty have we tina
any ones rights are st-eure2"
Canst Insure CbIidreE-
indianapolis, Dee. s.--.AttoFney Gen
eraI Taylor in an opinion given tn
auditor of state holds that assesszen