The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-08

ohareed, sven fiasrantiy so-hsre In the
oaplsal--L could not even be arrested for
y ~ cffenss, 30 slight Is 1t considered under
the law Tho constitution gives the men,
bet OF congress Immunity from arrest for
4 Hblsdeneanor. except. for breach OF the
pea<e and yet for mn alleged misdemeanor
m which could not be arrested while In
q attendance upon the house and going to
and from It. am deprived OF the right to
take tho oath OF office; my nnal right 10
my seat IL In jeopardy; the people Of one
OF the sovereign states is denied repre-
sentation 80 long as IL shall suit the pur--
the expressed will OF the people OF state
Is In danger OK being defeated.
Thinks Liberty In Endangered.
But why this appeal to the American
people? Because violence IS threatened TO
the safeguards Of your liberties. Because
the right OF the rule of the majority in one
Of the sovereign states in the Union Is be-
Ing denied. Because the safeguards OF the
rights and liberties OF the Individual and
OF the states are being knocked down, and
many Of your representatives are too cow
ardly to even make protest against such
proceedings because they fear they would
endanger their chances for recollection II
they voted against the high-handed meas
ures now taking place.
Attacked ON Account OF Religion.
1T is true, that the representative from
Utah IL 4 Mormon. and just now against
the Mormon people wave of popular
sentiment, created by falsehood. chiefly
by the charge that Utah has broken her
compact with the United States In the
matter ~of polygamy: that her people
has broken her compact with the United
States In the matter OF polygamy: that
her people contemplate the revival Of
S - v>lx rtoc fb,t "a
ing of utah's representative would be
regarded by. her Mormon population as
Endorsement Of polygamy and would be
a menace to the American home. Upon
my honor as o representative from, the
state OF Utah, a man In whom the state
Of Utah has resposed her confidence. both
nom Mormons as we'll as MorInons, I sol
emily deny these charges. They are not
true The only thing chargeable to some
few in the state OF Utah Is that they have
not deserted the plural wives they mar
ried year ago, previous to the settlement
Of the polygamy question between the
government OF the United States and
the state Of Utah, by which poiygamous
or plural marriages are forever prohibit-
ed in the state of Utah. a penalty affixed
by constitutional provision and the whole
made unrepealab1e without the consent
Of the United States and the consent of
the people OF Utah.
PoIyEamous Relations Kept UP.
Even continuing the relations formed
before the settlement Of the question,
though their disruption was neither de-
manded by the enabling act nor con-
templated In the provisions of the state
constitution, are under the law mis-
demeanor and punishable; but It has not
been regarded as necessary to morals or
public policy to prosecute people for this
offense, and neither by the Republican
party nor by Democrats has the existence
Of such relations been considered bar
to political preferment, until the political
and religious enemies of the present rep
resentative from Utah thought proper to
urge them against him. But such men
have been elected to offices Of high honor
In the state, and others against whom
such charges were made by affidavit
were appointed to Federal offices in the
state, Notwithstanding such objections
were urged against them.
Harps ON the Misdenennor.
II submit to you the question whether
It 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 states, and which menaces repre-
sentative government In the state itself.
/ ask IL 1t is worth while to countenance
procedure involving the dangers herein
set forth, in order to reach one man
charged with a misdemeanor under the
laws OF his own state and which n, in
the eye of the law, an offense so slight
that under rights guaranteed to him and
his constituents he could not be arrested
for it while in attendance upon his duties
! In congress-
Others May He Allowed in Future
American citizens, It is Mormon who
IL the object OF the popular clamor today,
may 1t not be the Catholic or the Methodist
<la ttrr E&po< fvrtr~
rights of the representative from Utah and
OF his state cannot be safeguarded by the
provisions Of the constitution and the laws
from the frenzy of popular fury, set on fire
by falsehood and distortion what guar
antee have we that any ones rights are
secure? And is 1t true that this mob law
by indirection Is to reach within what
should be the sacred precincts of the house
of Representatives itself? shall do all
can to maintain my rights, and Indirectly
yours too. under the constitution. stand
alone, save for the very few who gave me
their very guarded support by voting
against the monstrous proceedings that pre-
vents me from taking the oath of office.
/ am without dollar at my command ex-
cept the salary attached TO my Office with
which to fight the battle now pending be-
fore the special committee am without
legal counsel except for the kindly sug-
gestions OF here and there word from a
lawyer acquaintance OF Irienu, ana lndeed
I prefer 1t to be so now, for my case is
firmly rooted on Justice that II needs but
a plain statement OF the facts and fair
application of the law to them In order to
make my right to my seat apparent. And
want the condition here mentioned to stand
as refutation of the sensational charges
that have been made about the Mormon
church standing behind, with any amount
Of money for legal counsel and the MAIN
tenance of a lobby in Washington. But 1t
Is likely in the present state of public sem