Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-06

fcc as citizens OF that great common
wealth.
The second charge, which is supposed to
go 20 the question OF eligibility OF the
member from Utah, Is that upon atltdaNlt
and other papers in his possession inc Jne
1889 / have been "A persistent lawbrcaker in
the state Of Utah. II that be true, let me
ask why IS it was not punished for law
ton not to execute the law on the part
of the people OF Utah It's administration
who had no sympathy with men of my
religious faith. All the machinery or the
law was in the hands of federal appointees.
How is It, then, that ! could be an open
and defiant lawbreakCr and yet escape the
penalty of the law?
The gentleman. objection is based then
not upon court record, but on athdaNits
and papers that have been supplied nm ~
the people. And now as to the manner IN
which these charges are made.
Rail to Nindtcntc the Inv.
1t has been about fifteen months since
they began since the representative from
Utah was heralded throughout this land as
streets '.''tff of salt Lake by open day in ready
reach Of the law and my faults lay open
to the law IL I were guilty Of tranSgre sing
Other men were arrested before the courts
of Utah and were fined for the very Of
fense alleged against me and yet no com
plant was made against me. No. II did not
suit the purpose of those VINO had this pres
ent agitation In hand to NindiCate the law
quietly and by the usual methods. They
which apparently to arouse the sentiment or
the country. Not until my business called me
east did they undertake to make any
charges against me. But the moment, or
shortly after my departure, they began this
agitation, resulting in the present Senu-
mcnt Of the country now aroused against
me
| call your attention next to the fact that
the only charge against me even by the pro-
poncnts of this resolution is that 1t Is
m.sdemeanor. They do not charge fc.onN
! under tand that the members of congress
cot, 13Fvf Mt
tendance upon this house. 1t would be i'm
possible to arrest any one of the members
upon the charge of misdemcanor and yet
you would deny me the privilege of being
sworn in as Il member of this house upon
the allegation of the existence of some
charge or other that was guilty OF a mis-
dcmeanor. For the thing for which the Jaw
itself could not lay a hand on me while In
| speak of the little coterie of men who
have entered into this conspiracy to crowd
this question to the front at this particular
ful that If the matter should go to a con-
sideration under a resolution to CNpel the
the necessary two-thlrds vote to accomplish
their purpu'e-to pass the present reSolu-
tion.
l understand, sir that these immunitics
are not given for the benefit of the in
div!dual member. They are given rather
as protection to his constituency who are
entitled TO his services as their representa-
tive and therefore invoke the representa-
tion that is given to the constituency of
sovereign Sldlt dSdlllSl tllt plbtttulllSS lItt
are instituted here to deprive me of the
privilege of being sworn IN as a member of
this house Privilege; did | say, sir | am
not asking. any privilege in this house.
am not asking any favor of the members
of thi. house. Under the shadow of the
demand both for myself and for the people
of my state, the protection that is due to
us and it is demand and it is asking no
favor CApplause on the democratic side
and in the gallerieS)
Mr. Roberts next called attention to the
precedent ir the Forty-third congress in
the case of Cannon, adding:
can add nothing to the force of that
gentleman's remarks, except this, that in
Utah. not the representative of the
5GYeregn wifS RG9Ple they deanE
by a statute passed by the congress
OF the United States, and throughout the
discussion ii was alleged as reason for
taking exceptions to him that they could
do SO because he was unprotected by the
provisions of the constitution. And yet
sir, Notwithstanding he was but a creation
of law still they admitted him as a mem
Der upon the floor of this house. 1t is to
be remarked in, this connection that,
strange to say. the course of nature was
not disturbed. Gentlemen of the
democratic party, some few of whom may
perhaps tremble l!ttle at the. thunderous
objection that has been presented. as pre-
tending to voice the sentiment of the Coun-
try upon this subject | want ant, to @ can your your
Notwithstanding republican, congress
seated this man, yet the republican party
Why. it is here today and I believe, gen
tlemen of the majority, that it could sur
vivc even If it should seat the present
representative from the state of Utah.
(ADplause.)
Richardson's amendment referring the
case to the judiciary committee was de-
feated on a standing VOTE SO to 247.
Many democrats voted with republicans