The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-08
ASKS THE PEOPLE
TO STOP AND THINK
----------
Roberts Issues an Address to
the Nation.
he BIDS ALL BEWARE
FORMIDABLE HOUSE MINORITY
May BE BLOTTED OUT.
BY FOLLOWING THIS NEW PRECEDENT
Established TO Proceed Against Him. III Also
Strikes Down the Right Of the One
Accused to a Speedy aud
Public Trial.


Washington, Dec. 7.-Brigaham II.
Roberts, of Utah, who was not allowed
to be sworn i'm as representative III
Congress Of that State, has issued an
address to the American people. 1t con-
tains much that was said by Mr.. Roberts
ON the floor of the House and by Mr..
Richardson who opposed the resolution of
Tayler, of Ohio. After reviewing the
facts and proceedings resulting in the
appointment of the committee he says:
The member from Utah is not allow
cd to take the oath Of his office, and a
committee is appointed TO try him as
to his alleged guilt of the offences charg-
ed Nay. even more is granted than was
asked. at least more than was asked
upon the floor of the House. For hos
tile committee has been appointed to in
quire into the case. Its membership is
made up entirely of those who voted to
adopt the method of procedure.
i ask the American people to stop and
think what that may mean to this coun-
try in times of high political excitement,
and party strife and passion.
.{1.l A formidable minority in the
House may he reduced either TO very
iIlsignifcanr minority, or even blottcd ont
of existence.
..t2.) The Representation to which the
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 pro-
coed with reasonable expeultion to con-
slider the questions involved, but what
is there toThinder it delaying its action
under one preteNt or another as long as 1t
pleases? 1t can prolong its Investigations
for two years as we'll as month or
year, If it so elects, and meantime deny
to q State representation, and may de-
feat altogether the expressed will OF a
people of State as to their choice of a
representative.
.'(3.) This new precedent also strikes
down the constitutional guarantee Of
right to one accused OF a crime to a
speedy and public trial by an impartial
jury of the State wherein the crime shah
have been committed
'.lhe proposition is not to deprive me
of my seat in Congress by the presenta
ton of records of conviction for crime be-
fore courts before which | have been
found guilty, under the due forms of the
law. The proposition is to try me before
the committee of the House, to send for
persons and papers, and witnesses to as
certain my guilt or innocence of an alleg-
ed misdemeanor, reported TO have been
committed in Utah.
IF | were guilty of the Inisdemeanor
charged. even fagrantly so-here in the
caDital-I could not even be arrested
for the offense, 50 slight is it considered
under the law. The constitution gives
the members Of Congress immunity from
arrest for misdemeanors, except fOT
breach Of the peace, and yet for M
alleged misdemeanor for which | could
not he arrested while in attendance
upon the House. or while going to on
from it--I am deprived the right to
take the oath of my office; my final right
to my seat is in jeopardy; the people-of
one of the sovereign States is denied
representation, so long as ii shall suit
the purpose of the committee to have it
so and the expressed viii of the people
of State is in danger of being defeat
ed
1T is true that the representative
from Utah is Mormon and just now
against the Mormon people a wave of
popular sentiment, created by false
hood, chiefly by the charge that Utah
has broken her compal with the United
States in the matter of polygamy: that
her people contemplate the revival OF
polygamous marriages; that the seat
ing Of Utahs representative wouli be
regarded by her Mormon population as
an endorsement of polygamy, and would
be menace to the American home.
Upon my honor rs Il representative from
the State of Utah, a man III whom the
State of Utah has reposed their conf
dence, both non-Mormons, as well as
Mormons, | solemnly deny those charges.
The only thing chargeable to some few
men in the State of Utah. is that they
have not deserted the plural wives they
married years ago, previous to the set
Element of the polygamy question be-
tween the Government OF the United
States and the State of Utah.
Even continuing the relations formed
before this settlement of the question
though their disruption was neither de-
lnanded by the Enabling Act, nor con
templated in the provisions or the State
ConStitution-are under the law Of a |
nisdemeanor and punishable; but il has
not been regarded as necessary to good |
morals or public policy, to prosecute peo-
pie for this offense, and neither by the |
Republican party or by Democrats, has |
the existence of such relations been con-