Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-11

the law. that the rule Of the law itaclt
IN this country. IL that one T. regarded
a. Innocent until he II proven to To-
guilty. hut that does not seem to be-
the case here.
Allow me to say 70 tho gentleman
from ohio that he has no court record
TO show that ! was ever nrrniguod ur
condemned Tor any crime Whatsoever
rlucc the PRONUNCIATION " tho amnesty
pr0clamatluua ~ the Presidents uf the
United States. and hence no competent
grounds for believing me guilty " any
ofonsc that disqualincf me for the Of
ice to which I was elected. Tho gentle
man seemed also 10 forget the fact that
since the confession 10 a ml.ncme1unr.
TO which he has referred, there was
pausod In this Congress VI the United
States an enabling act, authorizing the
people " the Territory Of Utah to form
q State government and that that En-
nbllng Act also had provision efn-
bodied IN u that qualified all the male
citizens within the limits Of said Ter
rltury 20 participate In the election of
dclerntcs To form the new states Con.
atitntion. That cabling Act was PR
iicuinrly framed 60 remove the disrunii-
flcationa aud disabilities which had been
created by the Edmunds Tucker law.
The gentleman ncema al@u 70 forget
that In addition 60 that fact we have
had State Constitution frumed; ana
evidently the action % the Convention
framing the State Constitution Of Utah
wns satisfactory 60 the Precedent N
the United states and hlH advisors,
since Utah was admitted aa a State
into tho Union upon u nd has taken
upun itself the responsibilities of \
sovereign state. declaring under it,
Constitution who 90 her citizens should
exercise the elective franchise ana BE-
qualified Tor holding ofiice.
.aN han a. =
Mr. Speaker. since confession 50 tho
mlsdcm,nnor that ~ referred to by tho
gentleman from ohio; any one ~ whicn
" sufficient To- remove tho iueligihility
charged. We're Il not that am 20 lin.
itcd IN the time allotted to me at this
stage NJ the discussion, I should be-
pleased to enter into the consideration
~ nh the questions which have been
ralaed by the gentleman and read thc
specific language both ~ the Enabling
act and the state Constitution OF utah,
which WEI Drove beyond question my
contention on this point.
The second charge. which II supposed
to 60 60 the question Of eligibility " the
member from Utah, " that upon uin-
davit snd other papers In his possess
sion the gentleman from Ohio u cun-
WINGED that ever since confess Ion tn a
mlrdemcanor--sincc iNSa-the applicant
FOR his seat has been persistent law.
be true. lct me nak why Il u that tho
gentleman from ttah has not bccn pun.
lshcd Tor his lawbtcaklnRg
Certainly there was no lack uf dis
position to execute tho law on the part
of thosc charged with ita ndministrn-
tiou. It, administration wac In the
hands OF nom Mormons. fta administrn-
tlon and all SO machinery wcrc In the
hands ~ thosc who had no sympathy
with men ~ the religious faith 81 the
representative from Utah. How is H.
then. that he could be nn omen and de.
liant lawbrcakcr and yet escape tn, pom
atty ~ the iawe
Tho Fcnticman's objection. then, IL
bafcd not upon a court record, hut upon
anidavlis and paper4 that have been
supplied him by personal enemies OF IN"
mcmber-clcct from Utah. And now,
eir | wish TO turn briefly Tor
moment To another branch
N the crimes chnrged against the Rep
rpaentntlVc from Utah. There " mo-
charge that has ever been made AGAINST
him constituting felony The only
charge. even In the judgment OF these
people who have been seeking 10 en-
compass his expulsion from the liouHc,
goes no further than the charge Of a
mlsdcmoanor-not q charge OF felony.
And now. Mr. Speaker. as "a the mat
ter In which these charges are made,
II has been about fifteen months since
they began, since the Representative
from Utah was advertised throughout
this land AZ defiant lawbrcaker And
yet, sir. | walked the streets OF salt
Lake city In open dny, within easy
reach OF the law, and my faults lay
open TO the law II ! were guilty of
transgrcaninE II. other mon charged
with the snme offense were arrested,
pleaded before the courts Of Utah, and
We're fined for the very onenHr alleged
ngalnat this member from Utah. and
yet no complaint was made against
him.
No.It dld not suit the purpose Of those
who had this present agitation IN hand
To vlndicnte the law quietly and by
the usual methods. They desired par
ticulurly TO have this case upon which
10 nrousc the sentiment " the country
about polygamy. Not until my bus.
moss called me East did they undertake
to make any charges nrainst me, nut
shortly after my departure for the
East they bcgnn this agitation, result
ing In the present sentiment Of the
country now aroused against the doml-
nnnt church In Utah and the states
mcmber-clcct
I understand that the members Of
Congress are granted certain privileges
while In attendance upon this House,
one OF the members upon the charge
of "a mlsdumcanor. Aud yet you would
. 9tGy mo the privilege Of being sworn
In na a member OF this House upon the
allegation Of some one that ] am
guilty OF misdomeanor. The THING
Tor which the law Itself could not lay
hand On mo while m attendance upon
this House you prnpoac-thht u, inc
cotcrle of men who have entered into