The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-15

v VI ~ ~
tive in congress of that state, has Is
sued an address to the American peo-
pie. 1t contains much that was said by
Mr.. Roberts on the foor Of the house,
and by Mr.. Richardson, who opposed
the resolution Of Mr.. Tayler. of Ohio,
After reviewing the facts and proceed
ings resulting in the appointment Of the
committee, he says:
The member from Utah is not al
lowed to take the oath of his 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. a. least more thar
was asked upon the floor Of the house.
For a hostile mmit has been APP
pointed to enquire into the case. It's
membership is composed entirely Of
those who voted ito adopt the method Of
procedure. | ask the American people
to stop and think what that may mean
to this country in times of high politi-
cal excitement and party strife and
passion.
Il. \ formidable minority in the
house may be reduced either TO a very
insignificant minority, or even blotted
out Of existence.
"2. The representation to which the
state is entitled on the hoor if the
house may be denied to ii, as in his
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 or another as
long as it pleases? 1t can prolong it's
Investigations for two years as we'll as
a month or a year, if it SO elects, and
meantime deny to a state representa-
ton, and may defeat altogether the eX-
pressed wish of a people of a state as
TO their choice of a representative.
80. This new precedent also strikes
down the constitutional guarantee of a
right to one accused of a crime to a
speedy ant public trial by an impartial
jury Of the state wherein the crime
shall have been committed
"The proposition is not to deprive me
Of my seat in congress by the presen-
tatiOn of records Of conviction for crime
before 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 wit
nesses to ascertain my guilt or inno-
cence of an alleged misdemeanOr, re-
ported to have been committed in Utah.
IF | were guilty of the miSdemeanOr
charged-even t~lagrantly So here in
the capital I could not even be arrested
for the offense, so slight is it considered
under the Jaw. The constitution gives
the members of congress immunity
from arrest for misdemeanOrs, except
for breach of the peace, and yet for an
alleged m"isGeameanOr for HIGH l could
not be arrested while in attendance
upon the house, or while going to Or
from it, l am deprived the right to
re- l-n h - n -af ~aLy ~ g n -,xy 49,
right tie my seat is in jeopardy; the
people of one of the sovereign states is
denied representation, so long as it
shall suit the purpose of the committee
to ave it so, and the expressed viii of
the people Of q state is in danger of
being defeated.
ut is true tina the representative
from Utah is a Mormon and just now
against the Mormon people a wave of
popular sentiment created by falSthOOd
chiefly by the charge that Utah has
broken her compact with the United
States in the matter of polygamy; that
her people contemplate the revival of
pOlygamOuS marriages; that the scat
ing of UtahB representative would be
regarded by her Mormon population as
an endorsement of pOlygamy, ana
would be a menace to the American
home. Upon my honor as a representa-
tive from the state of Utah, a man IN
whom the people of Utah have repOsed
their confidence, both nOn-MOrmcns as
we'll as MormOnS, / SOlemnly deny those
charges. They are not true. The only
thing chargeable to some few men in
the state of Utah, is that they nave
not deserted the plural wives they mar
ried years ago, previous to the settle
ment of the DOlygamy question between
the government of the United States
and the state of Utah.
Even continuing the relations form
ed before this settlement of the quCs-
ton, though their disruption was
neither demanded by the enabling act
nor contemplated in the provisions OF
the state legislation, are under the law
a miSdeamanor and ~puniShable; Dat i
has not been regarded as necessary tC
good morals or public policy, to prose.
cute people for this Offense, and neither
by the republican party or by the dem
ocrats, has the existence of such rela-
lions been considered a bar to politica
preferment until the political and rcli.
gious enemies of the present represen-
tatiVe from Utah thought proper tC
urge them against him. But such mer
have been elected ito offices of high
honor in the state of Utah, and others
against whom UGH charges were made
by a~ffidavits, We're appointed to fedora
offices in the state, notwithstanding
such objections were urged against
them.
Il shall do all l can to maintain my
rights under the constitution. J stant
alone, saw for the very few who gave
me their very guarded support by vot.
ing against the INDUSTRIOUS proceeding:
that prevent me from taking the oatf
of office. l am without a dollar at my
command, except the salary attached
to my office, with which to fight tht
battle 10Y pending before the specia
committee. / am without legal counse
except for the kindly suggestions OF
here and there a word from a lawyer
acquaintance or friend. I van The
condition here named to stand as {
refutation to the sensational charges
that have been made about the Nor.
mon Church standing behind me, witt
any amount of money for legal
sci, and the maintenance of a lobby il
Washington"
A REPLY TO THE ABOVE.
Washington, December S.-An answer
to Mr.. Brigham Roberts address tt
h American people, was issued today
by a delegation representing the Gen
tile element in Utah, who are here tt