Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-01-16
DOlNGS OF CONGRESS.
Whist The Two Houses OF Congress
Are Doing.

1
Smoot. OF Utah. 20 the charges made
against him was presented 10 the Sen
ate committee saturday. Il was agreed
that at the regular meeting OF the
committee 70 be held next Saturday
the attorney for Mr.. Smoot and also
for the petitioners should be heard. |
They will be expected 20 show prece-
dents and authorities and after they |
shall have made their presentation |
the committee will decide whether TO
go farther into the matter by calling
witnesses OF dispose OF Il on the show
ing which viii then have been made
Mr. Smoot submits in answer 70
charges against him the following.
This respondent is advised and
AYERS that but two OF the charges
made against him in said protests.
either directly or by implication. are
such as. II true. could legally affect
his right to hold his seat in the Senate.
These two charges are:
II That the respondent is a polyg-
amist.
or obligation which is inconsistent
with the oath required by the consti-
tuition. which was administered 20 him
before he took his seat as a Senator"
Both these charges respondent do
MES.
AS 10 the charges that he Is n
/ polyEamist. the respondent says that
he was married September Il. 1854. 70
Alpha May Eldridge. She is still his
wife and is the mother % all his
children. He has never had any other
wife and has never cohabited with any
other woman.
LAS 70 the charge that the respond
ent is bound by some oath or obliga-
tion controlling his duty under his
cath as a Senator. the respondent says
that he has never taken such oath. OF
In any way assumed any such obliga
ton He holds himself bound 20 obey
and uphold the constitution and laws
OF the United States. including the
condition in reference 10 polygamy
upon which the State of Utah was ad
mitted into the Union.
THE respondent denies that he 8.
one OF said alleged self-p erpctuatlng
bodies of fifteen men. or that there Il
any such body OF men. or that the fol
lowers or members OF the Church %
Jesus Christ OF Latter Day Saints. o.
any Of them. accord the right 90 sai'
! ALLEGED body TO claim supreme az
thurity. either divinclv sanctioned o
| otherwise. 10 shape the belief or cor
. troll the conduct OF those under then
| in all or any matters. civil or TEN
Z | pOral. or that said church or such a
{ | legged body OF any person or body -
. crcises any authority or power 10 u
3 | culcate or encourage belief I'm I'll
s | practice o. polvEamy or belief In q
- practice OF polygamy OF belief I'm a
practice % pOlyEamous COhabitatioI
q or that either countcnanccs or COZ
q hives az any violation OF the laws {
Is the state OF Utah or OF the Unite
b States and this respondent for himso
O. ! in particular denies that he is one q
4 said alleged selfperpetuating body Z
| fifteen men. or that there is any sue
body. OF that said church or any pa
thereof or person therein inculcats
or encourages a belief In the practis
3 OF p0lygamy or belief in or practice
c p0lygamous cohabitation. and this r
.s spondcnt denies that he Is guilty
"A polygamous cohabitati0n. or that
is a pOlvEamist or that he ever h'
% been a polyEamist. or that he has ev
o. practiced polygamous cohabitation.'
.e Mr.. SmOot denied that he has ev
~ connived at any violation OF any la
OF Utah or Of the United States al
l' declares that "since the manifesto
". | President MILFORD Woodruff was
n. sued in 1880. neither g belief in. II
OF / a practice OF pOlyEamy or poly gamo
u | cohabitation has either been taught
Dr. encouraged"