<​December 9​> not Mr. Speaker, detain you or this honorable body much longer. I am heartily sorry that a blow has been aimed at the chartered privileges of . I speak in defence of my Constituents upon this occasion; feeling myself bound to do so, not by any former pledges, but by principle. I believe in defending the cause of the defenceless. As has already been remarked, all that we claim is equal rights and equal provisions. I would remark for the satisfaction of my own feel[HC 5:203]ings in this matter, that I was some little interested in the event of the last election, I then was engaged in the cause of democracy, enlisted in the campaign of canvassing my , and in consequence of the many prejudices that were excited against the Mormons as they are called, I was placed under circumstances of most unparalleled embarrassment. But still I thought it a favorable opportunity to unite the democracy of the . I know that considerable political <​Capital​> has been made by the question of Mormonism and anti-Mormonism Perhaps one thing that now contributes to that result is that there are hints in the ’s message in regard to a repeal of the Charter. It is a circumstance within my own knowledge, that previous to the last election in that some few individuals there made strong efforts to get our votes for the ’s election. By exertions made there more than a thousand votes were cast for the by Mormon influence and since I have been here, a gentleman, of the opposite politics, has said to me “now your is paying you off”. I do not allude to this to wound the feelings of any person whatever. I do not consider that the recommendation of the was designed to effect the repeal of our Charter. All that we have to say is that we throw ourselves upon your mercy. As democrats we ask for equal justice and equal rights. Give us those rights and we are content; without them, we are deprived of that which was purchased by the blood of our fathers.[”]