Philip T. Van Zile
Encyclopedia
Philip Taylor Van Zile was a politician and judge from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
. He prepared for college at Union Academy near Knoxville, Pennsylvania
, then entered the classical course of the Alfred University
and graduated in 1863. He enlisted in the army, and served in Battery E. First Ohio Light Artillery until the end of the American Civil War
. He received his discharge in August 1865.
With the opening of the fall term of the University of Michigan
, Van Zile entered the law department and graduated in the spring of 1867. He then went to Charlotte, Michigan
and was admitted to the bar
and began the practice of law. In the fall of 1868 he was elected prosecuting attorney and re-elected in 1870. In 1872 he was elected as a probate
judge, and in 1875 was chosen circuit judge of the 5th district.
In 1878 on the recommendation of U.S. Senators Thomas W. Ferry
and Isaac P. Christiancy
and Representative Jonas H. McGowan
, Van Zile accepted an appointment to the office of U.S. District Attorney for the Utah Territory
from President Rutherford B. Hayes
, as authorized by the Poland Act
. On April 1, 1878, he resigned as circuit judge and left for Salt Lake City, where he served for nearly six years.
As part of his duties as District Attorney, Van Zile enforced existing anti-Mormon
laws, including the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act
and the Poland Act
. In 1882 Congress passed the Edmunds Act
, which revoked key civil rights
from target individuals without trial
or due process
. Among other things it revoked polygamists' right to vote, made them ineligible for jury
service, and prohibited them from holding political office. This forced the retirement of George Q. Cannon
, who had been a delegate in Congress for ten years. Van Zile subsequently lost a 1882 election on the Liberal Party
ticket to fill Cannon's seat in Congress. Of the 33266 registered voters, Van Zile received 4884 votes, while John T. Caine of the Peoples Party
received 23039 votes. About 12000 people were excluded from registering based on suspicion of polygamy.
In 1884 Van Zile returned from Utah
to Michigan
. In the presidential campaign of James G. Blaine
, Van Zile was chosen by the convention, in his absence, to be chairman of the Michigan Republican Party
. He served as chairman for two years.
Van Zile moved to Detroit in 1899 and the following year became a lecturer in the Detroit College of Law, and shortly after was elected dean of the college and has held that position ever since. He was also chosen Grand Commander of Knights Templar
of Michigan in 1900. In 1894 Alfred University conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
and in 1904 that of Doctor of Laws. His publications include "Van Zile’s Bailments and Carriers," and "Van Zile’s Equity Pleading and Practice."
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Biography
Van Zile was born in Osceola Township, PennsylvaniaOsceola Township, Pennsylvania
Osceola Township is a township in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 700 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 13.9 square miles , all of it land.Oseola Township is bordered by Woodhull,...
. He prepared for college at Union Academy near Knoxville, Pennsylvania
Knoxville, Pennsylvania
Knoxville is a borough in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 617 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Knoxville is located at ....
, then entered the classical course of the Alfred University
Alfred University
Alfred University is a small, comprehensive university in the Village of Alfred in Western New York, USA, an hour and a half south of Rochester and two hours southeast of Buffalo. Alfred has an undergraduate population of around 2,000, and approximately 300 graduate students...
and graduated in 1863. He enlisted in the army, and served in Battery E. First Ohio Light Artillery until the end of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He received his discharge in August 1865.
With the opening of the fall term of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, Van Zile entered the law department and graduated in the spring of 1867. He then went to Charlotte, Michigan
Charlotte, Michigan
Charlotte is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,074. It is the county seat of Eaton County....
and was admitted to the bar
State Bar of Michigan
The State Bar of Michigan is an organization of lawyers in the State of Michigan. Membership is mandatory for attorneys who practice law in the state of Michigan...
and began the practice of law. In the fall of 1868 he was elected prosecuting attorney and re-elected in 1870. In 1872 he was elected as a probate
Probate
Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person by resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person's property under the valid will. A probate court decides the validity of a testator's will...
judge, and in 1875 was chosen circuit judge of the 5th district.
In 1878 on the recommendation of U.S. Senators Thomas W. Ferry
Thomas W. Ferry
Thomas White Ferry was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan.Ferry was born in the old Mission House on Mackinac Island. The community on Mackinac at that time included the military garrison, the main depot of John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company, and the mission....
and Isaac P. Christiancy
Isaac P. Christiancy
Isaac Peckham Christiancy was Chief Justice of the Michigan State Supreme Court and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan....
and Representative Jonas H. McGowan
Jonas H. McGowan
Jonas Hartzell McGowan was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.McGowan was born in Smith Township, Ohio . He was the eighth of ten children of Samuel and Susan McGowan. His paternal -Irish ancestors had fled religious persecution and settled in Pennsylvania...
, Van Zile accepted an appointment to the office of U.S. District Attorney for the Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
from President Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
, as authorized by the Poland Act
Poland Act
The Poland Act of 1874 was an act of the United States Congress which sought to facilitate prosecutions under the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act by eliminating the control members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints exerted over the justice system of Utah Territory. Sponsored by Senator...
. On April 1, 1878, he resigned as circuit judge and left for Salt Lake City, where he served for nearly six years.
As part of his duties as District Attorney, Van Zile enforced existing anti-Mormon
Anti-Mormon
Anti-Mormonism is discrimination, persecution, hostility or prejudice directed at members of the Latter Day Saint movement, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
laws, including the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act
Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act
The Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act was a federal enactment of the United States Congress that was signed into law on July 8, 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln...
and the Poland Act
Poland Act
The Poland Act of 1874 was an act of the United States Congress which sought to facilitate prosecutions under the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act by eliminating the control members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints exerted over the justice system of Utah Territory. Sponsored by Senator...
. In 1882 Congress passed the Edmunds Act
Edmunds Act
The Edmunds Act, also known as the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882, is a United States federal statute, signed into law on March 23, 1882, declaring polygamy a felony. The act is named for U.S. Senator George F. Edmunds of Vermont...
, which revoked key civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
from target individuals without trial
Trial
A trial is, in the most general sense, a test, usually a test to see whether something does or does not meet a given standard.It may refer to:*Trial , the presentation of information in a formal setting, usually a court...
or due process
Due process
Due process is the legal code that the state must venerate all of the legal rights that are owed to a person under the principle. Due process balances the power of the state law of the land and thus protects individual persons from it...
. Among other things it revoked polygamists' right to vote, made them ineligible for jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
service, and prohibited them from holding political office. This forced the retirement of George Q. Cannon
George Q. Cannon
George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow...
, who had been a delegate in Congress for ten years. Van Zile subsequently lost a 1882 election on the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Utah)
The Liberal Party, like the People's Party, flourished in Utah Territory as a local political party in the latter half of the 19th century—before Democrats and Republicans established themselves in Utah in the early 1890s....
ticket to fill Cannon's seat in Congress. Of the 33266 registered voters, Van Zile received 4884 votes, while John T. Caine of the Peoples Party
People's Party (Utah)
The People's Party was a political party in Utah Territory during the late 19th century. It was backed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its newspaper, the Deseret News. It opposed Utah's Liberal Party.- Beginnings :...
received 23039 votes. About 12000 people were excluded from registering based on suspicion of polygamy.
In 1884 Van Zile returned from Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
to Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. In the presidential campaign of James G. Blaine
James G. Blaine
James Gillespie Blaine was a U.S. Representative, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. Senator from Maine, two-time Secretary of State...
, Van Zile was chosen by the convention, in his absence, to be chairman of the Michigan Republican Party
Michigan Republican Party
The Michigan Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in Michigan. It is sometimes referred to as MIGOP, which simply means Michigan Grand Old Party....
. He served as chairman for two years.
Van Zile moved to Detroit in 1899 and the following year became a lecturer in the Detroit College of Law, and shortly after was elected dean of the college and has held that position ever since. He was also chosen Grand Commander of Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
of Michigan in 1900. In 1894 Alfred University conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
and in 1904 that of Doctor of Laws. His publications include "Van Zile’s Bailments and Carriers," and "Van Zile’s Equity Pleading and Practice."