The Portland daily press., 1870-01-12


piseRAeErth SCENE III faa (4foggiA Leoa
IsLATSRE-pIsToLs DRAws AND GENERAL
OoNFUsIoN.-Both Houses of the Georgia Leg
isiature convened yesterday (Tuesday) The
galleries were filled long before the hour of
meeting. The seats of Senator Atkins and
Representatives Ayers and Flournoy, killed
during the recess, before reaching their homes,
were trimmed with Grape and remained va
can't. In the Senate 36 members were present
and all but one took the oath. 1t is claimed
four are not qualified.
The House was called to order by the Hon.
A. l.. Harris, in compliance with the order of
Gov. Bullocks proclamation, and the order of
Gen. Meade, certifying to the members
elect was read. The members were then called
to take the oath prescribed by the constitution
of Georgia and by Congress. When the mem
bers had been sworn the chairman ordered the
opinion OF Attorney General Farrow to be re-
ceived in regard to the scope of the oath pre-
scribed by Congress accompanying the COM
municatiOn from General Terry .Indorsing tne
opinion The reading was soon interrupted by
I.nr = r. Rryant, of Augusta, who arose to
| nttar a nrotest against the reading of dozen.
ment. The chairman called him to order hnt
he persisted that he was member elect of the
chairman ordered the Sergeant-at- Arms to or
rest MN: NJ j. Hinton, the Sergeant-at- Arms
.aiu MS nands on his shoulder and asked him
70 come down, but Bryant raised his arm in a
menaclng manner and threatened to strike
hinton II he came near him when the latter
drew pistol Men arose in various parts of
the House. Mr.. Caldwell, Republican, said
tnat men had pistols out in the hall and asked
II order could not be maintained. There was
now great excitement. Bryant and the chair
man We're alternately cheered from the galle-
RES and there were indications of serious
trouble. Quiet was at last partially restored
and the administration of the oath was proceed.
ing when Bryant made motion that j. H.
Caldwell, OF Troup county, take the chair, and
put the question, which was followed by loud
cheers. Caldwell passed up in the direction of
the Speakers desk accompanied by Bryant, it
was supposed with the intention of taking the
chair, but he explains that he did not hear the
motion and went forward merely because he
heard bis name called. A motion was then
made to adjourn and great excitement follow
ed. Dunlap Scott, Democrat moved that
Capt. Bryant be Speaker pro tena of the House
and put the question. Bryant advanced to the
Speakers desk and standing up in the front
put the motion to adjourn. He then declared
the House adjourned until ten o'clock to-mor-
row.
In the midst of this wildness of confusion the
chairman, Mr.. Harris, conducted himself with
courage and composure. He arose and an
nounced that the House had been declared ad-
lourned by Bryant and said he was here to or
ganize this House and if be could not do so
without assistance he would procure it. This
was followed by another ebullition during
which Bryant announced he would 90 and see
Gen. Terry Some members had by this time
lett the Hall, but quiet was soon restored with
out further disturbance. Bryant was elected
as Republican, but has acted with the DEM
ocrats in former sessions.