Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-13
GEORGIA..
Organization Of she Esgfslas.-s-An
Exciting scene In the House-The
From tho Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel.

At twelve o'clock the members of III
House of Representatives assembled !
their chamber, and 1t was found tbs
Bullock had appointed A. l. (betts
known as Yankee) Harris, the Stat
Road Supervisor, to act as clerk an
riug-masIer of the menagerie in tn
House.
In the House, as in the Senate, tn
Ballockites had gotten up printed pre-
test against allowing several Democrats
members to take their seats. When tn
protest was presented, Harris ordered
Potash Farrow's opinion on the snbjec
to be read. knowing that the protest hat
been previously gotten up in accordance
with the views expressed by the Attorney
| General.
As soon as Harris had ordered the
opinion 10 be rad. j. E. Bryant, Of Rich
mond, rose and imposed tue reading Of
the document Harris Immediately or
dered the Sereeant-at Arms to arrest
Bryant, and the latter official attempted
to obey the command, assisted by Ed.
Blodgett, son Of the Little Perjurer,
who officia,ed "a volunteer upon the
occasion. As soon as these two stepped
forward to take Bryant into custody, q
scene Of The widest excitement and
confusion commenced, and the House Of
Representatives was quickly transformed
into another pandemonium. Bryant very
properly refused to allow himself to be
arrested by young Blodgett and the Ser
gesnt-at-Arms, and pistols were drawn
upon him. The Democratic members,
however. Immediately rushed to Bryanfs
assistance Ind prevented him from beipg
arrested. At this point, the noise and
confusion was almost overwhelming, and
il was utterly impossible TO distinguish
anything that was said for some time
afterwards
Finally young Blodgett and the Ser
geant-at Arms we're run off, quiet, com
paratively speaking, was restored, and
Bryant obtaining the floor denounced
Harris in unmessured terms, and denied
that he had any right or authority what
ever to preside over the House. he
ended bis speech by nominating j. ii.
Caldwell. of Troup, to preside over the
House until an organization was per-
fected. The motion was put and carried
by hard votes, and Bryant advancing
with Caldwell, conducted the latter to the
chair Harris refused to vacate his seat,
and the excitement beginning to increase
again Caldwell grew frightened aud de
clined to serve.
As soon as Caldwell backed down Dun
lap Scott, of Floyd, obtained the floor
and nominated Bryant as SEEKER pro
tenn. OF The House. and the motion was
again carried.
On motion of Scott, Bryant then
appointed committee of three to await
on General Terry and fad out from him
Harris had any authority to
organize the House, and read Fsrrow's
opinion on the eligibility of members.
Bryant appointed Oh this committee,
Dunlap Scott, Frank Holden, and c. K.
Osgood-
Whilst this committee was gone there
was a ps1s. to see what would be it's
report, but Harris still refused to give up
bis place. BE remained seated in the
Speakers chair whilst Bryant sat upon
he top of table and presided over the
House.
10 a short time the committee re-
turned and announced that General
Terry decided that Harris had the power
10 organize the House, but had no right
10 have Fsrrow's opinion read. Bryant
at once yielded bis post, and the call of
the members proceeded When the roll |
was half finished the House adjourned
until ten o'clock tomorrow.
Great excitement prevails in the city,
aud the Bullockites frequently threaten
violence. The Democrats hold them
selves aloof from anything Of the kind,
,ut will support Bryant and the conserv-
.live Republicans. R. l. McWhorter,the
I'D Speaker, has been nominated again
or that position, and Bryant will be run
against him.
Il has trsnspired here to-day that Bull
ock aud Conlev had arrsoged plan for
he arrest of a Senator on the floor OF the
SenLie for taking the oath improperly,
,ut the Democrats announced their de-
ermination TO resist the attempt, and
Bullock and Conley, afraid. to carry
hings too far, backed down from their
cheme
J.E Brysnt. W. F. Holden, Of Tall
.ferro; c K. o good, of Chatham; ].
Madison Rice, of Columbia, and others
# the Radical party, will assist the Dem.
'crsts in fighting the Bullockites to the
litter end.
1t has been seen that both 10 the Sem
tie and the House Of Representatives
legro members were selected to enter
protests against Senators and Represen-
atives taking their seats This was an
'ther trick dictated by the cowardice Of
he white Bullockites. These latter were
.fraid that if they should attempt any
hing Of the sort they would be arrested
nd prosecuted under the provision Of
heir own Reconstruction Bill, which pro-
ibiis any one from preventing mem
Ter from taking their seats. The ne
,roes did not fully understand this law,
nd the Bullockites put them forward as
heir seape-goats.