The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-01-20
Donalosonbille Gbief.
ADDRESS
OF THE
Republican State Central Conn
nlfftee of Louisiana.

U Tilt pCOplG VI tilC CiuII VI A1o1ASie-o'
New ORLEANS, January IL, 1872.
George w. Carriers administration
of the Speakership during the session
of 1871 was considered by the Repub-
lican members of the House fraud
upon the State and disgrace to our
party. On the second day OF the
present session, to avoid dissensions,
a resolution of confidence in Speaker
Carter passed on the understanding
that he would resign the Chair, the
vote being thirty Republicans and
one Democrat against. FAILING on
the third to resign, the House refused
to approve the journal of the previous
day, thus virtually resembling the
vote of confidence, the call OF the roll
showing forty-eight Republicans and
one Democrat refusing to approve,
and twenty-four Republicans and
twenty-five Democrats in favor A
motion declaring the chair vacant
followed.
Carter decided this motion out OF
order, and would not entertain an
appeal from his decision; when, fol-
lowing the precedent of John Quincy
Adams in the United States Congress,
Hon. Mortimer Carr put the question
to the House, and it was carried by a
large majority. At this juncture, Mr..
Carter surrounded himself with a
body of armed men, previously con-
cealed in his private room adjoining
the Speakers stand, and defied and
intimidated the majority. When or
der was restored, Hons. p. j. Yorke
and J. S. Matthews, his acknowledged
champions, pledged, in the name OF
Speaker Carter, that he would resign
mt twelve o'clock NJ. the following day
if the majority would then permit an
adjournment; and after this had been
agreed to, Mr.. Matthews reiterated
the pledge to Governor Warmoth, at
his Office, and announced himself
candidate for the succession. On tile
fourth day, Carter again broke his
pledge to resign, and to defeat the
majority resorted to an unprecedent-
ed outrage. At the moment ofassem-
bling, a force of specially created dep
uty United States marshals seized the
Governor, Lieutenat Governor, four
Senators and eighteen members of the
House, besides the Superintendent
and three police captains and the
Criminal Sheriff. The eighteen MEM
bers were opposed to Carter, and their
removal to United States commits
sioners Office in the Custom House to
answer false charge, sworn to by
four of Carriers co-conspirators, broke
the antagonistic majority. The con-
sternation produced by this great per-
version of federal power, caused so
many other members to flee from they
knew not what coming dangers, that
not quorum remained in the House,
as is shown by the following sworn
official statement. This statement
also shows that, without quorum,
the revolutionists declared seven Re-
publicans unseated, and seated six
contestants, five of whom are Demo-
Gratis, in their stead:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, !
New Orleans, January 4, 1872. !
To His Excellcncy II. C. Warmoth, Governor
of Louisiana.
SIR-0n motion of Mr.. Antoine, of Orleans,
the seat of o. III. Hampstead, of Iberville,
was declared vacant, and p. G. Deslonde
seated in his stead. On motion of J. B.
Wands, OF IangipahOa, the seats OF Charles
Abel and D. Cady Stanton, of Bosser, were
declared vacant, and Messrs. Pratt and
Seaman were seated in their stead. On mo-
ton of j. B. Wands, of Tangipahoa, the re-
port of the Committee ON Election and Quail
fcation was adopted by vote of forty
yeas and eight nays.
This haE, 4
and LaSaliniere, of st. Martin, and seats
Messrs. Castele and Neven, who were quail
led by the Speaker, George w. Carter, and
unseats Mr.. w. Wheyland, of Sabine, and
seats Mr. j. r. Smart, and also unseats Mr..
l.. u Souer, of Avoyelles, and seats nobody.
BY the same vote, Mr.. b. L. Lynch, OF
lberyllle, was confirmed in his seat.
On each question, the same number of
votes were cast, and there were, during the
transaction of all this business only fifty
members present, besides the Speaker. Ac-
eordlng to the constitution and the practice
OF the House, ffty-two members were neces-
sary Tor quorum, there being one hundred
and two actual members of the House of
Representatives. Respectfully,
WILLIAM VIGERS,
Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
fourth day OF January. 1872.
j. W. FAIRFAX.
Assistant Secretary of State
Not the least pretense of trial OF
the expelled members, all of whom
had retained undisturbed possession
OF their seats during the session of
1871, was made; but the illegal action
was hurried through, and the so-called
House adjourned. At half-past one
o'clock the Governor, released from
arrest, issued the annexed proclama-
ton:
STATE OF LOUISIANA, }
Executive Department,
New Orleans, january 4, 1872, 1870 P NJ.
WHEREAS, A conspiracy has developed to
overthrow the government by illegal and re
volutionary means, which was shown by the
arrest of the Governor. Lieutenant Cover.
nor and members of the House of Repre-
sentatiyes at the moment of assembling, by
the United States Marshal, on writ of a
United States commissioner, upon a false and
frivolous charge; and
Whereas. While these said officers and