New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-14
To the People of the State OF Louisiana;

10 the PcOple OF Tue Stdto VI bouSi"ho'
NEW ORLEANS, January II, 1872
George w. Carriers administration of the
Speakership during the session OF 1871 was
considered by the Republican members OF
the House fraud upon the State and dis
grace to our party. On the second day OF
the present session, to avoid dissensions,
q resolution of confidence in Speaker Gar
ter passed on the understanding that he
would resign the Chair, the vote beng
thirty Republicans and nineteen Demo
Gratis in favor, and fOrty-four Republicans
and one Democrat against Failing on the
third dav to resign, the House refused to
approve the journal of the previous day,
thus virtually resembling the vote of conf
dence. the call of the roll showing forty
eioht Republicans and one Democrat re-
fusing to approve, and twenty-tour Repub-
Hcans and twenty-five Democrats IN favor.
A motion declaring the chair vacant fol-
lowed.
Carter decided this motion out of order,
and would not entertain an appeal from his
decision; when, following the precedent Of
John Quincy Adams in the United States
Congress, Hon. Mortimer Carr put the ques
ton to the House, and it was carried by a
large majority. At this luncture, Elr. Car
ter surrounded himself with a body of
armed men, previously concealed in his pri-
vate room adjoining the Speakers stand,
and detied and inundated the majority.
When order was restored Hons. p. j.
Yorke and J. S. Matthews, his acknowl-
edged champions, pledged, in the name of
Speaker Carter, that he would resign at
twelve o'clock NJ. the following day if the
majority would then permit an adjourn
ment: and after this had been agreed to,
Mr.. Matthews reiterated the pledge to Gov.
ernor Warmoth, at his office, and announced
himself candidate for the succession. On
the fourth day, Carter again broke his
pledge to resign, and to defeat
the majority resorted to an unpre.
cedented outrage. at the moment OF
assembling, a force of specially created
deputy United States marshals seized the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, four Sen
atOrs and eighteen members of the House,
besides the Superintendent and three police
captains and the Criminal Sheriff. The
eighteen members were opposed to Carter,
and their removal to United States com
missiOner's Office in the CustOmhOuse to
answer false charge, sworn to by four of
Carriers cO-cOnspiratOrs, broke the an
tagOnistic majority. The CONSERVATION
produced by this gross perversiOn OF federal
power caused so many other members to
flee from they knew not what coming dan
gers, that not a quorum remained in the
House, as is shown by the following swolD
official statement. This statement also
shows that, without quorum, the revolu-
tionists declared seven Republicans un-
seated, and seated six contestants. five of
whom are Democrats, in their stead
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE,
New Orleans, January 4, 1872.
To His Rxcellency H. C. Warmoth, Governor of
SrR-On motion of MI. Antoine. of Orleans, the
seat of o. H. Hampstead of Iberville was declared
vacant and p G DesiOnd seated in his stead. On
motion of J. b. Wands of Tangipahoa the seats of
Charles Abel and d. Cady Stanton, of Bosser, were
declared vacant, and Messrs. Pratt and Seaman
IN hair a1l n m n 1 *
Wands of TaugipahOa the report of the Commit
tee ON Election and Qualification was adopted by
a vote of forty.two yeas and eight nays
This report unseats Messrs. Mcfarland and La
Saliniere of st. Martin, and seats Messrs Castelc
and hG seG by vhs
of Sabine and seats MI. j. R. Smart and also I'M
seats Mr.. L. b. Souer, OF Avoyeles, and seats no.
B; the same vote, Mr. B. L. Lynch, of Iberville,
was confirmed in his seat.
On each question the same number of votes We're
cast and there were during the transaction OF all
this business only fifty members present besides
the SPEAKER According to the constitution and
the practice of the House, ffty-two members were
necessary for quorum, there being one hundred
and two actual members OF the House of Repre-
'en'"'''''' 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 a trial of the ex-
pelled members. all of whom had retained
undisturbed possession of their seats durln e
the session OF 1871, was made: but the
illegal action was hurried through, and the
so-called House adjourned AT halfpast
one o'clock the Governor. released from
arrest issued the annexed proclamation:
STATE OF LOUISIANA }
Executive Department,
New Orleans, January T. 1872, l:3O T. NJ.
WHEREAS A conspiracy has developed over
throw the government by illegal and revolutionary
means, which was shown by the arrest OF the Gov
ernor, Lieutenant Governor ana members rs OF Inc
bling, by the United States marshal, on writ OF a
United States commissioner upon a false and
Whereas While these said officers and mem bers
of the General Assembly were detained in arrest,
an illegal and revolutionary attempt was made to
eject certain members of the House OF Represents
tives and seat other persons in their stead, there
being at no time during these proceeding a quorum
present and deemipg that the present condition of
public affairs presents an extraordinary occasion,
do hereby, in virtue of the power in me vested
by the constitution and laws and the laws enacted
thereuntO, convene the General Assembly OF the
State of Louisiana in extra session at halt'past
four O'Clock this evening, this fourth day OF Jan
uary 1872, to take such steps as may be necessary
to preserve the peace and protect the interests OF
Given under my hand and the seal of the State,
this fourth day of January A. d. 1872, and OF
the independence of the United States the ninety
By the Governor
J. W. FAIRFAX, Assistant Secretary of State.
A majority responded at the hour named.
The Speaker not presenting himself, his
place was filled temporarily by the oldest
member. Resolutions dcnOuDcing the ar
rests and subsequent expulsion of members
as illegal and unconstitutional unanimously
passed The Speakers chair was declared
yacant-yeas, 80: nays. none. y. ii. Brew
,ster, of Ouachita, was elected Speaker, and
the following resolutions adopted: Request
ing the Governor to "take all measures
necessary to protect the General Assembly
from violence and the members from in
timidation:' indorsing the Governor tor his
:. official integrity. ability ard zeal in the
discharge of his duties" pledging him con
tinued support and approving his call fol
the extraordinary session; expelllng George
w Carter from the House for s. arbitrarily
overriding the expressed will OF the MAJOR
iIv and introducing armed personal sup
porters during the session OF yesterday,
and indorsing the late extra session OF the
Senate and the election OF Senator flnch
back as Lieutenant Governor.
Fooled bv the prompt action Of Governor
Warmoth and the patriotic response OF INC
House, the Democratic and Customhoust
coalition rallied to their support the hu
Klux organizations known as ''knlSnts o.
the White Camelia,' Spread Eagles anc
..76., The legal Legislature took recess
until ten o'clock OF the fifth OF January
To prevent the members attending at tina
hour. the following call to one OF these
secret bodies of armed rutfians to meet a
the corner of the streets next to the STATE
House. appeared in the Times and Othel
Democratic papers, printed III heavy type
and occupying the most prominent place IL
the papers:
JANUARY ), 1872.