Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1872-01-18

| WILLIAM VIGERS,
Chief Clerk of the House of Representa-.
tives.
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
oft he 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 l o'clock the Governor,
released from arrest, issued the an
nexed proclamation:
STATE OF LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DEPT,
New Orleans, Jan. 4, ! 80 P. NJ. 1872. |
Whereas, a conspisacy has developed to
overthrow the Government by illegal and
| revolutionary means, which was shown by
the arrest of the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor and members Of the House Of
Representatives, at the moment Of assem-
bling, by the United States Marshal, on a
| writ of q United States Commissioner,
upon a false and frivolous charge; and
Whereas, while the said officers and
| members of the General Assembly were
dentained in arrest, an illegal and revolu-
tionary attempt was made to eject certain
members of the House of Representatives
and seat other persons in their stead, there
being at no time during these proceedings
quorum present; and deeming that the
present condition of public affairs presents
! an extraordinary occasion, / do hereby, by
| virtue of the power in me vested by the
constitution and laws enacted hereunder,
convene the General Assembly of the State
| of Louisiana in extra session, at 4:30P P. NJ.
this fourth day Of January, 1872, to take
such steps as may be necessary to preserve
the peace and protect the interests Of the
Commonwealth.
Given under my hand and seal of the
State, this fourth day of January, A. D.
1872, and of the Independence of the
United States the ninty-sixth.
H. C. WARMOTH.
By the Governor:
]. W. FAIRFAX,
Assistant Secretary of State.
A majority responded at the hour
named. The Speaker not present
ing himself, his place was filed tenn
porarily by the Oldest member.
Resolutions denouncing the arrests
and subsequent expulsion of men,
bers as illegal and unconstitutional
unanimously passed. The Speakers
chair was declared vacant-yeas,
55; nays, none. o. II. Brewster,
of Ouachita, was elected Speaker,
and the following resolutions ad-
| opted: Requesting the Governor to
"take all measures necessary to
protect the General Assembly from
violence and the members from in
timidation;' indorsing the Govern
or for his official integrity, ability
and zeal in the discharge of his
Duties" pledging him continued
support and approving his call for
the extraordinary session of the
Legislature expelling Geo. W.
Carter from the House for "arbi-
trarily overriding the expressed will
of the majority, and introducing
armed personal supporters during
the session of yesterday and in
dorsing the late extra session Of
the Senate and the election of Sena-
tor Pinchback as Lieutenant Gov
ernor.
Foiled by the prompt action Of
Governor Warmoth and the patri
otic responses of the House, the
Democratic and Customhouse coali
ton rallied to their support the
Ku-Klux organizations known al
knights of the White Camelia,
"Spread Eagles" and the "76.
The legal Legislature took recess
until ten o'clock of the fifth of Jan
uary. To prevent the members at
tending at that hour, the following
call to one of these secret bodies o
armed rufians to meet at the cor
ner of the streets next to the Stat.
House, appeared in the Times ant
other Democratic papers, printet
in heavy type and occupying tn
most prominent place in the pa
pers:
"7R