Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-01-10
Bishop Wilmer and General sher'
idaH-Raaical Movement in
New YOrk-1he Arkan-
sas Protest.
Ames' Call for TrOOps-Sheridan's
Answer-The New York Pro-
duee ExehaBge-Shermsn
on Sheridan.
Statement Of the Democratic aem-
bers Of the Lrgislature-SheT-
idaD's Report TO the See
retary of War
Etc, Etc.

IN THE NEW YORK PRODUCE EXCHANGE
NEW YORK, January 9.-Party feel
ing ran high in the produce exchange
yesterday, growing out OF the diverse
views entertained by members on the
subject OF the interference of the army
in the government Of Louisiana, and
the following paper was put in circuia-
ton by those who sre opposed % the
call for public meeting next Monday
ave, the undersigned, recOllecting how
the rebellion was inaugurated and the
country forced into war by the failure OF
the government 10 protect its forts and
officers, hereby testify our approval oi
the prompt action OF the government in
the case OF the Louisiana legislature"
sHERIDAN's STATEMENT.
WAsHINGTON, January 9-The fol-
lowing official dispatch from General
Sheridan was received here last night:
HEADoUARrERs, MILITARY DIVISION
Hon. W. ". Belknsp. Secretary OF war, Wash
ington, ID. g:
I have the honor TO submit the follow
ing briefreporL as they occurred here in
the organization of the State legislature
Of January 4, 1875. / was not in COM
mand Of this military department until
the night Of the fourth instant, but
fully indoTse and am willing TO be held
responsible for the acts of the military
as conservators of the public peace from
that night. During the few days which
was in the city prior TO the fourth,
the general topic OF conversation was
that OF bIoOdshed that day, and 1 re-
peatedly heard threats made that the
. Z l.. Of Iii oil
! fourteenth Of September last and the as
sassination OF Republican members of
the house in order to secure the election
of Democratic speaker. | also know
OF the kidnapping. by bandits, of Mr..
Cousins, one OF the members elect of the
legislature. 10 order TO preserve peace
and make the ststehOuse safe for the
peaceable assembling of the legislature,
General Emory, upon the requisitiOn of
the governor, stationed troops 10
| the vicinity of the building. 0W-
ing TO these precautions tn
legislature assembled sin the state
house without any disturbance OF the
peace. At twelve o'clock Mr.. Vigers,
clek of the last house OF representa-
tives, proceeded to call the roll as accord
! ing TO law be was empowered to do. One
! hundred and two legally returned MEM
! bers answered 10 their names. OF this
| number fifCy-two were Republicans and
/ fity Democrats. Before entering the
/ house l.. A. WiltZ had been selected, in
CAUCUS, as the Democratic nomipee for
/ sneaker, and Michael Hahn as the Re-
, publican nominee. Vigers had not in-
/ ished announcing the result, when one
of the members, Billeu, Of LaEOurche,
nominated l.. a. WiltZ for temporary
/ chairman. Viger5 promptly declared
the motion out of order at that time,
| when some one put the question, and,
amid cheers on the Democratic side,
/ Wilt advanced on the rostrum, passed
/ zssds Nfgerz, ssizaa ths speaker's chair
| and gaveI, and declared himself speaker.
! Pfotests against this arbitrary and un-
| lawful proceeding we're promptly made
| by members OF the ma JTity, but WIltz
| paid no attention to these protests, and,
| on motion from some one on the Demo
cratic side of the house, It was declared
| that one TTeZeyant was nominated and
| elected clerk OF the house. Mr..
! 1rezsYant at once spraDg forward
and occupied the clerks chair amidst
I the widest confusion over the whole
/ house.
Mayor Wilt then again, on another
nomination from the Democratic SIDE
/ of the house, declared one Flood elected
| syrgeant-at-Rrms, and ordered certain
mum her OF assistants to be appointed in
stGntly.
| A large number Of men throughout
! the hall, who had been admitted on va
/ rious pretenses, such as reporters and
/ memb beTs, friends and spectators, turned
/ down the lapels of their coats, upon
/ which were pinned blue ribbon badges,
on which were printed in gold Letters
! the words Assistant sergesDt-aI-arms,"
and the whole assembly was in posses
sion of the minority and the White
League OF Louisiana had mede good the
threat of seiZing the house, many OF the
assistant-serg ants-st-arms being well
known as captains Of the White League
companies in this city. Notwithstand
ing the tardiness of this movement,
the leading Republican members had
not failed to protest again and agaiH
against this revolutionary action of the
minority, but all to no purpose, and
many OF the Republicans rose and left
the house in body, together with
Clerk Vigers, who carried with him the
original roll OF the house as
returned by the secretary of state.
The excitement was now very
great, and the acting-speaker di-
rected the sergeaDt-at-aTms to prevent
1 the egress or ingres8 Of members or
Others, and several exciting scutiiss, IN
which knives and pistols were drawn,
! took place, and for a few minutes it
seemed IS If blOodshed would ensue. At
this junctuTe Mr.. Dupree, tha Democrat
4 ic member from Orleans parish, moved
that the military power Of the general
government be invoked to pre- serve the
peace, and that COMMITTEES be appoint
ed to wait on General Dc TrobTiEnG, the
1 commanding officer Oi the United States
/ troops stationed at the statehouse, and
/ request his assistance 10 clearing the
| lobby. The motion was carried. A
| committee OF five, Of which Dgpree was
made chairman, was sent TO wait upon
/ General De rSobriand, andsoon returned
with that officer, who was accompanied
! by two OF his staff Officers. The general
walked up to the speakers desk amidst
loud applause, first nom the Democratic
side Of the mouse. General De TrObriaud
then asked the acting speaker il it was
not possible for him tG preserve order
without applying 10 a United States
army officer to DO so. Mr.. Witt said it
was not whereupon the general pro-
ceeded to the lobby, and after addressing
q few words TO the excited crowd, peace
was at once restored.
On motion Of Mr.. Dupree, Mr.. WIFI
then, in The name OF the ganefai as
sembly OF the State Of LOgis-
iana, thanked General De Tro-
BRAND for his interference in
behalf of Law and order, aud the gen
eral wit ldrew.
The Republicans had now generally
Withdrawn from the hall and united in
signing petition TO the governor stating
their grievances and asking his aid,
which petition, signed by fifty-twO
legslly-returaed members of the honse,
is in my possession, remaining sub
sequent to the action OF Mr.. Wilt in
rejecting the clerk OF the old house.
Mr. Billieu moved that two gentle
men from the parish OF DeSOto, one
fr0m WinD, one from Bienville and one
from Iberia, who had not been returned
by the returning board. be sworn in as
members, and they were accordingly
sworn in by Mr.. Witt snd took their
seats on the floor as members Of the /
house.
n melton Vas nov made taat lie
house proceed with its permanent or I
gan1zstlon- Accordingly the roll was
called by Mr.. Trezevant, acting clerk, /
anu au1s WIZ YVES uSCiAISu sptAR6Ey !
and Mr. Trezevant clerk of the house.
Acting on the protest made By ma
jority OF the house, The governor now
requested the cOmmanding-genera Of
the department to aid him in restoring
order and enable the legally-returned /
members Of the house To proceed with I
its organization according 20 law. This .
request was reasonable, and in Hc- /
cor lance with law, remembering I
vtvidly the terrible mass acres that
took place In this city on the assembling
Of the constitutional convention III 1866,
At the Mechanics' institute, and keiiey-
ing that the lives Of the members Of the
legislature We're or would De endan-
gered in ease OF an organization under
the law, as attempted, the posse was fur
nished with request that care should
be taken that no member Of the legisla-
fure returned by the returning board
should be elected from the floor. Ibis
military posse performed its duty under
the direction OF the governor Of the
State, and removed from the floor of The |
house those persons who bad been He 4
oalIy elected, and who had no legal J
right to be there; whsreupon the Demo-