The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-01-14
ManIy Protests.

When the conservative members of the Lou
isiana Legislature were elected from their seats
by military force, the scene was made intense
ly interesting by manly and earnest protests
against this fragrant outrage upon the rights
and liberties of the people. General de Tro-
BRAND was the officer designated to perform this
ungracious duty, and he seemed conscious that
be was engaged in work unworthy his rank
and profession as q soldier. When Speaker
Wilt asked whether it was his intention to
remove any of the conservative members elect,
General de Trobriand replied that he was not
there to decide upon the legality Of the pro-
ceedings, but was simply obeying orders, and
hoped that his presence alone would prove
sufficient. The Speaker replied that force was
necessary to compel an observance of such
orders to which the General responded that
he would make show of force, and shortly
afterwards returned with United States SOL
disrs, who were halted outside the hall. When
the members were designated, each individual
was taken into custody By two soldiers, and,
after making formal protest, was marched
out of the hall. But the scene must have been
thrilling when the venerable Thomas Vaughn,
of Caddo Parish, siiver-headed old man, was
accosted by General de Trobriand and his
guards, and, as he rose very slowly to his feet,
in the most solemn and impressive manner,
expressed his indignation in the following
words:
"a General of the United States Army has
placed his hand upon my shoulder and COM
manded me to leave the floor of this House.
As member Of this body, duly elected by the
people of Caddo Parish, and as an American
citizen believing that the rights of American
freemen are not yet all dead, desire to enter
my solemn protest against this outrage"
The old man was marched out by the file of
soldiers amidst the most profound silence
Speaker Wilt was then asked to resign his
seat as the presiding officer, but he declined to
surrender the gavel, and troops were ordered to
displace him at once He gazed upon the
scene in silent indignation, and stepping slow
ly down from the desk, in voice broken with
emotion, uttered the following memorable
words
"In the name of the people of the United
States, and in the name of my bleeding State,
and in the name of the God of Justice, again
enter my solemn protest against this interfer-
ence. Gentlemen Of the House of Represen-
tatives, your Legislature has been invaded and
taken possession of by the military forces of
the United States. Under these circumstances
do not consider it my duty to longer remain" "
Speaker Wilt left the hall amid the most
enthusiastic applause, and was followed by all
the conservative members. These indignant
remonstrances we're fifty supplemented by Gov
McEnery, who telegraphed the following pro-
test, addressed to President Grant:
In the name of liberty and all lovers of lib
erty throughout the United States, do most
solemnly protest against the action of the mil
itary forces of the United States on yesterday,
in the occupation of the State House, in the
forcible election by troops of members of the
Legislature and the elected Speaker of the
House, and the subsequent organization of y
House by the direct forcble Intervention of
the military affirm before the whole Amer
ican people that the action on the part of the
military in this city on yesterday is subversve
of republican institutions in this free country.