Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1875-01-13
AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA.
A Detailed Report of the state
House Scene.
The Democrats the First to Use
the Federal Troops.

the Federal Troops.
Political Trick.
Special Dispatci 10 the Cincinnati G,4ette
New ORLEANS, Jan. at is vel
that troops We're here. They should
always be where state Governments
and Legislatures are won or lost OF
the gaIlOp, and at the muzzle of the
pistol. This day, so anxiously await.
ed, has seen a usurped parliamentary
body formed with the hands of hall
the members on their hip-pockets. II
has seen that body disorganized at the
point of the bayonet, and another, a
Republican body, legally organized.
\ political hell has yawned here since
noon, aud, although the floor of the
hall of the House of Representatives
has not been stained with blood, revolt
vers were whirled detiantly above hot
heads, and cleaning bowie blades
flashed in desperate hands. At times
"A word or a shot almost fired, would
have made of legislative chamber a
slaughter-house, with representatives
of the people as victims.
The Democrats who have complain
ed of so much usurpation here. were,
in this case, themselves the usurpers,
They captured the House of Represen-
tatiVes, as they stated, for political eff
feet, in order to compel the use of
troops. They maintained their incip
lent revolution until their fraudulent
acts were interfered with by United
States troops under General De Trohris
and, aud then they dispersed because
they were not allowed to perpetrate
their wrongs, Upon their heels, the
Republican members, who constituted
a majority, organized the House, and
| received message from the Governor,
and one from the Senate.
! Let me sketch briefly the scenes.
| The House was to- meet at Il o'clock
noon. Shortly before that hour the
Democratic members filed into the
legislative hall, which had been pre-
viously occupied by the Republican
members. Messrs. Foster, Potter and
Phelps, constituting the Congressional
Committee, were also present, Mr..
Potter remaining spectator over the
railing Of the lobby, and the other two
taking seats on the floor, in front of
the Speakers table.
In accordance with the law, Mr.
Nigers. Clerk of the previous House,
called the roll of members, furnished
him by the Secretary of the State,
which was the same as that made by
the Returning Board AS he finished
the call be stated that the House was
ready to elect a Speaker.
1t was Mr.. Vigers' duty To await
nominations, put the motions and de-
clare who was elected but upon the
instant a Democratic member jumped
up, and yelled ~ nominate l.. 4.
Wilt for Speaker" put the motion
while the Republicans were shouting
the name of their candidate, Mr..
Hahn, and declared Wilt elected
without re 'ogniZing the fact that any
body else had been nominated, aud
without calling the nays ON the mo-
ton. Wilt, who is Mayor of New
Orleans, was purposely standing at the
foot of the Speakers rostrum, and be-
fore he was announced elected, at
single leap he landed in the Speakers
chair, seized the gavel, and commen-
ced calling order. 1t was usurpation
shrewdly planned and executed. I'M
agine, if you can, the scene that en-
sued. Nothing was ever further re-
mote from order. While the Republi-
cans shouted their protests, and insist
ed that they should be allowed TO
name a candidate, and that the motion
should be fairly put by Mr.. Vigers, the
only one authorized to act, that the
yeas and nays be called, the Demo-
Gratis were rending the air with the
same old rebel yells, Sit down !"
" Order !" "Put him Quit" The
Speaker hammered fiercely with his
gavel, and vainly cried order. IN the
midst of the uprOar it was prete nded
that u Clerk was elected, and the
House was declared TO be temporarily
organized. Witt called upon Mr..
Lowell, a Republican, and the oldest
member in the House, To administer
the oath to him, but Lowell refused.
protesting against the illegality of the
whole proceedings, and showing con-
clusively, that, under law passed in
1870 which he read, only Mr.. Vigers,
the last Clerk, could put the motion
for Speaker. In the meantime body
of Sergeants- at Arms were declared
appointed, a. soou as Wilt landed in
the chair, and they were directed to
clear the hall aud preserve order. Re
publicans protested and vaiuly adj
dressed the Chair for recognition.
Wilt ordered the Sergeants to arrest
lucLlbtIS "uo pIDttSleu. MANY lee
publicans left the hall and then came
back.
Wilt obliged himself, AS Speaker,
in an address, to see that members OF
both parties and all colors should be
treated alike by him. 1t was Demo-
cratic stump.speech. Lowell having
refused to swear in Wilt, Justice of
the Peace, who was purposely present,
administered the oath. Instantly
Wilt called upon all members of the
House to arise, hold up their right
hand and take the oath. They did So,
and he administered it.
Mr.. Lowell called upon Vigers to
put the motion for the election ofa
Speaker. Wilt stated that, under
WarmOth, in 1868, the Republicans
had done rs the Democrats had now.
To this was replied that there was
then no law on the subject and that,
in order 70 prevent such acts, the law
of 1870 was passed.
Mr.. Ray, cOlored member, called
upon Wilt TO put Lowell's motion to
allow Nigers TO put the motion and de-