Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-01-15
Report Of Gen. sheridan on Louisiana
H. ~ Affairs


WASHINGTON, Jan. 0.
The following official dispatch from
Gen. Sheridan was received here last
night %.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE
~ MIssoyRI, New ORLEANS, Jan. 8.
To the Hon. w. w BELKNAP, Secretary Of War,
Washington, ID, c.: NJ
I have the honor to submit the following
brief report OF affairs as they occurred here
In the organization OF the State Legislature
of Jan. 4, 1876 l was not in command of this
military department until eight o'clock at
night Of the 4th inst, but fully indorse, and
am willing to be held responsible for, the
acts of the military as conservators Of the
public peace upon that occasion.
During the few days In which was in the
city prior to the 4th OF January, the general
topic of conversation was the scenes Of blood
shed that were liable TO occur on that day;
and repeatedly heard threats OF assassinating
the Governor, and regrets expressed that he
was not killed on the 14th of September last; ;
also threats Of the assassination of Republi-
can members of the House, in order TO secure
the election Of Democratic Speaker. ] also
know Of the kidnapping by banditti Of Mr..
Cousin, one Of the members-elect of the Legis-
lature.
In order to preserve the peace and make
the State House safe for the peaceable as
sembling Of the Legislature Gen. Emory,
upon the requisition Of the Governor, sta
TONED troops In the vicinity of the building.
Owing to these precautions the Legislature
assembled in the State-House without any
disturbance OF the peace. At ten O'Clock
William Yigers, Clerk Of the late House Of
Representatives, proceeded TO call the roll,
as according to law he was empowered TO do,
and 102 legally members answered to
their names. OF this number fifty-two were
Republicans and fifty Democrats.
Before entering the House L. A. Wilt had
been selected in caucus as Democratic NOM
inee for Speaker, and Michael Hahn as the
Republican nominee. Vigers had not finished
announcing the result when one Of the men,
bers, Billen, of Lsfourche, nominated L. A.
Wilt for temporary Speaker. ViScrs
promptly declared the motion out Of order at
that time, when some one put the question,
and amid cheers on the Democratic side of
pushed aside Vigers, seized the Speakers
chair and gavel and declared himself Speaker.
A protest against this arbitrary and un-
lawful proceeding was promptly made by
members Of the majority; but Wilt gave no
attention TO the protest, and on a motion
from some one on the Democratic side Of the
House il was declared that one Trezeyant
House. Trezevant at once sprang for
ward and occupied the Clerks chair
amidst 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 Sergeant-at-
Arms, and ordered a certain number Of assist
ants to be appointed. Instantly a large num-
Der OF men throughout the hall, who had
been admitted on various preteXts, such as
reporters and members, friends and specta-
tors, turned down the lapels of their coats,
upon which were pinned blue ribbon badges,
on which were printed in gold the words,
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms," and the As
sembly was in the possession Of the minority,
and the White League Of Louisiana had made
good its threat of seizing the House, many
Of the Assistant Scrgeants- Arms bcingwell
known as Captains OF the White Leag; :! CON-
panies in this city.
Notwithstanding the suddenness of this
movement leading Republican members had
not failed to protest, again and again, against
this revolutionary act OF the minority, but all
to no purpose, and many Republicans rose
and left the House In a body, together with
Clerk Vigers, who carried with him the orig
inal roll Of the House, as returned by the
Secretary Of State. ---------a----
The excitement was now very great, and
the Acting Speaker directed the Sergeant-at-
Arms TO prevent the egress or ingress ofmem-
bers or others, and several exciting scuffles,
in which knives and pistols were drawn, took
place. For a few moments it seemed as If
Dupre, Democratic member from Orleans
Parish, moved that the military Of the Gen.
erai Government be invoked 10 preserve the
peace, and that a committee be appointed TO
wait on Gen. de Trobriand, commanding
officer of the United States troops stationed
at the State House, and request his assistance
IN clearing the lobby The motion was adopted.
A committee OF five, OF which Dupre
was made Chairman, was sent to wat upon
Gen. de Trobriand, and soon returned with
that officer, who was accompanied by one OF
his staff officers. AS Gen. de Trobriand
walked down to the Speakers desk loud dD-
plduSe burst from The Democratic side Of the
House Gen. de Trobriand asked the Acting
Speaker II it was not possible for him to pre-
serve order without appealing to him to pre-
serve order as United States army officer.
Wilt said IL ,cds not; whereupon the General
proceeded to the lobby, and, addressing a
few words to the excited crowd, peace was
restored at once. On motion of Dupre, Mr..
Wilt, in the name Of the General Assembly
OF the State Of Louisiana, thanked Gen. de
Trobriand for his Interference In behalf Of law
and order and the General withdrew.
The Republicans had now generally with
drawn from the hall and united In signing
petition to the Governor, stating their griev-
ances and asking his aid, which petition,
signed by gfty.tipo legally-returned members
of the House, is in my possession.
Immediately subsequent TO the action OF
Wiltz in ejecting the Clerk of the old House,
Mr.. Billien moved that the following persons
be sworn in and seated as members: Messrs.
John A. Quinn, of the parish of Avayelleo:
j. j. Moran, A. ID. Land and Thomas X.
Vaughan, OF the parish of Caddo; J.
Jeffries, Il. L. Luckett and g. W. Stat
ford, OF the parish OF Rapides; and William
F. Schwing Of the parish Of Iberia, who had
not been returned by the Returning Board,
and they were accordingly sworn in by Witt
and took their seats on the floor as members
of the House. A motion was now made that
the House proceed with its permanent organ
ization, and accordingly the roll was called by
Trezivant, Acting Clerk, and WiltZ was de-
clared Speaker and Trezlvant Clerk of the
House. -
Acting on the protest made by the majority
of the House, the Governor now requested
the commanding General Of the department
to aid him in restoring order and enable the
members OF the House to
proceed with its organization according to
law. This request was reasonable, and In ac-
coTdance with law. Remembering, vividly,
the terrible massacre that took place in this
city ON the assembling OF the Constitutional
Convention in 1866, at Mechanics Institute,
and believing that the lives Of members OF
the Legislature were, or would be, endan-
gered IN case an organization under the law
was attempted, the posse was furnished, with
the request that care should be taken that
no member OF the Legislature returned by the
Returning Board should be elected from the
floor. This military posse performed It's duty
under directions from the Governor of the
State, and removed from the floor OF the
House those persons who had been illegally
seated and who had NO legal right TO be there,
whereupon the Democrats rose and left the
House, and the remaining members proceed
ed to effect an organization under the State
laws. rsfl
In all the turmoil, in which bloodshed was
imminent, the military posse behaved with
great discretion. When Witt, the usurping
Speaker of the House, called for troops To
prevent bloodshed, they were given him.
When the Governor OF the State called for a
posse for the same purpose, and 70 enforce the
done, II is my Arm belief that scenes Of blood.
shed would have ensned H AH
(Signed - p. ii. SHERIDAN, Z
Lieutenant General.