The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1875-01-08
THE LAST OUTRAGE.

THE LAST OUTRAGE.
The lengthy press dispatch published
in another column is a pretty fair SYN
opsis Of the reports 81 ven by the New
Orleans papers of the first days pro-
ceedings in organizing the lower house
of tho legislature on the 18th. The only
material omission in the statement is
that the House was called to order by
the old Clerk and by him the roll was
called as furnished from the Office of
the Secretary of State, which is impor-
tant as showing that the law was fully
complied with in the organization, at
least up to the moment a member
moved the selection of Mr.. Wilt as
temporary presiding officer. 1t was at
this juncture the Radicals began to dis
sent and the divergence commenced.
The Clerk-a very Inscriptions sort OF
a colored Radical-refused to put the
motion, whereupon the member put it
himself, and the vote being taken, the
motion was declared carried, and Mr..
Wilt at once assumed the duties of
Speaker pro tenn.
The House proceeded to organize
further, by the raising of n committee
on elections, the Republicans particle |
pating, which committee made a ma
jority and minority report upon the
seating of the members from the par
ishes referred to the House by the Re
turning Board, and upon a vote the
said members were duly seated. Mr.:
Speaker by vote of a quorum of the
House. Soon after, upon the request,
and at the dictation of Kellogg, the
Federal soldiery strobe into the hall
and elected Mr.. Wilt and other officers
duly elected, as we'll as the five MEM
entire Democratic delegation withdrew.
The Radicals, left in possession of the
hall, proceeded to elect Michael Hahn
Speaker, without n quorum. A dis
patch to the Editor from Speaker Wilt
supplies the remaining intelligence up
to the hour of going to press.
We have no words of censure for the
representatives who in the face Of in
timidation by Grant and under the
most trying circumstances, have upheld
the right of the people to rule through
their chosen delegates. On the contra
ry, after carefully analysing the pro
ceedings of the House, with misgivings
as to the impulses of our Southern
people, we arc constrained to say that
the action of the Democrats in the
House must command sympathy and
support all over the country. We trust
that the Democratic members will aI
here tenaciously to the course they have
mapped out, so that we shall have
either ono of two things in Louisiana
government Of the people, or gov
ernmcnt by a monarch.
We append the dispatch Of Speaker
Wilt referred to above:
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 7, 1S75.-Con-
serVative members of State Legislature
arc a unit, meeting every day and all
here. Radical branch meets daily,
having only fifty-two returned members
present at any time. Their organiza-
ton cannot stand the test Of legality,
1ifty-six being a quorum. Conserva-
tives organized with one hundred and
two present on January fourth. U. 5.
troops entered the Hall and removed
ut point of bayonet nine members not
returned by the Board, but seated by
the Legislature of returned members.
Then the Conservatives retired. Com
promise talked of by the Radicals.
People Of the State and nation loudly
the restoration of the Legisla-
ture to its status when u. $. troops
interfered, l.. A. WILTZ.
SHERIDAN,S OYEKDONE REPORT.