Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-11
AFFAIRS IN NEW ORLEANS.
Gen. Sheridan's Report to tho Sec
tary of War.
Trouble in the Legislature.

Washington, January g.
The following official despatch was received
here
Headquarters Military Division of Missouri !
New Orleans, La, Jan. s.
"To Hon: W. W. w. Belknap, Secretary of
War. Washington. d. c.
Il have the honor to submit the following re-
port of affairs as they occurred here in the organ
ization of the State legislature of Jan. 4th, 1875
was not IN command in this military department
until o'clock at night on the 4th inst, but full
~ endorse, and am willing to be held responsible
for oil acts of the military conservatives of the
public peace upon that day. During the four days
was In this city prior to the 4th of Jan. the ger
eral subject of conversation the scenes of
bloodshed that were liable TO occur ON that day,
and repeatedly heard threats of assassinating
the Governor, and regrets expressed that he
not Killed on the l4th of Sept last also, threats
OF assassination of the republican members of the
House, in order to secure the election Of demo-
cratic Speaker. | also know of kidnapping by
the bandltii OF Cousin, one of the members elect
of the legislature.
In order to preserve peace and to make the
State House safe for peaceful assembling of the
legislature, General Emory upon the requisition
OF the Governor, stationed 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 II o'clock VIM.
Nigers the Clerk of the last House of represen-
tatvcs, proceeded to call the roll as according to
law he was empowered to do. One hundred and
two legally retained members answered TO their
names; of this number 50 were repub leans snd
80 democrats.
Before entering the House Mr.. l.. A. Weltz had
been selected in caucns as the democratic nominee
for Speaker. and Marshal Hahn as the republican
nominee. Mr.. Nigers had not finished announcing
the result when enc of the members, Mr.. Beu
of La Fourycha nominated l.. A. Wilt for tenn
poIary speaker. Nigers promptly declared the
motto n,,t cyo Al
put the question and amid cheers on the democratic
side Of the house, Witt dashed on to the rostrum
pushed aside Nigers, seized the Speakers gavel
and declared himself Speaker A protest against
this arbitrary and unlawful proceeding was
promptly made by members of the majority but
Wilt paid no attention to these protests and on
motion from some one on the democratic side of
the house it was declared that one Trezerant was
nominated and elected clerk of the house. Trez-
Grant at once sprang forward and occupied the
clerks chair, amid the widest confusion over the
whole house. Wilt then assin on another nomi-
nation from the democratic side of the house, de-
clared one Flood elected Sergeant-at- Arms and
ordered certain number of assistants to he ap-
pointed. Instantly a large number of men
throughout the hall who had been admitted on va
ious pretexts, such as reporters and members
fre nds 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 Sergeant Arms, and the AS
sembly was in the possession Of the minority and
the White League of Louisiana had made good its
threat of Selling the house. Many of the assist
ant Sergeants- at Arms being well known as cap
tains of White League companies In this city.
Notwithstanding the suddenness of the movement
the leading republicans had not failed to protest
again and again against this revolutionary action
of the mir ortv. but all to no purpose, and many
of the republicans rose and left the house in a
body, together with the clerk, Mr.. 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 directed the sergeant arms 10
prevent the iDgress or egress of members and
others, and several exciting scuti1es with knives
and pistols drawn took place, and for few min
ues it seemed if boodshed would ensue. AT
this Juncture Mr.. Dupre the member from Orleans
parish, moved that the military power of the gen.
raj government be invoked to preserve peyce, and
til at a con mittee be appointed to wait on General
De Trobriand, the commanding officer of the
United States troops stationed at the State House
and request his assistance in cleali ing the lobby.
The motion was adopted, and committee of five,
of which Mr.. Dupre was made chairman was
sent to wait upon General De Trobriand, and soon
returned with that officer, who was accompanied
by two of his staff officers. The Ger eral proc
ceeded to the lobby and addressed few words to
the excited crowd. Peace was at once restored.
On motion of Mr.. Dupre Mr.. Wilt then in the
name of the General Assembly of the State of
Louisiana, thanked De Trobriand for his inter-
feren nee in the behalf Of law and order, and the
General withdrew.
The republicans had now generally Withdrawn
from the house and united in signing petition to
the governor, stating their grievances and asking
his aid, which petition signed by fifty-two le-
gally returned members of the house, is in my
possession. Immediately subsequent to tt e action
of Wilt in ejectng the clerk of the old house
Mr.. Billan moved that two gentlemen from the
parish De Sofa, one from Winnie, 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
and took their seats on the floor members of
tho house. A motion was now made that the
house proceed with lis permanent organization.
and accoi dinghy the roll was called by Mr. Treze-
rant the acting clerk and Wilt was declared
Speaker, and Trezeyant Clerk of the house. Act
ing on the protest made by the majority of the
house, the governor now requested the Command
General of the Department, to aid him in restor-
ing order and enable the legally returned mem
bers of the house TO proceed with its organization
according to law. This request was reasonable
and according to law.
Rene mberng wildly the terrible massacre that
took place i'll this city on the 1850 bling of the
constitutional convention in 1866, at the Mechan-
les Institute, and believing that the lives of the
members Of the legislature were or would be en-
dangered in case an organization under the law
was attempted, the posse was furnished, with the
request that care should be tax en- that member
of the Legislature returned by the returning board
should be elected from the floor
1hls military posse performed its duty under
directions from the Governor of the State and re-
moved from the floor Of the House those persons
who had been Illegally seated and who had no le-
gal right to be there, whereupon the democrats
rose and left the House, and the remaining mem
bers proceeded to effect an organization under the
State laws.
In all this turmoil in which bloodshed was i'm
ninent, the military posse behaved with great dis
ere ion, when Wilt, the usurping Speaker of the
House. called for the troops to prevent bloodshed.
They were given him, when the Governor of the
State called for posse for the same purpose and
to enforce the law it was furnished also. Had
this not been done, it is my belief that scenes of
bloodshed would have ensued.
(Signed) p. ii. SHERIDAN,
Lieu't-Genera,