The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-01-15

request his assistance in clearing the lob
by The motion was adopted. COM
mttee of five, OF which Dupre was made
Chairman, was sent to wait upon Gen.
De Trobrand, and soon returned with that
officer, who was accompanied by one OF his
etaff officers. AS Gen. De Trobriand walked
down to the Speakers desk, loud applause
burst from the Democratic side of the House.
Gen. De Trobriand asked the Acting Speaker
il ii was not possible for him to preserve
order without appealing to him 10 preserve
order United States army officer. Witt
said it was not; whereupon the General pro-
ceeded TO the lobby. and, addressing few
words to the excited crowd peace was re-
stored at once. On motion OF Dupre, Mr..
Witt, in the name OF the General Assembly
OF the State OF Louisiana, thanked Gen. DE
Trobrianl for his interference III 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
grievances, and asking his aid. which
petition, signed by fifty-two legally returned
members OF the House, is i'll my pos
session. Immediately subsequent to the
action of Witt in ejecting the Clerk OF the
old House, Mr.. Billeu moved that the fol-
lowing persons be sworn III and seated az
members Messrs John A. Quinn, OF the
Parish OF Avayello; j. j. Koran, A. ID. Land,
and Thomas II. Vaughan, or the Parish or
Caddo: j. Jeffres, Il. l.. Luckett, and Ct. w.
staff ord, of the Parish OF Rapides and VIM.
f. SchMing, 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
lzatiop, and accordingly the roll war called by
Irrelevant, acting Clerk. and Witt was de-
clared Speaker, and Irrelevant Clerk OF the
House.
Acting on the protest made by the maj ority Of
the House, the Governor now requested the
commanding General of the department to aid
him IN restoring order aud enable the legally
returned members of the House to proceed
| with its organization according to law. This
request was reasonable, and in accordance
| with law. Rene mbering. wildly, 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, endangered in case an or
| gauizatlon 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 its duty under directions from
the Governor OF the State, aud removed from
the floor of the House those persons who had
been illegally seated ard who had no lega
| right to be there. whereup0n tho Democrats
rose and left the House. and the remaining
members proceeded to effect an organization
under the State laws. III all the turmoil, il
which bloodshed was Imminent. the militar.
posse behaved with great discretion. Whei
Witt, the usurping Speaker of the House
called for troops to prevent bloodshed, the,
we're given him. When the Governor Of tn
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 firm belle
that scenes Of bloodshed would have ensued
(Slgned> p. II SHERIDAN,
| Lieutenant General.