The Republican journal., 1875-01-07
FROM LOUISIANA.
Organization of the Legislature.
NEW ORLEANS. Jan. q

Organization of the Legislature.
NEW ORLEANS. Jan d.
All the doors of the State House except |
one are securely barricaded Lines of |
prevent persons passing ST. |
Louis street, from ROYAL to Charters, only |
reporters, members OF the Legislature and
State officers being admitted. The super
Tor officers however admit such persons as
they desire
! he streets IN the vicinity are crowded,
ana htihdfeds are gathered on the corners.
II. II. Mann was refused admittance by
the police, and ex-Gov Hvams. after
passing the Metropolitans, was refused
abundance to the State House by the
Sergeant at-Arns, who is in charge OF the
door.
The members assembled in the hall OF
the House, and are the most orderly body
OF legislators SO far that has assembled in
Louisiana tor many Years. The chief
clerk called the house to order and pro-
ceeded to call the roll After finishing he
announced that there were l02 members
present and a quorum.
a motion was Immediately made that l..
A. Wilt OF New Orleans, be made tenn
porary chairman. and Mr.. Witt immedi-
ately took the chair
Here the utmost confusion prevailed.
The Speaker appointeda Sergeant-at-Arms
ana temporary clerk. and several motions
We're made and confusion increased, about
fifty members calling at the top of their
voices. Finally order was restored and
the chairman made a speech, stating that
he would treat all members alike OF what
ever party or color
Colonel Lowell protested against the
manner Of the temporary organization.
Speaker Wilt replied that the manner
Of organization was identical with that OF
1868, i'll which Lowell participated.
Five members not returned by the board
We're declared by resolution members OF
the House, and took their seats.
GOV. kellogg's message to the legisla-
ture thanks the citizens of other States,
and the general government for aid in the
season OF the overflow. He says in the
year just ended, the receipts have been
nearly equal to the expenses. The rate of
State and city taxation has been largely
reduced, and tor the first time for many
years, not one dollar has been added to
the public debt, which on the contrary has
been sensbly reduced. The rate OF taxa
L4GI lieio DCCil lGultNCt x l'- Ilillo
In conclusion Gov. Kellogg says:
~ GU cannot be unaware that through
out Il large portion of the State q condition
OF anarchy and violence has more or less
prevailed for some time past and that the
laws have been disregarded. blood been
shed and the constituted authorities dis
placed by force. In the interests Of the
whole people let me beg of you to take
immediate measures to secure enforcement
Of that obedience of the law without
which no civilized community can prosper.
A motion was then offered to effect the
permanent organization. This raised
commotion among the Republicans. but
when a further motion was made to seat
members from the contested parishes
there was great excitement, accompanied
with shouts and EXPLANATIONS OF all kinds,
which was fearful to hear bat they were
seated
Gen. De Troband, Of the U. S. Army,
appeared and demanded that the five men
SO seated be elected, to which Speaker
Wilt objected. The General then asked
that the men be pointed out ard he would
| request them to leave the room, or they
will be put out with soldiers.
Speaker Witt cannot permit those
members whom we have just recognized
as beng elected to be put out My duty
is to keep up the dignity Of the State Of
Louisiana, as well as yours to keep up
| that Of the t. S. Army
Mr.. Dupre at this time offered the re-
port CT the committee On election. which
declare Jefferson, Suckett and Stafford of
Rapids, Faughaa, Horan and Lamb of
| Cadat, Schwing of Iberia, and Agaiun of
| Avayelles, to be elected.
Gen. De Troband, who had retired
again advanced toward the speaker who
said, "Gentlemen be quiet and be men,
The gentleman then pointing to Vigers,
ex-clerk of the house, said he had been
| represented to him by Gov. Kellogg as
clerk OF the house and that he had a list
| of names of representatives, returned as
Speaker Witt, protest against Mr..
Nigers having anything to do with this
body. He is no longer clerk OF this house.
his successor having been legally elected
Speaker Witt, with all the conserva-
tiyes, protested against the entrance of
the military. A file of httcen soldiers
soldiers soon after entered The five men
| who were not elected according to the
| returning board were then pointed out,
| and We're requested to retire, but they
protested, when two soldiers took each
one OF them and put them outside the bar
OF the house.