The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1875-01-16

Gen. Sheridan's Report.
The Events Of January 9TH in New Or
/ Orleans.
o.. the 9Th inst, Lieutenant Gen
eral Sheridan transmitted to the Sec
retary of War the following detailed
statement of the organization Of the
Louisiana House of Representatives
and the exciting events connected
| Herewith:
Headquarters MILITARY DIVISION
of the Missouri, :
New Orleans, January 8, 1875. }
Hon. w. W. Belknap, Secretary of War,
Washington. ID. c.:
I have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing brief report Of affairs as they
occurred here in the organization of
| the State Legislature on January d,
1875. | was not in command of this
military department until nine o'clock
at night on the fourth instant, but
fully indorse, and am willing to be
held responsible for the acts Of the
military as conseryators of the peace
upon that day.
During the few days in which was
! in the city prior to the fourth of Jam
! uary, the general topic Of conversa-
ton was the scenes Of bloodshed
which were liable to occur upon that
day, and repeatedly heard threats
of assassinating the Governor, and
regrets expressed that he was not
| killed on the fourteenth Of Septcm-
ber last. Also threats of assassination
of the Republican members of the
House in order to procure the election
of a Democratic Speaker. also knew
OF the kidnapping by the banditti of
| Mr.. Cousin, one of the members elect
of the Legislature.
General Emory, upon the requisi-
tion 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 public peace.
| At twelve o'clock William Vigers, the
! the Clerk of the House of Representa-
! tiyes, proceeded to call the roll as ac-
cording to law he had been empow-
| cred to do. One hundred and two
| legally returned members answered
| to their names. OF this number So
| were X. publicans and so were DEM
| oclats. Before entering the House
Mr.. l.. A. Wilt bad been selected in
caucus as the Democra tic nominee as
Speaker, and Mr.. Michael Hahn as
the Republican nominee. Vigers had
not yet finished announcing the result
when one of the members (Mr. Billieu,
of Lafourche) nominated Nj. L. A.
Wilt as temporary Speaker.
Vigers promptly declared the mo-
ton out of order at that time, when
some one put the question, and amid
the cheers of the Democratic side of
the House, Mr.. Wilt dashed on to
the rostrun, pushed aside Mr.. Vigers,
seized the Speakers chair and gavel,
and declared himself Speaker. A
protest against this arbitrary and un-
lawful proceeding was promptly made
| by the members of the majority, but
Wilt paid no attention to these pro-
| tests, and upon a motion from some
| one on the Democratic side of the
| House, declared one Tlezevant nOmi-
mated and elected clerk of the House.
Mr.. Trezevant at once sprang forward
and occupied the clerks chair, amidst
the widest confusion over the whole
! House.
Wilt then again, on another nom
ination from the Democratic side Of
the House, declared one Flood elected
sergeant-at- arms, and ordered that a
certain number Of assistants he ap-
pointed. Instantly large number
Of men throughout the hall, who had
been admitted OH various pretexts,
such as reporters and members' friends,
and spectators, turned the lapels of
their coats, upon which were pinned
blue ribbon badges, on which were
printed in gold letters the words
assistant sergeant at arms" F" and the
Assembly was in the possession of the
minority, and the White League Of
Louisiana had made good its threats
OF selling the House. Many of the
assistant sergeants-at-arms were well
known as captains Of the White
League companies in this city.
Notwithstanding the suddenness of
the movement, the leading Republi-
can members had not failed to pro-
test, again and again, against this
revolutionary action Of the minority,
but all to no purpose, and many OF
the Republicans rose and left the
House, in body, together with the
clerk, Mr.. vi gers, who carried with
him the original roll of the House,
furnished by the Secretary of State,
The excitement was now very great
The acting Speaker directed the SER
geant-at-arms to prevent the egress
or ingress OF members or others, and
several exciting scuff1es, in which
knives and pistols were drawn, took
place, and for a few moments it seemed
that bloodshed would ensue.
| At this juncture Mr.. Dupre, Dem
ocratic member from the parish OF Or