The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-01-14

interference in behalf of law and order, and
the General Withdrew.
The Republicans had now generally with
drawn from the Hall and united in signing a
petition to the Governor, stating their gricvan-
ces, ana asked his aid, which petition. signed
by hfty-two legally returned members of the
House, is in my possession. immediately sub
sequent to the action of MFR. Wilt ilr electing
the clerk OF the old House, Mr.. Billieau moved
that two gentlemen from the parish of De Soto,
one from Union, one from Bienvile. and one
from Iberia, who had been returned by the re-
turning poafd- nc sWoIn in as members. and
they were accordingly sworn in by Mr.. Wilt,
and took seats on the floor as members of the
House. A motion was now made that the
House proceed with its permanent oryaniza-
ton, and accordingly the roll was called ~ Mr..
Trezavant, the acting clerk, and Witt was de-
clared elected Speaker. and Trezevant clerk of
the House.
Acting on the protest made by the majority,
the Governor now requested the commanding
general of the department to aid him in restor-
ing order and enable the legally returned
members of the House to proceed with its Or
ganization according to law. This request
was reasonable and in accordance with law
! Remembering wildly the terrible mas.acrcs
that took place in this city on the assembling
of the Constitutional Convention in 1865 at the
Mechanics Institute- and believing that the
lives Of the members of the Legislature were or
would be endangered liz case an organization
under the law was attempted, the posse was
furnished with the request that care should be
taken chat no members Of the Legislature re-
| turned by the returnins board should be ejee-
ted from the floor. This military posse per-
formed its duty under direction from the gov
ernor of the State and removed from the fl or
OF the House those persons who had been illc-
gally seated aud vino had no right to be there;
WhereHpon the Democrats arose and left the
House, and the remaining members proceeded
to effect an organization under thu State laws.
In all this turmoil, in which bloodshed was I'M
minent, the military posse behaved with great
discretion.
When Mr.. Witt, the usurping Speaker of
the House, called for troops to prevent blood
shed, they were given him. When the Gov
ernor OF the State called for a posse for the
same purpose and to enforce the law, it was
furnished also Had this not been done it is my
firm belief that scenes OF bloodshed would have
ensued.
[Signed] P. II. SHERIDAN.
Northumberland.
STATEMENT OF MIR. PHELPS.
Hon. w. W. Phelps, one Of the sub-commit-
tee of Congress, sent to New Orleans for the
purpose OF ascertaining the true condition of
affairs, communicates to the New York Tra-
bune, (of which paper he is one of the stock
holders,) the following facts eomfirmatory Of
the statement of Gen, Sheridan, and the report
of the Times
ssTouehing the legality Of the House as orr
ganized by the Conservatives yesterday, it was
| illegal. and for this reason: Louisiana has
statute, passed in 1872, which i'll terms. directs
| the manner in which the House shall organize
ITSELF The Returning Board hands its returns
tot I,o yo1 Gtofo NIo IF
| State takes these returns, and from them makes
the roll OF the House. This roll is given to the
Clerk of the last House, and with this roll the
Clerk calls the House TO order and presides at
the organization. That nothing may be taken
by intendment, the statute says i'll SO many
| words that Representatives whose names
on this roll, and they only shall take part in
tn, organization of the House; but yesterday
the Conservatives, forciby supplying the place
| of the Clerk by Chairman pro tenn; in def
ance of this express provision, sworn in five
| as members whose names were not on the roll,
and admitted them to participate in the cleo
| ton OF speaker"
TIL, New York Tunes special Dispatch OF the
18th says:
The Kellogg House to-day hal fifty members
present. WHICH they claim to be a qnorum.-
cousin (colored0 of st. F.lmnany Parish. spin
tied away OIL the Bril- Instant by the White
League, has been allowed to return to the CITY,
and was uaharmad. he was taken BY boly
OF armed men across the lake AMI sccretel in
the woods, wher. he was kept under a strong
guard until yesterday. Tne allie gel cl,ry,,
was embazzlement of SIS, committed in 1872,
when tax collector for week in the parish TO
which he WIS taken by his captors. The other
colored member kidnapped also turned up yes
tcrday unframed. The Conservative members
in caucus hope to complete their memorial. to-
morrow. The members elected to the House
still remain y unit, but the nine Senators acting
with them are a little weak. claiming That there
can be but one Senate, ami that they mi st as
we'll be with that DO ly, where they might pre-
vent the passage of obnoxious measures. The
outside pressure against their goins, back is
l. very streng.
| Let ths Southern Senators, especially the
| Confederate generals among them, think a lit