Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-01-21
NEW ORLEANS.
General Sheriiian's Report OF
the State House Affair.

w AShiNOION. Jan. - hC lOlAo"
:, ing official dispatch from Genera
Sheridan was received here late las
: night:
o ''HEAD'QRs MILITARY DIVISION OF
n THE MISSOURI,
e New ORLEANS, January 8.
"Hon. ". ". BeMnap. Secretary 81
War, Washington, d. c.:
,, II have the honor to submit the
following brief report of affairs as
they occurred here in the organiza-
ton of the State Legislature of Jan. 4,
!. 1875: l was not in command of this
Military Department until . o'clock
. at night of the 4th inst, but l fully
indorsed, and am willing to be held
responsible for the acts of the mill
tary as cOnseryators of the public
peace upon that day. During the few
days that was in the city prior to
the 4th of January, the general topic
of conversation was the scenes of
bloodshed that were liable to occur
on that day, and | repeatedly heard
threats of assassinating the Gov
ernor, and regrets expressed that he
; was not killed on the 14th of Sep
tember last. Also of the assassina-
tion of Republican members of the
House. in order to secure the election
OF a Democratic Speaker | also
know of the kidnapping by ban
dts of Mr.. Cousin, one of the mem
bers elect of the Legislature
I'm order to preserve the peace and
make the State House safe for the
peaceable assembling of the Legisla-
ture, General Emory, upon the requi-
sition of the Governor, stationed
troops in the vicinity of the building.
Owing to these precautions, the Leg
islature assembled in the State
House without any disturbance of
the peace. AT II o'clock, VIM. Wig
ers, Clerk of the last House of Rep
resentatives, proceeded to call the
roll, as according to law, he was en-
powered to do. One hundred and
twelve legally returned members an
swered to their names. OF this num-
Der fifty-two were Republicans and
fifty Democrats. Before entering the
House, L. A. Wilt had been selected
in caucus as the Democratic nominee
for Speaker, and Michael Hahn as
the Republican nominee. Vigers
had not finished announcing the re-
suit when one of the members { Bill |
len, of Lafourche,) nominated l.. A.
Wiltz for temporary Speaker. Wig
ers promptly declared the motion out
of order ut that time, when some one
put the question, and. amid cheers on
the Democratic side of the House, |
WiltZ dashed on to the rostrum,
pushed aside Vigers, seized the
Speakers chair and gavel, and de
clared himself Speaker A protest |
against this arbitrary and unlawful
proceeding was promptly made by |
the members of the majority, but
Wiltz paid no attention to these pro-
tests, and, on 4 motion of some one
from the democratic side of the House,
it was declared that one Trezevant
was nominated and elected Clerk of
the House. Trezevant ut once sprang
forward and occupied the Clerks
chair, amid the widest confusion
over the whole House. Mayor Wilt
then, again, on another nomination
from the democratic side of the House,
declared one Flood elected Sergeant
Der of assistants to be appointed.
Instantly a large number of men
throughout the hall, who had been
admitted on various preteXts, such as
reporters, and members friends, 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 AS
sistant Sergeants- -at-arms,' and the
Assembly was in the possession of
the minority, and the White League
of Louisiana. 1t had made good its
threat of seizing the House, many
of the Assistant Sergeant-at arms
being well known as Captains of the
White League companies in this city.
Notwithstanding the suddenncss of
this movement, the leading Republi-
can members had not failed to pro-
test again and again against this
action of the minority,
but all to no purpose, and many of the
Republicans arose and left the House
in body, together with Clerk Wig
ers, who carried with him the origi
nal roll of the House as returned by )
the Secretary of State. The excite
ment was now very great, and the :
acting Speaker directed the Ser
geant-at-arms to prevent the egress
or ingress of members or others. and
several exciting scuffles, in which
knives and pistols were drawn, took
place, and for few moments it seem
ed as if bloodshed would ensue. At |
this juncture Dupre, Democratic
from New Orleans Parish,
moved that the military power of
General Grant be invoked to preserve O
peace, and that 4 committee be ap- C
pointed to wait on General DeTrO- i
BRAND, commanding the United l.
States troops stationed at the State {
House, and request his assistance in j
the lobby. The motion was t
A committee of five of S
which Dupre was made Chairman, s
was sent to wait upon General De q
and soon returned with a
that officer, who was accompanied by j.
two of his staff officers. As Gen r
eral DeTrobriand walked down to the o
Speakers desk, loud applause burst d
from the Democratic side of the
General DeTrobriand asked
the acting Speaker if it was not pos G
sible for him to preserve order with II
put appealing to him to preserve IT, 81
rs a United States army omcer' o.
Witt said it was not. Whereupon o.
lo1 70 fhn lnlNhxr | III