The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-01-12
WASHINGTON.
SHERInAN,S REPORT

ARf-NO IMPORTANT NARRATtoS-HB En-
PBCTED BLooDsHED.
wAsHINeroS, Jan. 9-The following offi-
cial dispatch from Gen. Sheridan was re-
ceived here late last night:
HEADQ'Rs MIL. DIV. OF THE Missouri.
To the Hon. W; W. Belknap, Secretary of War,
Washington. ID. &.
have the honor to submit the following
brief report of affairs they occurred here
| in the organization of the state legislature of
/ January 4, 1875: / was not in command of
! this military department until o'clock at
night the 4th instant, but / tully indOrse
and am willing to be held responsible for the
acts of the military as conservators N the
public peace upon that day. During the few
days which | was in the city prior TO the
4th day of January, the general topic of
| conversation was the scene OF bloodshed
that was liable to occur on that day, and L
repe atedly heard threats of the assassina-
! ton of the governor, aud regrets expressed
that he WAS not killed on the 14th of Sep
tember last, and also threats of the assassi
nation OF the republican members OF the
House in order to secure the election of a
| democratic speaker. i also know of the
Kidnapping, by the bandits, OF Mr.. Cousin,
one of the members elect of the legislature.
In order to preserve the peace and make the
state house safe for the peaceabie assembly
of the legislature, Gen. Emory, upon the
reguisition of the governor, stationed troops
l in the vicinity of the building.
Owing to these precautions the legislature
assem- bled in the state house without any
disturbance of the peace. At IL O'Clock,
Mr.. Vigers, clerk of the last House of Repre-
sentatives proceeded to call the roll as ac
cording to the law he was empowered to do.
One hundred and two legally returned
members answered to their names. OF this
number 81 were republicans and so demo-
Gratis. Before entering the House, l.. A.
. Wiltz had been selected in caucus as the
for rcr.ao 4 md hon
Hahn as the republican nominee. Vigers
had not finished announcing the result
; when one of the members, Billen,
of Lafourche, nominated /. A.
/, Wiltz for temporary speaker. Vigers
!, promptly declared the motion out
the question and amid cheers on the demo-
crate side of the house, Wiltz dashed on to
the rostrum, pushed aside Vigers. seized
the speakers chair and gsvel aud declared
D himself speaker. a protest against this ar
bitrary and unlawful proceeding was
promptly made by the members OF the ma
I jority, but Wilt paid no attention to these
> protests, and on a motion from some one
! on the democratic side of the House IL was
declared that one Trezevant was nominsse
and elected clerk of the House. TazeVsnt
: at once sprang forward and occupied th'
!. clerks chair amid
: THE Widest CONFUSION
t over the whole House. Mayor wiltz then
! again, on another nomination from the
4 democratic side of the House, declared one
t Floyd elected ssrgeant- alarms, and ordered
s certain number of assistants to be ap-
q pointed instantly. A large number of men
: throughout the hall, who had been admitted
y on various preteAts, rs reporters and mem
o bers, friends and spectators, turned down
the lapelS of their coats, upon which were
Il
Q printed, in gold letters. the words assistant
q ssrgeants-at-arms," and the assembly
r was in the possession Of
S minority, and the White League o.
Q louisiana had made good its threat of seiz
y ing the House, many of the assistant ser
: gCSnt alarms being well known as cap
! taiBs of White League companies in This
Z city. Notwithstanding the suddenness o
: this movement, the leading republican
a members had not failed to protest again
/ and again against this revolutionary actor
Is of the minority, but ell to no purpose, and
many of the republicans rose and left the
house in body together with the clerk, Wig
ers, who carried with him the original rol
of the House as returned by the secretary
Il of state. The excitement was now very
h great, and the acting speaker directed tht
!. sergeant-at-arns to prevent she egrtSs or In
greSs of members or others, and severa
"a exciting ,scuffleS. in which knives and pis
8 tolls were drawn, took place, and for few
moments It seemed as if bloodshed would
l. ensue. At this iunetOre Dupre. demo
!. cratic member from Orleans parish, moved
~ thas the military power of the general gov
, ernment be invoked to preserve peace. and
, that committee be appointed TO wait or
a Gen. DeTrobrisnd, the commanding Officer
I of the United States troops stationed at tn,
of state house, and TO request his assistanc,
le in clearing the lobby. The motion was
L adopted. A committee of five, of which
,e Dupre was made chairman, wal
N sent to wait upon Gen. DeTrobriand, an6
= soon returned with that officer. " no was ac
y companied by two of his staff officers. a,
!, Gen. DeTrobriand walk ed down to the speak
~ er's desk loud applause burst from the dem
q ocratic side of the House. Gen. Derrobriant
q asked the acting sneaker if it was not possi
BILE for him to preserve order without ap
pealing To bim TO preserve order as an Uni
ted States officer. Wiltz said that it was not
- Whereupon the general proceeded to th'
I" lobby, and, addressing few words to th'
excited crowd,
PEACE WAS AT ONCE RESTORED.
y On the motion of Dupre, Wiltz then, in th'
L name of the general assembly of the state o
: Louisiana, thanked Gen. De Tropriand fo
. his interference in behalf of law and order
= and the general withdrew. The republican,
D. had now generally Withdrawn from The hall
n and united in signing petition to the gov
pl ernor, stating their grievances and askins
y his aid, which petition, signed by 81 legally
"a returned members of the house, is in my
n possession. Immediately subsequent to th'
/. action OF Wiltz in eiecting the clerl
q. of the old house, BiIiien moved tha
r. two gentlemen from the parish of.DeSUto
X one from Winn, one from Benville, and ont
RI from Iberia, who bad not been returned by
,r the returning board, be sworn in "a mem
r. bers, and they were accordingly sworn in by
as Wiltz and took their seats on the floor o
the House. 4 motion was now made tha
ID the House proceed with ITS permanent or
rs ganiz2tion, and accordingly the roll wa
a called by Trezevant, acting clerk, ant
y. Wiltz was declared speaker and Trezevsp
a clerk OF the House. Acting on the protes
NJ made by majority of the House the gov
se ernor now requested the commanding gen
- eral of the department TO aid him in re