Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-01-21
Official Report of Gen. Sheridan on
Louisiana Affairs.

OmclaI Report OF Uens SneFluIu Oh
Louisiana Affairs.
WAsHINGToN Jan.9.
The following official dispatch from
Gen. Sheridan was received here late
last night:
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE
MISSOURI, NEW ORLEANS, Jan. s.
To the Hon. w. W. BetkHGp, Secretary Of War
W0shiaGton, y. c.:
| have the honor to submit the following
| brief report of affairs as they occurred here
| in the organization of the State Legislature
| of Jan 4, 1875. | was not in command of
| this military department until nine O'Clock at
night of the 4th inst; but fully indorse and
| am willing to be held responsible for the acts
| of the military as conservators of the public
| peace upon that occasion.
| During the few DAYS in which was in the
| city prior to the 4th Of January, the general
| topic OF conversation was the scenes OF blood
| shed that were liable to occnr on that day;
and repeatedly heard threats of assassinat-
| ing the Governor and regrets expressed that
he was not killed ION the 14th of September
| last; also threats of the assassination of Re-
| publican members of the House In order to
secure the election of Democratic Speaker.
| also know Of the kidnapping by banditti 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 peaceabe assem-
bling of the Legislature, Gen. Emory, upon
the requisition of the Governor stationed
| troops In the vicinity of the building. Owing
| to these precautions the Legislature assem-
| bled in the State House without any disturb
| ance of the peace. At ten o'clock William
| Ngers, Clerk of the last House OF Repre-
| sentatives, proceeded to call the roll, as &C
| cording to law he was empowered to do. One
| hundred and two legally-returned mem.
l h,r To hai lie
Der tifty-two were Republicans and fifty Dem
| ocrats.
Before entering the House, L. A. Witt had
| been selected in caucus as Democratic nomi-
nee for Speaker, and Michael Hahn as the
| Republican nominee. Ngers had not finished
| announcing the result when one of the mem
| bers, Bilien, of Lafourche, nominated l.. A.
| Wilt for temporary Speaker Vigers prompt
| " declared the motion out of order at that
time, when some one put the question, and
| amid cheers on the Democratic side of the
| House Witt dashed on the rostrum, pushed
aside Nigers, seized the Speakers chair and
| gavel and declared himself Speaker
A protest against this arbitrary and UNI
| lawful proceeding was promptly made by
members of the majority; but Wilt gave no
attention to the protest, and on a motion
from some one on the Democratic side of the
House it was declared that one Irrelevant was
| nominated and elected Clerk of the House.
|
pied the Clerks chair amidst the widest con-
fusion over the whole House Mayor Witt
then again, on another nomination from the
| Democratic side of the House, declared
one Flood elected rgeant-at-Arms, and
| ordered a certain number of assist
ants to be appointed. Instantly a large num-
Der of men throughout the hall, who had
been admitted on various pretexts, such as
reporters and members, friends and specta-
tors turned down the lapels Of their coats,
upon which were pinned blue ribbon badges,
on which were printed the words Assistant
| Sergeant. at Arms and the Assembly was in
the possession of the minority, and the White
League of Louisiana had made good its threat
of seizing the House, many of the Assistant
| Sergeants -at-Arms beng we'll known as Cap
tains of the White League companies in this
4ty.
| Notwithstanding the suddenness of this
movement leading Republican members had
| not failed to protest again and again against
| tins revolutionary action of the minority but
| all TO no purpose, aud many Of the Repubi-
cons rose and left the House in a body togeth-
er with Clerk Nigers. who carried with him
the original roll of the House os returned by
| the Secretary of State
! The excitement was now very great, and the
Acting Speaker directed the Sergeant-at-ArIns
| to prevent the egress or ingress of members
| or others, aud several exciting Scutiles, in
| which knives and pistols were drawn, took
| place. For u few moments it seemed as if
| bloodshed would ensue. At this juncture VI.
| Dupre, Democratic member from Orleans
| Parish, moved that the military OF the Gen
| eral Government be invoked to preserve The
| peace, and that a committee be appointed to
wait on Gen. de Trobrand, commanding Off
| Ger OF the United States troops station ed at
| the State House, and request his assistance ia
| clearing The iob5y. The motion was adopted
| \ committee OF five, of which Dupre WAS
| onia 40 cont a,N
| de Trobriand, and soon returned with that
| officer, whs was accompanied by one Of his
staff officers. As Gen. de TrobTiand walked
| down to the Speakers desk lo,id applause
| burst from the Democratic side Of the House
| Gen. de Trobriand asked the Acting Speaker
+! If it was not possible for him 10 preserve
| order without appealing him to pre-
| serve order AS United Ststes army officer.
| Wilt sad IL ,nls MOI; whereupon the General
proceeded TO the lobby, and, addressing few
| words TO the excited crowd, peace was re-
stored al once. On motion OF Dupre, Mr..
| Wilt, in The uame Of the General Assembly
Of the State of Louisiana, Aanke! Gen. de
frobriand for his iJstegftrsTacs 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 10 the Governor, stating their griev-