The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-05
NEW ORLEANS TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1875.

Rays efforts to get out were seconded by
the police and the rest Of the crowd in the
lobby, and by an individual who was SELF
constituted sergeant-at-arms.
He proceeded to address the Speaker in by
no means respectful terms, and Speaker
Witt ordered that he be elected from the
floor Of the House.
The individual was belligerent, and it was
found necessary to throw him over the rail-
ing. During the excitement naturally at
tenoant on this proceeding, Ray went over
the raining, and was received in the arms of
ms friends. Great turmoil ensued, and .
dlhculty between the Sergeant-at-Arms and
the lobby was threatened.
Mr. Dupre, of the seventh ward, moved
That she Speaker be requested to call on the
United States troops TO preserve the peace of
the House.
The motion prevailed. and q Committee,
with MI. Dupre as chairman, was appointed
to perform the duty.
The Committee retired, and in short time
returned, accompanied by Gen. De Trobriand
and staff officer.
Speaker Wilt stated the nature and the
cause of the summons, and informed him of
the impossibility Of the officers of the House
clearing the lobby.
Gen. De Trobriand requested Speaker Wiltz
The instructions were given.
The police at first refused to retire, but
thought better of the matter and went out,
and the doors were closed.
Speaker Wiltz assured Gen. Trobriand that
his coming had prevented bloodshed, and
thanked him for his prompt response to the
summons. The General retired.
Quiet being restored Speaker Witt re-
turned thanks for the honor conferred in
electing him Speaker, and gave assurances
he would act with the same fairness toward
all men. and the same adherence to duty
which had always characterized his course
while in Office.
the roll was called and Speaker Wiltz ad-
ministefed the oath of Office. Thomas,
DunnkHahn, and Murrell of the opposition,
recognized Wilt as Speaker and were sworn
in.
During the calling of the roll, rumors
were current that there would be
MILITARY INTERFERENCE
with the proceedings of the House for the
purpose of disorganizing il, and the call had
scarcely been completed when, at 3:45, Gen.
De Trobriand entered the hall, and, approach
ing the Speakers stand, said:
"Speaker Witt, I have here Q couple of
documents, which I am just in receipt Of,
which would like you to have read I will
klV0 tucm W Tue C10Tk 10 READ.
He presented paper to Billy vigers, who
had accompanied him.
Speaker Wiltz-Vigers is not the Clerk of
this House.
Mr. Trezevant-I am the Clerk of this House
and demand the papers. Vigers said nothing
but held on to the document and looked at
Gen. De T.
Mr.. Trezevant-Gen. De Trobriand. have
been declared duly elected, and will not be
deposed by anybody or any force, not even
the military force Of the United States
Speaker Wiltz-Mr. Irrelevant is the Clerk
of this House. can allow no one else to read
any papers to it.
Gen. De TT cannot decide the relative
claims of the clerks. Will you allow one of
my officers to read this paper?
Speaker Wiltz-Yes, sir.
The paper was taken from Vigers, who
seemed to feel very bad about it, and given
to staff officer, who read it aloud.
Its purport was as follows:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT..
STATE OF LOUISIANA,
New ORLEANS, Jan. 4, 1874.
Gen. De Trobriand:
An illegal assembly of men having taken
possession of the hall of the House, and the
police being unable to remove them, re-
specially request you to remove therefrom all
(Signed)
w. PTT KELLOGG, Governor.
The other document, which the officer also
read, was to the effect that the Clerk of the
House (Vigers meant, but not named, would
point out those men occupying seats without
the authority Of the Returning Board.
General De Ton these instructions, I
must request the members pointed out to
leave. Ny orders from General Emory are to
comply with all requests or instructions oil
Governor Kellogg.
Speaker Wlltz-Does General Emory know
of these proceedings-these orders?
Gen. De Trobriand-I do not know. He
has not heard of them from me. have just
received them. He may have been sent
copies.
Speaker Wiltz-I think you had better see
Gen. Emory. desire to state to you that
the House Of Representatives Of the State Of
Louisiana has been duly and permanently
organized by the election of myself
as Speaker, Mr.. Trezivant as Clerk,
Mr.. Ed. Flood as Chief Sergeant-at-Arms
We have in our body now gentlemen who
have been seated since the organization. I
ask you if you are going to eject these men.
Gen. De TT am not here to decide the
legality Of the election or the seating Of the
members am here to obey orders l hoped
their effective execution.
Speaker Wiltz-Gen. De Trobriand, whilst
l, as Speaker Of this House, am indeed
obliged to you for your consideration in COM
ing about, and whilst respect you as gen.
tleman and a soldier, and as such thank you
for your prompt compliance with my request
to call here in the interest of peace and order,
I, as Speaker Of this House, cannot instruct
the members to leave. You must use force.
Gen. De Trobriand bowed and retired, and
after short consultation with his staff, re-
turned and said
II will make show Of force" He again
retired.
The Committee on Contested Elections,
previously appointed, composed as follows,
Dupre, Young, Hammond, Thomas and
Hahn, expressed themselves as ready to re-
port.
Gen. De Trobriand again entered, fol-
lowed by file of soldiers, whom he sta
toned in the hall, and behind whom fol-
lowed the faithful members.
Gen De Trobriand approached the Clerks