Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-01-08
The Contest in Louisiana.

from breaking out into bloody rev.
olution by the presence and firmness
of Gen. Sheridan. The trouble is
about the organization Of the Legis-
lature. On Monday noon the men,
bers of the House met at the State
House amid great excitement. The
Clerk of the last House, Mr.. Vigers,
called the body to order and awaited
the nomination of candidates tor
Speaker. In obedience to a precon-
ccrted scheme, Democratic men,
Der jumped to his feet and yelled, 81
nominate L. a. Wilt for Speaker"
put the motion without regard to the
fact that no other nominations were
made, and without calling the yeas
and nays, while the'Republicans were
shouting the name of their candidate,
Mr.. Hahn, declared Witt elected
Wilt, already couched for the spring,
was in the Speakers chair before his
name had left the lips of the mover,
seized the gavel and loudly COM
manded order. The scene that fol-
lowed beggars description. The Re-
publicans protested, asked for oppor-
tunity to make nomination and de-
manded that the question should be
put by the Clerk, the only party au-
thorized to do so by law. This de-
mand was met by defiant shouts of
"Sit down." "Put them out" and rcb-
cl yellS, in the midst of which the
pretended organization was compile
ted. Wilt called on Mr.. Lowell, a
Republican, and the Oldest member
of the House to administer the oath
to him, but Lowell refused, protest
ing against the illegally of the
whole proceeding, and renewing the
demand that the vote tor Speaker
should be put by the Clerk. Ray, a
colored member seconded the de-
mand, when the rebel rage conccn-
trated upon him, Wilt placing his
hand upon his weapon, and the Dem
ocrats yelling 'Put him outm The
House thus organized by a mob,
Wilt proceeded to swear in Demo-
Gratis from fiv4 parishes, from which
no members were declared by the
Returning Board. With this re-en-
forcement the Democrats were then
willing to proceed to the election of
Speaker in the regular way, as the
spurious members gave them a ma
jority. The Republicans refused to
vote under the circumstances, and
Wilt was declared elected by \ ma
jority of 50. Wilt then ordered the
members to come forward to be
sworn, and the Republicans started
to leave the hall. The Seargent-at-
Arms were ordered to prevent them
from SO doing, and at this juncture
bloodshed was fearfully imminent
Knives and revolvcrs waved above
the heads of the contestants, the lob
bv was cleared with rush, and
members and reporters lodged be-
hind seats and tables. a motion
was made by Democratic member
for committee to wait upon Gen.
Trobriand, in command of United
States troops, to come to the cham
Der and preserve order. 1t received
the unanimous vote ofthe Democrats
and Gen. Trobriand made his appear
ance and succeeded in restoring or
der. Wilt then proceeded to name
the regular committees, and while so
engaged, Gen. Trobriand again un-
expectedly entered the hall with a
communication from Gov. Kellogg,
and an order from Gen. Emory, COM
manding him to remove the five
members who had not been returned,
and to protect Mr.. Vigers, the Clerk,
lin the calling of the roll as made by
the Returning Board. This was
done and the spurious members were
removed. The Democrats, at the
call Of Wilt, ''rose and protested
against military interference" al
though they had invoked it but a
few minutes before. After an inef-
fectual show of interference with the
calling of the roll by the Clerk, the
Democrats, headed by Writ, left
the hall, when, quorum yet remain
ing, Mr.. Hahn was elected speaker
and Mr.. Vigars clerk. The usual
messages passed between the House
and the Senate, the Governors mes
sage was received and read, after
which botheIouses adjourned.
The above is a brief summary of
the coup detat attempted by the
Democrats in the Louisiana Legisla-
ture, and what came of it. Whatcv-
er the merits of the case, and whether
the action of the Returning Board
was just or unjust, the proceeding
was irregular and revolutionary, and
called for interference by the Gov
ernor with all the powers at his COM
mand. The seating of members with
out credentials and the deciding of
contested seats in advance of regular
action by the House, for partisan
ends, are as high-handed outrages as
have ever boon charged against the
Republicans in Louisiana.
--.----..----.
THE Spanish Republic is no more,
and a Bourbon monarchy is once
more established in that distracted