The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-01-14
The Louisiana Outrage.
A sOvERETGN STATE UNDER BAYo-
t.-'' ''''+A NET RULE.

/
't-4'ii''ti NET RULE. "at' '-i
The L egally Elected aud Organized Legis-
lature Dispersed by the Military.
New ORLEANS, January 4.-The
House of Representatives assembled
at II O'Clock to-day. William Vigers,
the clerk, called the roll furnished
him by the Secretary of State, and up
ON closing announced that nomiDa-
tions were in order for temporary
Speaker. Ex-Mayor L. A. Wiltz and
Ex-Governor Michael Hahn were pro-
posed, and upon q Ulca U0ce vote
Mr.. Wiltz was declard elected and
Immediately took the chair. Judge
Houston administering to him the
oath Of office. A tempory clerk and
sergeant-at-arms were then elected
and, on motion, the returns of those
parishes which the board had declined
to pass upon and referred to the Legis-
lature for action were taxed up, and
the members reported elected and
whose claims were not contested
were declared entitled to their seats.
The House then proceeded to per-
manent organization, and Messrs.
Wiltz and Hahn were proposed as
candidates for the Speakership. The
roll was called, and Wiltz received 90
votes, Hahn and l blank. Fifty-six
votes were quorum. Some Repub-
licans voted for Wilt.
Upon the announcement of the re-
suit, Lowell protested against the
manner oforganization of theHouseHe e
admitted that it was in accordance
with his manner of procedure when
he was elected Speaker in 1868, but
claimed that since then law had been
passed to prevent the repetition of the
outrage he committed. The members
were then sworn in, Ex-Governor
Hahn and several other Republicans
coming forward and taking the oath
from Speaker Wiltz.
Upon motion to appoint a Com
mites on Elections and Privileges,
some of the Republican members re-
tired from the hall, but quite a num-
ber remained pending. the delibera-
tions Of the committee. A colored
man, not a member, attempted to ad-
dress the chair, and, on refusing to be
quiet, the Speaker ordered his eject
ment by the Sergeant.at-arms. On
arriving at the bar, beyond which for
ty or fifty Metropolitans were station
EN- an attempt was made to arrest the
Sergeant-at-arms by the police, here
upon number Of members drew their
revolvers and drove back the police,
who, it was evident, desired to bring
about conflict, with o view of having
the military come into the State-House
and take possession. Observing this,
Speaker Wiltz made application to
General De Trobriand, commanding
the city, for force to expel the Me-
tropolitans from the lobby. The Cen
eral Immediately responded in person
and stated he had orders to obey the
commands OF the Speaker Of tho House
OF Representatives. He was request
ed TO clear the loddy of the police,
which he did instanter, after which
order prevailed.
Then the Honse proceeded to ap-
point a Committee on Elections, and
whilst it was in session General De
Trobriand appeared with orders from
General Sheridan to eject oil members
of the House who had not been re.
turned by the Returning Board. The
effect of this order was simply to dis
place those members from parishes
which the board had referred to the
Legislature. The Legislature had act
cd upon that question, and by reslu-
ton had seated those members against
whom there was no contest. The
seating of these members gave the
Democrats q quorum and a majority.
Then came the use of the army under
Sheridan, who issued an order to DE
Trobriand to eject the members seat
ed by the Legislature.
THE PEOPLES REPRESENTATIVES, EN-
PEELED AT THE POINT OF THE BAYONET.
The General came into the House
and demanded the withdrawal Of
these members. The Speaker instruct
ed them to retain their seats, and pro-
tested in eloquent and forcible Ian
guage against the interference of the
Federal army with the deliberations
of the House of Rspresentives of
Louisiana. The General said he
would be compelled to use force. The
Speaker replied he would yield to
nothing less. A company of soldiers
was then marched into the House Of
Representatives, General De Tro-
BRAND then renewed his request, AID
the Speaker instructed the members
not to leave their seats until actual
physical force was used. The General
then, acting as constable, with Major
III. j. Campbell of the State militia
playing the part of informer and spy,
seized each individual member, and
between two soldiers with bayonets
elected him from the House of Repre-
sentatives.
THE CLERK EXPELLED BY BAYONETs.
This accomplished, q demand was
made to eject the temporary Clerk and
reinstate Vigers, the Clerk of the last
House, On his appearance on the
platform, the Speaker ordered his re-
moval by the Sergeant-at-arms, and
this was promptly done, whereupon
General Campbell attempted to speak,
and he likewise was quieted by the
Speaker Appealing to General De
Trobriand, Mr.. Campbell obtained an
order to seat Visers by force. 1t was
resisted, and again General De Tro-
BRAND marched in his soldiers to the
Speakers stand, aud fOrcibly elected
the temporary Clerk, and installed the
negro Vigers, the Clerk of last Legis-
lature.
With soldiers surrounding the
Speakers stand, company at the en-
trance, eleven Democratic members
elected at the point of the bayonet, the
Clerk of the last Legislature installed
in office for this new body, and
two regiments of soldiers surround
ing the State House, no citizens ad-
mitted to witness the assembling of
the Legislature, Speaker Wiltz prop
erly decided that the Legislature of
Louisiana had been captured by the
United States Army, and that he was
| no longer Speaker. But that General
De Trobriand was. Upon this he left
the chair, and every Democratic mem
ber lett the hall, leaving it in posses
sion of the United States Army.
TROOPS ALL ROUND THE sTATE-HoUsE.
Prior to the assembling Of the Leg
islature the troops surrounded the
State House and no one was admitted
except members. even Mr.. Potter, oI
the Congressional Committee, was
denied admission when he applied,
not rs Congressman. but as citizen
of the United States. There is a good
deal of excitement and natural indig