The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-01-13
rue rnuE rAcrs OF TIE CASE


the TRUE FAcrs or TIE CASE
General S1eridan's Report Of the Euents Of
the 4th--G oasrN Aaticipations Of Bloodshsd
Precautions Taken to Preserve tie Peace
The Outrageous Coup d. E,at--TAe Democrats
= First Cat for Troops.
General Sheridan ON Saturday sent to the
Secretary of War full report of the events of
JAM attn in the meeting of tine Louisiana
Legislature The following is the document
in full:
HEADQUARTERS,
MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI,
NEW ORLEANS, La, Jan. 8.
To bon. W. W. Beikadp, Secretary Of Var,
Washington.
have the honor to submit the following
brief report of atfairs as they occurred here in
the organization of the State Legislature of
Jan. 4, 1875. I was not in command of this
military department until o'clock at night
on the 4th inst, but fully indorsc, and am
willing to be held responsible for acts of the
military as conservators Of the public peace
upon that day. During the few days in which
was in the city prior to the 4tlI OF January,
tho general topic of conversation was the
scenes Of bloodshed that were liable to occur
ON that day, and repeatedly heard threats
OF assassinating the Governor, and regrets ex-
pressed that he was not killed on the 14th Of
September last also threats Of the assassiiia-
ton of Republican members Of the House In
order to secure the election of a Democratic
Speaker. / also know of tho kidnapping by
baiiditti OF Mr.. Cousin one of the members
elect of tho Legislature.
THE raocEEDISas AT THE ASSEMBLING OF
THE HOUSE.
In order to preserve peace, and to make the
&s State house safe for the peaceablc assembling
IF kta aeric1 uftt (1ar mi a
requisition of the Governor, stationed troops
in the vicinity Of the building. Owing to
these precautions the Legislature assembled
in the State house without any disturbance of
the peace. At IL o'clock William Vigers, the
Clerk of the last House of Representatives,
proceeded to call the roll, as according to law
lie was empowered to do. One hundred and
two, legally returned members answered to
their names. OF this number, fifty-two were
Republicans and fifty Democrats Before en-
tering the House Mr.. L. A. Wilt had been
selected in caucus as the Democratic nominee
for Speaker, and Michael Hahn as the Re-
publican nominee.
VIOLENT AND ILLEGAL CONDUCT OF THE
HOUSE.
Mr.. Vigers had not finished announcing the
result when one of the members, Mr.. Billien,
of Lafoulche, nominated Mr.. l. A. Witt for
temporary Speaker. MIR. Vigers promptly de-
claied the motion out of nrder at the time,
when some one put the question, and amid
cheers on the Democratic side Of the House.
Mr. Wltx dashed on to the rostrum, pushed
aside Mr.. Ngcrs, seized the Speakers chair
and gaveL and declared himself Speaker. A
protest against this arbitrary and unlawful
proceedings was promptly made by members
of the majority, but Mr. Wiltz paid no atten-
ton to these protests, and on motion from
some one Oh the Democia ic side OF the House,
it was declared that one Irezevaut WAS nonii-
mated and elected Clerk of the House Mr..
Trczevant at once sprang forward and occu-
pied the Clerk 5 CHAIR amid the widest con-
fusion over the whole house. Mr.. Witt then
again, on another nomination from the Demo
cratic side OF the House, declared one Flood
elected Sergeant-at-A Arms, and ordered a GER
tain number OF assistants 10 bc appointed.
Instantly n large number OF men throughout
the hail. who had been admitted on various
pretexts, silcs as reporters and members
friends and spectators, turned down the lap
pels of their coats upon which were pinned
blue ribbon badges, on which were printed in
gold letters the words g Assistant Serg sant at
Arms" and the Assembly was in the possess
sion of the minority, and the White League
Of Louisiana had made good its threats of
seizing the House, many of the Assistant Ser
geants at Arms being well known as Captains
of White League companies in this city. Not
wthstanding the suddenness of this move
ment, the leading Republican members had
not failed to protest again and again against
this revolutionary action of the minority, but
all to no purpose, aud many Of the Republi-
cans rose and left the house in body, to-
gether with the clerk, Mr. Vgers, who car
ried with him the original roll of the House as
returned by the Secretary of State. The ex-
element was now very great, and the acting
Speaker directed the Sergeant at arms TO
prevent the egress Of members or others, and
several exciting scuffies in which knives and
pistols were drawn took place, and for few
moments it seemed MS If bloodshed would en-
sue.
THE UNITED STATES TROOPS CALLED FOR BY
THE DEMOCRATS.
AT this juncture Mr. Duprc, Democratic
member from Orleans Parish moved that the
military power of the General Government DO
invoked to preserve the peace, and that. "a
committee be appointed to wait on Gen. De
Trobrand, the commanding officer of the
United States troops stationed at the State
House and request his assistance in clearing
the lobby The motion was adopted A
committee Of five, Of which Mr. Dupre was
made Chairman, was sent to wait upon Gen.
De Trobriand and soon returned with that
officer. who was accompanied by two of his
staff officers AS Gen. De Trobriand walked
down to the Speakers desk loud applause
: burst from the Democratic side of the House
Gen. De Trobrand asked the acting Speaker
if it was not possible for him to preserve Or
der without appealing to him to preserve Or
der as United States Army officer. Mr.
Wilt said it was not, whereupon the General
proceeded TO the lobby, and, addressing few
words to the excited crowd, peace was at once
restored. On motion of Mr.. Dupre Mr.. Wiltz
then, in the name of the General Assembly of
the State of Louisiana, thanked Gen. De
Trobriand for his interference in behalf of law
and order and the General withdrew.
ACTION OF THE REPUBLICANS
The Republicans had now generally with
drawn from the hall, and united in signing a
petition to the Governor. stating their grew
ances and asking his aid, which petition
signed by fifty-two legally returned members
of the House, is in my possession.
coSTEsTING DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS SWORN
Immediately subsequent to the action of
Mr.. Witt in ejecting the Clerk of the old
Ar bat