New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-11


carod the motion out Of order that time when son
one put question amid cheers tho Democratic
side OF the House, Mr. Witt dashed on to the rosm'
pushed aeide Mr. vgers seized the Speakers chair ana
gavcl and declared himself Speaker. protest against
this arbitrary and unlawful proceeding was promptly
made by me nbers OF majority but Mr. Witt paid no
attention TO these protests and motion from some one
the Democratic side House IL was declared that
one TreEevant nominated and elected CLERK OF the
House. Mr.. Irrelevant at once sprang forward
and occupied the Clerks chair amid the wildest
confusion over the whole House. Mayor WIZ theh
again, another nomination from tho Democratic s'e
the House. declared Flood elected sergoantat-
Arms and ordered q certain number OF assistants 10
DO appointed. Instantly O large number OF men
throughout tho hail. who had admitted on various
pretexts such as reporters and members friends ana
spectators turned down the apels OF their coats upon
which were pinned blue ribbon badges on Whic1 were
printed in gold letters the words Assistant Sergeant
atArms," aud the Assembly was in the possession OF
tho minority. and the White League OF Louisiana had
good It's OF seizng tho House. many oil the
Assistant Sergeants being well known as cap
tains OF White League companies In this city.
Notwithstanding tho suddenness OF the move
ment, the leading Republican members mad
not failed to protest again and again against his rev.
outonary action of the minority, but all TO no pur
pose aud many OF the Republicans rose and LETT the
House IN body, together with the Clerk, MI Nlgers
who carried with him the original roll OF the House as
returned by tho Secretary The excitement was
very great, and the acting Speaker directeo tue
sergeantaArms to prevent the egress or ingress OF
members or others, and several exciting scui3s, 10
which knives and pistols were drawn took place ana
for few moments 1t seemed az II boodshcd would en-
sue. At this juncture Mr. Dupre Democratic member
from Orleans Parish moved that the military power OF
the General Government be invoked to preserve the peace
and that q committee be appointed to walt on Gen. do
1laapa fnaI FFtlfa
troops stationed the state House, and Request his as
slsance in clearing the lobby The motion was adopted
committee Of five, OF which Mr.. Dupre was made
chairman, sent 10 wait upon Gen. de TrobIani ana
soon returned with that officer who accompanied bv
two his staff officers. As Gen. dc Trobriand walked
down to the Speakers desk loud applause burst from
the Democratic side OF the House. Gen. de Trobrand
asked the acting Speaker 1t not possible for him
to preserve order without appealing him to preserve
order 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.. Wilt then. In the name OF the General
Assembly OF the State Of Louisiana, thanked Gen. de
Trobraud In behalf Of lawand order
and the General withdrew The Republicans had now
generally withdrawn from tho hall and united in sign
ing petition to the Governor stating their grievances
and asking his aid which petition, signed by % legally
returned members Of the House, Is In my possession
Immedia tely subsequent to the action OF WIZ IN
cjecting the Clerk Of the old House, Mr.. Bieu moved
that two gentlemen from the Parish OF Dc SOTO,
one from VIM, from Benyile. ana one
from Iberia who had not been returned by
tho Returning Board, be sworn in az mem
hers and they we're accordingly In by Mr.. WlS'
and took their seats on the floor members oil the
House motion was now made that the House pro
coed with the permanent organization auu accoFunSS'
the roll was called by Mr.. Trezeyant. the acting CLERK
aud Witt was declared Speaker and TrezeYant Clerk OF
the House. Acting the protest made by the m'Jotiy
OF the House, the Governor now requested the Com
handing General Of the Department to aid him In re-
storing order and enable tho legayrcturned members
of tho House proceed with its organization according
10 law This request reasonable and In accordance
with law Remembering vvidly the terrible massacrcs
that took place this city on the assembling OF thc
Constitutional Convention In 1856 at be Mechanics In
stue and Believing that the lives Of the members OK
the Legislature were would he endangered in case ~
organ cation under tie law attempted the posse
furnished with the request that should he taken
that no member of the Legislature returned 10y the Re
turning Board should be elected from the hoor TINS
military posse performed its duty under directions from
the Governor OF the State aud removed from the moor OF
tae House those persons WHO had been Illegally seated
aud who had no legal right to be there, wheTeupon the
Democrats rose and left the House, and the Remaining
members proceeded to effect al organization under lac
State laws.
In all this turmoil IN which boodshed was imminent
the military posse behaved with great discretion when
Mr. Witt the usurping Speaker OF the House, called Tor
troops to prevent boOdhed they were given him; when
the Governor Of the state called for posse FOR the
same purpose and enforce tho law, 10 was furnished
also Had this not been DONE 1t il my hrm beei int
scenes OF bloodshed would AVE en5ued
T. III. SHERIDAN, Liutenant General.
THE NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL PROTEST AGAINST
suERIDANs ASSERTIONS.
NEW ORLEANS, JAN 10.-Mayor Leeds, in mes
sage TO the City Council to-day, called attention TO
the published dispatch of Gen. Sheridan to the Sec
retary of War, dated Jan. 4, by which the com
munity has been illuminated, and advised the
Council to make an emphatic denial OF this most M
Unsuitable calumny. The Council adopted Tesolu-
ton, saying:
We know that such charges are untounded IN fact ana
unjust and appeal TO the sense OF justice of the et
xens States who have been among US 10 Stigma
TIE as they deserve the unwarranted charges aud
aspersions thus brought against us by Gen. Sheridan
A SPECTATORS ACCOUNT OF TIE OR
GANIZATION OF THE LEGISLATURES
A DESCRIPTION BY THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT
TEES OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES HOUSE OFFICERS
ATTEMPT TO PREVENT MEMBERS LEAVING WHILE
KETLoGG's POLICE RNDEAvOR TO TAKE THEM
oUT-DISTCRBANCES QUEILED by TIE SPEAKER
THE INDIGNATION AGAINST SHERIDAN QUOTED
BY LEADING CoNsERvATIyEs-THE WEAKNESS
OF THE REPUBLICANS CASE BEFORE THE COM
MITTEE.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-The Assistant Ser
peant-at- Arms who accompanied Messrs. Fos-
ter Phelps and Potter to New-Orleans,
very intelligent and observing young man,
was present in the State House at the time Of
the organization of the Legislature by the Conserva
tives and gives very vivid description of the