The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-01-14

ION OF THE MISSOURI, New ORLEANS,
Jan. SO Hon. ". ". -Be2knop,
Secretary Of Var, Washington, d.
c.: [ have the honor to submit
the following brief report of affairs
as they occurred here, in the organ
ization of the State Legislature,
Jan. 4, 1875. | was notln command
of this military department until 8
O'Clock at night of the 4th inst; but
| fully indorse, and am willing to be
held responsible for, the acts of the
military as conservators of the pub
lie peace upon that occasion. Dur
ing the few days in which I was IN
the city, prior to the 4th of January,
the general topic conversation was
the scenes Of bloodshed that were
liable to occur on that day and |
repeatedly heard threats IF assassin
ating the Governor, and regrets
expressed that he was not killed on
the 14th OF September last also
threats OF the assa sslnation Of Re
publican members Of the House,
in order to secure the election of a
Democratic speaker. [ also know
of the kidnapping by banditti If
Mr., Cousin, one Of the members elect
of the Legislature. In order to pre-
serve the statehouse safe for the
peaceable assembling Of the Legis-
lature, Gen. Emory, upon the req'li-
sition of the Governor, stationed
troops in the vicinity Of the building.
Owing to these precautiopsy the
Legislature assembled in the state
house without any disturbance OF
the peace. At 10 o'clock, William
Vigers, clerk of the last House of
Representatives, proceeded to call
the roll, as according to law he was
empowered to do. One hundred
and two legally turned members
answered to their names. Of this
number fifty-two were Republicans
and fifty Democrats.
Before entering the House L. A.
Witt had been selected in caucus
as Democratic nominee for Speaker
and Michael Hahn as the Republican
nominee. Vigers had not finished
announcing the result when one of
the members, Billien, of Lafourche,
nominated L. A. Witt for tempo
rary speaker. Vigers promptly de-
clared the motion out of order at
that time, when some one put the
question, and amid cheers on the
Democratic side OF the House Wilt
dashed on the rostrum, pushed aside
Vigcrs, seized the Speakers chair
and gavel, and declared himself
speaker. Aprotest against this ar
bitrary and unlawful proceedings
was promptly made by members of
the majority, but Witt gave no at
tention to the protests, and on a
motion from some one on the Demo
cratic side of the House it was de-
clared that one Trezevant was nom.
mated and elected clerk of the House.
Irrelevant az once sprang forward
and occupied the Clerks chair amidst
the widest confusion over the whole
House. Mayor Wilt then again,
on another nomination from the
Democratic side Of the House. de-
clared one Flood elected sergeat-at-
arms, and ordered certain number
of assistants to be appointed.
Instantly large number of men
throughout the hail, who had been
admitted on various pretexts, such
as reporters, and members, friends
ana spectators, turned down the
lapels OF their coats, upon which
were pinned blue ribbon badges, on
which were printed in gold the words,
assistant Sergeant-at-arms,' and
the Assembly was in the possession
of the minority, and the White
| Il