Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-05

call the roll. After finishing and annOunc-
ing that there were 102 members present,
and quorum, a motion was Immediately
made that Hon. L. A. Wiltz, Of Or
leans, be made temporary chairman. Mr..
Wiltz Immediately tOOkthe chair. Here the
utmost confusion prevailed. The Speaker
appointed a Sergeant-at-arlns, and tenn
porarg clerk was appointed. Several mo-
tiOns were here made and the confusion in
creased, about fifty members yelling at the
Npp Of their voices. Finally order was re-
ssored, and the chairman made a speech
st lting thai he would recognize all members
Of whatever party or color.
Col. Lowell protested against the man
ner Of the temporary organization. Speak
er Wilt replied that the manner Of organ
ization was identical with that Of 1858, in
which Mr.. Lowell participated. Five men,
bers not returned by the board were de-
clared by a resolution members of the
House, and took their seats. Order COW
q P. NJ is partially restored,
A Speaker aud Clerk Elected and the.
Radical Members seeede.
A motion was then made to 60 into a
permanent organization. This raised a
eommotiOn among the Republicans, but
when the further motion was made to seat
members from contested parishes, the ex-
element, accompanied with shouts and ex-
carnations, vas fearful.
Mr.. Murrill protested against Mr.. Wilt
as chairman, and stigmattsed the course
pursued in placing him there as revOlu-
tionary.
The motion was then put to admit mem
bes from four contested parishes, re-
serving the matter Of contest for the
Legislature, and it was carried amid
the widest excitement and gesticClatiOns
upon the Radical side. To such point did
the excitement reach, that the Sergeant-at-
Arms was called upon 10 seat members and
preserve order. The newly declared mem
bers fnom the contested parishes In dues
tiOn, viz: Bienville, VIM, DeSOtO and
Grant were then duly sworn in by the
Speaker. A motion was then made to ad-
jOurn, upon which the yeas and nays were
not in order till such time as a permanent
organization had been effected, and they
had not vet arrived at that point. The mo-
ton was then put and carried, with great
shouting and excitement, to 90 into per
manent organization. L. A. Wilt and ex-
Gov. Hahn accordingly were put in nOmi-
nation.
Before the clerk proceeded to call the
roll, Mr.. Matthews moved, from his seat,
that Mr.. Lowell be elected permanent
Speaker. This raiaed q storm in the
House, but, a motion to elect a permanent
speaker viva vOee being out of order, the
Speaker so announced and quieted the
House down, after considerable muscular
exertion. The rOll-call then commenced
amid yells from the Radical side.
When the clerk had proceeded about
half way, ex-Gov. Hahn requested permis-
sion from the Speaker to address the
house, which request was at once accorded.
He said that he had been elected a member
of the Legislature from his parish;
that he was a Republican, but in
all matters of reform and good
gC-ernment, he was ready 10 60
with any party having these ends
in view. He had been put in nOmi
nation for the Spegkership by his party
without seeking it. That position, or any
other position in the gift Of The Legislature,
could bring him no additional honor, and
he would gladly relinquish his claims at
any time if he thought il for the public
good. Our business, our commerce, are all
languishing; our plantations are sold out
for taxes; the country is sWarming with
office-holders who ought to be swept away;
all these things must be reformed, and he
regretted to see so much of party spirit dis
played in this House; that be had hope to
see a House which would be united
in the matter Of legislative reform.
he protested against this organization,
and asked the Democrats to Join with him
and others in their efforts TO bring about
an honest aud onOmical government.
We have many reforms 10 make. He had
bo hesitation in pronOuncipg the election
law a fraud and a wrong, and he wanted 70
see It and all other such laws repealed, but
he declined to participate in this body
organized as it was, and he therefore
entered his protest against it.
The call was then proceeded with, and
upon its conclusion, the following result
was announced: For Mr.. Wilt 80, Mr..
Hahn 2, Blank /.
A quorum having voted and Mr.. Wilt
having received a majority, he was accord
ingly declared elected. Judge Houston
then administered the oath Of Office, and, as
usual in such cases, the Speaker called for
the oldest member, Mr.. Lowell, TO admin
lister a similar oath, but ne having left the
House during roll call with a number Of
other Republicans, that duty was performed
by the next oldest member. The Speaker
then addressed the House, while the Radi-
Gals still continued TO generally withdraw
Mr.. Ray addressed the Speaker on priv
ilege, and asked leave to retire from the
House, and entered a protest against its
organization. The Speaker then charged
the Sergeant-at-arms 70 allow no member
to 60 out.
MF. p. j. TrevaZant was then put in
nomination for Clerk and elected. Then
the swearing in of members was COM
menced, and the Radicals endeavOred to
move out Of the House, but the Sergeant
alarms sought to prevent them. Several
scufHes ensued, when, on motion of George
Dupre, Gen. DeTrobriand was sent for, who
cleared the lobby of police and spectators
at the Speakers request.
The Military Interfere I'm Behalf OF
the Radicals.
Gen. DeTrobriand, who had been absent
for about a quarter Of an hour, appeared
again at the House, accompanied by two
officers of his staff. A file OF soldiers had
been marched into the corridor leading 10
the hall. and at the head of the large stair
case. The State police were also drawn
I'D in force. Gen. DeTrobriand at once
stepped mp TO Speaker Wilt, and asked
that Mr. Vigers, the former clerk Of the
House, should read a letter he held
in his hand. Mt. Trenzevant. the
clerk elect, objected, when the Gen.
eral, stating that lie was unable tC
Judge who was Clerk, asked permission tC
have two letters Of Gov. kellogg read by
his AdJutant, which was granted. Thai
officer then read the two letters, one OF
which stated to the General that an illegal
body was sitting in the House Of Repre-
sentatives, and that Mr.. Vigers, Clerk,
would furnish him with a list Of those
members who had been duly elected, and
as such returned by the Returning Board
The other letter contained a request q
Gen. DeTrObriand to eject those members
who had not been returned as elected by
the Board. Speaker Wilt protested and
told the General that this was a legally or
ganized body, to which Gen. DeTrObiant
replied that he as a soldier, and only
second in command, had to obey the orders
of his superior, Gen. Emory, who had or.
deTed him to obey the instructions Of Gov
Kellogg. Speaker Wilt said, l desire Il
state to you again, that this House is duly
elected, has organized itself by electing ms
as Speaker, Capt. Floyd as Sergeant-at-arms
and Mr.. TreZvant as Clerk. After the OF
ganizatiOn We have seated five gentlemen