The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1875-01-14
General Shersdnm'- Account Of
the Events of January 4th.

GPnerSh NutTsUHh' - ACcOUWt Ot
the Events Of January 4th.
The following official dispatch from Gen.
Sheridan was received in Washington JAN
nary 9th:
HDoRs MILITARY DIVISION OF TUE MIssoURI,l
NEW ORLEANS, January s, 1875. J
Hon. ". W. Beaknap, Secretary Of Var, Wdshing-
have the honor to submit the following brief
report of afflrs as they occurred here in the Or
ganization of the State Legislature of January 4,
1915 was not in command of this military de
; partment until oclnck al night of the 4th iLst
hat fully indorse, and am perfectly willing to be
held responsible for, the acts of the military as
conservators of the. public peace upon that day:
During the few days which was in the city prior
to the 4th of January, tie general topic of con-
versation was the scenes of boodshed that were
liable to occur on that day, and repeatedly heard
threats of assassiuating the Governor and regrets
that he was no, killed GU the 14th of September
last. Also of - assassination of Republican
inemaers Of the House, IN order to secure the
election of Democratic Speaker. I also know of
the kidnapping by bandits of Mr.. Cousin, one of
the members-eect of the Legislature.
I'm order to preserve the peace, and make the
/ otdtt EOuse Sdlc IOf Tue pedCedDte dSscmDn0R OF
the Legislature, General Emory, upon the requisi-
tion of the Governor. stationed troops in the vi
cinity of the building. Owing to these precau-
tions the Legislature assembled in the State House
without any disturbance of the peace. At o'clock
William vigers, Clerk of the last House of Repre-
sentatves, proceeded to call the roll as, according
to law, he was empowered to do. One hundred
and two legally returned members answered to
their names. Of this. number ffty-two were Re
publicans and fifty Democrats. Before entering
the House L. A. Witt had been selected in caucus
as the Democratic nominee for Speaker, and
Michael Hahn the Republican nominee. vigers
had not finished announcing the result when one
| of the members (Blen, of Lafourche,) nominated
L. A. Wiltz for temporary Speaker. Vigers
promptly declared themotion 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 to the rostrum, pushed aside vigers.
seized the Speakers chair and gavel and declared
himself Speaker. protest against this arbitrary
and unlawful proceeding promptly made by |
the members of the majority, but Wiltz paid no |
attention to these protests, and, on motion of |
some one on the Democratic side of the House, it |
was declared that Trezevant was nominated |
and elected Clerk of the House. Trezevant at once
sprang forward and occupied the Clerks chair,
amid the widest confusion the whole House.
Mayor Wiltz them again, on another nomination
from the Democratic side of the House, declared
one Flood elected Sergeant at Arms and ordered
certain number of assistants to be appointed
Instantly q large number of men throughout the
hall, who had been admitted on various pretexts,
such as reporters and members friends and spec
tators turned down the lappes of their coats upon
which were pinned blue ribbon badges on which
were printed in gold letters the words Assistant
Sergeant-at-Arms,' and the Assembly was in
the possession of the minority and the White League
OF Louisiana. 1t had made good its threat of
seizing the House, many of the Assistant Sergeants
at-Arins being well known as Captains of the White
League companies in this city. Notwithstanding
the suddenness of this movement, the leading Re-
publican members had not failed to protest again
and again against this revolutionary action of the
minority, but all TO no purpose, and many of the
Republicans arose and left the House in body
together with Clerk VIgers, who carried with him
the original roll of the House, as returned BY the
secretary Of State. The excitement was now very
great, and the acting Speaker directed the Sergeant
alarms to prevent the egress or ingress of mem
oers or others, and several exciting scuffles, in
which knives aud pistols Arcre drawn took place
and for a fewnoments it seemed as if bloodshed
would ensue. At this juncture Dupre, Democratic
member from New Orleans Parish, moved that the
military power of General Grant be invoked 10
preserve peace and that q committee be appointed
to wait on General De Trobriand, commanding 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 Dupre was made Chairman was sent to wait
upon General De Trobriand, and soon returned
win that officer, who was accompanied by two OF
ms staff officers As General De Trobriand walked
down to the Speakers desk loud applause Hurst
from the Democratic side OF the House General
De Troorand asked the acting Speaker if it was not
possible for him to preserve order without appealing
10 MIN TO preserve it, as United States officer
WIZ said it was not: Whereupon the General
proceeded TO the lobby, addressing few words to
the excited crowd. Peace was at once restored
On motion OF Mr.. Dlpre, Wilt then, in the name
OF the General Assembly of the State of Iusiana,
thanked General De Trobriand for interference H.
behalf OF law and ORDER and the General withdrew.
Inc Republicans had now generally withdrawn
from the hall, and united in signing petition to
the Governor, stating their grievances and asking
his aid which petition, signed by ffty-two legally
returned members of the House. is in my possess
sion Immediately subsequent to the action OF
Witz in ejecting the Clerk of the old House, Biet
moved that two gentlemen from the parish of D.
Soto, one from Winn, one from BienviIle, and one
from Iberia, who had not been returned BIZ the
Returning Board, be sworn in as members ana
they were accordingly sworn in by Wiltz and took
their seats on the floor as members of TIE House
A motion was now made that the House proceed
With its /
the roll was called by Mr.. Trezevant, acting Clerk.
and Mr.. Wilt was declared Speaker and Mr.. Trez-
evant Clerk of the House.
Acting on the protest made by the majority of the
House, the Governor requested the Commanding
General of the Department TO aid him in restoring
order and enable legally returned members of the
House TO proceed with its organization according
10 law. This reanest was reasonable, and in ac-
cordance with law. Remembering wildly the {
terrible massacres that took place in this city on
the assembling of the Constitutional Convention in
Is g. at the Mechanics Institute and believing thai
the lives OF the members OF the Legislature were OF
would be, endangered, in case an organization
under the law was attempted, the posse was fur
nished, with request that care should be taken
that no member of the Legislature returned by the
Board should be elected from the floor This mill
lary posse performed its duty under direction from
the Governor of the State, and removed from the
floor of the House those persons who had been
Illegally seated, and who had no legal right to /
there, whereupon the Democrats rose and lef, |
the house, and the remaining members proceeded
to effect an organization under the State laws In
al this turmoil, in which bloodshed was imminent.
the military posse behaved with great discretion
When Wiltz, usurping Speaker of the House, called
him. When the Governor of the state called for a
posse for the same purpose and to enforce the law
i was furnished also. Had it not been done it is
ny firm belief that scenes of blOodshed would have
ensued. P. Fl. SHERIDAN
Lieutenant General I