Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-01-15
LOUISIANA.
THE LEGISLATIVE IMBROGLIO.
CEN. sHERIDAN'S ACCOUNT or IT.
Gaicial gsi~Va9cFi 10 GlIe Secretary
OF War.


OF War.
The following was received at the War
Department to-day:
ICopy-TelcGram.l
Headquarters Military Dr;si1n Missouri,
New ORLEANS, La, Jan. s, 1873.
Received 3 a. m.
70 Hon. ". ". BelIpop, Secretary Of
H'ar, HoShiagiop, d. g.:
l have The honor to submit the following
brief report Of affairs as they occurred here
in the organization Of the state Legislature
on January 4th, 1875. | was not in com
mand of this military department until 9
O'Clock at night on the 4ih instant, but
fully endorse and am willing to be held
responsible for the 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 ith of January, the
general topic of conversation was the SCENES
Of bloodshed that were Liable to occur on
that dag, aud | repeatedly heard threats
of assassinating the governor, and regrets
expressed that he was nos killed on the l4th
of December last. Also threats of assassi-
nation Of republican members Of the House,
in order TO secure the election of a Demo
cratic Speaker | also knew Of the kidnap-
ping by the bandtti of Mr.. Cousiuier. one
Of the members-esct Of the Legislature.
In order 20 preserve the peace and to make
the State House safe for the peaccable as
sembling of the Legislature, Gen. Emory,
upon the rcQuistion of the Governor, sta
toned troops in the vicinity of the build
ing. Owing to these precautions, the
Legislature assembled in the Stale House
without any disturbance Of the public
peace. At twelve O'Clock William Nigers,
the clerk OF the last House of Representa-
tiyes, proceeded to call the roll, az accord
/ ing 10 law he was empowered TO do. One
hundred and two legally returned members
answered to their names of this number
lifty-twO were republicans and ti!ly were
democrats. Before entering The House,
Mr.. l.. \. Wilt had been selected in clU-
I Gus as the democratic nominee Of Speaker
and Michael Hahn rs the republican nomi-
nee. NigerS bad not yet finished annOunc-
in- the result when one Of the members,
Mr.. Billcan, Of lafOurchc. dominated Mr..
l.. i. Wilt tur temporary Speaker. Vi
/ gers promptly declared the motion out OF
order al that time, when some one pat the
question, and amid the cheers of the demo-
cratic side OF the House, Mr.. Wilt dashed
oil To the rostrUm, pushed aside Mr.. Vi
gers, seized the Speakers chair and gavel,
and declared himself Speaker. a protest
against this arbitrary and unlawful pro
ceediDg was promptly made by the mem
bcrs of the majority, out Wilt paid no at
tentiyn 10 these protests, aud upon mo-
tiOn from some one on the democratic side
OF the house declared one Trezevant nOmi-
mated and elected clerk Of the house. Mr..
/ TrezervanL at once sprang forward and
occupied the clerks chair amidst the
widest confusion over the whole house,
{ Witz, then again ON another nomination
from the democratic SIDE Of the house, de-
clarcd one Floord elected sergcant-at- arms,
and ordered that certain number Of as
sistants be appointed. Instantly a large
number Of men throughout the hall, who
had been admitted on various preteX:s.
such as reporters and members friends and
/ spectators turned down the lapels of their
coats, upon which were pinned blue ribbon
badges, on which were printed in god
letters the words, Assistant Sergeant nj
Arms, . and the assembly was in the pos
/ session of the minority, and the White
/ League of Louisiana had made good its
/ threats OF scizing the House, many of the
( assistant sergeant at arms being well known
as captains of white league companies in
this city. Notwithstanding the sudden
ness of this movement tie leading repub-
! licans 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 rose and left the
/ House in Oody, together with the clerk,
/ Mr.. Nigcrs, who carried with him the
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