The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-01-28
Sheridan's Official Report of the State
House Affair at New Orleans.

0u6T1udu Oulc1d1 hSpOIL VI bu5 0LdGo
House Affair at New Orleans.
Hon. ". ". Bezknap, Secretary of War,
Washington d. c.:
l have the honor to submit the follow
ing brief report of affairs as they occur
red here in the organization of the State
Legislature of January 4, 1878: was
not in command of this military Depart
ment until o'clock at night of the 4th
instant, but fully indorse. and am will
ing to be held responsible for the acts of
the military as conservators of the pub
lie peace upon that day. During the few
days which l was in the city prior to the
4th of January the general topic of con-
| versation was the scenes of 6loodshed that
were liable to occur on that day, and
repeatedly heard threats of assassinating
the Governor, and regrets exprt ssed that
he was not killed on the 18th of Septem-
Der last. Also of the assassination of
Republican members of the House, in
order to secure the election of a Demo
cratic Speaker. l also know of the kid
naping by bandits of Mr.. Cousin, one of
the members of the Legislature.
In order to preserve the peace and
make the State House safe for the peacea-
BILE assembling of the Legislature, Gen.
-
ernor, stationed troops in the vicinity of
the building Owing to these precau-
tions, the Legislature assembled in the
State House without any disturbance of
| the peace At twelve o'clock, William
| Vigers, Clerk of the last House of Rep
resentatives, proceeded to call the roll, las
according to law h ewas empowered to do.
| One hundred and twelve legally returned
members answered to their names. Of
| this number, fifty-two were Republicans
and fifty Democrats. Before entering the
House, L. A. Wiltz had been selected in
caucus as the Democratic nominee for
Speaker and Michael Hahn as the Re
publican nominee. Vigers had not fin
ished announcing the result when one of
the members (Billen, of Lafourche, }
Speaker Vigers promptly declared 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 Vigers, seized the Speaker S
chair and gavel, and declared himself
Speaker. A protest against this arbitrary
and unlawful proceeding was promptly
made by the members of the majority,
but Wiltz paid no attenti to this pro-
test, and on motion of some one on
the Democratic side of the House, it was
declared that one Trezevant was nomi-
mated and elected Clerk of the House
Trezevant at once sprang forward and
occupied the Clerks chair, amid the
widest confusion over the whole House.
Mayor Wiltz then, 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 In
stantly large number of men through
out the hall, who had been admitted on
various preteXts, 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 gold letters, the
words Assistant -Sergeant-at-A Arms" and
the Assembly was in the possession of the
minority and the White League of Lou
isiana. 1t had made good its threat OF
scizing the House, many of the Assistant
Sergeants-at-Arms being we'll known as
Captains of the White League companies
in this city. Notwithstanding the sudden
ness of this movement. the leading Repub-
lican members had not failed to protest
again and again against this revolution
ary action of the minority, but all to nc
purpose, and many of the Republicans
arose and left the House in a body, to-
gether 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 members or others, and several exciting 9
scuthes, in which knives and pistols were
drawn, took place, and for few moments
it seemed as if bloodshed would ensue
At hisjuncture Dupre, Democratic mem
Der from New Orleans parish, moved that
the military power of General Grant be
invoked to preserve peace and that o
committee be appointed to wait on Gen
eral DeTrobriand, 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 soor
returned with that officer who was &C
companied by two of his staff officers. A:
General DeTrobriand wake down to the
Speakers desk, loud applause burst from
the Democratic side of the House. Gen
eral DeTrobriand asked the acting Speak
er if it was not possible for him to pre-
serve order without appealing to him tc
preserve it, as United States army Off
Ger. Wiltz said it was not. Whereupon
the General proceeded to the lobby, ad
dressing few words to the excited
crowd. Peace was at once restored
On motion of Mr.. Dupre, Wiltz then
in the name of the General Assembly, O
the State of Louisiana, thanked Genera
De Trobriand for his interference in be
half of law order, and the Genera
withdrew.
The Republicans had now generally
withdrawn from the Hall and united IL