Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-01-14


members friends, ami spectators, turn
ed down the, ial'eiS of their coats, upon
which were pinned blue ribbon badges,
on which were printed in gold letters
the words. Assistant Sergeant-at-
Arms" ana lhe Assembly was in the
possession of the minority, and the
White League of Louisiana had made
good its threats to seize the House,
many of the assistant serseant>-at-
arms being well known as captains OF
white league companies in this city.
the suddenness of
this movement the leading Republi-
can members had not failed to protest
again and again against this revolu-
tionary action of the minority, but all
to no purpose, and many Of the Repub-
licans rose aud left the House in a body,
together with the Clerk, Mr.. VigerS.
who carriad with him the original roll
Of the House as returned by the Secre-
tary Of State. The excitement was
now very great. The acting Speaker
directed the sergeant-at-armS to pre-
vent the egress or iugress of members
or others, and several exciting scuffies,
in which knives and pistols were
drawn, took place, and for a few mo
ments it seemed that bloodShed would
ensue. At this juncture Mr.. Dupre,
Democratic member from the parish
of Orleans, moved that the military
power OF the General Government be
invoked 10 preserve the peace, and
that a committee be appointed to wait
upon Gen. DeTrobriand, the COM
manding officer of the q. S. troops sta
toned AT the State House, and request
his assistance in clearing the lobby.
The motion was adopted; a committee
Of five, of which Mr.. Dupree WAS
made chairman, was sent to wait upon
Gen. DeTrobriand, and soon returned
with that officer, who Was accompanied
by two of his staff officers. As General
Beforehand walked down to the
Speakers desk loud applause burst
from Democratic side of the House.
Gen. Derrobriand asked the acting
Speaker if it was not possible for him
TO preserve order without appealing 10
him As U. S. army offi"er? Nj. Wlltz
said il WAS not, WhereupOn the Gener-
Al proceeded to the lobby, and address
ing few words to the crowd, peace
was at once restored. On motiou Oh
Mr.. Dupree, Mr.. Wiitz then, in the
name OF the General Assembly of the
State of Louisiana, thanked Gen. De-
rrubriaHd for his interference in behalf
OF law and order, and the General
withdrew. The Republicans had now
generally withdrawn from the hall and
united in signinga petition to the Gov.
ernor, stating their grievances, and
asking his aid, which petition, signed
by 90 legally returned members OF the
House, is in my possession. Immedi'
ately, subsequent to the action Of Mr.
Wilt in ejecting the Clerk of the Old
House, Mr.. Billen moved that two
gentlemen from the parish of De Sofa
one from Urim, and one from Blen
vile, and one from Iberia, who haO
not been returned by the returning
board, be sworn in as members, anC
they were accordingly sworn in by Mr.
! Wiltz, and took seats upon the floor a
members of the House. A motion
was now made that the House proceed
with its permanent organization, ant
accordingly the roll was called by Mr.
Trezevant, the acting clerk; and Wilt
was declared elected Speaker.and Ire
zevant Clerk of the House. Acting oil
the protest made by the majority tn
Governor now requested the Com
manding General of the Department
to aid him in restoring order and ena
BILE the legally returned members of tn
House to proceed with its organization
according to law. This request wa
reasonable and in accordance with law
Remembering vividly the terribl
massacres that took place in this cit.
, on the assembling of the constitutions
convention in 1866 at the Mechanics
Institute, and believing that the live
of the members of the Legislator
2 were or would be endangered in cas-
2 an organization under the law was al
, tempted, the posse was furnished wit
the request that care should be take
that no member of the Legislature re
e turned by the returning board shoul'
: be elected from the floor. This militia
q ry posse performed its duty under di
rections from the Governor of the State
and removed from the floor of tn
j House those persons who had been il
legally seated, and who had no lega
\ rights to be there, whereupon the Dem
ocrats arose and left the House, and tn
remaining members prOceeueu W eueS
an organization under the state laws
In all this turmoil, in which bleodshe
was imminent, the military posse be
haved with great discretion. Whe
Mr.. Wiltz, the usurping Speaker of tn
House, called for troops to prever
= bIoodshed, they were given hin
: When the Governor of the State cal
ed for posse for the same purpose an
to enforce the law, it was furnishe
! also. Had this not been boen done,
is my firm belief that scenes of blood
f shed would have ensued.
p. H. SHERIDAN, Lieut.. Gen.