New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-09

not tell which, and passed out through thu
lobby. the police Withdrawing from ths
lobby under order from Captain Lawlor.
The 80 called Speaker then proceeded e
! swear IN the members of the House by fours
when General De Trobriand gain appeared
and proceeded up the aisle to the Speakers
desk and informed Mr.. Witt he had an
order from Governor Kellogg and General
Emory to clear the floor Of the House
of all those that were not members
duly elected and certified as having
been returned by the Returning Board,
and. requested Mr. Vigers. the Clerk. to
read 1t. The temporary clerk. Mr.. Ire.
vesant. protested, saying he would take the
| papers and place them on file. Mr.. Wiltz
also protested to Mr.. Vigers reading the
| orde.. stating he was the Speaker Of the
! House OF Representatives of the State of
louisiana. and that they were legally or.
| gan.zed body. and atked II the General
! proposed to put out the seven members
they had sworn in. The General stated he
had bis orders, and that all must leave the
floor that were not on the original roll. Mr..
Wilt replied that if those members left the
House 1t would have to be by superior force.
| little delay in General Campbell and Mr..
Vigers pointing out who the seven members
were that had been illegally sworn in,
General De Trobriand approached them, rA
Guesting them in a very mild and gentle
manly manner to leave the floor OF the
House. One Of them left at the Generals
request. the others appealing to the
Speaker and protesting in the name of
their State and the American people, and
asking what they should do. Mr.. Wiltz
telling them to keep their seats until they
were elected by force. Whereupon two
soldiers were brought in to escort them out.
Alter this had been accomplished. the Re-
publican mem bers began to return, and
wene nearly all seated, when Mr.. Tigers was
called upon to call the roll and proceed to
legal organization of the House. Mr.
Wilt, still protesting, said he veald not
allow it, insisting that the House was le.
gally organized, and that there we're not
men enough on the floor to seat M. Vigers
at the desk, and thA1snpOn ordered the So
called sergeants-at-arns to remove the clerk
(Mr. Vigers) from the platform. Mr.. Figers
was seized by several of the sergeac ts-at-
arms and dragged down from the Speakers
platform. General Campbell, ccnrmandine
the State forces in the State Hc.se, was
present with the clerk (Mr. Vigers), TO keep
order during legal organization. and eem
menced to define his position, and by what
authority he was there, and for what pur-
pose. when cries were made from several
to put him out, and a large crowd of
Democratic members collected upon and |
around the Speakers stand, Mr.. Wilt |
using the gaveI very vigorously and pro-
testing. General De Trobriand approached |
and said to Mr.. Wilt he was there to |
preserve order, and as a soldier he must |
obey ORDERS and asked Mr.. Wiltz if show |
OF force was sufficient to preserve order and |
allow a peaceable organization of the |
House. Mr.. Wilt said it was. The General
thereupOn retired and brought on thu |
floor file of soldiers 1.-TWO men). Mr.,
Witt again arose and protested in the
name of the people OF his State and in the |
name OF the American people, to the inter.
ference of the United States troops in the |
House OF Representatives; that Mr.. Vigers
was not the clerk Of the House, neither |
would he recognize him as such. There.
upon he vacated his seat. calling upon the
Democratic members to follow him from
the House. Mr.. tigers proceeded imme.
liately TO call the roll, three OF the Demo.
cratic members remaining and titty-four
members answering to their names making
4 quorum. The House was then organized
rs prescribed by law. the military having
previously Withdrawn, and es Governor
Hahn elected Speaker.
In all fairness. l, as Conservative North. !
'rn Democrat. not wishing to see wrongs
1ghted by wrong ask if the go called
legislature was legally organized, ard in
accordance with the State laws! And if
egaliy organized. why was it necessary for
he House. through Mr.. Wiltz. as then con.
'ened, to ask upon the floor an officer of the
United States forces to oust the POLICE
qrees OF the State. and the only military
Orc: ::sed as q projection against disorder,
nd who were then endeavoring to quell q
isturbance' And when shown what the
aw required ard provided for in an organ.
,atiOn, why Was it not adopted as a guide
nd law! F.. +. w.