The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-01-27
| of the Sheriff.

III was 1urtner CANNED, ana not denied, |
that the privilege of his office did not
shield him from arrest. The charge was
embezzlement. The full house would con-
tain one hundred and, eleven members,. of
which fifty-six would be quorum. On
this first call Of tile roll one bundled and
two answered to their names. 1t is clainl-
ed by the Republicans, and we believe
conceded by the Democrats, that fifty Of
those answering to their names were
Democrats, and fifty-two were Repub-
licans. The instant the Clerk finished the
roll call several members rose to their
feet, but the floor was successfully held by
Mr.. Billieu who said that he Nominated L.
A. Witt as temporary chairman. The
Clerk suggested that the legal motion was
to elect a Speaker Mr. Bilien, himself
paying no attention to the Clerk, proceed
ed hurriedly to put his own motion, which
was received by loud yeas and followed by
as lond nays, and declared it carried
Mr.. Wilt sprung instantly to the platform,
took from the Clerk the gavel, was quick
ly sworn in by Justice Houston, who fol-
lowed him to the platform, and then rap
ped the House, which during this time
had been in great confusion, into tempo
rary quiet.
Mr.. Wilt, as temporary chairman, adj
mnistered the oath to the members en-
masse, who rose to receive it. Some men,
Der made motion to elect Trezavant
Clerk. ...
Wilt put the motion and declared it
carried. Trezavant at once came forward
! and took the Clerks chair. Immediately
after and with the same haste, Mr..
Flood was elected Sergeant-at-Arms, and
at once, whether on motion or not your
committee do not remember, number of
assistant seIgeant-at-arms were appointed.
who promptly appeared, wearing badges
on which was printed Assistant Sergeant
at-Arms'
While the above mentioned motions
were beingput members objected andtall-
ed for the yeas and nays, all of which was
dlsrcgarded and pronounced out of order
by the acting chairman. Colonel Lowell.
; Republican,; made the point Of order that
the Constitution of the State allowed any
two members to call for the yeas and nays
on any motion, but the temporary chair
man decided the point was not we'll taken
until a motion for permanent organiza-
ton. Next motion to 90 Into an election
Tor permanent organization was offered
and declared premature. Against this rul-
ing the Republicans protested. A motion
to seat the Democratic members, alleged
to be elected in the four Parishes referred
to the Legislature, was Immediately made
and carried. During this stage there was
much disorder. The Republican members
protested, but their protests were disre-
garded. These gentlemen then appeared
and were sworn in. ,s.t.3.. O. =. 7....
A motion,to adjourn was then put and
declared lost. Mr.. Lowell, Republican,
moved that the House proceed to a perma-
nent organization and that the vote be
taken upon the roll of the Returning
Board. This motion was declared lost,
Mr. Lowell protesting. Mr. Matthews,
Republican, then nominated Mr.. Lowell
as temporary Chairman, put the motion
amidst great confusion and disorder, and
declared it carried. Mr.. Lowell declined
to serve. The House then proceeded to
elect a Speaker. The roll was called by
the clerk Trezavant, who reported fifty
five votes for Wilt, two votes for Hahn,
and one Mr. WiltZ's own) blank.
This result was ascertained by the Clerk
by simply keeping a tally of the members
voting as they answered to their names
No roll of members voting was kept, nei-
Their were letters ordered or any other
such means employed than calling the roll
to ascertain the number voting. This vote
includes the five members who had been
sworn in to fill vacancies.
During this roll call when Mr.. Hahn's
name was called he rose and asked to be
excused from voting and to be allowed to
state his reasons. Objection was made
and then the Speaker pro. TEN. asked for
a unanimous consent to his explanation
Consent was given and Mr.. Hahn spoke at
some length. After the announcement by
the clerk of the vote, Wilt was sworn in
as Speaker and proceeded to swear in 9TH
ers present so far as they came forward to
be sworn. #.' 3: u
Those thus sworn were said to- number
sixty in all, made up OF, fifty Conservatives
and FIVE Republicans. who were returned
by the Returning Board, and the five Dem
ocratic members who had Just been ad-
mitted. Outside the bar of the legislative
hall, III the State House, there We're large
number OF the police supported by the
Federal troops. 7i M II r.I}2
No person was permitted, to enter the
State House. except through tho orders iof
Governor Kellogg. Within the bar of the
House were permitted only the gentlemen
returned by tile Returning Board and the
Clerk and Sergeant at Arms of the former
Legislature, ten persons allowed to the
Conservatives as messengers, who sudden-
ly became their assistant Sergeant-at-Arms
and a few other persons, such as were adj
mitted by.courtesy to the floor. >s..-,
Without the bar, in the public part of
the hall, stood the contestants and other
persons admitted. They numbered, by ac-
tnal count, 127. Besides these, at the door
of the hall were q police. Wilt main
tanned control of the Assembly until some
time after he:was chosen Speaker, when
the Republicans undertook to withdraw
from the hall. Wilt gave instructions to
the Sergeant alarms not to allow anyone
to pass out or enter the hall. 49,.
Then the disturbance without the bar at
once increased, and pistols were displayed
when, at this irncture, Conservative
member moved that the Speaker be re-
quested to ask Col. De Trobrand to pre-
serve order. A committee was appointed
to wait on Col. De Trobrand and request
his compliance. Col. De Trobriand soon
came to the bar, unaccompanied, except
by one aid, whom he left there, and then
alone approached the Speaker.
| The Speaker requested him to ask for
order in the lobby. Col. De Trobriand did
so and order was then restored. The
Speaker thanked him in the name of the
House for his courtesy and he withdrew
The action Of the body proceeded for an
hour or so without interruption, during
which time a Committee on Contested
Seats was appointed, minor officers elect
ed and, "a debate had, but no message was
sent to the Senate or the Governor notify
ing them that the House was organized
and ready to proceed to business. b..
When at length Col. De Trobrinnd re-
turned and stated that he had orders to
remove the five members sworn in who
had not been returned by the Returning
Board, and after the protest and resistance
of Mr.. Wilt to the persons referred to,
and after Gen. Campbell had been sent for