New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-20
Disgraceful Scenes II the State Legisla.
tire.

i - ~Se~s9
ON the Louisiana Legislature ON account of
the scene which. occurred in the House on
wednesday last. Tho Picayume copies the
detailed account Of the affair which ap.
pesred in the REPUBLICAN in order that it's
readers may be favored with the facts in
the case. Tho Rcayssne usually exercises
good taste in selection of authorities a. to
the acts Of the Legislature. It never selects
its own reports. When it wants something
light and entertaining. it clips out . descrip-
ton written BY the talented correspondent
of the New York Tines. When it wants
facts it falls back on the REPUBLICAN,.
Similar scenes to the one referred to are
not 30 very uncommon, though they are
alwaysto be deprecated. The transgfessors
are not always punished 60 severely a. was
Mr.. Ward, who was summarily expelled
from the House. Violence has been done 1T
least once, and threatened many times ON
the floor of the United States Senate, q BODY
which is justly esteemed . model of de-
corum and propriety. Senator Foote at one
time drew q revolver and threatened to
shoot fellow Senator, Benton, of Missouri
Senator Foote was not dealt with 60 se-
verely nor SO justly as Representative Ward.
1t is . reasonable deduction that it was
safer in those "good old times" to trife with
the dignity of the United States Senate
than it 10 to-day to tride with that of the
Louisia9a House of Representatives.
Tho following extract from special dis
patch to the st. Louis Globe, from Spring.
field, Illinois, will show that the Demo.
cratic Legislature of Illinois Is not free from
rowdyism and disturbing elements. The
Democratic Speaker Of the House, . man
by the name Of Haines, is in training for
the Democratic nomination for the Cover
norshlp IN 1876. He has the appointment
of all the committee clerks, and he divides
his favors among the correspondents of the
Democratic papers Of She State. He man.
ages to keep the House over which he pre-
sides in continued wrangle. The imme-
diste cause Of the trouble ON the occasion
in question was the failure of the Committee
on Elections to report ct time which had
been deSignated, and the impression was
created that the committee did not intend
to report:
Mr.. Merritt moved to lay the whole
matter on the table, in order to out off all |
further discussion.
Mr.. Jones, of Daviess, called for the yeas
and nays, and said that this is the third or /
fourth time that the south side Of the House |
has tried to play that game-have their say, |
and then prevent others from replying.
Mr.. Clafiin made side remark to L
Merritt-"That is q mean, dirty and con. |
temptible motion to make in this house."
Merritt responded, shaking his fist, "You
dare not say that to me outside" Then,
like dose of s-s-salts"
Mr.. Harrington sprang to his feet In an |
excited manner, and insisted that Claflin, |
by bis remarks, had placed bimself under |
the ban OF the House, and ought not to be |
recognized until he should make Q proper |
apology.
Mr.. Claflin replied that he did not address |
the Chair nor the House; that it was q side |
remark, and could not properly be taken |
cOgnizance of by the House.
During this little passage at arms the |
belligerent spirit Of both sides of the House |
was very plainly exhibited, and Q general |
row seemed impending. Twenty or thirty |
me mbers were on the floor at once, all ad- |
dressing the Speaker. There was q general |
upr0ar for about five minutes, and it looked |
very much as though the riotous scenes of q
few weeks ago would be re-enacted. Fortu.
nately, Mr.. Cummings was in the chair
Haines being sick-and he was able to stop
the disorder in . very few minutes.
Mr.. Aerritt's motion to table the whole
subject was carried by vote Of 60 yeas to
TO 81 nays.