Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-01-14

inee of the Republicans. Vigers had not
yet finished announcing the result, when
one Of the members, Mr., B~iliican. of La.
fourcbe, nominated Mr.. i. A. Witt for
temporary Speaker. Vigers promptly
declared the motion out Of order. At
the same time some one put the question
to the House, and amid cheers of the
Democratic side Of the House, Mr.. Wilt
dashed up to the rOstrum, pushed aside
Mr.. Visers, seized the Speakers chair,
and gavel and declared himself Speaker.
A protest against this arbitrary asd I'M
unlawful proceeding was promptly made
ty the members Of the majority. but
Wiltz paid no attention to the protests,
and upon motion Of some one of the Dem
ecratic side Of the House, one Trezevant
was nominated and declared oleete d
Clerk Of the House. Irrelevant at once
sprang forward and occupied the clerks
chair, amidst the widest confusion all
over the House. Wilt then, on another
nomination from the Democratic side of
the House, declared one Flood elected
sergeas-at.arms and ordered that a certain
number OF assistants be appointed. In
s%tantly = large number Of men throughout
the hall, who had been admitted on va
rious prettxts' such as reporters, MEM
ber's friends and spectators, turned down
tie lapels Of their coats, upon which was
pinned blue ribbon badges, upon which
were printed, in gold letters, the words:
Assistant sergeat-at-arms, and the Assem-
bly, was in possession Of the minority and
the white League Of Louisiana had made
good its threats Of seizing the House.
many Of tho assistant sergeant st-arms
being known as captains Of White League
companies. Notwithstanding the sud-
%lenness Of the movement the leading Re.
publican members had 30, failed to pro.
test again, and again against this ~revolu.
t:onary action Of the minority, but all to
no purpose, and many Of the Republicans
arose and left the House in a body, to.
gether with the clerk, Mr.. Tigers, who
carried with him the original roll Of the
House, as returned by the Secretary of
State. The excitement was now very
great, the acting Speaker directed the
sergeant-at-arms to prevent the egress or
iugress of members or others. and several
exciting %scufles took place, in which
knives and pistols were drawn, and for a
few moments it seemed that bloodshed
would ensue, At this juncture, Mr.. Du.
pree, a Democratic member from the
parish of Orleans, moved tba. the military
power Of the general government be in.
voked to preserve the peace, and that a
committee be appointed to wait upon Gea.
DeTrobriond. the commanding officer Of
the United States troops, stationed at the
State House, aud requested biz assistance
in clearing the lobby. The motion was
adopted, and committee of Eve, of which
Mr.. Dupree was made chairman. was sent
TO wait upon Gen. Beforehand, and soon
returned with that officer, who was &C.
companied by two Of his staff officers
As Gen. DeTrobriand walked down to
the Speakers desk, loud applause burst
from the Democratic side of the House.
Gen. Beforehand asked the acting S ca
ker if it was not possible for him to pre-
serve order without appealing to him, as
a United States army officer? Mr.. Witt
said it was not, w~hereupon the General
proceeded to the lobby, and addressing
a few words 20 the crowd, peace was at
once restored. On motion Of Mr.. Dupree,
Mr.. Wilt then, in the name Of the Gen.
Assembly Of the State Of Louisiana,
thanked Gen. Beforehand for his inter.
ference in behalf Of law and order, and
the General Withdrew
The Republicans had nov generally
withdrawn from the hall and united in
signing a petition to the Governor stating
their grievances aud asking his cid, which
petition was signed by 6fty-two legally
returned members Of the House and is in
my possession. Immediately subsequent
to the action Of Mr.. Wilt in ejecting the
clerk Of the old House, Mr.. Billican
moved that two gentlemen from the par
ish of DeSoto, one from Trim, one from
Bienville and one from Iberia, who had
not been returned by the Returning
Board be sworn in BY Mr.. Wilt, and
took seats upon the floor as members Of
the House.
A motion was now made that the House
proceed with its permanent organization