New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-16

associates the committee addressed a lette
to each of these gentlemen, desiring n
know explicitly whether each one would
submit to the determination of the commit
} tee, and IT it found he was not duly elected
ne would resign his office or all claim t.
the office and would not enter upon Il
during the term for which he claimed tc
have been elected.
40 tins communication they received q
reply from Mr.. McEnery and those associat.
ed with him asserting to the submission
and in the courae of his examination before
the committee Governor Kellogg expressed
the seme intention and his opinion, tha,
those associated with him ought to consent
| 70 the arrangement. His formal reply has
been received since our return, and we zee
by the public pressSthat Mr.. Antoine has
expressed his willingness to accede to the
arrangement.
As to the proceedings on the fourth of
January, about which the committee de.
sired statement, we now add that YOUR
snbcommittee on the invitation OF the
| democratic Conservative committee Of the
State OF Louisiana, visited the hall of the
House OF Representatives and witnessed
the c0nvening Of tho Louisiana House of
Representatives. MIR. Potter refusing to
60 inside the bar remained outside, while
Messrs. Foster and Phelps were seated
inside and near to the Speakers chair. Mr..
Potter remained only until Mr.. Wiltz was
elected speaker, and states nothing as tn
what subsequently occurred. Mr.. Foster
remained perhaps an hour, and Mr.. Phelps
remained about an hour longer
until he learned that the military were about
to enter under Governor KellOgg's orders.
The dOings in the State House ON the fourth
of January, as seen by the committee, or
subsequently in evidence, were substan.
TALLY as follows: At twelve O'Clock, noon,
William ViUQrn tho n1opk Of Na1 1oe
called the Assembly to order, and proceeded
to call the roll Of members as made W from
the returns of the Returning Board. This
roll contained the names of LOG members.
clsssed by Governor Kellogg as fifty. three
Republicans and fifty-three Democrats, but
it is claimed that one of the Democrats was
not a staying Democrat.
The Republicans claimed that one of
their members, A. j. Cousin, had been kid
mapped and forcibly taken to distant
parish to prevent his presence at the organ.
izarion Of the House. Your committee was
about to investigate this charge, when, in
public session, it was claimed by the Demo-
cratic counsel, and admitted by the RepubA
lican counsel, that the arrest was under
legal process and BY the hands of the sheriff.
1t was further claimed. and not denied,
that the privilege of his Office did not shield
him from arrest. The charge was embezs
element.
The full House would contain III MEM
bers, of which fifty.six would be quorum.
On this first call of the roll l02 answered to
their names. 1t is claimed by the Rep ubo
!icsns, and, we believe, conceded BY the
Democrats, that fifty Of those answering to
their names were Democrats and fifty-two
were Republicans. The instant the clerk
finished the roll call several members rose
to their feet, but the floor was successfully
held BY MIR. Billieu, who said that he n0mi-
mated L. A. Wiltz rs temporary chairman.
The clerk suggested that the legal motion
was to elect q Speaker. Mr.. Billieu himself
paying no attention to the clerk, proceeded
was received by loud yeas and follow by
as loud nays. and declared it carried.
Mr.. Wiltz sprung instantly to the plat
form, took from the clerk the gavel, was
quickly sworn in by Justice Houston, who
followed him to the platform, and then
raped the House, which during this time
had been in great confusion, into q tenn.
pOrary quiet.
Mr.. Wilt, as temporary chairman, ad-
ministered the oath to the mem bers en- n,asse
who rose to receive it, Some member made
a motion to elect Trezevant clerk. Witt
put the motion and declared it carried.
1rezevant ut once came forward and took
the clerks chair. Immediately after and
with the same haste, Q Mr.. Flood was
elected eergeant-at-arms, and at once,
whether on motion or not your committee
do not remember, number Of sergesnts ats
arms were appointed, whe promptly ape
peared wearing badges on which gas print
ed assistant sergeant-at-arms."
While the abeve mentioned motions WERE
being put members objected and called for
the yeas and nays, all of which was disreo
garded and pronounced out of order by the
acting chairmen: Colonel Lowell, . Res
publican. made the pointOf order that tho
of the State allowed any two
to call for the yeas and nays on
any motion, but the temporary chairman
decided the point not we'll taken until
motion for permanent organization. Next
, 1iOti0n to 20 into an election for q permao
nent organization was offered and declared
premature. Against this Culing the Repube
leans protested.
A motion to seat the Democratic members
alleged to bo elected in the four parishes
referred to was Immediately made
Ind carried. During this stage there was
much disorder. The Republican members
protested, but their protests were disres
,arded. These gentlemen then appeared
md were sworn in. A motion to adjourn
was then put and declared lost. Mr.. Lows
Ill, Republican, moved that the House
proceed to permanent organization, and
hat the vote be taken upon the roll Of the
Returning Board. This motion was de.
Jared lost, Mr.. Lowell protesting. Mr.,
Mr.. Lowell as temporary chairman; put the
notion amidst great confusion and disorder
md declared it carried. Mr.. Lowell de.
lined to serve.
The House then proceeded to elect q
speaker. The roll was called by the clerk,
Trezevant, who reported fifty five votes tor
Nilts, two votes for Hahn ,and one, Mr. Wiltz'
wn, blank This result was ascertained by
he clerk by simply keeping a tally of the
MEMBERS voting as they answered 10 their
ames. No roll of members voting was
ept, neither were letters ordered ora
uch other means employed than calling
ne roll to ascertain the number voting,
his vote includes the five members who
ad been sworn in to fill vacancies
During this roll call when Mr.. Habn5s
anne was called he rose and asked to be
xcused from voting and to he allowed to
late his reasons. Objection was made, and
hen the Speaker pro TEN asked foe a unani.
lous consent to his explanation. Consent
'as given, and Mr.. Hahn spoke at some,
myth. After the announcement by the
Jerk of the vote Mr.. Witt was sworn in as
peaker, and proceeded to swear in others
resent as far as they came forward to be
worn. These thus sworn were said to
nmber sixty in all, made up of fifty Con
srvatives and five Republicans who were
,turned by the Returning Board, and the
We Democratic members who had jnst been
Omitted.
Outside the bar OF the legislative hall, in
10 State House, there was large mum
Or Of the police, supported by the federal
oops. No person was permitted to enter
le State HOuse except through the orders
Governor Kellogg. Within the bar of
le House were permitted only the gentle.
ZEN returned by the Returning Board and
erk and sergeantat arms OF the former
legislature, ten persons allowed to tha