The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-01-13

the State Legislature of Jan. 4, 1875
was not In command of this military
department until 8 clock at night OF
the 4th instant last, but fully indorse
and am willing to be held responsible
for the acts of the military as conserv.
aters of the public. on that day an6
during the few days which l was in
the city prior to the 4th of January
The general topic of conversation was
the scenes of bloodshed that were liza
BILE to occur on that day, and repeat.
edly heard threats Of assassinating the
Governor, and regrets expressed that
he was not killed on the 14th of Sep.
TENDER last; also. threats of assassin
alton of Republican members of the
House. In order to secure the election
of Democratic Speaker. | also
knew of the kidnapping, by handitti,
of MIR. Cousin, one of the members
ELECT of the Legislature.
In order to preserve peace and make
the State House safe for the peaceable
assembling of the Legislature, General
Emory, upon the requisition of the
Governor, stationed troops in the vi
cinity of the building. Owing to
these precautions, the Legislature as
sembled in the State House without
any disturbance of the peace At 10
o'clock William Vigars, the Clerk of
the last House of Representatives,
proceeded to call the roll, as accord :.
ing to law he was empowered to do
One hundred and two legally returned
members answered to their names.
Of this number fifty two were Repub-
icans and fifty Democrats.
Before entering the House L. A.
Witt had been selected, in caucus, as
the Democratic nominee for Sseaker,
and Michael Hahn as the Republican
nominee. Vigars had not finished
announcing the result, when one of
the members (Bellen, of Cafourche,)
nominated L. A. Wilt for temporary
Speaker. Vigars promptly declared
the motion out of order at that time,
when some one put the question and
amid the cheers on the Democratic
side of the House. Wilt dashed on to
the rostrum, pushing aside Vigars,
seized the Speakers chair and gayel,
and declared himself Speaker. A
protest against these arbitrary and
unlawful proceedings was promptly
made by members of the majority, but
Witt paid no attention to the pro-
tests, and on a motion from some enc
on the Democratic side of the House
it was declared that one Irrelevant
was nominated and elected Clerk of
the House. Trezevant at once sprang
forward and occupied the Clerks
chair amid the wilde st confusion over
the whole house. Mayor Wilt then
again, on another nomination from
the Democratic side of the House, de-
clared one Flood elected Sergent at
Arms, and ordered a certain number
OF assistants to be appointed. In
stantly large number of men through
out the hall, who had been admitted
on various pretexts, such as reporters,
and members friends, and spectators,
turned down the lapels OF their coats,
upon which were pinned blue ribbon
badges, on which were printed in gold
letters the words Assistant Sergent-
alarms, and the Assembly was in
the possession of the minority The
White League of Louisiana has made
good its threat of seizing the House,
many of the Sergent- at Arms being
well known as Captains of the White
League companies in the city
Notwithstanding the suddenness of
this movement. leading Republican
members had not failed to protest
against this revolutionary action of
the minority, but all to no purpose,
and many of the Republicans rose and
left the House in a body, together
with Clerk Vigars, who carried with
him the original roll of the House, as
returned by the Secretary of State
The excitement was now very great, |
and the acting Speaker directed the |
to prevent the egress |
Of 10. III !
several exciting scuffles, in which |
knives and pistols were drawn, took |
place, and for few moments it seemed |!
as if bloodshed would ensue. At this
uncture, Dupre. a Democratic mem
Der, from New Orleans Parish, moved
that the military of the general gov
eminent be invoked to preserve peace,
and that committee be appointed to
wait on General Beforehand, the
officer of the United |
House. and request his assistance in
adopted.
A committee of five, of which Dupre
was made chairman, was sent to wait
1pon General Beforehand, and soon
,etnrned with that officer. who was
by two Of his staff Off
,ers. As General Beforehand walk
ID down to the Speakers desk, loud
applause burst from the Democratic
ide of the House. General DeTro-
oriand asked the acting Speaker if it
vas not possible for him to preserve
,rder without appealing to him to
preserve order as a United States
lrmy officer. Wilt said 1t was not:
vhereupon the General proceeded to
he lobby, and, addressing few words
o the excited crowd, peace was at
nee restored. On motion of Dupre,
Niltz, in the name of the General
Assembly of the State of Louisiana.
banked General. DeTrobriand for his
Interference in behalf of law and or
Ter, and the General withdrew.
The Republicans had now generally
from the hall, and united
n signing petition to the Governor,
tating their grievances and asking
lis aid. Two petitions, signed by
fifty legally returned members of
he House, is in my possession.
Immediately subsequent to the
ction of Wilt in ejecting the Clerk
f the old House, Billien moved that
wo gentlemen from the parish of De-
OTTO, one from Winn. one from Bien-
lille, and one from Iberia. who had
.ot been returned by the Returning
Board, be sworn in as members, and
hey were accordingly sworn in by
Viltz, and took their seats on the
DOR as members of the House.
A motion was now made that the
louise proceed with its permanent ;
rganization, and accordingly the roll I
7as called by Irrelevant, the acting
'lerk. and Wilt was declared Speak
r. and Trezevant Clerk OF the House