Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-01-11


and, second, against the military occupa-
tion of the State-House by United States
troops and metropolitan police.
| A copy of this protest was presented by
the committee to Gov. Kellogg, who re
piled:
In receiving this protest, have just these
few words to say: As chief magistrate and
conservator of the peace of this State, in
the exercise of sound discretion, and in the
belief that there was danger of the organiza-
ton of the General Assembly being inter
! fered with by violent and Illegal means,
! have thought it best to station in and about
the State-House a portion of the metro
| politan police, and direct that the lower part
of the building, in which are situated
the offices of the State Treasurer, Au-
ditor, and other officials, and which are cas-
| lily accessible by means of glass doors and
windows openi ing directly on the street
shall be secured. / have other motive IN
taking this course but to preserve the peace.
No member of either house, and no attache
of either house, will be interfered with in
any way. As to the passage-Way 10 which
you refer as communicating with the build
ing on Charles street in which the United
States troops are stationed, I beg to state
that there are no United States troops in
the building, and | sincerely trust there will
arise no eXigency which will Justify calling
upon the troops for assistance in any man
DcT 10 dlu Tue OIdJc duI1OIlLleS- w ucn once
the General Assembly is organized they will
be able to deal with contestants and all mat
tiers relating to the maintenance of public
order. My object is simply to preserve the
peace until they shall have legally organ
lied. | am by law distinctly made custodian
of the State-House during the recess of the
General Assembly. = s@
The Clerk subsequently made similar
demand of the Governor, and declined to
call the roll unless the police, ETC., were
removed. Owing to this refusal, Mr..
Sauer, member, called the House to or
der, and called over the list Of members.
Sixty eight answered to their names,
tifty-nine being quorum. The
Senate was promptly organized by
Lieut.-Gov. Antonio, full quorum
being present. a resolution was adopted
calling upon the President of the United
States for protection. The Democrats
also organized Legislature. Clerk Tres
evant calling the roll. They claimed to
have a quorum also in both branches.
Gov. Kellogg delivered his message to
the Republican Legislature. .
The Republican Legislature met in
joint session on the Cd, and listened to the
reading of the returns from each parish
as furnished by the Secretary of the Re-
turning Board, and voted declaration of
the election of Packard as Governor, and
Antoine as Lieutenant Governor. The
Republican Senate adopted resolution
requesting the Governor to transmit to
the Senators and Representatives in Con
gress those portions Of his message refer
ring to the political condition of the State.
In the Democratic Legislature a con-
current resolution was introduced to notify
the President of the United States that the
General Assembly of Louisiana is now in
session at St. Patrick's Hall. In joint
session, the vote of the State was read
by parishes, and Nichols declared
elected Governor and Wilt Lieutenant
Governor. Shortly before noon com
mittee from St. Patrick's Hall House
waited upon Gov. Kellogg at the State
House and presented a written communi-
cation, informing him that the House
of Representatives was organized at st.
Patrick's Hall, at the same time entering
a solemn protest against the occupation OF
the State House by armed police and
militia, and against the exclusion from
the State House Of the duly elected repre-
sentatives of the people, and against the
presence of armed " MetropolitanS and
soldiers. Gov. Kellogg replied that there
were several statements contained in the
communication which were incorrect.
There were no military properly speaking,
in the State House. On the preceding
day there was a force of police armed
not differently from the way in which
they were ordinarily armed. AS cOnserv-
atOrs of the peace, they were especially
! instructed not to interfere with any men,
horS Of ba Uicla hIrf tO nrOfpct
them from interference from others.
There were no United States troops in the
State House. 1t was not true that any
passage-way had been cut from the State
House to an adjoining building to facili-
tate the bringing of troops into the build
ing. Whatever communication existed
had existed long time. AS to the House
which this committee claimed had been
| legally and properly organized, the law
provided that the Secretary of State should
! furnish the Clerk with a list of members
elected That list was furnished the
Clerk. Sixty-eight of the members
whose names were in that list appeared
in the regular hall of the House of Repre-
sentatives, and forty-two, or forty three at
most, appeared in st. Patrick's. He must
decline to receive any communication
| from a body which lacked nearly twenty
of quorum.
The Republican Legislature, under
suspension of the rules, on the Sd, passed
bill recognizing the State Mill tia and
appropriating 100000 therefor.
IN the Democratic Legislature, on the
4th, communication was received from
| Thomas Adams, President of the Citi-
zens' Committee, notifying the presiding
| officers of the House and Senate that
their orders on VIM. Black, Treasurer,
for any amount of money they might re-
quire, to the extent of his receipts, would
be promptly paid.