The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-05

LIE SHEET. Pr
menace, and who tt was well known would
hesitate ut no Outrage TO accomplish the BID
ding Of his master AFT Washington.
| This was the situation on tho morning os
the Fourth Of January TINT confronted the
| representatives Of the people who had been
elected but who were not TO be permitted to
oegantze tho Honse, or enter the hall evsn,
except upon special permission Of Kellogg.
After taking survey Of the situation, Mr.
Wiltz went to the caucus room and informed
the members that the situation was desperate,
that under the circumstances no plan could
be predetermined upon, and that everything
depended upon their implicit confidence In
their leader and that II he was to be that
leader, they must signify their confidence by
vote. The caucus at once passed unanl-
mouslya vote of confidence In the man who
we are now told has not fulfilled the expecta-
tions Of some newspaper critics and patriots.
In this critical and dire emergency. at this
supreme moment when the very lives and lib
critics of the people were In ieopardy, the eyes
Of every member Of ths caucus and the peo-
Pile of New Orleans turned to Mr.. Wil.z as
the one man who could be relied upon to
guard their rights. There was no question OF
his courage or fitness then. and, when Ia re-
sponse to the vote Of confidence, he replied,
Gentlemen. inasmuch as you have placed
your confidence In me. and as the organiza-
tlon OF the House belongs rightfnlly to us,
pledge myself to take possession OF the chair
and to organize the House or be carried out d
CORPSE" every nun felt that 1t was no idle
boast, but u calm and deliberate purpose to
faithfully perform the responsible and dam
gerous duties that had devolved upon him.
IL was solemn and sad spectacle when
the Democratic and Conservative members,
headed by Mr.. Wiltz, and attended only by
ten persons to act as officers and messengers
filed into the narrow, bayonet-guarded door
way OF tho State-House or fortress. It re-
duIred no stretch or the imagination to eee
over that entrance, the inscription which
Dante saw over the gates Of hell. II was,
indeed, marching unarmed into the very cit
adel Of perfidlous and desperate foe, who
were emboldened to attempt any deed Of VIC
lenoe by the presence Of the troopers Of Sheri-
dan and Grant.
The scene that presented itself in the House|
was well calculated to daunt the bravcstl
heart. The Speakers room Was filled viii
armed Metropolitans, the lobby with the
most desperate hired negroes and white bull
lies In the whole city, while armed bodies OF
soldiers tramped through the corridors, and
the ominous sounds Of marching troops with
out were plainly heard.
After the roll was called by the old clerk, d
member nominated Hon. i. A. Wiltz as
Speaker pro tenn. He was declared elected,
and at once took his seat In spite Of Vigers's
and amid much excitement In |
the lobby, which, however. he soon auelled.
After much turmoil the House went into O
organization, and Mr.. Wilt was
duly declared elected Speaker. This enraged
the Radicals, and thereupon many OF them
left amid such excitement and turmoil as has
perhaps never been witnessed In any other /
Legislative body. The screaming and shout
Ing OF the foiled henchmen OF Kellogg were
deafening. and threats loud and deep were
made. while weapons everywhere cleaned In T
the hands Of men whose bloody records made
them dangerous. The awful tension OF that I
the imminence and almost absolute
certainty of conflict, which would result In I
the murder Of every Democrat In that hall,
made men who had braved death on hum
dred battle-Helds realize Its nearness. Those
who were there still speak OF 1t as the most T
trying and dreadful emergency through
which they have ever passed, and recall the
frlRhtful incident with shudder.
How stood Louis Alfred Wiltz In those cru
eial moments that tried mems souls2 Calm
and perfectly collected. he maintained his po-
sition, and his fearless and undaunted bearing
did much to prevent bloodshed and inspire
others with confidence. In the midst,of this
stormy scene. knowing that Gea. De Trobri-
and was In the corridor. q motion was made
and carried to ask him to preserve the peace
Of the House.
When the General entered, accompanied by
q staff officer, Speaker Wiltz addressed him
rs follows: General, the House OF Repre-
sentatives 10 organized, with me as Speaker.
have been asked by members to invite you
here, and request OF you Qf your orders and
duty will permit) to saya few words to this
1nruly lobby and to preserve the peace In the
obby. feel that can maintain the dignity
IL this House, but 1t might cause bloodshed,
md as 1t is not my desire or the wish Of my
oarty and people to shed blood, you will
much oblige me by speaking 10 those unruly
people,"
There are those who find fault with this &C.
ion, but 1t is enough to say that those carp
ng critics t1cre NOT present on that extremely
critical occasion. In an armed citadel of the
,nemy, cut of from all human aid, handful I,
If resolute men against hostile army, their
ives threatened by hired assassins, in the
midst OF tumult which would have ended In
slaughter had but one pistol
hot been fired, there was nothing left but to
all upon the representative Of the only au- !,
hority recognized and feared by the rioters
o quell them with mords, not with bayonets.
The gentlemen are hypercritical who object 4