The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-03
UNJUsTLY ARRA1GNED.


The Hon. H. j. Ellis. Id his earnest advo-
paey of Gen. Ogden, not lnfreluently permits
bis zsaI I'd 10 obscure Ills judgment ns to
cause him u indulge III the most unfair aud
severe criticisms upon the conduct oil Mr.
Witt I'LL the past, and To deny to him tho pos
session Of "those elements OF character which
no to make the able executive officer
10 coy nothing OF the excessively bad taste
of his thus unnecessarily arralgning gen
tlmnn for whom he has ever, until recently,
expressed the warmest friendship and admit
ration. 1t Ia absolutely incumbent upon NJ
ELLIS In making n charge agninst Mr.. Wilt
to carefully observe tho facts Of history. The
statement that on the memorable fourth Or
January 1876. there were 10000 people around
the State House ready to respond To tho
Speakers coll aud be- sworn III, 10 die III need
be, III big defense ~ 10 extraordinary, so ut
terly ut Variance with the facts hs they are
remembered by others aud as they we're re-
corded ut tho time, M to excite tho special
wonder VI all thoae who were eoRni1ant of
tho proceedings Of that historic day, and g.
peclaIy of the small band Of Democratic
legislators who were imprisoned within tho
walls Of that gloomy, aud to all intsnts and
purposes. imprevnable fortress.
The State-House itself on that dny was u
citadel, garrlsoned and provsioned for u
Siege, barficaded and strengthened under The
Immediate supervision Of Gem LopRstreet,
Every aperture briatsd with cleaning bayo-
nets ard the roof was lined on all sides with
shafI,-shoOters. The main entrances were
guarded by artillery aud Infantry. and around
the building were thrown all the artillery,
cavalry and Infantry Of the United States
stationed at this point.
Iron. clads In the river were ready with
loaded cannon and lighted fuses W open fire
on the city ut d moments notice, while Sher-
ldan, eager for fight. was waiting for the
first indication Of trouble to telegraph Tor re-
Inducements.
Our people at that time, as Mr.. Ellis knows,
II he still retains the noble faculty VI NOM
ory.' we're practically unarmed, having been
compelled To turn over the arms captured on
the fourteenth of September, and hence any
attempt to have forced an entrance into the
btate-Hous would have been the height OF
madness and folly; for, before his ten thou
sand brave but imaginary men could have
responded TO an impossible call from the
Speaker, there would have been such mas
sacre, both within aud without the edlfice, ms
was not soen even In the sanguinary days Of
the french Revolution Ia the streets Of Paris.
The severest critics Of military engage
ments are ever those who view the notions at
a distance, and unless man was present In
tho State House On the day Id question, wit
messed the fearful commotIon and realized the
danger Ito which Mr.. Ellis iiippantly alludes us
"some trouble) II 10 impossible for him to
justly estimate the real heroism and wonder
full ooolness and fortitude displayed by
Speaker Witt and tho gentlemen who were
acting with him.
The feeble md dsinVentous attempt Of Mr..
Ellis to blame md belittle Mr.. Witt for the
part he played on that occasion will recoll on
his own head. The event 10 Of too recent &C.
currence, the facts are too fresh In the minds
of our people, for even tho eloauenee OF o sill
ver-voiced orator to msead or deceive any
ono not blinded by prejudice or partlaanship
Therequost that the Federal General be asked
TO speak TO the dlsorderly. violent and threat
ening lobby did not emanate from Speaker
Witt, but from the House Of Representatives,
and we challenge Mr.. Ellis to cite an instance
from history where 30 delicate o. duty WIS
performed with such tact, adroitness and dig
nifty. Gen. De Trobriand was asked to speak
to IN unruly mob. who recognized no other
authority than that which he represented and
the request Of the House, uttered by its
Speaker, was only made when 1t became
evident To the dullost comprehension that
bloodshed could BIZ averted In no other way.
10 compare this oct, done In the interest OF
peace and under the pressure of such circum-
stances as have never attended any other
legislative assemblage IL this country, to the
atroclous outrage Of employing the soldiers
with their bayonets to disrupt legislature
by Violently eieoting members, Ia to exhibit d
most nnaccountable deficiency Of understands
ing, and was an insult to the intelligence OF
Mr.. Eltlsis hearers.