The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-01-20
Last Nights Dispatches.
MAIN e.
% Republican Conspirators--The
Tusionists VIII Not Yield.

old structure resembled feudal castle
awaiting an attack. In every passag
way, fIom the subteranean regions up I
the roof, were policemen, armed wit
revolvers. The policemen challenged tn
steps OF the exceedingly few persons VIII
had, by special faver, gained admittance
A double guard protected the Governor
room. A spacious rotuuda below swarme'
with men, and when any one succeeded
in getting past the guards at the stoI
gate, he was not admitted to the Stat'
House without scrutiny from vigilan
special seDtrles who tended the carefully
locked DOORS:
The younger guardsmen did not hesitate
to show their revolvers and were antici-
pating with youthful ardor, a hot contest
with the FHsionists forces, whom they
believed we're about to arrive by railroad
A special force tot l2O or more men was
detailed to stand guard on the balcony
fronting State street, Just before the
arrival of the Fusion Legislature on the
| sidewalk below, this balcony force was
ordered into the1hall of the House, where
| they we're drawn up in military korder and
divided into squads. General Charles
Mattucks, of Portland, was in command
of this contingent and he appointed Major
| A, j. Ben-on. of Portland as his adiutant.
| When the guards were about to move out
to the balcony, General Mattuck com
manded them to break step. fearing that
| the measured tread OF SO many men would
be heard by the Fuslonists on the side
walk, 800 feet distant. So when the men
went out. they broke step and succeeded
| in making no unnecessary nois. They
were all armed with revolvers, and from
their elevated point in the lofty balcony
could have guarded the steps leading from
the State House, against a force of ten
| times their own number. When the
| Fusionlsts departed the vigience of the
entire period of this remarkable condition
| of affairs, was the State House more
strictly guarded. Governor Davis has
placed the State House defense in charge
Major j. E, Nye, who had been General
Chamberlains assistant Adjt. General,
although Nash was nominally in command
of the police force.
| The Herald Augusta special gives full
| particulars CT the attempts by the mem
| bers and officers of the Fusion house and
senate TO get into the state house this
afternoon. Mayor Nash met their most
urgent requests with the reply that he was
| keeping every body out by the governor S
orders, even Smith. claiming to be COVER
nor, was refused admittance, although
| demaadiug entrance as governor. The two
| Fusion house organized at inconyenieIt
spots in eEe open air near by and much
uerriment was occasioned. No business
was transacted, but some stirring Fusion
speeches were made. Great excitement
prevails.
il HerQld'S Augusta special says: The
Scenes inside the state house during the
granite walled old structure reseun bled
irudal castle awaiting attack. In every
passage way, from the subterranean TeQi-
ons up to the roof were policemen armed
With revolvers. The policemen challenged
the steps of tho exec 1dingly few persons
who and, By special favor, gaiued admit
tance. a double guard protected the
govere oT's room. The spacious rotuuda
below sWarmed with men, aud when any
one succeeded in getting past the guards
az the step gate, he was not admitted 20
the state house without scrutiny from the
vigilant special sentries. who tended the
carefully locked doors.
The younger guardsmen did not hesi-
tate TO show their reviewers and were
anticipating with youthful ardor hot con
test with the Fuslonist forces who, they
believed. were about To arrive by railroad
detailed to stand guard in the balcony
fronting State street, just before the
arriva, of the Fusion legislature on the
sidewalk beIoM ,he balcony, a force was
ordered in the hall of the house, where they
were drawn up in military order and divid
ed into squads. Gen. Chas Matuck, of Port-
land, was in command ot his contingent
and he appointed Mai " Brown. OF
Portland. as his Adjutant When the
guard was about to move out tc the
balcony, Gen. Matuck commanded them
TO break step, fearing that the measured
tread OF 80 many meG would be heard by
the fusionists on the sidewalk, three hun
dred feet away So when the men broke
step and succeeded 10 making no unuecess-
airy noise. They were all all armed with
reY0lveas and from their elevated point in
the lofty balcony could have guarded the
steps leading from the state house against
ten times their own number. When the
fusioDists departed the vigilance of the
guard was not realxed, Never in the
entire period of this remarkable condition
Of affairs was the state house more strictly
guarded. Gov. Davis has placed the
state house defence 10 chargeIof Maj j.
Il, Nye, who had been Gen. Cham ber-
lain's Assistant Adjutant General, al
though Mayor Nash was nominaliy in
command of the police.
AUGUSTA, Jan I9.-At fusion meet
ing in front OF the Augusta House, held
alter the adjournment of the session on
the pavement, James ID. Lamson made a
brief address relating MS grievances, that
be was unable to gain admission 20
the state house though he had as much
right there as any other citizen. He was
glad to see the crowd so civil and
circumspect. John G. Talbot speaker of
the House made q brief speech in
the same vein. Darius Alden, of Au-
gusta, made few remarke. While there
was quite number of ugly talking fu
sionists in the crowd, most of them were
good natured and joked about the posi-
ton of affairs. No threats were made.
but the Republicans were given to under
stand in many ways that this would be
used against them in the campaign. The
crowd then quietly dispersed
Gov. Da Wis. by whose order the state
house was closed against the fusion Legis-
lature, says he was unwilling that the
farce hould go on longer. Had they ap-
piled as citizens and not as legislative
body. admission would have been granted
He should be ashamed to occupy a posi-
sositioD as Chief Executive and allow
what had justly been termed fat legis-
lature to meet 1t we had a legal legis-
iature backed hy the courts people and