The New York Herald Newspaper, January 21, 1867, Page 6

Paes einen . < OUR HARBOR DEFENCES. | THEIR PRESENT STATE OF EFFICIENCY, DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE FORTS. WORKS FINISHED ARD IN OPERATION Strength of Garrisons and Armaments. Necessity for Alterations in the Old Forts to Receive Heavier Guns. &o. &, &e. ‘The defences of New York harbor have long’been a woarce of anxious thought and inquiry to the residents ef this and tho adjacent cities. For a considerable Period the public mind entertained a suspicion that the ex'sting fortifications were inadequate to the demgn of securing jmpregnability from agsauit, and even at preeent, with every advantageous position fortified, the opinion beld by those most competent to judge is, that a ‘Beet of irov-clads is essential for co-operation with the forts. ‘The barbor has now eleven defensive works, twoof ‘the largest being in process of construction, and the rest for the greater part undergoing improvements from year to year, When fully completed and equipped, it is caleulated the armament of all the forts and battcries ‘will comprise two thousand guns of the heaviest calibre. This enormous power, aided by a fleet of effective iron- @iads operating in the toner harbor, and rendered still ‘more formidable by shoals of bristling torpedoes turking tm every chanvel, should, while inspiring a wholesome fear in the minds of aggressive intruders, diffuse a sense ‘ef security among ovrseiver. Some of the fortifications have been a long time building—longer than was re- quired even by works of the magnitude essential to har- Dor defence; but then delays for the necessary appro- priations have occurred, and again suspensions of labor have been ordered pending a change of plan in the con- struction, the latter cause being applicable to several of ‘the forte upon which operations for the present have -oeased. The building, however, of fortifications is inva- vrlably. slow, involving an it does. vast expenditure of ‘Poth trained and unskilled Jabor. Excavations of im- monse proportions have to be made, mountains of earth thrown op and fashioned off in various geometrical out- Sines, and masonry of the most fniehed and ponderous kind to be orected. All this takes time, skill and more especially hberal uppropriationa. The outlying forts are those upon which we must almost wholly rely for effect- five defence, as inthe event -of their failure to repel an ‘qmemy's fieet and in the absence of iron-clad vessels, <the city would lie at the meroy of those far- weaching projectiies of modern gunnery. It is possible on an emergency to seal up the bar- ber and render it impregnable. The exact width @f the vavious channels and their depth at al) stages of ‘the tide are accurately known to the engineér“aficers, enabiing Werk to determine the Yprecine locations in whieh to moor obatroctions, and thus detain vessels ‘endor a steady fire trom the forts. The probabilities, Bowever, are that ne foreign foe having any knowleke @f whes awaits him will ever have the temerity toseek @esiile mcquaintance with the frowning fortresnes ‘in Mew York harbor. - GOVERNOR'S 18F-ARD—ITS PAUSANT UBER, ‘The fret and most familiar of those immutable sentries te Governor's Island, the last ditch in the chain of de- fences, bot never to be need, it is hoped, as a dernier wusort for revistance. Inthe days of short range ord- manee the island was admirably adapted for defensive pur- poses, both from its conformation and position, the former resenting a natural giacis in the ebief porsible direction @ attack, and the latter enabling it to act asa sbield to ‘New York and Brooklyn. The istand ts at present di- wided inte two departments—the arsenal or ordpance yard, and Fort Columbus with @ recruiting depot. The former is commanded by Cofowe! Laidley and the latter by Celene) Hayden. The garrison is composed of tureecom- panies, vambering three bondred and pipety-fve men. his force's intended exclusively for guard doty, and, togetber with the troops on Navid and Bedloe Islands, @ambering in all six bosdred and seventy-five men, constitute what ts termed the depot, under the supreme command of Colonel Hayden, ‘The island is the largest recruiting station in the country, recruits being received at the rate of from thirty to one bundred aday. From the Gib of December to the present date a little over Uhre thousand have been enlisted, sent to the island, end, after undergoing inspection, transmitted to various fegirwents South and West, Last summer several re- erviia who bad previously tarried at Quarantine brought the unwelcome visitation of cholera to the garrison, producing a mortality of over one hundred victims. ‘Tee number of heavy gnns in the arsenal is very Yarge. They ere ranged on » slope in long, even lines, amd graded according to ize. In an adjacent plot pyramidal piles of shot and shell diversify the display of ordnance, ‘The magazines are stocked with amwuni- thom, and the quartermaster's department is amply sup- phed with military siores, Towards the expiration of Yast summer an improvement of # much needed matore was' began en the isiend. On. its southern and southwestern side the land has been yielding am inexoradie tribute to the remorseless encroschmenis @f the p60, In the Inpse of time it war destined to ox- ‘Bibs Dut 0 veatige of its former self. To avert this inev- Mtg wall of enduring masonry wae project- the expo e¢ beach. The wailabout one- has been finished—is composed of oblong placed im transverse layers to a height resiing open a Dasis of grouting or broken jed by a conglomerate of concretn, lime feet in thickness, The summit of the ‘With the termination of the field #loy to the range of the guns in fist it ‘ort Wham, completed im sy is a fortifica- jt i incapable of depend for support on tbe re- its more robust neighbor, Fort Columbus. In Sing i ened php ie eaay to antici- pales ‘at the prospect of being imoh shell was Knocking for admis. sien from Last vear the interior of the casemates: waderwent a thorough renovation, being painted, repaired fitted up. Its srmament comprises a casema- Watton 10 inch cotumpiade and a harberte Dateery of firteen pieces of similar ordnance. The area is very extensive, but not em- y'# Vessel wonid be likely to teke. It is ve work ani bly might prove ax asrailant povered way extends from te Fort Cotumbue to afford arafe means the garrison of tbe former in ease of bei Some engineers consider the warbette ermamen' he imt® eccount the uncertain strength of the maronry and Gee straining recoil of the guna It ie intended that the gma wall in process af erection shail pase around the Of the castle, acting as a guard against the under- uence of water, Several of the case- devoted to the reception and confinement of from the army. PORT Coneuncs, great bulwark of Gosernor's Island, is sitanted at its Weetern corner. ii le of qiadrangular shape, with ing bastions at each angie It covers an extensive of ground, embracing a wide ditch, spacious para- Toomy gerricon quarter and parate ground. Ihe extending og or water, conceit the Proportions © fort, leaving exponed feetot the parapet. The walis wou gramite, bye ys of brick mane of earth. The arm: er fifly heavy gune, five of which ane Afiean , the rest comprise one hundred pounder ondinary might inch bore, These quae eovesivaile approach to the forties And at each exterior angle a monster ffieea inch Mounted Of A Massive iron chrringe. frowns a actos the watera The approaches to the fort are well guarded, and ro ditch, across which a veaturous te supposed -to go in seoking a cl son with the arrivon, iy’ “wise, i pene | 8 i ye z ; i i i is unusvally wide, that the omer parts of such presem every obstacle to the HAN, AB AN SNeMy in PoRression Le I AO discretion, uring the past year of five fifteen-inch rane It number by five gune being apparent for « nance of heavy metal and Po et Rill en fh: iit He Pek oh i i i [ i F [ j bt Hl NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1867. Ite guns are all mounted tn barbotte, to the number of twenty, of eight and ten-inch calibre, presenting a most complete and com battery. There have been no alterations made in thie fort during the past year, por are any known tobe in contemplation. The entire strength Of the three forts on Governor's Island ts over one hun- dred guns, with a garrson of four hundred wen and supplies of ammunition and stores equal to apy emergency. ORT Woon, on Bedloe’s Island, holds a better position for offensive operations than the forts on Governor's Island. Uulike the latter, lapped as they are by the outstretching arms of New York and bas an unobsiructod sweep of the barbor, and if armed with long range rifled guns could be rendered a formidable assailant of an en- emy attempting to force the of the forts lower down, Its guns, to the number of twenty-three, are all mounted in barbette of different ranges of calibre and of various desings, The garrison is over two hundred men, under the command of Colonel Hay: den. YORT HAMILTON. This fort when first projected was considered to be a work of great offensive and defensive capacity, admra- placed, and the fate of New York in its keeping: Dut thirty years have altered its character for efficiency, and its present constriction is found inade- re to the intention $ requirements of modern gunnery. ome time this year to throw down the front wall of the fort and carry it forward to the outer Parnes, thereby giving © more commanding position to guns for impact and plunging fire. The fort is a inside < rae are the garrison aggressive power than the old ‘This battery, in k about five bundred yards, extends along the water of the fort at an elevation of about sixty feet above the sea level. cemented granite. Bebiné this buge parapet, mounted on iron carriages that swing upon granite platforms, are placed a long row of traly terrible engines of destruc- tion—the fifteen-inch Rodman guna. These, to the number of thirty-three, form the real element of power im tho defences of the place. It was considered an over- sight on the part of the government to omit, at the time of the original purchase of the ground, to include the Jand for at least one thousand yards west of Fort Hamil- ton, as it comprises a strip of hill which commands the ship channel, and at a comparatively small amount of labor and expense could be graded for the purposes of a water battery. There are fourteen feet of water at low tide in the channel between Forts Lafayette and Hamil- ton. Through this channel it is believed to be possible for a fast railing iron-ciad to run up, running the risk of the crocs-fire from both forts, but at to ber speod and plating and to the bimited front of the water battery to survive the ordeal. By extending the water battery to three times its present lepgth and increasing its arma- ment of heavy guns in proportion, it would be Tash to predict immunity from destruction to any craft that dared to face its multiplied thunder. The only other improvement on the fort was commenced last year, in the excavation and building of a Jarge main magazine to supply the water battery. four or five guns has a service magazine containing just sufil- cient ammunition for immediate wants. The main magazine in the old fort beng lmited tn size and too far removed to the rear, it was deemed necessary to construct one of moro extensive dimensions in front of the fort. The work upon this addition bas progressed steadily and may be completed before the summer. It has a capacity for stowing away nearly one million ponnds of powder, It is twenty feet in depth and exea- vated in a series of galleries, The twenty-inch Rodman gun is one of the Hons of Fort Hamilton; it occupies a alent to itself, and weighs over 116,000 pounds. That any floating thing reared by buman hands could with- mand the momentum of a projectile issned from the throat of this iron mastodon of the artillery species, seems impossible. There xs one defect, however, which ‘would seriously mar ita efficiency in actual that consists in the 3 is one di ‘up or down the migotiest thing that floats. FORT WaDgWORTH, or, ag it is more familiarly called, Fort Richmond, situ- ated under the shadow of promontory of Staton Island, is a splendid piece of masonry work, which it seems a pity to allow to remain in {ts present state of neglect and incompleteness. It is partly a diamond shaped fortifica- structure, position, arwament and masonry; bot the revolution in artillery and naval science renders even this seemingly powerful fortress Hiable to the suspicion attaching to ali stone con- stroctions for detence. The only work done upon Fort Wadsworth during the past year was the building of a guard house, and the clearing out of the moat and flooding it with water to the depth of sixteen fort. Like otber foria that were projected a good many years ago, its embrasures and gun platforms have to be enlarged and reconetrneted to ruit the improved ordnance of the from present appear- ances, there in little reason to hope that such a desirable It is the works 7, on the west side, Iii’ tn tended to. mount abont wi ue 538s4 3 i B tery. extensive area. It to galleries that ramify in all present enormous capacity storage of powder. Last year the works at this point employed over three hundred men. At present, owing to the severity of the weather, onty a small force of fony men is The » 8 for the water batteries and the adjacent improvements were $160,000 last year, but the of the extensive plans contempiated will eed much more liberal assistance. It is intended to build astaunch sea wall along the beach in front of the newly erected batteries, carrying it around the fori, and thus acting as a breakwater to the entire line of works FORT TOMPRINS is mtuated on the summit of the hill, overlooking Fort Wadsworth, and may well be termed a work of mag- nificent intentions, Owing to an alteration in tite origi- ‘pal plan and the indecision as to what will be the witi- mate-ooe, work on this fort bas ceased for a long time. would appear, had in view the any land — having to hold am army of pomeent rea tram the variously placed apertures in the wall an enfilading fre ‘on an enciny secking to cross the ditch from the glacis, These galleries are srenaly arched bombproots, wel! nted, and capable in time of exigency of affording sl ing accommodation to a large number of troops. This year a glacis extending towards the lighthouse from the fort will bo graded and put in order. The various slopes on the land side form splendid inclines of great Jength, giving at the same time ali the requisite cover to the fort. No armament has as yet been mounted, and the likelihood is none but the heaviest ordnance will be used. Captain Cuyler is the engineer in charge of the works, VORT SCHUYLER, Mke most of the other forts, was at a time when iron-clads and fifteen inch shells were as yet in the womb of the future. It occupies in works and ap- proaches a bleak promontory on the west side of Long Island Sound, and commands by its position the entire width of the channel. It iscalled a three bastioned fortification, built as usual with granite, in tiers of case- mates, surmounted by a barbette of considerable eleva- tion, from whence a plung'ng fire of steep descent ts in- tended to be directed. The middle and lower batteries are mounted in casemates, containing in all 0 guns, ranging from the old twenty-four pounde: ten-inch Rodman and one handred pounder Parrott. The outside upper tier or barbette holds forty guns, giving & total of over one hundred and thirty. The improvements and traverse two of which are com- leted and the others under way; and also tho estab- lishment of an outer wall, together with the demo- ition of an old stone t and the sub- stitution in its stead of an earthen one. ‘The ander the command of General Hoskins, garricon compriser three battcries of the First artillery, number- ing about two bundred men. The hospital at thie point, which, during the war had on an average two thonsand cases at one time, holds at present but a few patients from the garrison. The Con; ‘appropriation last year was only $30,000; this year application has been made for $75,000, as alterations essential to the efficiency of the fort are ander consideration. PORT AT WILLET'S POINT. ‘This fortification has been advanced during the past year to the second tier of casemates on the water front and covered in at that elevation. It is situated on a spit of land northeast of Little Neck Br n_Long Island, and directly 0} ite to Fort Schuy! Begun in Au- gust, 1862, it has been steadily progressing through the seasons, employing a force of five hundred men. Very recently, however, an order was received to cease opera- tions in’ masonry owing to certain modifications in the original plan being deemed advisable, but no decision on that point being as yet made known. Next to Sandy Hook this fort will embrace a greater area than any ether in the harbor. During the past year a large force of stonecotters was engaged in preparing blocks of granite for spring operations; very little actual building was done, awaiting the propored alteration. There is a good deal of resemblance between the site of this fort and that of Fort Schuyler. The land bas the same bleak aspect and undergoes a similar depression at the neek, Enxther fort could be insulated by cotting a canal arross the neck that forma the inland connection. Willet’s Point is # depot for storing all kinds of engincer materials, A force of over four hun- dred men in three companies, called sappers and miners, under the command of General Abbott, occupy quarters at the Point, In whet was formerly a general hospital. ‘Their dritl has for its object the attainment of a practical knowledge of sapping siege works and laying pontoon traing, bridges, &e. Among the visible improvements introduced on this ‘work are the iron embrasures for the guns instead of the old fashioned conorete or stone. This substitution of fron ig regarded as an advantage that might well be ap- plied to all the forts in the harbor. It bas not yet been decided what class of ordnance will be mounted on the work, and a disposition seems to prevail of awaiting the results arrived at by the Board of Engineer: at Fortress Monroe in their artillery experiments vpon wood and iron. Between the two forts it is hardly conceivable bow any living thing in the shape of a war vessel, pur- suing a8 it mustan intricate channel, could withstand the concentrated fire of such powerfu! works. ‘The fort is under the command of General Jamen C. Duane. The appropriations last vear were $50,000—a sam entirely inadequate for operations of the magnitude contem| Unless more liberally aided, it will be yeara before this fort can take its place among the rest of our harbor defences. WooK. FORT AT SANDY This work was commenced in the year 1857 and has Of construction up to the through tate State, gives the following interesting iteme to the pubiio:— I will now endeavor to give yon some information ae cease condition of the parizhes of As- ie Riad FU ie acai nik hero Lafourche to the line of the parish of Assumy A Donaldsonvilie to the line ), com Be. of the State upon the same extent of land iu cultivation, from the fact that the planters bed all the necessary ma- and labor for the proper working of the juct being sugar. In 1865, the production of to 1,282 hogeheals of sugar, 2,000 bar. rels of molasses and 1,166 bales of cotton. Tho crop of 1y be 5,000 hogshends of sugar, 15,000 of molasses, with about 2.500 hales of cotton, A'large crop the present year, many persons planting interest of this locality is much impoverished, ‘and, in many instances are unable to commence wo again without the aid of capital, which is bard to procure, from the fact that the land is heavily encumbered with old obligations, which keeps capitalists from investing for the purpose of raiding crops, Donald- sonville, the pare” site and the only town of Ascen- sion, was formerly a bandsome town, containing, per- three thousand inhabitants, but the ravages of war fell heavy npon it. Nearly the whole town was burned, together with the court hovee. It is true that some litle portion of the burnt district has been rebuilt, but most ‘of the baildings are mere shanties, inhabited by freed- mon. From mt indications it does not seem proba- Die that the will soon regain her former prosperity. Unless this place, together with many other towne, be- come the locality of manufactories of different kinds, much less yield ergo to the the present year, ax a large quantity of cane has been ed. Men ‘of small means in thie parish whe had to cultivate their own small tracts of land, made more money during the inst three years then ‘ rmer periods of their lives. Many of them with labor but themselves and members of the family made fifteen to twenty bales of cotton, Finally, aa contradiction of ail the stories propagated about the hee- tility of the Southern people towards the Northern mon who reside here, 1 can cite one instance brought to my knowledge in Terrebonne, There resides here a Captain , from the North, who first entered im the Union army as an officer in Wilson's New York Zouaver, from thence to the staff of Butler, and finally upom the staf of General Banks, as Captain is from which position he resigned and it into mercan- tile purauite in Terrebonne. This gentieman is no radi- cal, and appears to be a clever gentleman; but the idea struck me that his military rervices were ander officers that would give him but little favor So. of the State. But so long as he conducts hit gentleman no person will molest hi aa will come with the view of aid veloping the vast resources of ow By_ Special Oraer No. 4, Department of the Gulf, Cap- tain W. B. Pease, Sevenisenth United Statos infantry, is hereby relieved from further ng Oe tes General Court Martial, institu’ in Special Order No. 91, series of 1866, from these headquarters. Leave of absence for thi days, with recommenda- ment for an oxtension of ten days, is hereby granted ot Major Genoral Frank Wheaton, lieutenant colonel, ed United States infantry, Bi H. Rol Tenth Uni revet Captain Chi berts, ted arti (heavy), 4@ hereby relieved from farther duty with Thiriy-ninth United States in- fantry, and will tarn over all public inbie B'B Keeler, Thisty-a ited 8 \nfanty, 58 sete aaanant ©. Fotwin, Ninetoantl Onttad the Ninth United basa cavalry. Colone! Raward Labor of the -4at i be di IK Texan, pray ereqarnd bv sab-arsietant commission 7 dopitracts mace in 1 not HR AND Rey ed. THE MISSOURI TROUBLES. OUR LEXINGTON CORRESPONDENCE. The Origin of the Present Unhappy State of Seciety—Political Parties and Their Differ- ences—The Test Oath and Disfranchise- ment-Violence and Lawlessness—Alleged Partiality of Radical Inspectors ef Elec- tons—An Injadiclous Military Oficer—A Popular Movement to End All Troubles, dc. Lexmeron, Mo., Jan. 9, 1867. In moat parts of the South the people were united for the war against the Union, and each vied with the other in doing the most in support of their cause, and when the war was over they laid down their arms, satisfied that they had done all in their power and con- tent to turn their attention to improving thelr condition m the peaceful pursuits of life, In Missouri amd some of the other border States the case was different, Many of the young men joined the rebel armies, while others took ap arms for the Union, and those who remained at home, either from old age or disinclination to go into the armies, entertained the most bitter hatred towards thelr former friends and neighbors who differed with them in opinion, not a few shouldering thetr guns and going out into the bushes to ie in wait to shoot down their unsus- pecting foes. When the war ceased and the young men who bad fought against the Union came home they ‘were, a8 @ genoral thing, well recervod, kindly treated and expressed themeclves as willing to abide the result and take the oath of loyalty. For atime all went well. Improvements were being rapidly made, business revived, and the city commenced to assume its old appearance. This continued anti! the summer of 1865, when the political excitement ran high and the desire to obtain hold office seized upon the adherents of ail parties, and caused the bitterness of feeling formerly existing to be revived. ‘The parties were divided into radicals, conservatives and original rebels. Among the conservatives were men who bad fought in the Union army, in the State militia, and others who had during the war styled themselves Union men, but did not mach care which side whipped. Many of the radical party ‘were men who had stood out for the Union from the commencement {rom pure and patriotic motives, who bad suffered pen iim property and in indienities, and beheved they and they only were entitled either by right or justice to hold apy office or have any voice in the legislation of the State. Others of the radical party were original secessionista and turned radicals when they saw which way the cat was going to jump, in order to bave a finger, if not a whole hand, in ‘the spoils of office. ‘The General Assembly of the State was composed Jargely of the radical element in the years 1865 and 1866, and on the 26th of February, 1865, under a joint resolu- tion of the Legislature, a committee of three was ap- pointed to reviee the constitution of the State and report to that body. This committee reported a constitution totally at variance with the former one in many respects, and 18 the foundation of all the disturbances which have occurred since, ‘The effect of the constitution is to disfranchise more than half the State, It throws all the offices, emoln- ments, &c., into the hands of the radical party, and practically give them control of the State forever. As @ large proportion of the disfranchised class belong to the poll and tax paying people, it ie not surpnsing that bitterness and batred should exist which may result in a resort to arma. I append one clause of the new Constitatvion, relating to the oath to which all must sub- scribe in order to vote, and also the section to which it refers. The mere taking the oath does sot of necessity entitle a person to a vote, a8 the re,istrar of election has the power even then to refuse to receive the vote, according to another provision of the constitution :— wear that f am well acquainted with ang Airs a? theta section of the second arde'e of the constitution of the State of Missourt, adopted in the year 1865 and have carefully considered the same; that I have heser, direcdy oF indirectly, done any of the in id nection specified: that 1 bavo always been truly and ‘on the side of the United Staten againat all ene- tnlee Thereof. foreign and domestic: that Iwill bear true ea allegi to she Unit ‘States. and will sean antitntion snd lawa tbereof as the supreme law of the ay any law or ordinance of any he contrary not. ithetanding: wo wit will to. the (best of may abiiliy protect and jon of the United States, and allow 4 CE up and Gimvoived. ur ihe eovernment ‘same to be thereat to ‘ve destroyed er overthrown, under any circom- stances, if n my power to ft it; that Twill constitution of the State of Miasonri -oath without any mental reservation or evasion and hold it Totted to the uplawtally Lavoy goods, or informa. held communication with such or rare States of Ai State and led ‘Confederate Staten of Amerien’ with the pur- States or armies: or bas ever been & or Btates or 10 of this State; or haa ever been en; loyal inhabitants of the at Cencription of marauding known ax “bush. whacking:”’ or hay ever knowingly aided or countenanced any person #0 engaged; or has ever come into or has loft thie State for the purpose of avoiding enrolment for or draft into the military service of the United States; or has ever with a view to avoid enrolment in the militin of thin State, or to exeape performance of duty therein, er for auy other purpose enrolled himself or anthore ized himself to be enrolled by or before any oficer as disloyal ‘sympathizer, or in avy other terms indicat- uuon to the government of the United States, orhia xympathy with those enguged in such rebellion, oF having ever voted nt any election by the ein this State, or in any other of the United States, orin any of their Terri- tories, or ‘office in this State, or in any other of the Dnited States, or in any of their Territories, or under the United States, shall thereafter have sought or received under claim of alienage the protection of any foreign government throngh any Consul or otiver officer thereof. in order to secure ‘exemption from militery duty im the militia of this State or in the army of the United States, &e. I have been thus particular in giving, as far as I have been able to ascertain, the history of events, in order that the readers of the Tenatp might fully unde ry the canses of the late troubles bere beige | inté the particniars of the troubles themselves, The first aim- culty that occurred under the new constitution was at the election of munivipal oficors for the of Lexing- ton in Juve Inet, a mention of which I made in m letter. The conservatives carried the election by a a. some majority, but failing to comply with the letter of laws deport p04 left this 0-31 the ited the list of regigtered votegs with the clerk, instead of with the regis- trar of elections, ns Were issued to the radi- cal eaudidates twithstapding a majority of voters were opposed to . . This increased ' bitterness, The ae though submitting to what they could not avoid, di 4 under protest, and, as is claimed by the radi aad their best to bring the city amd county officials into disrepute with the people, thereby encouraging the Jarge class of lawiess and desperate characters with which this country abounds to sot the law at defiance, and the commands of the officers, ‘At all events, from that time to the tthe lawn bave not been executed, and crime has ran riot, A band of desperadoes have roamed at large through this and negroes and iit ities stealing horser, i Seana’ part; to justice. They would travel In armed to the teeth, ride into and through the city, Bring their pistols in all directions, and to such an extent did they terrorize the people that no one dared to interfore with them or to take a complaint to the civil authoritien The deputy sheriff at the time (Mr. Adamson) did make an effort to ings, and & posse of them at his own expense, but without moch effect. The county refused to remunerate bim for the expense incurred, and, dis- gasted with the treatment and the want of assistance rendered by the citizens generally, he gave the matter up and allowed things to go on as ‘would, What is aremarkabie fact connected with whole matter, is that not a singie complaint was to any civil officer, an indictment found by any Grand Jury, or, us [ am informed by the Circult Judge of this district, a single writ returned to him as unable to be exe- cuted. This, too, when each member of the gang was known either personally or by name to half the people in the county, The fact was, to mates complaint was peck god being shot as soon as the opportunity o T will give a single instance that occurred in Lexington Dot mauy —One morning Archie Clemm since killed, whe ee the leader of the band, together with seventeen of bis men, marched into to ai from hie their horses hitched, tbem opposite it 25525258 Bet is : H : Ha aie j Sherman, ee i if ig i i Ht i ii 3 i a 5 s all i make a written retraction of his published statement. In another case, on the night he attempted to arrest Clemmens, and killed him while Tesisting—an account of which wag given in a former Jetter—and haying reason to expect an attack from the associates of Clemmens, he arrested eight of the most prominent citizens of the city and held them as hostages, Some of the parties arrested and held were Union men and bad fought in the Union army. The two acts mentioned above are disapproved of by many of the most ultra radicals. In fact the reign of terror has been nearly as great since the advent of the militia as it was before, though perhaps not shared in by the same parties. The radicals are jubilant and the conservatives dejected. The bush- whackere and miliila combined have had the effect to entirely suspend business, Country people are afraid to come to town, and residents of the city keep as much as possible within doors. Althongh the city is said to abound in handsome ladies, I have not seen a white woman on the street since my arrival. So utterly tired have all parties become of the present state of affaire that acall was made for a meeting in each township, without distinction of party, to appoint delegates to a convention to be held in this city on Mon- day last. The mecting was fully attended by the most intelligent and influential men of the countv, without regard to politics, and the resolutions appended with great unanimity. It is to be hoped that thie is the beginning of the end of the troubies here, and that the really good citizens ef this naturally fine country may im future live in peace and brotherly love. 1e ing adopted ungnimously the following reso- lutions, and declared the sentiments expreesed therein to be the sentiments of the people of the townships rep- resented by = Resolved, That for the niet of socie! Jaw abiding men, we pitas Corset vo rive emicien Gent emeae jagiag ihe sully to end a out crime and bringing the egal punted snd 'we will promptly and cheerfully teste the ‘oly Tender him, so far as in our power. home. We will inform on av. widtetor othe law and sue out writs st him or them and nt writs azatnst him or from the proper oficer, an tions be re- secre tad Geir Satluence wo cary ovt the apt OF Preeti Fat Saree reaaes tan snseniene Site prees ip Bot to ‘the orample of others but to bringing ‘back society to re engines, re 4 faaighiectuseecinfeesese The They left for St. Louis under charge of the Marshal, at noon yesterday. What charges are is Bot positively known, but are ssid to be murder and robbery. Dr. Coolie, though @ violent radical, ia an old resident of the county, a practising physician and a man Of the highest respectability. The order for their arrest is said to have emanated from Washington. Revival of Excitement at Lexington—Action of the Governor in D: of the People of Commander Murder and Robbery—Fresh Movements of Treops in Retalintion—Terrorinm Exercised by the Gevernor’s Cavalry in Lafayette County, Lexincton, Mo,, Jan, 13, 1867. The excitement here which had been partially allayed dy the action of the peace meeting of Monday last, and the withdrawal of a portion of the militia, has been again revived by the arrival yesterday of two more companies of State troops sent here by order of Gov ernor Fletcher, but for what purpose, unless for the- gratification of personal malice, i difficult to conceive. Iti. well known.tact that of the twenty or thirty men who composed the party styled ‘“bushwhacxers,” not a single one now remaios in the county, Of these mot more than one or two were residents of the county of Lafayette, bot hailed from variowk parts of the State. That they committed outrages upon the citizens of this and adjoining counties no one will attempt to deny, but the civil authorities had the power at any time to orga- aforce sufficient to put s'stop to their depredations ‘and bring the offenders to justice. Instead of this no complainta were made to any civil officer against any of these parties, from the fact, as I stated in my last 6om- munication, that the radicals, who bad come into pov. session of the county offices by = technicality of the law, were afraid either to make any complaint or enforce it when made, and the conservatives, smarting under the injustice they conceived had been done them, said “you radicals have cheated us out of the offices to which we were elected by a majority of the legal voters of the county, Now go on and enforce the lawa. If you won't or can’t do it resign, and we will guarantee to do il.’ This was the condition of affairs when the militia were sent ble people of the county, that a delegation wax to wait npon the Governor and p! Jaw abiding of tho county that 1 troops were withdrawn they would unite and bring to justice all vio. Governor Fletcher replied in mber 28 and addressed to Hon. Joho 8. which he uses this lators of the law. To this tor dated upon the peopl ‘ i Tan and wil enforce, thet law ‘ageinet ai there is that security to every citizen of Sractigr tar abiding community."T wil wholly relieve ne ‘of the ipresemes and etperise of soldiers ve * ‘Upon the strength of this statement and acting upon the the Governor made the promise in Lge gd = each Ln without dis. party, and appointed tes ti % eral convention to be held in the city of Lexingtoh om and in addition passed resolutions pledg- their utmost endeavors in the sup- and in bringing offenders to justice. & large majority of the Dest citizens, without pay Tefuse to resolutions, meeting ——— uaanimity prevailed, and the resolutions unani . The themee!' ‘upon ‘auld ant believed that the by conservatives, and effect ei a i if lantgomery at this time in : ‘only because ‘ho is eonsidered guilt sad ed but becauee it opens ities and throws ry i i : 5 nih et iti HY i ! ttl Hf i i i i : i i Fy i F did 4 Hi if $8 i$ ¢ & Ep Sihe cnie ine 58 2 =-S F : i Fi 3 H i i i i" : | i i place whore the people are a Goro tor parse er ed fact As asI have been for an armed be in either of the States mentioned. Ifan armed force is considered indispensable to the safety and good of the commonwealth, Se pee desire the presence of United States troops, who will administer impartial justice without regard to party prejudices. T! armed mob now in supreme control of the county, stead of being preservers of the peace, are the chief vio- lators of low and order. here is made soon the county THE PROPOSED UNDERGROUND PNEUMATIC RAILWAY. Connection of New York with Brooklyn and Jersey City by Submarine Railways—lts Claims te Superiority Over Other Schemes tor Relicving Our Thoroughfares. No other vexed problem of metropolitan improve ment has drawn forth a more varied multiplicity of plans bearing on its solution than that of relieving, by practicable means, the traffic on our overburdened: thoroughfares, To attain this much desired end so many different suggestions have been made, it is only reasonable to suppose that the undertaking, while affording ample material to engage the attention of in- genious minds, is at the same time surrounded by a number of perplexing obstacles. The merits of the ele- vated or mid-air, the surface and the underground rail- roads have already been fully ventilated in these colamns, To each of these innumerable objec- tions have been urged. To the firet, its tend- ency to deform our noblest thoroughfares; to the next, its unavoidable interference with the store extensions on Broadway; and to the last, ite vast expense as well as the dangerous effects of locomotive travel to the safety of houses overhead. Apotber pro- Ject is now brought forward which bids fair to ectipes all those that have been bitherto agitated, and to commend. itself to gencral attention by its elimination of thane ob- of the designs that beve been recently proposed. The Underground Pheumstic Railway is the of ihe Jateat echeme for rapid transit np and down the isiand, and for the relief of the existing. lines of trafic. The Pneumatic system has been already tested in an experi- mental way at the Crystal Palace, London. A trench ‘was excavated a quarter of a mile long, in which was feet wide, rendering it capable of accommodatung an or- dinary Fngtish railroad carnage. Inclines and curver more acute than those on locomotive lines were tatro- duced. A carriage containing passenger freight was placed im the tube, the piston rendered partially air tight by the use of a fringe of bristies extendin« nearly to the brickwork and fioor of the tunnel; afan twenty feet in diameter was set in motion by a siationary engine, and, with a rapid, easy and pleasant velocity created by the compressed atmosphere in the rear, the carriage sped to its destination in less than a second of time. Persons standing on the outside of the tube during this experiment were unable to detect the noise of locomption within. This principle on an extended acale is what ia intended to be apo! to underground travel Below the surface of New York, and between the cities of Jorsey aud Brooklyn. A stock company has already been organized, with a capital of $10,000,000, and as the Senate comwisston has advocated the ender- gronnd plau, it s probable the pneumatic system will be appied insiead of the locomotive or steam element. The routes to be pursued are, first, from a ter vinus near the City Hal! Park to Umon square, thence under Madi- sop avenue to Forty-third street, where it may diverge juto Fifth avenue and pursue a straight line to Harlem lane, strike thence across and effecting a junction with the Hudson River Railroad near McCombs’ bridge. second route is to start from a similar point, and, trav- ersing the east side of Broadway, effect with the first line at Union square. A third ite May com- menace at the Battery and follow the course of the Third avenue to Harlem. ] From the original terminus at the City Park two lines, for whieh soundings bave been already made, are intended to cross the North and East rivers to Brooklyn and Jersey. This Yeaturo of the project—the uniting of ‘these outlying cities with the opr! of Gotham— forme the most eens Cmeans, re branch will ran under ‘tham and New ‘streets to James “tip, and there dip intothe bed of river, coming out in Brooklyn near the Fulton bi Borage re Chambers street to a je above the f houses, and, bottom of the Hudeon, Muke ix connection wi the a iti : B Eee i ral the ordinary sized railroad cars, siances mentioned above, PLAN OF One om commodions terminua will be Vicinity of the Post at proposed of the throbbing life and surgi A spacious spiral staircase, toa some thirty feet Here a piston car and trait receive ‘Thi to passengers. Three side will in front fer the reception of jy east and west to points at tences from the farther terminus, and : if E ti Hi ag ze i i z 3 i 3 ; passengers are xeated into its destined tube, the fpn the of pi pes rent F i i 3 Ht i = neaze e383 Hach train will be constructed to an average of three hundred The cars will be constructed the plan those in ase on the locomotive liner in having 81x doors on both sides, for the object large numbers of pasvengers in the quick- ent porsible The furniture of theee cars wil! be of CORT OF CONSTRUCTION. tes proposed, including ¢., Will probably rewch Sg oe mn and eafet, ich steep gradients can be surmounted, owing 4 of adhesion to the rails which the The attrition of the iron ix dinary rail tnnnols, there is lees interfere h nod fom cnet th construct ragutay Chllimous are impossible, by raaoon of th ti sai Ie, e traing enclosed Im tnbes and unable to loave (he fall ‘The ai Presence of steam and smoke i« dis- end A” constant ventilation of the tunnels it If clronmetancer demand it the tubes can be eid on the surface of the ground. of at an elevation. a» weil aw il Constructed a tube built of brick nine feet high avd eight . if