The New York Herald Newspaper, September 3, 1875, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1875.—TRIPLE SHEET. — TORPE “BOOM! BOOM! SLAP, BANG!” OES. Experiments with the Infernal Ma- chines at Newport. Dynamite, Nitro-Glycerine and Gun Cotton, Their Gentle Forces Combined with Satisfactory Results. ARTIFICIAL FOUNTAINS MOUNTAINS HIGH. All the Different Schools of Torpedoes Display Their Prowess. Newport, Sept. 2, 1875. The experiments here to-day were most successful ‘and instructive, Everything seemed to favor the tests and assist the officers in the exbibition, The hour named was ¢leven o'clock, and by that time the heavy, threatening clouds which had been hanging over the town since daybreak were swept away by a gentle southeasterly breeze The gun shone forth and revealed the old historic town nestled amid the hills on the opposite shore like a gem of the ocean. The waters of the harbor were as still as @n inland lake, Ashort historical sketch of the station and the work {t ta prosecuting might not be amiss in this counection, @3 outside of ptofessional circles little or nothing is known of torpedoes or their use. SKETCH OF THE TORPEDO STATION. ‘The Naval Torpedo Station was established about five years ago under the auspices of Rear Admiral Case, then Chief of Naval Ordnance, It was located at Goat Island, in Newport Harbor, which was transferred from the War Department to the Navy for that purpose, Commander Mathews was placed in charge and a num- ber of officers were ordered to assist in the organiza tion, The services of an eminent electrician, Protessor Farmer, who stands at the head of his profession in this country, were secured, and also those of Professor W. N. Hill, an expert chemist, who has devoted much of his attention to the chemistry of explosives. @ machine shop and laboratory were built and other conveniences located for carrying on the experiments. A system of instruction was instituted, and a number of navy officers ordered each year for training. From these small beginnings the place has developed into the most perfect torpedo school in the world, and the gov- ernment does well to foster and encourage its growth for the perfection of the knowledge of that most formid- ble modern weapon of warfare, Of the officers ordered here from year to year it is not expected that all will become expert scientists, but all have an opportunity to become familiar with the torpedo systems of the day and to know how to handle the instruments employed, as well as to judge of their efficiency, both for offence and defence. Those who evince the greatest aptitude and interest are retained for further instruction and to become, in turn, instruc- tors of others, Thus the service is benefited, much progress made besides, and a spirit of emulation is in- culcated. The whole subject of torpedoes is, of course, essentially, if not entirely, anaval question, since they are solely designed either as ground torpedoes—that is, subaqueous mimes for the defence of channels against the entry of fleets—as movable or locomotive torpedoes to assail ships on the high seas, or in conjunction with fixed defences, such as forts, obstructions, &c., tem- porarily to bar the entry to a harbor. Therefore, the government has wisely devoted itself liberally to the education of its naval officers as experts in this business and has given every encouragement to inven- tors, with a view to developing the most perfect torpedo systems. The gradugi introduction of torpedo vessels into fleets, the general emotion which the appearance of these terrible engines has created, the attention with which naval officers of all countries watch the progress of this new arm, now an offensive power, and the com- plete revulation which they will probably produce in naval tactics, are sufficient reasons for rendering the study of torpefloes not only necessary but attractive to officers of all navies, ‘The réle that the torpedo is destined to play in the defence of a country having a large extent of coast to protect like our own isa point of the greatest interest toall, and one which deserves mature consideration. We cannot foreseo what torpedoes will become, but their use is already rendered so practicable that all ships in our service, both small and great, fast and slow, are provided with these weapons. They are intended Doth for attack and defence, and are in all cases impor- tant and of great moral effect against vessels intending | to ram or board. They are useful for defending ships at anchor, blowing up other torpedoes and ob- | structions in channels, in night boat attacks, &c., and any experience that will familiarize officers with their | ‘use must be important. A practical knowledge of elec- | tricity and of the chemistry of explosives is absolutely | necessary to enable one to prepare and manipulate tor- | * All this and much more it is the | | pedoegs intelligently. intention of the Torpedo School to teach. Schools of this nature have been established by all the principal naval Powers of the world, and in all of them strict secrecy is observed with regard to their es- sential operations and developments, But governments always find the means of informing themselves of each other’s doings, Nowhere is this rule of secrecy more strictly carried out than here; therefore it would be neither expedient nor desirable for your correspondent (0 indulge in minute details or technical explanations, OPPENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE TORPEDOES. ‘Torpedoes are divided into two great classes—offensive and defensive, The first includes every class of device designed for the active attack of vessels, whether arranged at the end of a spar or boom attached toa suitable vessel or to be carried on board ship and thrown out or launched with a view of aeting against a vessel in chase and exploded by electricity or mechanically, when in | actual contact with her, or to be used for the attack of a | vessel at anchor, Instruction in all such appliances | worthy ofuse is a part ofthe regular course at the | Torpedo Station, also practice in the demolition of torpedoes and the practical use of apparatus adapted for searching for and carrying off an enemy's min ‘and the defence of vessels against mines of every class, whether stationary or drifting. THR SPAR TORPEDO. To the offensive class belongs the spar torpedo, at epresent issued to all vessels of the navy. This isa cast iron eylinder, with spherical ends, containing a hundred pounds of powder and attached to the ex- tremity of a hickory spar forty-five feet long and about eight inches in diameter, The other end of the spar is secured by means of a link and shackle to the ship's side. By means of guys it can be rigged out or in at Jeasure and the torpedo is fired by electricity. All inches in the service are also dtted with an apparatus for Lr come 8 ‘admiral orter's torpedo boat, the Alarm, possesses the most perfect development of the outrigger torpedo. She is fitted with three long hollow metallic bars, one ahead and one on either side. These are capable of being rigged in or out by steam, through watertight valves in the skin of the ship below the water line, ‘When rigged in the torpedo is readily attached to the outer end, and when out it is fired by electricity at the ‘will of the operator. LAY’S AND ERICSSON’S TORPRDORS belong to the offensive ci and they are both repre- sen as yp Bo Stal yo They hag Me oe improved wit the past few years, and the | specimens of these formidable weapons seem to be ail could be desired. ROCKET TORPRDORS. The subject of submarin ns or rocket torpedoes | has of late attracted great attention here, and the Naval | Ordnance Bureau has been to cousiderable expense in preparing facilities for exhaustive expeiments in this direction. No experiments of this nature seem as yet to have been wale upon @ sufficiently large scale to draw any decided conciusiona, and |t i¢ confidently ex- pected that remarkable resu!ts may be obtained. Itseems | quite likely that an effective substitute for the spar torpedo may be thus developed, and one which can be discharged, by means of a small charge of powder, from a light breech-loading Leg * tube, which can be mounted in battery below the water line on board almost any vessel. TORPEDOES gk wy Derittry, are those which are used iS pi op od gn le » gio analo- Tiver or the approaches to @ Other similar position—in fact, occupyidd gons to that with aland fortress. These are termed ground tor- does, or subaqueous mines, and under this compre- ensive head is included @ vast fleld for research, jn which there is ample space for the development of 'in- ventive genius im connection with the defence of forti- fied harbors, estuaries of rivers and the coast generally— @ most important rere agi one which, affecting, as it does, the such from the sea, renders it a consideration of the utmost gravity, The introduction of machines of this nature in war cannot be overlooked with impunity by @ great maritime Power like the United States, pos- sessing, a8 it does, such a long extent of sea coast and such a@ large commercial marine which must be pro- tected in the event of war; and as the employment of torpedoes seems to present such a considerable tncrease in defensive as well as offensive powers there @ ever: reason to suppose that a judicious use of them woul in an emergency, prove of infinitely greater value to us than toa nation possessing less of the maritime ele- ment in its composition. Liberal appropriations, there- fore, for the development of this subject will always be a safe and wise economy. Instruction in the theory and practice of electricity and its application to the ignition of gunpowder and other explosive agents for mining purposes, both on shore, under water, and also as required in connection with a system of subaqueous mines, is a part of the in- struction at Newport. Defensive torpedoes would seem applicable to almost any circumstances, and may be used with a very great advantage to the defence in in- numerable instances, Experience also teaches that the moral effect of such a system of defenceis very great. SUBAQUKOUS MINES may be briefly described as charges of gunpowder, gun- tion or other explosives of various 8izes, up to about 2,000 pounds of gunpowder or its equivalent, enclosed in water-tight cases of iron or other material, and placed under water at such depths that by thelf éxplo- sion they may sink or seriously damage a yoasel passing in their vicinity, They are fired by electricity, which may be accomplished either at will, or the vessel her- self may be made to complete the circuit, causing a cur- rent to pasa, and fire the charge. They ate always abso- solutely under the control of the operator in charge, are perfectly harmless to friendly vessels, and may be tested without going near them toascertain whether they are in good condition, It is also possible to know by electrical tests if they have buen tampered with by the enemy, or to take them up for examination wit perfect safety. The most perfect circuit-Indicators and circuit-closors, to be used.in connection with various systema of sub- aqueous torpedoes, have been gotten up and success. fully experimented with here, and they have effectually endured the hardest tests of service TO-DAY'S WORK, To return tothe experiment of to-day. Captain R. R. Breese, the Commandant of the station, had made the most complete arrangements. He stationed officers on the wharfto keep off all those not specially invited, and personally received those to whom invita- tions had ‘been sent. Shortly before eleven the little launch attached to the station brought over the genial Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Robeson, who was formally received by Captain Breese, The ladies and gentlemen accompanying him were conducted to the verandah in front of the Com- mandant’s quarters, whither they were followed by a long retinue. First came Rear Hdmiral Case, then Ad- miral Reynolds, Isaiah Handscombe, Chief of the Bureau of Construction; Senator Anthony, of this State, and Senator Craigin, Chairman of the Naval Committee, Next came Commodore Jones, R N., Naval Attaché of the British Legation in Washington; General H. J. Hunt, commander of Fort Adams and Colonel of the Fifth Artillery, late Chief of Artillery of the Grand Army of the Potomac; Admiral Raymond Rogers, Superintendent of the Naval Academy at Annapolis; Admiral D. D. Porter and daughter; Commodore William N. Jeffers, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance; Major General Warren; Mr. Bancroft, the historian; Senator Burnside, of Rhode Island; Rev. W. McAllister, of Elizaaeth, N. J. ; ex-Governor Morgan, of New York; Norman Wiard; Mr. Lincoln Baron Du Jardin, Secretary of the Belgian Legation; Mr.’ Gripp, Chargé d’ Affaires of Sweden and Norway; W. Beach Lawrence, Hon. Samuel Powel, Professor Rogers, formerly President of Massachusetts Institute of Technology ; Professor Cook, of Cambridge; Professor M. G. Farmer, Chief Electri: cian of the station, and a number of Iadies in bright, elegant summer costume, Among the officers present in blue undress uniform, who took an active part in the subsequent proceedings were Commander H. D, Manley, Lieutenant G. A. Converse, Lieutenant R, B. Bradford, Lieutenant W. Maynard, Lieutenant W. T. Moore, Lieu- tenant J. P. Morrill, Lieutenant A. N. Cowden, Paymas- ter J. F, Tarboll, Gunner W. B. Burditt, Professor W. \. Hills, chemist; with the following officers under in- uction;—Lieutenant Commander F. J. Higginson, Lieutenant Commander F. Wilde, Lieutenant Com- mander ©, F, Schmitz, Lieutenant Commander B. P. Lamberton, Lieutenant Commander G. F. F, Wilds, Lieutenant Commander C. H. Davis, Lieutenant Com- mander J, Bishop, Lieutenant Kingsley, Lieutenant W. P. Randail, Lieutenant G. A. Bicknell, Lieutenant W. i. “T. Swinburn, Lieutenant B. Mclivaine, Lieutenant E. W. Very, Lieutenant N. E. Niles, Lieutenant R G. Davenport, Master A. C. Dillingham, Tho Secretary of the Navy had never visited the station before and must have felt highly gratified at the completeness of the discipline and the warmth of his reception, The electrical instruments by which most of the torpedoes were to be fired were placed on the croquet lawn on an elevated plateau adjomming the southeast corner of the Commandant’s house and overlooking the harbor. These were connected with the batteries in the electrical building. Professor Farmer was in charge aided by Lieutenant Merrell, Converse Cow- den and by Commander Manley. Among these inatru- merits was an electric chronograph, invented and per- fected by Farmer, worked by a pendulum driven by electricity, and designed go that it will fire from ono to 120 torpedoes in as few seconds. By the side of this was an electric engine invented by Lieutenant Moore, which equals at about two-horse power. The first item the programme was a novel subaqueous salute to Secretary Kobeson of nine- teen torpedoes, each charged with ten pounds of powder, arranged in hne south of the ferry landing. These were fred im the presence of the whole company Lieutenant Manley, by the action of the pendulum of the chronograph ‘above named, at intervals of six secohds, commencing south: This was cer- tainly ‘one of most exciting experiments ever undertaken, At the frst explosion hugo column of _ spra was thrown Pe to the height of 100 feet; We sovotid threw up large volume, some of which spr'nkled the persons nearest the shore; the third was like the discharge of a tremendous foun- tain, whose spray reached at least an altitude of 250 feet and subsequently settled down on to the slopes; and so it was to the end, No better description can be given than to imagine a row of nineteen giant fountains whose streams of water rise up in massive column to the aver- | age height of 180 feet, each opening with a loud report aud concussion. THE OBJECT OF THR RXPERIMENTS. Tho experiments were chiefly intended to show the utility of applying electricity under various conditions to the torpedo service, and thus, as a further illustra- tion, Mr, Merrall next explodea @ twenty-five pounder north of the ferry, in deep water, to show the useful- ness of Farmer's D, E. machine for boats, The harbor was full of boats and yachts, which the government steam launch had been unable to keep off up to this time; but the tremendous shock of this explosion and the probability of a drenching by the falling of water mn sent some of the foolhardy sightseers to the “right about.’? Torpedo No. 3 consisted of 100 pounds of powder, placed east of the landing, and was fired by Farmer's machine for ships. This was in deep water, At the in- stant of the discharge it seemed as though 1,000 cannon had been fired under water. The spray flew up nearly 300 feet, deluging the persons in the nearest craft, aud causing the water to seeth like a vast whirl ol. P Torpedo No. 4was fired by the Lay torpedo boat against a raft at about 1,000 feet distance. The em | a belay ren torpedo fastened on the stern, was died from the croquet lawn by Lieutenant Brad- ford. The boat is made almost in the shape of a cigar, with two pointed ends, and is almost totally submer; the green outline appearing above the water being almost like a huge green fish. The boat is fitted inside with a small oscillating engine, driven and steered by carbonic acid the steering being regulated through the electric machine, and by means of which it can be made to perform tho most difficult evolutions so long as there is any gas left in the receiver. The object of this invention is to attack an enemy’s vessel at a distance of two or twoand a half miles and by means of immense torpedoes or charges of gunpowder or nitroglycerine destroy the enemy and the boat also. After a few fancy manoeuvres the déadly looking craft made right for the target, and in a few seconds the edge posts were shivered into atoms and thrown into the air ® distance of twenty feet. Then the boat was sent on a cruise among the sailing boats and torned round and round with @ rapidity that was astonishing considering the distance, The move- | ments of the serew caused considerable splashing of the Water, and it seems doubtful if the boat would not re- ceive a very wide berth and @ hot reception if an at- tempt should ever be made to use it against an enemy by daylight Still the boat was not submerged to her usual depth, in order thas the visitors might be enabled to see her better, . * THE ERICSSON TORPEDO. Expertmenta were next mado with the Erfesson torpedo boat. This boat is of a peculiar structure; | about twenty-five febt long, an aver: inches wide, baving sido rudders made o the surface, which work in a stead of in @ horizontal plana, The engine was worked by compressed air, which waa forced through an inch india rubber tube from the air box of a twenty-five-horse power engine. The hose supply- ing the air ts 800 feet long. The length used is also used to draw back the boat The engine was started and the two propellers, which work in opposite direc tons, were set in motion. The air pressure was from seventy-five to a hundred pounds, and soon the tube, like an immense tail, began to rua out after the boat In a few seconds the boat began to sink, and as the npeed of the stationary engine on the Nina was in- creased sho sunk deeper and deeper, until the white disk on the ten-foot fron shaft on the upper portion of the boat was only throe feet above the surface, Unlike the Lay boat she made no Fipple, and all that could be seen above water at 600 feet distant was the disk. The air is made to steer her through the tube that sup- plies ber cylinder as effectually as the carbonic acid as is made to govern the movements of the other boat. ifested on this invention, soon as the pressure is taken off the boat rises to the surface; when speed {s gained she sinks completely, or arped poe, six 12 number, were ex. Next a group of tory six in number, ex. loded pork of the oding’ They wore in about six feet of water and charged with powder, from ten to e of cighteen iron beneath vertical ine forty pounds. These were fired by several ladies pres- ent, There was another row oi ris th water jets which would have senta small fleet to “Davy Jones’ jocker”’ in few seconds. ROMANTIC LADIES. A steam launch next appeared, with two seventy-five pounders Hgged on spars at the bow. These were rap- idly fired by Lieutenant Commander Wildes and several assistants, mueh to the delight of the ladies, who seemed to consider the touch of danger quite rot tic. When the splash aod splinters had cloared away the ofasystem of countermines in connection | Nina came past the stand with a 100 pound service torpedo rigged to a spar, which was exploded as she peaed the stand, ihe torpedo used in this way is intended as a substitute for the ram which is attract ing so much attention in modern naval warfare, Ina few seconds, however, she returned to the charge towing in her wake’ 9 “Harvey,” which she quickly dragged against a floating raft and sent everything literally sky high, — creating another panic, for the small boats, that had gradually drawn closer to the scene of terror, now fol- | lowed in rapid succession three fifteen pounders, which were fired by the contact of a small steam launch with buoys containing circuit closers of @ peculiar con- struction. In connection with these experiments the circuit indicator designed by Lieutenant Converse was used, which seems to be an instrament filling all required conditions for perfecting harbor defences, It gives to the officer in a absolute tn- formation as to the condition of his cables and torpe- does at all times. Ifa wire becomes defective or broken it is signalled instantly by the ringing of a bell, which sound ts kept * until the defect is repaired. It also enables him to fire the torpedo at will when the ene- my’s vessel does not come in contact with the circuit closer, and yet is near enough, in his judgment, to send her to the bottom. At the same time all ‘tho torpedoes can be rendered safe to a friendly vessel; their approach being merely signalled by the ringing of a bell. This being, in fact, the mostcomplete apparatus yet designed. When one torpedo is fired, however, all others are thereby disconnected from the battery for half a minute, thus rendering {it impossible for ono torpedo to be fired by the action of another, SEVBNTY-NINE DOZEN IGNITORS GIVE A LITTLE CHORUS. The next experiment was the Simuitaneous firing of sevonty-nine dozen ignitors, These were followed again by two exteyporized torpedoes, the one in av old tin oil Can, the other in @ molasses jug, which rattled and thundered so that the whole of Newport must have been affected. These were coa- structed at the request of the Secretary by Messrs. Higginson & Davenport, from the materials at hand, After the experiments on the cast side of the island Professor Hill created a commotion by exploding hundred pounds of nitro-glycerino laced to the west of the island five feet from the sur- face of the water. The shock was quick and severo, and thousands of fish caino instantly to the surface ap- parently stunned, while many others were treated to a brief werial voyage. DYNAMITE BXPLOSION. Junction No, 12 was the explosion of twenty-five pounds of dynamite under a raft which was floating on the surface of the water, This was the most splendid piece of work yet accomplished, The water was seer, @ quarter of a mile distant from the raft, and the volume of water thrown in the air was laden with the splinters, which fell again into the water like match wood. The grandest spec. tacle of all was the last. The old coast sur- vey schooner Bowdich lay quletly at anchor, 1,300 fect distant, under bare poles. Near her were a hundred little sailboats, which the steam launch was endeavor- ing to drive off; beneath her, however, was a terrific mine, consisting of three ‘100-pound gunpowder torpe- does and 250 pounds of dynamite fn two others. Professor Farmer stood at the battery and: carefully tested the wires leading to the hulk. The Secretary of the Navy and Commandant Breeze stood by, surrounded by a large number of their guests, and ina few seconds the word was given and the bat- tories put in operation. Mrs, Field, wife of Judge Field, of the Supreme Court, closed the circuit, and in an instant a vast column of water ascended about 300 feet, followed by a roar and a concussion, and ‘the timbers of the Btately-looking old craft were flying through the air, In the place where she had rested so placidly but afew seconds before a whirlpool was now seen Spreading out its waves and receiving the faltering débris as it descended splash splash, into the harbor, It ‘wasa complete annihilation. Not enough to make a door- ost scarcely was left whole. The hulk disappeared ike a dream, forthe instant the explosion took piace ghe was crushed and carried up in the form of chips in the vast volume of water thrown by the force of the mine beneath, A PIECE OF GRIM TUMOR. Professor Farmer and his assistants were loudly ap- plauded, and the Secretary congratulated them on thetr complete success, Said he, ‘This shows what might be done under favorable conditions, but as an exbibi- tion it is a success, A CLAM BAKE, Indeed, of the fifty torpedoes exploded not one occa- sioned the least trouble, the arrangements were so com- plete, The day was finished by a clam bake and an ele- gant repast under a tent erected on the end of the lawn where the ‘batteries were; but though political talent abounded, there was no speech making, ‘he whole affair was well conducted and to the great credit of the service and the officers engaged. To-morrow a few additional experiments will be made, after which Secretary Robeson will return to Washington, THE) NAVY: YARD, MAKING REPUBLICAN VOTERS FOR THE NEXT ELECTION—THE INTREPID READY—COURTS MARTIAL—SEVERE PUNISHMENT OF DELIN- QUENTS. There is a large amount of work to be done at the Navy Yard of this station if the government will but order it and furnish the money required therefor, From time immemorial it has been the custom of the federal government to avail itself ofthe patronage furnished by the employment of voters at the Brooklyn ‘Yard a few months prior to each election, and to dis- pense with the services of the men immediately after the canvass of the ballots) This year will, from pres- ent indications, be no exception to the rule in this re- gard. About a month ago the working force was in- or |: creased from 600 to 1,000 men. Six days ago the 400 new comers, most of whom are im the Construction Department, underwent what {s known by them as “‘suspension,” which, boing in- terpreted, means that they wero not to be paid for their time, so as to enable the money to accumulate tn the treasury for the use of other voters who will be taken on between now and the Ist of November. On Mon- day morning the “suspended” workmen, however, re- sumed their places in the yard and on the daily payroll, but of course it is uncertain what the tenure of office will be in their case, as suspensions are always in or- der about this season at the Navy Yard. The force at present working is divided among the following ves- sels:— THR TRENTON, the new sloop of war now on the stocks, is having her planking nailed on under the personal supervision of Constructor Hanscom. It is not probable that the Trenton will be ready for launching before March next, [ | in consequence of the repeated {nterruptions caused by the withdrawal of the workmen. THE COLORADO, amagnificent steam sloop of war, is undergoing prep- arations for transfer from the line of active sea-going vessels to receiving ship at this station, where she will, under command of Captain D. L. Braine, take the place of the old Vermont, which latter will be anchored out in the stream where the North Carolina was formerly stationed. The Colorado’s decks are being calked and other changes made in her interior arrangements. She will be the finest ‘“Gardo” in the service and can be made available in case of emergency for active service at very brief notice, Sho will not be ready to receive the crew before October. The old buildings which stood for years an eyesore on the Cob dock are bem, rapidly replaced by fine, substantial structures, whic! will serve as quarters and reception rooms for the sea men awaiting transfer to sea-going vessela, THR SWATARA, which returned three or four months since from the transit of Venus expedition, is lying at the Long Dook, undergoing repairs to her machinery. She is ordere to be ready for sea September 20. Since her return to port she has lost a large number of her crew by deser- tion and has been compelled to recruit. Her comple- ment of men is now full. The Swatara will join the American squadron in the Mediterranean. She will take the place vacated by the Hartford, which vessel is now on the way to the United States, having served her allotted time in commission, three years, ROTTING ON THE STOCKS aro the sloops of war Java and New York and the Colos- sus. These vessels cost the government nearly two million of dollars, They are fit now for firewood alone; still they are permitted to take up the space in the ship houses, the authorities pleading impecuniosity when- ever it is suggested that such monuments of extrava- gant imbecility should be taken apart, Orders have been received to overhaul and repair the transport steamer Phiox, a light draught vessel, which might be made available in the Rio Grande, in the Mexican com- plications now existing. THR INTREPID, Admiral Porter's torpedo boat, was placed in commis- sion on Saturday last by the Assistant Executive of the ir, Captain Whitebead. Her crew went on board om jonday. The following {s a list of her officers:— Commander—C. L. Huntington. Lieutenants—Edward Woodman and T. T. Wood. Master—W. 0. Dimmock. Past Assistant Engineer—John Low, Assistant Engineer—Story Potts. Assistant Surgeon—E. M. Martin. Assistant Paymaster—Reah Fraser, She will leave for Newport, RL, during the week, and will take part {na series of torpedo experiments, Her officers are specially selected with regard to their efficiency in ordnance. COURTS MARTIAL, The Court Martial, which recently sat on board the sloop-of-war Richmond, of the Pacific squadron, in several casos of delinquency found Assistant Surgeon Ring guilty of intemperance, and sentenced him to sus pension for six months, Three sailors, who were tried for intoxication and desertion on board the Richmond, and whose names are John Seasiot Thomas Mills and Thomas Cogan have been sentenced to undergo imprisonment at this station for five years, Marine private George A. Beck, who went ashore from the game vessel at Callao and ran away, absenting him- self for one month from the ship, was (ried and sent on here to undergo four years’ imprisonment at the marine barracks on Flushing avenue, Brooklyn, The severit of these sentences will, when promulgated, it is sal have a good eflect among the blue jackets, who, of late ears, have been altogother too free in “taking French lege from Uncle Sam's wooden walls. 6 work of rebuilding the Long Dock |s progressing slowly. Vice Admiral Rowan is absent on his vacation, the duties of the executive being performed by Captam W. G. Temple, THE MISSISSIPPI BAR. MEETING OF ENGINEERS PROPOSING ITS RE- MOVAL—CAPTAIN EADS SUBMITS HIS PLANS. The delogation of engineers now present in this city for the purpose of investigating the plans and surveys of Captain Eads for improving the mouth of the Mississippi River met yesterday morning, at eleven o'clock, at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, PRESIDENT GRANT PRESENT. Soon after the gentlemen had gathered together His Excellency President Grant entered the room and made a careful examination of Captain Eads’ charts, plans and propositions, The President, it 1s said, takes fhe deepest intetest in the subject, and stated that he hoped some plan for getting rid of the bar at the river’s mouth would be consummated during his present administration. The President being a graduate of West Point was consequently able to catch Captain Eads’ idea without any explanation from the different charts spread out before him. After care- fully looking over the drawings tho President witn- OW ORGANIZATION, Aftor His Excellency had left the room the meeting came to order, and Sir Charles Hawley was nominated for President.’ Sir Charles is @ prominent advocate of Captain Eads? system, and constructed @set of jetties along the Danube precisely like those now under way along the shores of the Mississippi, Sir Charles, how- ever, respectfully declined the honor, giving as his ex. cuse the fact that there were many others present who knew more about the phenomena of the river than he did, any one of whom could, therefore, with more pro- prioty preside over the Board, At last General Bernard was unanimously elected as President, and immediately after took the chair, Then Captain Eads, with his maps, charts and plans before him, arose and briefly oxplained his system, ag aetailed in these columns yesterday, Captain Eal before he had proceeded far, appealed to all tho frater- nity present to criticise his plans rigidly, ashe had asked them all to New York in order to be assured by the best engineers in the country that he was right be- fore he went further ahead. Captain Eads laid great importance upon ono point, namely :—Thero is a bar at present at the mouth of tho Mississippi. over which there is a depth of only seven feet of water, This, of course, precludes large ships from eter $ where the waters of the river meet those of the Gulf. By the jetty system, if properly constructed, this bar will be removed from its present location and carried fully two miles in the Gulf, where, owing to the great depth of the water (over 2,000 feet), 200 years must needs pass by before the newly formed bar could become large enough to impede navigation in the slightest degree. The removal of the bar would create a depth of forty feet of water, so that even the Great Eastern, if necessity required, could safely entor the river and proceed up its channel. After explaining this and asking the engineers present to care- fully examine his charts and point out all errors they might chance to discover, Captain Eads withdrew, and the engineers then took up the plans, each one making his comments in writing. THE MERTING PRELIMINARY. The meeting yesterday was simply preliminary, and all of any’ public interest that took placo will be found in tho above, The absence of Professor Mitchell, of the Coast Survey, was very much regretted, a8 he was expected to arrive with important maps and reports relative to tho subject, The meetings will continue at the Fifth Avenue Hotel for five days, or, if necessary, for a much longer pe riod, The meetings are strictly private, An invitation was received from the National Steam- boat Association to join with them in visiting the public | works, which was declined, NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD. REPORT OF THE RECENT JUDICIAL SALE. The following report of tho sale of tho Northern Pacifle Railroad was made yesterday to the United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York by United States Commissioner Kenneth @ White:— In pursuance of a final decree made by the United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York, on May Ae by which I, the undersigned, was appointed aster Commissioner to hear and re- port to this court, subject to its further orders, direc- tion and confirmation, with all convenient speed, in. detail and systematics'ly, all the amounts, necessary and proper, to be pt out of the moneys arising from the 'salo of the property, rights, liber ties and franchises of the ‘said’ Northbrn Pacific Railroad, therein ordered and decreed to be sold in the city and State of New York, and which wore sold on August 12, 1875, for the sum of $100,000, as appears by the report of said sale filed on the samo day and mentioned and included in sections marked 1, 2, 4 and 8 of said decree, do report that, having given at least thirty days’ notice by advertisement, pub- lished as required and ordered by said decree, of the time and place when and where I would attend to take prea of —, I was attended at said time and place y the counsel for the complainants, and by tho several persons hereinafter named, in person or by their so- icitors and counsel, and the followin, ersons made proof of their claims mentioned or included in section 1 of said decree; and I find and report that the several sums set opposite their respective names are necessary nd proper: to be paid, viz :— Jay e, trustee. $7,500 Charlemagne Tower.....- 2600 Trustees’ expenses for ancillary decrees, A. B, Nettleton, agent and trustee of the trustees, for services and disbursements. see 18,085 A. B. Nettleton..... ae 4,078 ‘A. B. Nettleton 1,067 J. Paul Diver, conveyancer and notary public. 250 Charles Gibbons, back charges, as trustees’ coun- gel..... Oliver Fisl ie astee + 15,000 Kenneth G. e, ® master commissioner to make such sale........ seeeee 16,000 Kenneth G. White, master commissioner on arose Commissioners’ expens By abv eons ede dess cobnds Auctioneers’ fees and expenses of sale. F. A. Lane, complainant's trustee and couns George W. Cass, receiver, services....... Edward L. Andrews, counsel for complain. C. F. Sanford and E. R, Robinson, associat COUNBE] .....ecsececrssersesscrececesersceses . Sanford, Robinson & Woodruff, counsel for trus- tees in suit of Eliza Meyers against the com- pany and trustees......,... George Gray, counsel for receiver oe J. Kennedy Cass, trustee for funding interest. Henry Stanton, counsel for defendants. Court costs and disbursements....... I further report that no claims have been offered or presented under sections marked 2and 4 of said decree, or either of them, excepting the claim of Baker, Smith & Co., which is allowed under section 2 for the amount of $141 97. I further report that the whole amount of the first mortgage bonds of the Northern Pacific Rail- road Company, appearing by the said company’s books of coupon and'registered bonds and tho bond ledger of the trustees to have been bond fide issued and to be now outstanding and unpaid, 1s $29,119,400 of principal, and the amount of interest warrants and coupons which may so appear to be due and owing upon such bonds as may have been bond fide issued is, up to July 1, 1875, $4,125,110 38, as near as can be ascertained and’ com: 4 PT aber report that the item of $6;500, the amount of which is estimated to cover the expense of adver- tising by the Master and by the Master Commisstoner, and the other expenses necessarily incurred in tho performance of their duties, and the precise amount of which cannot now be reported, as bills for adver- tising have not all been received; but such expenses will, in the judgment of the Master, approximate to and do not exceed the said sum, I further find and report that in the fixing and ad- justing all of the amounts allowed by me I have been attended from time to time by the parties to this suit, or by their counsel, and have been s0 attended at the time of making this report, and gaid report and the Several sums allowed have been submitted to all of them, and no objection was taken thereto, T farther specially find and report relative to the amounts allowed to the Master Commissioner and the Master for their compensation and expenses, that the game were agreed upon by counsel for all the parties, and approved by the Committee of Bondholders, and have been accepted by the Master Commissioner and Master, All of which is respectfully submitted. KENNETH G. WHITE, Master. THE DIAMOND SMUGGLING CASE. James Henry and John Hall, the alleged diamond emugglers, who have been confined for several weeks in the Hudson County Jail at Jorsey City, were released ‘on bail yesterday in the sum of $1,000 each. Tho at tempt of the Treasury detectives to connect them with the robbery of the diamonds of the Countess of Dudley in England was a failure. Their trialon the charge of smuggling is set down for the next term of the United States District Court at Trenton. FIGHTING THE TRAMPS. ‘THE JERSEY CITY CHIEF OF POLICE ON THE WARPATH, ‘The war against tramps in Jersey has fairly begun. Owing to the large number of complaints daily made at Police Headquarters in Jersey City Chief of Police Champney has issued the following order:— ‘Tho alarming increase of vagrancy and the frequent eom- nould be autjected to the rerickest. police sevelliantes ommandante o nets will therefore. ine rigidly enforce the pro- and regulations relating to impostors'and vagrants. Captains will also in- ant of thelr commands to cause every male lcant tor lodgings to be searched, and where Sand upon the person of any applicant any suspicions character, they ‘as disorderly persons. iso arrest and charge as var tramp or ap} there are weapon, tool or instrument of Pill be locked ap and eh it ho take. frequent. applications for 10d a 0 f thereby that they, have no. visible ns of support.” It is thought that this order will work Denefeially and that the number of myrind smail thefts and large robberies constantly occurring in the city will be much lessened thereby. In leas than a week overy tramp in the State will know of this order, and the coming season will probably see but few of them about this city. Tho first victim under the new order was Honry Ernst, forty-four years of age, who has no home. In his ‘oaseesion was found a new silver guard chain, done up in paper, He said he bad worn it for many a year, but tho falsehood was too transparent, and he was gon-" signed to 4 gell, { | be held at the same time for delegates to that Conven- | or sitting in the Convention all who wero under the , of the United States, NORTH CAROLINA, Preparing for the Constitutional Convention on the 6th. Rise and Progress of the Con- stitution. How the Law Was Broken by the Creations of the Bayonet, ‘ THE “PARTY BALANCE IN THE CONVENTICY, Raueran, Sept. 2, 1875. The original Lycurgus of North Carolina was John Locke, author of the “Essay On the Human Under- standing,” who, in March, 1669, drew up a ‘constitution for the Province, then embracing the future States of South Carolina and Tennessee, This work was magnifi- cent in outline and elaborate in detail; but, being found, as it is almost needless to say, utterly impracticable, it was abrogated in 1693, and the North Carolinians, for a considerable while thereafter, were in the situation of the man whose constitution was destroyed by dissipa- tion, but who, nevertheless, lived along contentedly under the bylaws, Asa constitutional convention is to assemble here on the 6th inst. it may be not inopportune to give a suc- cinct history of the various epochs and mutations in the organic law of North Carolina, I have, therefore, diligently studied up the whole matter, and present the facts in as compact a shape as possible consistently with perspicuity and accuracy, ‘THR FIRST CONSTITUTION. The first constitution .of North Carolina as a State in the lon was framed at Halifax’ (near Weldon) by the State Congress which met there in 1776 It was not submitted to the people for ratification, but was pro- claimed the fundamental law by the Congress which enacted it, It contained no provision for its amend- ment, by a convention or otherwise, Under this con- stitution the citizens of North Carolina lived for fifty- nine years, fn 1834 the Legislature submitted to the people a call for a restricted convention to remodel the organic law. The people confirmed the call, and the Convention was held in 1835. The constitution adopted by it was ratified by a popular ma- Jority of 5,000, No change was made in this instra- ment until 1855, when, after a struggle of soven years, the principle of free suffrage, indopendent of property qualification, first introduced by Governor Reid, was incorporated into it, So entirely suited to the habits and necessities of the people was the constitution of 1835 that the Secession Convention of 1861 mado no material change in it, and {t continued in force until the surrender to General Sherman in 1865, THE STATE CONVENTION OP 1865, On May 29, 1865, William W. Holden was appointed by President Johnson Provisional Governor of North | Carolina, Governor Holden’s first official act was to proclaim the dissolution of the existing State govern- ment, In September, 1965, Governor Holden called a State convention, which assembled at Raleigh in the following December, No man was permitted to vote who was worth $20,000 unless pardoned by the Prest- dent, The excluded class numbered cne-sixth of the Voting populationy being a disfranchtsement of 15,000 of the most substantial citizens of the State out of 90,000 voters, The constitution framed by that Con- vontion was submitted to the people, and at the same election they voted for State and county officials and elected members to the General Assembly which met in November, 1866, The constitution itself was, however, rejected mainly on the ground that it was not properly | devised and had not the sanction of a free people, | having been framed in obedience to military orders. At the same election the question of the abolition of slavery was submitied tothe popular vote in a separate ordinance, and car- ried by an overwhelming majority, as was also an ordinance against secession, Jonathan Worth was elected Governor, The Legislature @lected John Pool and William A. Graham United States Senators, the members of the federal House of Representatives hav- ing been shortly before elected by the people. Tho North Carolina delegations were, however, refused their seats in either branch of Congress, EVFECT OF THE FOURTEKNTH AMENDMENT, Governor Worth was re-elected for the two years term beginning January 1, 1967. During his term the Howard or Fourteenth amendment was proposed to the Legislature of North Carolina and rejected by a large majority, In March, 1867, Congress passed the Recon- struction act, General Canby, at that time in command of the Department of North and South Carolina, sub- mitted to a part of the white citizens of North Carolina, and to all tho male negroes of the State over twenty-one years of age, who then were assuredly not citizens, a call for a constitutional convention, and ordered an election to tion. This federal general not only ordered the eles tion, but appointed, from his headquarters in Charles- ton,’S. C., all the poll-keepers, and, in a word, organ. | ized the Whole machinery for conducting i, Many of | the election officers were not citizens of the State, but federal officers and soldiers, General Canby also defined the right of suffrage, excluding from voting ban of the Fourteenth amendment to the constitution This class included 16,000 of the | best citizens of North Carolina, who at that time paid ninety-nine one-hundredths of all the State and county taxes and owned nine-tenths of all the land | in the State, Ninety thousand lately liberated negroes, utterly ignorant and inexperienced and without either wisdom or free will, whose very docility and simpleness of mind made them mere automatons in the hands of the wily demagogues who became their new masters, were permitted to vote, Three days were allowed for | voting, a novel device adopted for the manifest purpose of fraud, by the facility it offered for Fepeating, ‘The votes ‘were sent to General Canby, who was charged with the entirely supererogatory duty of counting them. He proclaimed by militar: order that the people had sustained the for Convention, and ordered the delegates elect to cbn- vene in Raleigh, whither he sent military subordinates with certificates of election for the members, There were only two delegates in that Convention, so far ag can be ascertained by the most searching and diligent inquiry, whom any portion of the people of North Caro- lina had ever before honored with their suffrage. Most | of the vp en were negroes or adventurers almost as | destitute of property as character, By this anomalous | assemblago the constitution now in force was framed, and within little more than thirty days thereafter the people were required to vote upon the whole volumi- nous document of thirty-eight octavo pages, which not one in 100 of the voters had oven so much as read, Polls wero opened for its ratification, by military | order again, on the 2ist, 22d and 23d of April, 1863; and, at the same time and on the same ticket, each elector was to cast his ballot for about forty officers, from Governor to constable, and from Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to township trustees, THE MORAL OV THR STORY. Thus within the brief period of three years two legiti- mate State governments—that existing in 1865, Vance being Governor, and that in force in 1867, with Worth a8 Lc eye ages a superseded by creation of the bayo- net Your readers will pardon the minute historical state- | ment above given. It is necessary to an intelligent un- derstanding of the present political situation in North Carolina, This retrospect establishes the fact that the existing government was not framed as a republican system ought to be—by, of and for the people, acting | freely and without let or hindranee—but is the direct product of military power overriding and subordinating the civil authority, and that, in so far as it bas the sem- blance Ro sled approval, it was ratified ander circum- stances of intimidation and constraint bordering nearly upon duress, OHAPING UNDER SURJECTION. The real people of the State cannot but chafe under | this badgo of subjugation. To substitute for it an organic law which shall be their own voluntary work is the paramount motive which impelled the demand for a Convention. This, however, is more a matter of senti- ment and pride, perhaps, than otherwise, But there are grave considerations beyond this eager and earnest wish to vindicate the antonomy of North Carolina The present constitution brought @ thorough and sweeping revolution in every depart. ment of the State government. It did violence to all the habits, usages and maxims of the Peco It im- ported into their practice, political and legal, strange and alien features. It’ imposed upon the peo- plo novel institutions not at all adapted to their condition or their wants, These innova- tions have utterly unsettled the established order of things which had becotne familiar to the masses by Jong acquaintance, ‘The system now in vogue, if its ini- coherent and conflicting elements warrant calling ita system, is entirely unintelligible to the great body of the people, The provisions of the constitution aro difficult of interpretation to the Bar, and their proper judicial construction is a standing enigma to the Boden. An attempt to call a convention for the amendment of these multitudinous defects was made in 1871, when tho Legislature, which was democratic by a vory small ma- Jority, directed an election of delegates, but at the same polls submitted the question of ‘Convention or no Con- vention’ to therpeople, The measure, however, was of doubtful logality, and this consideration, coupled with the fear of making a bad matter w occasioned the defeat of the call by 10,000 majority, although of the delegates elected at the same time, and who <ould havo taken (heir seats had the people Fated the gall, there | Norms yhercot during the qgutipuance of this ardor’? ‘ were sixty-three conservatives to fifty-seven republe THE ELECTION OF 1873. The method of alteration by legislative enactment was next resorted to; and, in 1573, at the regular elec- tion on the first Thursday of August, polis were opened to allow the people to vote “yes or no” upon eight pro- | ae constitutional amendments, tor each of which here was a separate ballot box at every voting placa throughout the State. These eight amendments were ratified by majorities ranging from 10,000 to 40,000. Party lines wore not drawn, save toa very limited ex- tent, and many republicans voted for the amendmenta. THE ELECTION OF 1874. In August, 1874, the conservatives elected their can- didate for Superintendent of Public Instruction by 14,000 majority on a square, party contest and after @ thorough canvass of the entire State, from the seaboard to the mountains, They also carried both branches of the Legislature, securing three-fourths of the mem- bers of tho Senate and two-thirds of the House, Of the eight Congressmen chosen on the same day the republicans elected only one, to wit, the negro Heyman, of the second district,’ This wag almost a clean sweep, and it was only necessary te exercise a prudent patience, avoiding the introduction of any existing issues and pursuing so dar as practi that policy ot masterly inactivity which is so congen| to the popular instincts of this State especially, to make sure of carrying Norsh Carolina triumphantly in the great political contest of 1876. THE A POR THK CONVENTION, Flushed with a sitcess so far beyond all expectath the democrats in the Legislature came hither winter reckiess and almost riotous in their huge nu- merical preponderance. The calling of a constitutional convention at once became the main topic of discussion, and was strenuously advocated by the younger members. The sober judgment of the nore wary and experienced politicians, including the entire delegation in Congress, who sent down from Washington a most earnest protest against the measure, was finally over- borne, and at the heel of the session the act was passed, peremptorily calling a convention to meet here on the 6th inst., and directing an election for delegates thereto, THE COMING CONVENTION. It 4s, of course, possible, in the versatile chapter of contingencies, that one or more of the delegates of either of the twa political parties may not be at hand here in Raleigh promptly on the 6th inst. It is one of those universal truths which Shakespeare, the master, has limned for the ages with his immortal pen, thab ery human calculation Hath abatements and delays as many As there are hauds and tongues und times and accidents Both parties, however, are industriously summoning their delegates—some of whom have already arrived. and it is expected that all the laggards will be in Raleigh by next Saturday. The moral effect of a victory in the organization of the Convention is estimated by demo- crats and republicans alike at its full yalue, THE EVEN BALANCE. So nearly balanced are the two parties in the Conven- tion that It 18 now conceded that no changes can be ef- fected in the constitution which does not meet with the concurrence of them both. If the Convention does not in fact adjourn almost immediately a few alterations may be made im points where amendment is roan needed, The-disabilities imposed upon ex-Governor W. W. Holden by the Senate, sitting as a court of impeach- ment in 1871, will doubtless be removed, many promi- nent conservatives favoring the act of grace, tion to this, the republicans would vastly like to recast the Congressional and State Senatorial districts by the familiar gerrymandering process, Should this scheme be carried out the conservative sponsors of the Conven- tion would find that they had played into the hands of their antagonists pretty effectually Un- fortunate for the democrats as the issue of the Convention experiment now appears to be, the result must not be taken by the country asa victory of the republicans as such. “While it is true that Conven- tion was made a party question by the large democratio majority in the Legislature which called it, the result at the ballot box nevertheless supplies no reliable test of the relative numerical strength of parties in North Caro- lina, Every republican, white or black, voted for the nominees who were pledged to an immediate adjourn- ment of the Convention; but in this poy were rein- forced by thousands of sound conservatives who strenu- ‘ously oppose any presont radical change in the organio law, while other thousands, equally free from republican synipathies or affiliations, did not go to the polls at all NORTH CAROLINA TRADITIONS. ‘The traditions of a people count for much, especially in the old States of the “original thirteen,” where mero custom, although never formulated in constitu- tion or statute, has all the sanctity of a higher law. It has been a North Carolina usage to submit the ques tion of “Convention or no Convention?’ to the voters as a necessary preliminary to the assembling of a body invested with the sovereign power of the State, and to provide for the submission of its ordinances for ratilication or rejection by the Peres In the present case this was not done, and the only precedent n the history of the State for this double omission was the very bad one of the Secession Com- vention of May 20, 1861, which was called in spite of the people, and whose action was not submitted for their approval The course pursued in 1861 found its excuse, perhaps, in the imperious urgency of the situa tion; butit was considered extraordinary and only jus- tiflable by the exigency of the crisis, It was denied, however, that any such inexorable necessity existed im this instance. PAULTS OF THR 1863 CONSTITUTION, The constitution of 1868, while it introduced Into the polity of the State a few features, like the homestead exemption, which the people in the main approve, con- tains many provisions of doubtful utility and fs notoriously full of ambiguities and 'imper- fections, The wiser and more cautious of the con. servative leaders, while fully appreciating the need of alterations, preferred the plan of making them by the method of submitting specitic amendments to the peo- lo from time to time, in which way the defects of the instrument might be ually cured without the in- Jurious consequences ot dden and sweeping change in the fundamental law. IT 18 NO SEDAN, But it 1s not worth while to scold. Hindsight te easier than foresight, Tho democracy of®North Caro- lina have encountered a reverse; but it is no Sedan, | The result merely indicates that the peoplo of this State, irrespective of party, disapprove the holding of a constitutional convention at this time, It is but rs repetition of their answer, four years ago, the question, “Convention or no Convention? Had the contest al the polls, on the first Thursday of last, month, been a square party fight—an election for Goy- ernor for example—a grand conservative success would have been achieved. But the struggle was no such thing. While the republicans were massed solidly against convention and presented a united front, the conservatives were lukewarm, half-hearted and divided, Many of the democratic leaders declined to take the stump or to make so much as a@ single speech. The re publicans, however, recognizing their opportunity, dis- played everywhere @ wonderful activity. ‘Their orators, Of ali colors, great and small, distinguished and obscure, daily harangued the people in all sections of the State, There were immense, enthusiastic gatherings in the east- ern counties, where the colored vote preponderates, while important defections occurred among the white con- Servatives of the West. The most unscrupulous appeals wore made to the hegroes by their demagogues. They’ were frightened with the ghost of dead and buried slavery, which, they were told, was to be revived by « kind of’ peonage to the large landholders. The poorer and, of course, more numerous class of whites were as- sured that the “aristocrats” designed to affix a property or educational qualification to the right of suffrage to restore imprisonment for debt, The small landowa- ers were terrified with the near prospect of the avoll- tion of the homestead exemption. And so 1 might enu- merate almost indefinitely, for these appeals were lim- ited only by the fecund fancy of the orators, PROMINENT DEMOCRATS. Among the prominent democrats elected to the Com vention are ex-Senator Thomas L, Ciingman, of Bun- combe; ex-Congressman John Manning, of Chatham; General W. D. Koberts, of Gates; Hon, Josiah Turner, of Orange; ex.Governor David 8. Reid, of Rockingham, and Hon. Francis E. Shober, of Rowan, Some of the more notable republican members are United States District Attorney RK. C. Badger, a son of the illustrious George E. Badger; Judges William A. Moore and Ralph P. Buxton; Mr. W, S. Faircloth, of Wayne; General Rufus Barringer, of Charlotte; Mr. R. F. Lehman, of Newbern; ex-Judge D, L. Russell, of Wilmington; ex- Congressman 0. H. Dockery, Colonel Isaac J. You and ex-Judgo A. W. Tourgee. Mr. Jordan J. Horton, Hertford, is the largest man in the Convention, Lttook seven yards of broadcloth to make the suit of clothes be stands in, which is about twice what a common mas. requires He would evidently adorn w ‘fat man's clam cS B ARRIVAL OF THE DELEGATES. The delegates to the Siate Constitutional Convention, which assembles on Monday, arrive but slowly. Ex- Senator Thomas L. Clingman'came yesterday. All are expectgd by Saturday, The republican members will caucus to-morrow and the conservatives the next day, General Clingman having peremptorily declined, the | democratic choice for president of the Convention will be ex-Governor David 8. Reid, the honored champion of tree suffrage in 1848, I heard named for the republican candidacy also General Rutus Barringer, Hon. Richard G Bager and ex-Congressman 0. H. Dockery. THB CONTESTED SEATS. Judge Settle, of the Supreme Court, has dismissed the case of the two republican contestants for seats as delegates from Robeson county, denying bis jurisaic- tion in the matter, This gives the conservatives ffty- eight. They also claim Mr. Sparke (independent), from Juckson, which the republicans concede, making fift nine conservatives of the 119 members. The republ cans have fifty-eight regulars, Ransom and Wilcox, in- dependents, are ciaimed by both parties. Wilcox is am anti-convention democrat, and Ransom a free lance re- publican, THR REPUBLICAN VOTE, The collective vote for the Republican Convention candidates, as just ascertained in the executive office, exceeds the aggregate cast for the conservative nomi- nees by 11,780, Red THE JERSEY RAILROAD WAR. In the case of the petition of the New Jersey and Now York Railway Company agatnust Hugh J. Jewett, the receiver of the Erie Railway Company, Chancellor Runyon yesterday ordered ‘that the hearing on said pe» tition be postponed until Thursday, the Sth day of September inst, at ten o’clock in the forenoon, on condition, however, that tho said Hugh J. Jowett, receiver, do forthwith restore the frog and track which have been removed im such manner that the cars of the Now Jersey and New York Railway Company can be run over the tracks of the said Erie Railway Company in the manner contem- plated by said contract, and that he in the meantime permit the said New Jersey and New York Railway jompany to continue to operate under said contract until the further order of this Court, without prejudice to the rights of tho said receiver or said Erie Railway Company ; the New Jersey and New York Railway Com- pany to pay promptly, according Jo said contract, all tolls and compensation that may accrue to said Hugh J. Jewett, recciver, under said contract, according to t a