North Carolina Newspapers

BY P. M. HALS 1NDW.L SAUMMtRS. Published Daily (except Monday) and Weekly, RATES OF ADVERTISING, - One square (1 Uica) one day 00 Rates op Subscription iu Advance. Dally, one year, mail postpaid, $8 " six months, " " 4 " three " " " Weekly, one year, mall postpaid, 1 six months, M 1 " " " two days, 1 SQ " three " ........ 00 " " four " . S 60 - m i. flTe s oo " " alx 8 60." Contracts for advertising for any space or tune may be made at the office ot The Obseeveb, 0 To city subscribers The Oasnra will be de- li.omi daUT at twenty-cents perweex; seventy Ave cents per month; two dollars for three VOL. 2. RALEIGH, N.rC., TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1878. NO. 16. Observer Building, Fayettevllle Street, Raleigh months. North Carolina. A SUtrtlias; Trnr (Special Correspondence oi the N. T. Herald.) Pkovidevck, R. I., April 6. A terrible tragedy occurred this evening at the Opera House in Pawtucket, in this State, during one of thos sensational and reckless exhi bitions in markmanship, originally intro duced on the stage by Frank Frayne, and his wife. Miss Clara cutler, in tins in stance the holder of the rifle was a woman and she instantly killed another woman who was holding the apple aimed at, on her head. On Monday last a variety com pany, hailing from the Mozart Garden, in the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., commenced an engagement at the Pawtucket Opera House, their performance being of an or dinary character, except the feats in rifle shooting by Miss Jennie Fowler, whose stage name is Miss Jennie Franklin. She usually began by firing at a target, and at various objects, closing that part of her performance by shooting at an apple placed on the head of another member of the com pany, known as Mile. Volante, who also appeared as a trapeze performer. In order to intensify the sensational character of this act. Miss Franklin, in stead of taking direct aim at the apple on Mile. Yolante's head, faced in an opposite direction and obtained her range by means of a small mirror placed at the wing. This mirror has to be arranged at such an angle that its face will bring" the face of the per son supporting the apple directly in the centre of the glass The bolder of the rifle places the weapon over her right shoulder, keeping the trigger. guard pressed close and steady to her shoulder, and then takes aim through the sights at the reflected im age before her. The trick has been re peatedly accomplished with success, but it requires great coolness and steadiness to strike the reflected apple with precision, and has always been deemed a foolhardy and dangerous experiment. This evening the variety entertainment passed off as usual until the rifle shooting act.Svhen the audience was horrified by seeing the unfortunate trapeze performer shot dead. Miss Franklin displayed con siderable skill in hitting her target and other objects while firing directly at them, and she seemed confident and assured when the final feat was to be attempted. Mile. Volante stepped alertly to her station, smiling at the audience as she did so. Placing the apple, an ordinary sized one, on the top of her head, where it rested in her luxuriant hair she stood motionless as a statue. iMiss Franklin also took her station near the foot-lights in front of the mirror, and deliberately aimed over her shoulder through the glass at her ill fated friend. The audience sat in silence, curiously watching the performers and suspecting some deceitful trick, when sud denly the trigger was pulled and at the same instant a shriek resounded through the hall as the unfortunate Volante fell for ward on the stage, instantly killed, the fatal bullet having entered her fore head and pierced the brain. Miss Franklin was Immediately placed under arrest by the local police and is now locked up to await the action of the Coro ner. She seemed to be half crazed with horror at the occurrence, only realizing the recklessness of her act when it was too late.- Mile. Volante, who so suddenly closed her career in this shocking manner, has only been on the variety stage four or five weeks. A Frigbtf ul Accident. Special of theltew York Herald. Slatixgton, Pa., April 5. A terrible accident occurred at this place about five o'clock this morning, causing the loss of five lives and wounding several persons. Freight train No. 49, on the Lehigh Val ley Railroad, bound east, was standing on the track near the station, when an oil train, drawn by the locomotive Rockdale, collided with it. The oil train was running at an average rate of speed and its velocity shoved the freight train about forty feet ahead, both trains being southward bound till the Rockdale got nearly on the rail road bridge, a short distance below the station. The oil tanks broke and poured their contents over the Rock dale, the boiler of which, exploded, sending a piece of its machinery nearly one hundred feet, where it went through the slate roof of a stable. By this explosion one or two: train hands were injured slightly, and seventeen out of the forty- one oil cars caught fire and were subse quently destroyed, with their contents. Engineers Wattmore and Mosser are slightly injured, and a large number pf persons, including women and children, were slightly burned or otherwise injured, making the total number of casualties about forty. Up to five minutes or nine o'clock there had been no loss of life, but at that time a burning tank that occupied an important position in the wreck was pulled over by a rope, so that its manholes were shut, and it exploded, scattering a large volume of burning oil over thirty of the people near by, with the results above stated. The spectacle then was fearful to behold and terrible in its nature. Men rushed hither and thither, completely ' wrapped in flames, only one having the presence of mind to run to the river. Another ran into a house, and was saved by the inmates wrapping him in carpet and smothering the flames. Some passed friends who were powerless to help, and could only look on In speechless horror. The oil soaked men were wrapped in flames that shot four or five feet above their heads. Some ot those who had only a small quan tity of oil on them escaped with slight burns, but about fifteen men were badly scorched. At half past six this evening the fire was under control and no further damage is expected. The total loss is estimated at $200,000. The amount of t insurance is small. ; v -'- Horrible Death ! Lunatics. Special to the New York Herald, 8th.l Bath, N. Y., April 7, A terribly dis astrous fire occurred here a little oeiore l o'clock this morning. The insane depart ment of the Steuben County House, con taining between sixty and seventy inmates, was tired bv L. C. Ford, one of the inmates, from Hornellsville. Fifteen persons, five males and ten females, perished in the flames. The building is wholly destroyed, with a loss of $4,000. The scenes of fatali ty beggar description and were horrifying in the extreme. L. C. Ford, who was a man subject to fits, was never known to do anything vio lent before, and therefore was trusted and given fuller liberty than other more in sane inmates. - He was allowed to smoke and have light in his room. It is sup- poeed that he fired his bedding, for when those in charge discovered the flames Ford's bead protruded through the iron grating of his window and he apparently could not withdraw it. He must have nut bis head out as soon as he recovered from the fit and discovered his danger. A Wokdkrfcx ties. Russia has a won derful Swedish gun ready for use in lu fleet. It is worked after the manner of piano forte playing, moves to and fro in the section of a circle, and sweeps all the ground that it covers in a most marvelous manner. It is something like sweeping a lawn with water from the jet of a garden hose moved right and left by the operator. and can be carried right ' UP into the main- - tnn few flrintr nn tha rwrdVa deck and In side fortifications.- In' close quarters it would sweep the enemy's 1 decks of oom-r batants. - - - - It is estimated that over 100,000 person in New England have signed the total abstinence pledge since Dec. 1. RAXK 1 GH, N. C TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1878. TBE SUPREME COURT OSCE MORS. as a rreacner or uw word or. uod, as an instructor of . the youth of North Caro lina, no man's name Is held in higher esteem, no man's memory more cher ished, than that of the father of the respected matron from whom last even ing's mail brought us the following letter. No woman in North Carolina i ever more thoroughly educated. and none Is more respected by the large society which is adorned by her ma tronly virtues, and Instructed by her cheer ful, intelligent, laborious and conscien tious discharge of her duties in that state of life to which it has pleased Uod td call her. A young man (writes our correspon dent) met a fair young woman at Coney Island. She was the delight of a house hold. She loved this dashing new acquain tance. He led her to the brink of infamy and finally pushed her off the precipice, and when, bruised and bleeding, she turned to him for assistance, he hade her plunge into the seas of ink around and be out of his sight and that 'of the' world. She brought a legal com plaint against him, but by the trickery of lawyers she was in danger of being sent to prison, while the murderer of her peace was allowed to go free. According to the report of the New York papers, he came into the court-room and after listening to the evidence and finding that the Judge was inclined to leniency, he stood up3 and brushing his coat and rubbing his hands, said : "Send her up, Judge, send her np ! It will do her good V "Great heavens!" said the Judge, " how I wish, I could send you up or rather down ! Get out of this court ! i 4 "This I have transcribed from a Northern paper, as bearing directly on a subject which has very justly attracted much attention among the readers of The Obsektek and those who note the signs of the times. It seems that some judges can see no difference between the denunciation of a tin and the condemnation of the sinner. A glance at the above shows that the distinction may be made and in a way that commends itself to the understanding of any one pos sessed of plain common sense. "The women of North Carolina have never been classed with those who clamor for "Equal Rights," "Power to Vote,"&e.. for heretofore they have seen no reason for busying themselves with such matters. But a few more such decisions of our highest Court as have lately astonished the land, will make us ponder on the proprie ty of a different course in future. "Now that our newspapers everywhere teem with tales of outrage and crime, and instances of violence and brutality occur daily, we naturally look around for pro tection. But if the perpetrators, of gross crime find themselves shielded by a subtle rendering of the law, couched in language expressive of a more tender feeling for tha offender than for the victim and, escaping even the just odium attendant on their offen ces, suffer a merely nominal punishment well may our hearts "fail us for fear and for looking after those things which are com ing on the earth. It will probably be considered very pre sumptuous for a woman to criticise our high dignitaries. Even the '.'lay-gents" are looked on with disdainful surprise for their expression of opinion. As we are of the same sex as the defeated plaintiffs in the late celebrated cases, we may, however, tJuukot our poor sisters, and, with us. speech follows thought. And I for one toy, wnat inousanaa or. women who read Ths Obsebvek , think, that we are deeply grateful to the editors of this paper for the privilege of being heard in its columns." JUDGE FOWLS. In the second of the series of telegrams from this city to the New York Time, reported in yesterday's Obsxevxr, one of the alleged combinations among Demo cratic politicians is thus referred to: 'It is now current upon the streets that Daniel G. Fowle. Judge David BcnencR and Senator Memmon have formed an offensive and defensive alliance against Gov. Vance and Chief Justice Smith for the nnmoefi of making Schenck Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, to secure Memmon s re-election to tbe United states Senate, and to nominate Fowle for Gov ernor in 1880." Neither Judge Merrimon nor Judge Sohxsoe is in the aty, or we should doubtless be at liberty to say for them what we say authoritatively for Judge Fowle. The statement that he has entered into a combina tion with Jndge Bchznok and Judge Mer rimon against Got. Vance and Chief Jus tice Smith is totally without foundation. In Judge Fowlx's judgment, as in ours, the success of the Democratic party is of infinitely greater importance than the pro motion of any manor set of men; and be would prefer never to fill an office, however honorable, if it were necessary to obtain it by combinations which, though successful for the moment, might possibly result in party fends endangering the wel fare of the country by the defeat of the only party which has at heart the preser vation of civil liberty. Ddeiss the first three months of the present year, the total immigration at New York was 8.788, against 7.5KXJ arrivals tne corresponding period of. 1877 an increase of 1,536. For the last three years there has been a constant falling off, month by month, in inimlgntlon, but It would seem that the tide had now begun to set Again in the other direction, and. la the event of general European war it will probably be greatly accelerated. ! It Is a wonder .that a plague , has not broken oat in Constantinople. The deaths of refugees In, the Baosques hate averaged seventy day. , .Tose wao nave , p&t the last three; months .Uiere Scarry; the TOCoSartloa of then to their grtTCS, U they lire to a hundred. , TOBACCO ITS CULTURE IMPORTANCE. Steam and the telegraph having made the world a close community, it behooves us in the face of the active competition such a condition of things produces, to know what other people are doin, espe cially in those pursuits that we make a spe cialty of. A late report of CoL J. B. KilLk bbxw. Commissioner of Agriculture for snnessee, on the cultivation of tobacco in that State Is well worthy of a careful study by all who are Interested in its cul tivation. The report also contains valuable and interesting statistics showing its com mercial importance, eta CoL Kiixe- Bjtxw says that it is believed that with proper encouragement Tennessee can - be made the largest tobacco grow ing State in the Union, and that the extension of the area in cultivation would add largely to the income of her citizens and without detracting from the fertility of the soil to the same extent that cotton or corn does. That its cultivation is re munerative is evident from the fact that the people of the tobacco growing counties are in easier circumstances than those in any other localities. Besides tobacco does not interfere in any considerable degree with the cultivation of the grasses or the bread grains. The busiest season in to bacco comes on in August and September when the other crops are laid by or har vested. The tobacco crop is in a degree an extra crop, which, while it supplies the planter ready money, does not interfere with his raising abundant supplies. The Commissioner claims superior quali ties for Tennessee tobacco as being rich in nicotine, the active principle in tobacco, and that it can bid defiance to that grown in Illinois. Indiana and Missouri, and says that the effect of increased culture will be to drive these poorer grades from market and leave a broader field for that of Ten nessee. As an article of general use it ranks first, being more generally used than any otner single article, being used by 800,000,000 of people or 8-12 of the pop ulation of the world, whil Chinese tea is consumed by only 500,000,000, Paraguay tea by 10,000,000 human beings, coca by 10,000,000, chiccory by 40,000,000, cocoa by 50,000,000, and coffee by .100,000, 000, betel by 100,000,000, hasheesh by 300, 000,000, and opium, in one or another form, by 400.000,000. In the brief pe riod of three centuries, tobacc. like the potato, has made the conquest of the world; and if we accept but one-half the amount of per capita consumption assert ed by competent statisticians, the total an nual demand for the weed from the whole population of the globe will still reach 2,625,000,000 pounds, or 1,312,500 tons. Admitting that 800 pounds is raised to the acre and this as an average is a very liber al allowance the stupendous quantity of tobacco just estimated would require up ward of three millions of good land to be kept under culture. The use of this plant appears therefore to have become universal. Indeed, next to salt, is supposed by some to be the ar ticle most extensively consumed by man, tea alone being the competitor. Of the 2,625,000,600 pounds required for the world's consumption, let us see how much is contributed by the United 8tates. In 1860 we produced 434,209,461 pounds, but ten years afterward the yield of our plantations had dwindled to about 260, 000,000, and in 1875 bad fallen to 220,000, 000 pounds, valued at more than $25. 000,000. We may add that according to the United States Bureau of Statistics we sent out of the country in the year ending' June SO, 1877, leaf tobacco val ued at nearly $29,000,000. .. These figures would make tobacco rank sixth in the list of exported staples, cotton, breadstuff a, petroleum, and the precious metals alone exceeding it in Importance. Before mark ing the distribution of our surplus among foreign' customers, it may be well to note how far the latter are able to meet their respective demands from domestic sources. Prussia, for example, raises a hundred million pounds; Austria-Hungary about as much; and France some forty-five millions. Among the countries which have an excess for export may be named Brazil, which sends out upward of 30.000,000 pounds; Japan, whose shipments have amounted to 40,000,000; and New Grenada, which can spare about 12,000,000. The whole aver age crop of the Philippine Islands is set down at 22,000,000, much of which is exported, and the same may be said of Java, whose yield is estimated at 33,000,- 000. From China, on the other hand, while the home consumption is enormous. the exports are only about 2,000,000; and even Cuba can spare only about 12,000,000 pounds of leat tobacco, although she sends out, of course, a vast quantity of cigars. If we except, indeed, those fine qualities of leaf employed in the manufacture of Cuban and, some would add, Manila cigars, it may be said that the tobacco raised in the rest of the world is merely grown to supplement the American crop, since no varieties except those of the districts nam ed can vie with it In richness and flavor. It appears that In 1375 our best customer was Germany, notwithstanding the large quantity grown, as we have seen, in Prus sia. Our exports of tobacco to the German empire exceeded 56,000,000 pounds, while Great Britain, which produces none, took only 54,000.000. To Italy we sent about 32,000,000, and to Franco 21,000,000, Spain, too, notwithstanding 'the inflow from her colonial possessions, required nearly 14,000,000 pounds of the Ameri can staple, buying lor me most pan the Virginia, and Tennessee leaf. It is equally curious that the. Nether lands, in spite of the large crop of Java, should have drawn almost 17.000,000 pounds from the United States. Our next largest customers are the Austrian empire, Canada, and Belgium, in the order named. In the same year we exported some 45,000 pounds to Cuba, double that amount to Porto Rico, and considerable quantities to all the South. . Arpgrirn republics. .We may also mention that the . British and French West Indies,' and even Hayti, are relatively to, their population very large consumers of our staple. . , In almost all countries tobacco Is made to coiitribuiea notable share of the na tional revenue. In Germany hitherto the duty on American leaf has been - four thalers per one hundred pounds, but Bis marck now proposes to largely augment this impost. . In Austria. France, Italy and Spain the growth, importation, manu facture and sale of tobacco are controlled by that form of Government monopoly known as a Regie. ' The customs tax on American tobacco in England is three shil lings per pound. In Belgium the impost is $2.40 for 100 kilograms, while in Holland duty on the same quantity is only 28 cents. Leaf tobacco imported into Russia must pay about f 3.30 per pud (36 pounds) while smoking tobacco must pay six times as much, and cigars, on the other band, only $1.65 per pud. In Turkey the duty is 60 cents for a unit of weight equivalent to 11 J American ounces. The amount of revenue drawn by the United States Government from tobacco is, of course, very large, but up to 1870 it was much less, than the sum derived by the United Kingdom from the same source. Thus in 1865 the tax on tobacco yielded us less than eleven and a half million doljars, while it produced thirty-one millions in Great Bri tain. During the past seven years, how ever, our returns have been much augmen ted, exceeding $37,000,000 in the last year (1875) covered by Mr. Killsbrkw's table. In view of the remarkable stimulus lately given to the culture of tobacco in some of our Western States, and especially in Ten nessee, there is reason to think the income from this staple will be materially increas ed during the next decade. The Commissioner in conclusion says that hay Is probably the most remunerative of all crops, land and labor considered, and that tobacco unquestionably comes next. Now that our own Agricultural Depart ment is well established, we trust it will not be long before we have as exhaustive re ports on the Btaple crops of North Carolina. TUB SUPREME COURT. The discussion of the Court's decisions and of the merits of candidates for nom ination to the Bench, loses none of its liveliness. We are overrun with commu- jiications on the subject, and print them as rapidly as possible. We believe in let ting the people be heard, and restrain them only when we think they "overstep the modesty of nature" Some stars in one of the communications printed this morning will indicate to. our correspondent that whilst bis "aroumentum aa Aomtnem is very strong, strong enough to stir the blood of every man and woman in North Carolina against the decisions of the Court and the Judges who made tbem, it is omitted simply because it introduces, per sonal matters too delicate for new paper dis cussion. The imports of foreign dry goods at the port of New York for the month of March are $805,681 less than for the correspond ing month last year. For the three months of the year the total imports show a de crease of $1,934,319 as ompared with the same time last year, while the total of goods thrown on the market m the same time is nearly $500,000 in excess of the total importations. Thx population of Great Britain and reland and the adjacent isles at the official census of April 3, 1871. was 31,628,338, exclusive of people away in the army, navy and merchant service abroad, estima ted at 229,000. The population of the United States, June, 1870, was 38,558,371, and at the time the British census was taken it was probably just about 39,000,000. Lord Rosebebt is the wealthiest editor in the world. He is reported to be worth in his own right $3,000,000, and his wife has $25,000,000 more. What a lordly air that man's paper can assume toward sub scribers and advertisers I" , Tbkrk are all kinds of ways of making a support for one's family. Three persons living in the parish of Assumption, Louis iana, have killed during the past year 9,000 alligators, saved the oil, and sold the hides for seventy-five cents apiece. ; No political prisoners, as they are called. are now imprisoned in South Carolina, ex State Treasurer Cardozo, the last of them, having been released. What has become of all the old time "outrages 7" Eighty-five thousand eight hundred and eighty is just the number of persons that, according to the latest official reports, are now in the employ of the government in civil capacities. It costs the people of England no less than $60,000,000 a year to maintain "an efficient navy." The estimates for the current year are $55,265,455. An iron clad costs some $50,000 a year to keep in repair. I The river-and-harbor bill as it comes from the committee on commerce amounts in the aggregate for all river and harbor improvements to a little more than $7,000, 000. . i Distributing Fish. Mr. Worth, of the State Agricultural Department, arrived in the city yesterday afternoon with 500 land locked salmon which were distributed between Phifers pond and that on the plantation of Capt. S. B. Alexander. These fish were hatched in the Baltimore hatch er. The Agricultural Department pur chased from the hatchery about 40,000 eggs. but only about 18,000 fish were hatched from them. Mr. Worth left Baltimore few days since with this number. ' He deposited 1,000 In the ponds around Greens boro; 8,000 or 9,000 in the Dan river, near Danbury; 1,000 at Salisbury. Arriving in Morganton yesterday afternoon lie depost led 600 in the mill pond or Mai. Wilson near the town, and the following in tribu taries of the Catawba : L pner creek 500. John's river 500, and Linviile river, 5,000 to o.uuu. 1 - - ' :-. v- ', ; .-. "These fish live exclusively in . fresh water, and attain ' their full growth in about three years. unarioue utnerper, 1th. ; DEATH FROM FRACTXTRXD SlUIX. A little son . of Anderson Gower, residing near Leachburg, had his skull iractured by a kick from a horse, on Wednesday of last week, from which he has since died. Gxmtooro Mettmgar SORTS CAROLINA POLITICS. There is interesting reading in the an nexed series of special dispatches from this city to the New York Time. People like to read scandal, even political scandal, about their neighbors, and there is a goodly lot of that sort of scandal in the dispatches sent to the Time. But it is not for the scandal's sake that they are reprinted in Thx Ob&krvxr. This is a newspaper. and the people are entitled to see the news, and the Democratic people are en titled to see what is said of them by an intelligent, however inaccurate, Radical on-looker. The "great New York dailies'' are seen by a very few of the people of North ! Carolina, and those of the richer classes oily. This paper goes to men of all clape rich and poor, and is read from one end of .North Carolina to the other. . For tbe policy "of "concealment we have an utter contempt. Fear of danger to the party, we have none. In the Democratic camp tbe largest liberty is allowed be fore the day of battle. ' When that day comes the Democracy, like Charles the Bold of Burgundy, knows bow to ride its own wild horses and to rule its own wild soldiery. For previous disorder there is ever abundant allowance, but woe to them who have gone too far astray to march in the ranks with willing step and cheerful heart. It is the Democratic party which is a necessity to the country, not the men whom It assigns to office. They are but instruments to execute its will No man has claims upon the party. Tbe party has claims upon all who call themselves Demo crats ; and the - party's Convention will bru&q aside without a thought any whose ambitious schemes may have made it dan gerous to trust them with its flag. Special Dispatch to the New York Times, 3d. Ralkigh, April 2. The Democrats have called their State Convention to meet on the 13th of June next, in this city. The Republican State Committee has been called to meet in this city on the 25th of this month. A bitter fight is going on among the Democrats for the nomination of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Hon. W. N. H. Smith, who was appoint ed by Gov. Vance, in January last, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Chief Justice Pearson, is distasteful to the ultra wing of the party because he holds that the jurisdiction to try revenue officers when indicted in the State Courts is by removal to the Federal Court, and then by trial or other proceedings in that court. He is also obnoxious to a large number of Democrats on account of tbe decision of two cases by tbe Supreme Court at tbe re cent term, one involving the power to im prison a man guilty of assault and battery on his wife, in the county jail for five years, and the other a question of divorce. These questions have been discussed and commented upon until it appears that a majority of the counties are opposed to tbe nomination of Judge Smith. The op position has centered upon David Schenck, of Lincoln county, who is a Superior Court Judge. This gentleman holds that tbe jurisdiction to try revenue officers for offences committed by tbem in their ca pacity as officers of the United States Is in tbe Slate Courts. The feeling against revenue officers has been played upon until the people are at white heat in opposition to Judge Smith. - : it is rumored upon tne streets tins morn ing that a desperate fight is going on be tween Mr. Randolph Shot well, who was convicted in 1871 and sentenced to the Albany Penitentiary for Kukluxing James M. Justice, or Kutnertoru county, and the friends of Judge Schenck. Shot well is opposed to Schenck because, he says, Schenck betrayed the nuklux and de nounced them in his testimony before the Committee on Southern Outrages at Wash-1 ington. Shotwell was high up in the order, and the charge is made that he is now writing letters and using every means in bis power to organize tne ex-K.u-klux in opposition to Judge Schenck. On the other hand, the friends of Judge Schenck charge Shotwell with downright lying and perjury. They say that Shotwell published a statement after be was pardon ed, in which he denied that he was present or had anything to do with the raid upon Justice. Upon this showing he has been re garded as a martyr to political persecu tion, and was taken up by the Democrats of Mecklenburg county and elected to tha last Legislature. He is now the edi tor of the farmer ana Mechanic, an ag ricultural paper published in this city. which is the organ of the State Depart ment of Agriculture. It is report ed that affidavits have been procured from parties who were m tne Justice raid. to the enect that bbotwell was pres ent : that they saw bun and knew him. and that he kicked open the door of Jus tice's house. It is proposed to bull-doze Shotwell into silence by threatening him with the publication of these affidavits, and thus destroy his martyrdom and drive him from bis present position unless be stops his warfare oa Schenck. In the meantime it is said that Gov. Vance is of the opinion that a portion of his party are raving mad, judging py the attacks of the party press upon Judge bmith.' ine contest ir united states senator seems to have narrowed down to Senator Merrimon and Governor Vance. The con test will no doubt be very bitter. Merri mon has overcome a great deal of the oppo sition incurred by his bolt five years ago. Appearances indicate that Merrimon's friends up to this time have been more ac tive than those of Governor Vance. Col. Fuller, law partner of Senator Merrimon, manages his canvass, and is ably seconded by Mr. George W. Swepson, of railroad notoriety in this State. Tbe other law partner is Mr. S. A. Ashe, who is Chairman ot the Democratic state committee, gov. Vance has made many enemies in his party by not havmg offices enough for every hun gry aspirant. He thinks he will receive the caucus nomination and that the Republican members of the .Legislature will support him in preference to Senator Memmon. It is proposed to make tbe fight in the meetings to nominate candidates for the Legislature and to commit the candidates to Governor Vance or to Merrimon as a majority of the people may decide. I have been told that Orange county has been "fixed" for Mr. Memmon, and that J. S. Carr and A. W. Graham are to be nomi nated for tbe Legislature as his friends. Believing that the State Is overwhelmingly lost to the Republicans, Democratic candi dates are as numerous as the voters of that party. The present outlook foretells lively times in tbe Old Xiorth state from now until the election in August. Special Dispatch to' the New York Times, 4th.) Raieigh. April 3. The ' fight for Sena tor and Chief Justice grows fiercer and hotter. It is now current upon the streets that Daniel G. Fowle, Judge David Schenck, and Senator Merrimon have formed an offensive and defensive alliance against Gov. Vance and Chief Justice Smith,' tor the purpose' of making Schenck Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, to se cure Merrimon's re-election to the United States Senate,' and to nominate Fowle for Governor in 1880. ''It is also . reported that the friends of Mr; Smith have letters written by Mr. flehenefc in 1874. when lie was elected Superior Court' Judge,' show ing that Schenck paid a Democratic editor 4W lor jus services and tne use oi tus paper during the campaign of that year. It is further - reported that a Democratic editor was written to a few " weeks ago by Jndge Schenck and requested to drive the Driver case. This editor proved to be a friend of Chief Justice Smith, and refused to pitch into that judicial officer because of tbe decision in tbe Driver case, but ex posed Mr. benenck by snowing his letters. The papers of the city show that the gen tleman who has charge of Schenck's can vass is writing up tbe Ku Klux record of that gentleman, and is trying to neutralize the efforts of Randolph A. Shotwell, who was a Ku Klux chief, and .who is organ izing members of that order against Mr. Schenck. It is now charged that Gov. Vance has entered the light for Chief Justice,, and is i wielding a sledge hammer in xavor or Mr. ttmitn. in the meantime tbe feeling is growing that tbe Republi cans will hold no State Convention ; that tbe county leaders will be advised to man age their own affairs, in their owu way, aa their judgment may dictate, after the can vass has fully developed. : .'' '. ! UIU JXCIU1, WIUIB WW put IU jail here yesterday, charged with outraging his daughter. ,VV hen arrested 'Keith said that he had been inf or oied that Chief Jus tice Smith had decided, a few weeks ago. that incest was not a criminal offence In North Carolina, and that be was not sub-j ject to arrest and punishment. ; To such depths has the Democratic canvass des cended that this statement of Keith is peddled with avidity upon the streets as an argument against nominating Mr.' Smith for Chief Justice. Special Dispatch; to the New York Times, cth.l Raleigh, N." C.,' April 5. The devel opments arising from the political quarrel now going on between the various persons who are candidates for Chief -Justice and Associate Justice of the ,Supreme Court are new and surprising. ' The friends or Judge Smith have unearthed the fact that David schenck was an original Secession ist, and that he made a blood-and-tbunder war speech at Goldsboro, in 1861, before this State seceded. Motcs, of South Caro lina, father of F. J. Moses, the colossal thief of South Carolina, and ;now the chief Democratic witness as to ras cality in the Palmetto State, was present at the Convention begging North Caro lina . to secede and place herself in line with her sister State. Moses bard Schenck's fire-eating speech, and remarked that he was the only nisn in North Caro lina who had nerve and back-bone autfl cient to lead the people. Tbe sequel to this harangue at Goldsboro is what might have been expected. Schenck dodged the war. For a . while ha was a vender of meat in the Subsistence Department in this city, and afterward manned to se cure a "bomb-proof,' which taubhxl hini, to stay at home with his family: in Lin colnton. These facts are hugely enjoyed by the friends of Smith, and they roll the names of Moses and Schenck as sweet morsels under their tongues, ltandulph Shotwell has announced . that he will thoroughly ventilate Schenck in an ex. haustive card on Thursday of next week. Tbe friends of Chief Justice Smith de nounce the attack on that gentleman as au attack upon Gov. Vance, and have de manded that the Governor come to tueit assistance. Vance desires to be elected to tbe United States Senate. This, is the height of his ambition. He has subordi nated his ad mini si ration as Governor to the attainment of ibis object. He knows that any interference on his part in the pending contest for Chief Justice of tbe Supreme Court can only serve to weaken bis chances for . election to the Senate t therefore he did not desire to be drawn into the contest, and woukl not have done so but for the fact that tbe op cosioon to Smith has orysializea the opposition to n Vance. Under Uieee cir cumstances it is well understood in this city that the Governor has taken off his au hi favor of Smith, and is dealing destruction to the followers of Schenck, Fowle, and Senator Merrimon. While tbe fight ra ges between Schenck and Smith, the friends of another gentleman are preparing to run off with the bone. An organization is said to exist in this city, who are in favor of Thomas S. Ashe, of Anson County, for Justice. They are holding Mr. Ashe back with tbe confident expectation that smith and Schenck will cut each other's throats, and . that Ashe will receive the nomina tion. Thomas J. Jarvis, the Lieutenant Governor, is for Vance for Senator. He has donned his old war clothes, and is ma king things lively for Merrimon, Schenck and Fowle in intern Carolina. i LENOIR COUNTY EETTKR. Correspondenceof The Obssbvkk. t Kinston, N- C, April 6, 1878. Messrs. Editors : Spring has stolen a march upon winter this time. Our - little city is fast greening into beauty. ' The ioiiage tu un onaue trees ug tue oiue- walks has thickened enough to hide tbe numberless little birds that .carol so joy. ousiy in us miasi. uaraen peas are reaay 1 . . 3 . S for tbe table,' and garden "sass generally will soon usurp upon the table the places oi picaiea oeei ana oeans. Mian are abun dant at thirty-five cents per pair. Fresh herrings are shy at one cent each. ' The first rock fish of the season made aa ap pearance upon tbe streets yesterdav. . ,. Nothwitbstanding that the night is made hideous by the vast number of cow-bells jingling around every patch of green grass in the streets, yet butter is high and scarce. selling at from forty nve to nrty cents per pound. When you take tea with a mend you advance the butter knife very timidly for fear of being watched as you transfer a huge slice to your plate for personal use. IXFXKIOR COUKT. The first meeting of this body was held in Kmston on Monday, April 1st, and ad lourned on Wednesday. It was organized by the election of CoL N. B. Whitfield as chairman and J. M. Hines and C. 8, Wooten as associates ; A. J. Loftin, Esq., was elected Solicitor and C. F. Harvey Clerk. Twenty-five cases were tried, all of minor Importance except one, viz: State vs. Robert Waiters and John Wilson, for the larceny of seven hogs. Tbe case was very clear ; but by the efforts of Waiters' counsel.' jr. is. JLottin, Xjsq.. be was clear ed, but Wilson , was , convicted and sen tenced to two years hard labor in tbe pen tentiary. i The attorneys in attendance, besides tne Solicitor were juesars. J no. r. wooten M. A. Gray, W. J. Rasberry. J. Q. Jack son and jr. is. jjortin, irom jjenoir, ana W. O. Munroe, from Greene. ' Every thing worked along smoothly am harmoniously, and it was proved that lu Court is just what was needed provided only civil jurisdiction had been added. An effort i will be - made tot have two more terms of ; the court, as it . is evident that this will afford still better means for the prompt punishment of crimes. HABO TIMES. Not more than ten men note stand habit ually before . their store doors and rattle half dollars in their pantaloons pockets. a ha -cotton did nos- pay au-our debts last FalL it But we hope ; by mortgaging more laud aad Duying suu more furuu sera, we will either pull oat or go. deeper in debt. : arachkl. Asbon iTXtsL AraU deal of corn 1 coming to ciKi phK nowj imod is bringing from the wa&His, Jurats ta 70. cents brisheL ... The wheat and oat eroo are lookinf re markably- fine, and from! present ibdlca- uonswe predict tne larsest crop was oaa ever been made, not only in this county Dot thronzuoot thez stale. r&u&ocro Arjpu, NEW VOKK CORRESPONDENCE. . . (Correspondence of Ths Obsckvib. New York, Apil 6. 1878. . Messks. Editors : The presence of many Southern merchants (though perhaps not so many as usual, at this purchasing season) gives me an opportunity to bear of the state Of things and of the bodily health of old friends and acquaintances in all parts of the South, and especially of our own State. On tbe whole it is a cheerful outlook they present, the on'.y drawback being the complaint of the scarcity of money a complaint not confined to the South. But there seem to be but few failures, and almost all are "making a liv ing," which is about as much as any one can hope to do in these times, and what few are accomplishing here in this region of universal dwarfing, shrinkage as it is properly termed. For nearly five years past this process has been going on, always from bad to worse. It is most severe upon the landed proper. y, which a few years ago was deemed the surest and safest. livery man who bought a house felt that he was bound to get rich ,- bd now none. more poor than be. In some of the towns in the South also there has doubtless been some depreciation, but nothing to compare with this ; and the cultivated lands have I think risen in value. This is because they were too low in comparison with lands in other part 8 of tbe country, and people are inclined to leave high priced and high- taxed lands here and to go where both prices and taxes are reasonable. uiit it is in regard to individuals mainly that my inquiries are directed those whom may not hope to see. again in life who have died, who married, 'who have chil dren born to tbem? Among tbe very recent dead is one whom 1 remember with great respect, George Little, once Sheriff of Anson, and alwavs one of tbe most prominent citizens of that wealthy and intelligent county. When I last saw him he was manly and vigorous, a fine specimen of a Southron. 1 have not seen his oeath mentioned in the papers. 1 ou have bad occasion heretofore to refer to the ignorance ot educated people, so called, at the Nortu. in regard to tbe constitution and our system of govern ment. , A new instance of this was slated by Mr. George Ticknor Curtis in a Lec ture delivered here the other evening, when be read a letter from a lawyer in New England "in which it was stated that in a conversation with one of his profes sional brothers, that professional brother had contended that tbe relations of the different States to the Federal Union were about tbe same as that of a county to a State. The correspondent wanted Mr. Curtis to inform him whether the profes sional brother's opinion was correct or not, and added that 'not one half of our bar would assume to gainsay the proposition.' " so a New England lawyer not only en tertains this absurd opinion, but more than half of bis professional brethren concur with him. Mr. Curtis said he was "sure that such extremely erroneous opinions are not held in any other latitude or longitude of this great republic by my professional brethren or any other class." And he went on to give these people credit for great shrewdness in the business affairs of life, but of statesman m)i in a plentiful lack. Writing tbe above about educated peo ple, reminds me of the remark of a eulo gist of "Virginia before tbe war," who says that "no V lrginia gentleman, even of tbe most moderate means, could bear to have his son grow up without the ad vantages of a collegiate course. Which forces the reflection, What a piodigious number of sons of Virginia must have bad the advantages of a collegiate course: or, if not so, how few Viiini gentlemen possessed "even tiie imwt moderate means." Pray keep within the bourds of reason. 11. LETTER. FKOJ1 CRAVt. COII.Vl Y. Correspondence of The Obh:kver.J Nkwbekn, April 8, 1878. The cultivation of tobacco receives con siderable attention in this and the adjoin ing county of ijenoir. The quantity grown is increasing yearly, and u is said that, as to quality, the tobacco of these Eastern counties stands very hiuh. That from 1enoir has bad prizes awarded it for excellence, f but to undertake to decide where tbe best tobacco tiu the State is grown were apparently to essay a more difficult task (ban to attempt to prove the authorship of the Jumux letters, or to de cide as to who struck Billy Patterson. An Obsbkvek correspondent writing from Rockingham (Lawsonville) in February i last, claims for the totiacco of that county ibat it is the "best in tbe world.' In the same, issue and column of the paper an Orange county man says that there is raised the "fluest in the Union." From the distant mountains of Buncombe and Madison comes the confident statement that t heir's in best. Craven and. Lenoir say the same. Can you settle the vexed question ? Some at least of these judg ments must be delivered without refer ence to or knowledge of the merits of the claims ot ot tiers. . 8UPEKOB OOKKT. Superior Court, Judge Kerr ui-esiding. is in session here this week Tne J udge's charge to the grand jury, eloquent in i'ic tioo, was certainly tti generi. in general terms he divided mankind into two classes: those who try to live in accordance with tbe precepts and teachings of Holy Writ and who 1 suppose have no need of the lawyers -and those who in all their actions seem to be moved and instigated by His Satanic Majesty, and who, presumably. necessitate courts and juries. Among the second of tbe classes named lie the duties of tbe grand jury, and in tbe estimation of Ills Honor, (unless bis meaning is much misunderstood), to that class belong the majority of tbe officers of the Internal Revenue. Speaking of lawyers' it is related of a member of the bar that, in the midst of an impassioned appeal to the jury, he ve hemently denied the admissibility of cer tain testimony for the reason that "there was no man present save this woman. wmcn reminds one or tbe irishman s ac count of his first day's sporting in Amer ica, says rat : " 1 tie brat bird 1 seen was a squirrel, and I shot him with a barn shovel aftber I bad tbreed him undher a haysbtack. And tbe first time I sthruck him 1 missed him, and the second time I hit him I sthruck bun in tbe same place wnere l misseo mm oeiore. ' The number of criminal cases for trial quite large ; among them are several cap iat cases of interest and altogether the prospect for a re-enforcement of the rail road force in tbe West is very encouraging. There is a ease on the criminal docket ot t negro constable who suffered himself to be led astray from the paths of rectitude by au unwise indulgence of his too great fond ness for the sweets of life. He appropri ated a barrel of molasses, the property of a merchant here, which he attempted to tow across tbe river to the scene of his official labors, having previously, with great consideration, borrowed the tow-line from the owner of the stolen property. In the Blue Ridge Mountain tunnels be may ano opportunity to arrive at the apprecta won or i xie lawsoi meum and luum Decora ing in an officer of the law. D. HosiCroE 13 'Watne. On Saturday Ckiroaer George T.'Kirby was notified that a colored boy .named, Lorenzo Reed, resi ding, with his father, Zion Reed, in the Nahonta section, had died from a blow dealt bim by his cousin, Jesse Reed. The iury,: with the exception of two. were all colored men and rendered the verdict that Lorenzo Reed came to his death from the effects of a blow or Injury inflicted by j esse iieeo. vywoorv Mcuengtr. i WASHINGTON. : ',' Special Correspondence of The Observes. Washington, April 8, 1878. The re nowned Massachusetts warrior was early" on the skirmish line to-day. He had on liis war paint. It was noticeable that his floral adornments were not to be seen. Some people recognize the great soldier by his button-hole bouquets. He posted Conger, Hale, Frye, Calkins and White, and brave, gallant soldier that he is con spicuously posted himself in the area in front or the Speaker's desk at "a-cbarge-bayonets." Immediately following the reading . of the Journal, the resolution offered by Butler on Friday previous, de claring that Gen. James Shields be elected Doorkeeper of the House, was announced as the regular order. By this time the gal- lenes7were packed, w hispers ran through tbe House that Butler was prepared to make fierce attack on Gen. Field and would unearth some history that would drive the Democrats from his support, t In support of his resolution and in vindication of his right to nominate Gen. Shields he read a -letter urging him to make an effort to have the bill pending in tbe Senate giving him a pension of $50 per month increased to $100. . Tbe Democrats made a courageous effort to laugh. Some few knew that Gen. bbields bad unqualifiedly refused to accept the office at the hands of the Republican minority. That letter was warrant enough, he said, for what he had done. He ex tolled Gen. Shields as one of the bravest men in America. If Butler was sincere in his professions, Eden asked why it was he hadn't used his influence with the Administration and had him appointed Postmaster General Instead of a "rebel General " ? "My influence with the Administration," said Butler, "booh ! That's funny enough to have originated with the gentleman. from New York, (Mr. Cox)." "Between Union and rebel soldiers'' he said "he would always give it to the loyal ones." Yeates here reminded him of what he said on Friday about voting for a crippled Confederate soldier. It only nettled him the more, and he went on to picture the widows and orphans of the loyal dead on memorial day. He briefly alluded to the murder of Mumford in New Orleans as the only instance punishing treason. Republicans heartily applauded the atrocious sentf menL He charged that Field was not a citizen of the United States. He had committed treason, and before atoning for it bad expatriated himself and swoin al legiance to a foreign power the Sultan of. Turkey. Mr. Hunton effectually ex ploded this little bubble. He showed that Gen. Field entered- the Khedive's army and fought for him by contract.. ' He Bub scribed to no oath of allegiance. About two months ago his political disabilities were removed. He is now a citizen in every sense of that much abused term. Butler allotted tea minutes of his time to Frye, of Maine, who attempted to jus tify the 41st Congress in denying Gen. Shields a seat in that body from Missouri, and then demanded the previous question. The call was not sustained, thus giving the Democrats one hour to reply to But ler. Here the dextrous flank-movement began which resulted in a Republican Bull-Run. Clymer, Cox, Blackburn and McMabon made pungent . ten minute talks. Clymer got control of the previous question machinery and used it to good purpose. Butler's resolution was voted down. Field was put in nomination was elected and was promptly inducted into office. "It's all over now, said a Repub lican, take old Shields, we are done with him." So many on that side thought and felt as they hurried to the cloak room pre paratory to adjournment. Instead ef a motion to adjourn, it was a motion to sus pend the rules and put on its passage a bill authorizing the President (de facto) to ap point Gen. Shields a Brigadier General and assign him to the retired list. Motions to adjourn and points of order came thick and fast from the republican side. Motions to adjourn were voted down and the points of order promptly overruled. Every ex pedient exhausted, they succumbed . and courageously voted for tbe bill. Randolph Tucker said, after the battle, "it has been a Field-dag ; we have turned their flank and driven the enemy before us." That very aptly expresses Democratic feeling to-nigbt. v , , 11. Washington, April 9, 1878. An insufferably dull and stupid day in the House to-day. The Committee of Conference on one of the appropriation bills reported, and occupied some time in trying to explain the difference between the report as made and the report they in tended to make, lhe report was recom mitted. Wright, of Pennsylvania, interjected a "stump speech," in the shape of a bill authorizing the issue of four hundred mil lions in greenbacks to be used In erecting public buildings. 1 he House refuses to concur in tbe Sen ate amendments to the consular and diplo matic appropriation bill. Ibe.fact should , not tie lost sight of that thus far tbe Re-' publican Senate has defeated every eco nomical measure desired by ths Democratic House. The Committee on Currency reported to-day au important bill retiring the Na tional bank notes, and by special resolu tion made the bill a special order for April 23rd. .. The balance of the legislative day was occupied by Mr. Wood in a close two - hours speech on tbe tariff buL Tbe speech hardly commanded the attention that was due to the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. The bill will take pre cedence of all other legislation for several davs. Sickness of the Chairman of the Com mittee on Appropriations will delay action on the principal appropriation bills. Delay will not be hurtful, however. at the other enp. The Senate Finance Committee to-day discussed the resumption repeal bill, and agreed to take a vote on it next Friday. lhe same committee reported to-day a. bill re-opening the mint at New Orleans. I he Senate is sitting up to-night with the Pacific Funding bill. It is understood tbat the Judiciary mil will pass with some modification. The House Committee agreed to day to report substantially tbe same! bill. I . H. i The Washington Situation. 1 could add nothing to what I telegraphed last night relative to tbe political situation. I heard the administration side of the issue from the President and several members of bis Cabinet, and the views of tbe im placables are on their sleeves all the time. If President Hayes has one sincere sup porter in either the Senate or House I have been unable to see or hear of him. - The policy of the Republicans is settled to ignore the administration, and Blaine will lead the party away from Hayes aa Clay led the Whigs from Tyler, the only differ ence being that tbe Republicans will not denounce Hayes, but pass him by as no longer a factor in tbe political struggles of the day. Whether it will win, is the problem to be decided when the frosts and hoarse murmurs of November shall have come. Washington Correspondence PhUa delphia Timet. Ths Sootch and ths Pope. The pro testa ot the Scotch Presbyterians have proved unavailing, and tbe Papal Hier archy is established in Scotland. The en terprise originated by Cardinal Manning and suggested to Pius IX, has been con cluded by Pope Leo, and tbe Roman Sees which were abolished three centuries ago hare been restored.