The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-09

Bennet's Herald presents another, and
still better engraving, Showing off" the hui
mors of ultra-loco-focos at Tammany, and
their professions through the streets. The
editor thinks there never was any thing to
surpass it in either ancient or modern times.
If such materiel is to triumph over the intelli-
gence, the wealth and morality Of such city
as New York, then, indeed, it is time for us
to tremble for the safety Of the republic.
Although it is about ten years since the great split
took place IN the Tammany party yet it is but recently
that the Tammany party has branched off into many
heads and tails At present, is perfect political Sa-
tunaa with us, and the greatest upon earth since the
Saturnalia Of the Romans. Amongst the A.henians,
the democrats, enthusiastic and determined as they
were, and furious the popular camor, never cut
up half many queer Shines" to use classic word
as the democracy Of New York in short. there was
nothing rich in Athens have charter and
county elections and the only thing in ancient history
that at all resembles proceedings in the present day
is the Saturnala amongst the Romans. In The days Of
the Athenian and Roman republics, the elections for
their various officers were carried with consdera-
BILE degree Of spirit and some little humor in England,
in the days Of Fox, the elections at Westminster eyinced
small portion Of noise and humor, and the beautiful
Duchess Of Dcyonshre going round about the polls and
kissing the voters, feature in eectoneering
policy but it reserved for New York. at the pre-
sent day, to cap the climax Of noise, riot, fun olic,
humor, strange tricks fighting cheating lying swear
ing, bloodshed, blackguardsm, unearthy PROFESSIONS
and extraordinary proceedings.
The origin OF the present loco-foco party may be
traced to Tom Skidmore, who, in the year 1928,
member Of the Adams party in this State He, how
over entertained peculiar notions relative to the
tariff, which he introduced the meetings Of his party
BY which he gave them great deal OF trouble-he was
nd Intpp ho,v AEart he ole ~
Jackson 10 1929, Skidmore got up meeting OF carpen-
and Others and addressed them and organised them
nucleus for the working linens party" which he
formed soon after, All that he had meetings of
the mechanics and working. men; he kept calling them
together, drumming them up and haranguing them, I'M
til last they numbered 900 he then passed
the famous Anti-Bank Resolutions (lhe first which
passed Of the kind) talked about division o. pro-
perry, and eeconeered strongly in the fall Of 1922
when they of their men in the Assembly
Ticket. This started their antagonists, and each party
tried 10 concliste them. ao
This game was carried on through the summer Of
1880, when the great fights took place IN Tamnany
Hall and the North American Hotel. Ia the
of 1880, Robert Dale Owen and Fanny Wright appear
ed upon the political field OF action and then
other violent split up in the ranks Of the loco focos
Then came the different branches of " Fanny Wright
men, and Owenists, aud Skidmoreites, and agra
rians," and I" Jewellers Before this lime, the Tam
many men had goried in the sobrques of " Buckails,"
summer Of $780, they fought most furiously in the coal
hole Of Tamnany Hall and in the Pewter Mug. At last
the agrarans drove out Saul Alley and the old Tamna-
ny into the Pewter Mug. It was in this summer.
too that the great fight took place in the North Amerl
can Hotel between the working and the Fanny
Wright This fight lasted three hours, by the city
| hall clock tG
| Thus went on the great game Of locofoco politics.
| till 1884, IN the summer Of which year Saul Alley aud
his party got back Tammany Hail. and matters went
smoothly till that fall election. when Eli Moore
into the political He began his can,ing and dis
gushing by hypocrticay protesting to be the
friend OF the eurneymen printers, and ultimately Of the
whole Of the members Of the trades union whom he
betrayed. In the spring Of 1882 he became very
blcsome, until he received Office and was quiet
Then came Ming, Slanm, Bang, Rlell & Co. in the
field then came the names Of the "sam Dangers"
radicals, "spitaihelders &c. In 1888, this party
became dreadfuly troublesome In 1884 came the ia
nous split Of the 1000 and the great scene at Tam.
many Hall where the old buck tails again driven
out after short fight and had the lights put out Then
OF the others who had possession Of the ROOM each
drew taow candle ont Of his pocket, and locofoco
match, and lit the These gained them the title
| OF 'locofocos, which they have worn with various
notifications to this day. In ls35 the celebrated
meeting in the Park and the lour ro;s and sacklHg OF
Harris flour store. All through 1885, the rotlng and
fighting continued until the fall Of 1897, the celebrated
locooco mo scripture meeting was held at the Mill