The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-01

W.
Elijah A. Rice.
Speech of Alderman William NJ Tweed,
AT A LARGE MEETING or THE DEMOCRACY IN THE
THIRTEENTH WARD.
After the music Of two bands, the fireworks and the
rear Of cannon had ceased Mr. Tweed amid cheers
and when silence restored, said -
Mr.. President and Fellow Citizens Near the spot
where now stand born and bred. Near this spot
went to school; and pleased to before
at the academy which after ALL the happest period
of our lives. In those days although captain of
the military companies of the boys and foreman of uve
Die fre companies, did not dream that l should in
manhood be foreman Of fire company, of the
humble leaders OF great Political party Indeed those
OF you who know me best, will do justice
to FAY that never seishly coveted these honorable
distinctions, being always contensed to be useful
stances beyond my efforts desires have placed
in the front ranks your Congressional standard
have finally concluded that must and do here
by submit with reluctance to your will While have
been m, mber If the Common Council have endeavor
ed to legslate for the benefit Of ali nsttuents rre
peotivc OF party; and II have not desire yourselves
and all to say so (You have you have,' was the cry
throughout the vast assembIage.) Much complaint has
time Of the legisla,n of the Common Council and the
enimaovertion IL hurled at both parties Now will not
here, in the public forum defend the Common Council
but feel bourd TO speak of one member and hat is my
self my fow members in the Board beng cs able and
ready, presume TO defend themselves, In my youth
the principles OF integrity y and charity
implanted in my bosom and have always endeavored to
beec the invaluable sdmotons of those to whom under
God. am chiefly Indebted for all that And cal
on those here to night who have known since early
boyhood il you knew me to commit dis
honorable action Ono no no was the response from
eyery ouartar) If YOU have speak out in tones of
thunder and let the whole world know it and all its
ticuisrs. No no was sgan vociferaed in desenng
toDes The adBonifons Of those nearest and dearest to
alp ay Never to commit Of which might
be ashamed thereafter These words have been
uprermost in my thought. and trust they will be.
Nov, my friends might say much to you, and make
many solemn pledges of what will do If elected
giess out deem it unnecessary 1t is We'll known that
all my ancestors for century past, have cherished
demot ratio principles was early Instructed in the glo-
dtayoed TO effect the greatest good Of the greatest
be-, in my public and private life. And believe that
my syppahss have ever leaned towards those who
least fortunate and thai have endeavored to uplift
them TO the happiness and peiy of those who have
through the mysterious operations Of Providence been
more highly fsvoed. To promote the happiness of all.
through impartial and equal legislation is true demo-
cracy IL elected shall advocate the haowed principles
the in Jefferson who was the real author of our
sacred and eternal declaration of tights and indepsnd
ence from the mother country and the father of the
hmeIicsn constitution as 1t exists, and as trust
in cd 1t VIII exist through waseles ages. True Jer-
son in France when the consttu ion was adopted;
but bis great and humane spirit abroad in the
yeDton that framed the constitution and, although
Thousands Of miles distant his known opinions and
wishes by patriotic members Of tho convention oied the
Efforts OF Alexander Hamilton the great founder OF the
wbg psIty) who abored untirpgy 10 engraf monarch
cal principles in our constitution because no had not
the fdence of Jefferson in the capacity and integrity
OF his fellow men for self government Indeed IL was
said tbst Hamilton fought for Independence aud not
for liberty, in the great American Rsyoiutlonthat he
desiIous TO be independent of Great Britain.
but that he afraid OF the people ungoyernabe
mass srd advocated in the Convention that formed the
Constitution, the election Of President for life Ma
tona Senate for life and the Governors Of the states to
be appointed by the President for life with power to
veto state laws. But fortunately for country, aud
the hopes o. the civilized world the immaculate spirit
ard far sighted vision Of jefferson and Of his faithful
disciples in tie Convention, forever foled the psrnicous
principles OF Hamilton ana gave (and that long line
OF generations marching up from the far future) the
present. glorious institutions enjoy. Hamilton
gry left The Convention when he saw that he was eaed
Ia his embodiment of such unbaowed principles in the
Constu cn but on etion returned seeing that the
power Of the to impose collect and dburse
the public revenues might be construed perverted
twisted as to create oYerhadowipg national fund
ing or banking system through which the government
might control the rational and State elections and the
people e1ectuay as if the President Senators and
Governors elected for life In this the keen
sagacty Of Hamilton apparent. The fuoding CONT
rental system, national banking system, high protective
tariff system and other abominabe systems followed
the Conattutien in rapid succession according To the
predictions aud most ardent wishes of iamiiton-mea
sures which threatened 70 absorb the constitutional
rights of the States and to destroy the liberties of the
people And II a just and inerciful God, who loved
liberty and the American people had not reared the i'm
mortal Andrew Jackson forever crush the corrupt and
royamoney monster in various forms whose charters were
conceived ana created by the genius of Hamilton the
model of the British funding and other nmonetary sys
TENS. by which that crafty empire enslaves ts deluded
been true to his country and bis God that whole
political system would have been subvtrted and all Of US
cast back into the embraces OF merciess tyrants He
~
bnd daring soldier and able statesman and as
having served his country with undertaking fidelity In
his views OF government believe that he strictly
honest The werld had been under the influence Of
witchcraf and dark ignorant superstitiou and cruel
despotm since the first morning OF creation with slight
ezcep IONS The coonis had just emerged from the iron
grssp OF tyranny, through the most unequal and hard
fought sonilict Gu human record and Hamilton
prepared to believe that for he irs time in the
history OF the world capable Of sclgoyernment under
our present free and happy institutions But the super
natural genius Jefferson grasped ali the expert
ence and wisdom Of the past, analysed at a
glance the varied circumstances Of the present,
and penetrated the veil Of the future and declared
TO the world that man capable and prepared
TO govern himself under institutions free the air Of
heaven Ills countrymen believed him, adopted his
beautiful and practical political system and viii part
from his grave, he would speak in encomastic and
thusiasc terms of the constitution Of the ustrious
JEFFERSON and rejoice that Jefferson trumphed the
fatal system that he Hamiton conceived and advocated
with such ability ana enthusiasm in the great constu
tional convention Of our fathers Now, II there be a
man on whom the mantle OF Jefferson should fall,
after the noble jackson, II Is Gen. Pierce Ifthere be
man who Is the mortal enemy Of Hamiltons policy las
transmitted and carried out. far possible by the
wbg party OF the present day. 1t Is Gen Piercs And
why do and you know thsl Because Thomas Jefferson
was Virginan and Virginia sways voted for jefferson
and jackson, and the democratic Presidents; and be
cause Virginia first proposed Gen Pierce in the Balt
more Convention and clung to him until he was nom
mated w reclamation Higher authority than yirginas
OF Gen Pierces Jeeronian and Jacksonian democracy
cannot be adduced When congressional bills pre-
sentt for Gen Pierces signature he will that they
equally effect Virginia, the Carolinas Louisiana New
York Ohio, California, New Hampshire, Vermont Mas
sachnsetts and every State in the Union No special
the behess OF the constitution Ii bill be presented
to him attacking the domestic institutions of the North
OF south the East or West, he win hull II back in the
teeth OF The receau statesman who dared request his
signature 10 such bill He will say was elected to
preterye the conftiuonal rights of The States and the
sacred liberties Of the American people, snd 50 help ma