Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-04
dMasbinaton stntinel.
spEECH OF JAMES r. BRApy.

At the GTaHa IlaTH-SHtH hmiHrnfiOn 4kaing "a
Tie Park, New York Cay, tie 2tah Sep
tender, mhimO.
This is an occasion for heartfelt rejoicing
among the true democracy of our State. Our
party is restored to its integrity. We have
declared an absolute and eternal separation
from hypocrites, ingrates, and traitors. Our
banner is radiant with inscriptions which an.
nounce that we are hereafter to have no other
guide in our progress than the holy light of
principle-that we will not suffer our political
creed to be in any degree impaired or sullied
by alliance with any man or set Of men for the
mere attainment of place or power. Here, un-
der the pure sky, in the autumn air, free as
should be our thoughts and actions, let us re-
solve that at no time and under no temptation,
except such as may bind and consecrate the
ranks Of the people in the honest and steadfast
effort to promote the pcrmanencc and pros
perity of the American contrderacy, to uphold
in its full yigor the federal Constitution, and to
insure the triumph Of the democratic party and
it's principles. We have had bitter experience
in permitting an association with treachery.
In an evil hour our party received upon its
bosom adders, in which there fingered little
animation. They warmed into life under our
protection, and, true to their foul instincts,
sought to destroy us. We heard their hiss
We saw their protruding fangs. If our party
had been but an infant Hercules it could have
strangled them. 1t is q mature giant, and
shall crush them forever. am very glad that
we have met elsewhere than in yonder build
ing, the fame and the authority Of whose name
and associations can no longer attract or de-
ceive. Tammany Hall is in the hands of a
Haet arata nfi Va
choose, but the event would not compensate the
effort. In the progress which now charac-
terizes every movement Of the age, it is time
that Evolutionary reverence for such places
should lose its hold on the people. The proud
"reminiscences connected with that hall shall
live in our memories, but when treason and
dishonQr disgrace its walls, we must turn from
it to breathe purer atmosphcre-we must
seek the light Of the day, and, holding up our
sentiments to the full gaze Of our fellow-mcn,
be Judged by no other standard than the real
merit of our thoughts and our deeds.
There is but one oracle for the democracy
it is the will of the people. Its responses are
decisive wherever uttered It's power cannot
be confined within the narrow precincts pre-
scribed by an antiquated and corrupted corpo-
ration, or a society known only by unmeaning
munmcries and significant conspiracies. 1t is
time, too, that you and the democrats of this
State should be informed what is this Society
of Tammany or Columbian Order, which, with
its sachems, seeks to exercise despotic sway
over us through the alternate seasons Of BIOS
SONS, flowers, fruits, and SHOWS. Its ccrcmo-
nies, drawn from the customs of Indians, are
now only effe, Tive in Indian craft and cruelty.
1t was created by statute in lSO5-that "good
old time" when the dcstinies Of our party were
controlled by an elect tew-the precursors OF
those magnates, pcthoric with Office and re-
ward, who afterwards IN small committee
rooms, marked out the course which the peo.
pie were obediently to follow. A change has
come over the spirit Of tina, dream. The right
full authority stolen from the masses is return
ing to them; and if the people of this city,
spurning all artful demagogues, rejecting all
attempts at leadership, will but attend to their
own interests and exert the power they possess,
they will no longer be cheated or enslaved by
the sanctity Of mere names, the stratagcms OF
place-hunters, the schemes of unscrupulous
ambitions; the Vaccinations Of treason. or the
violence Of flawless hircingS. What is the con-
stitution Of this Tammany Society? What are
its bylaws? do not ask those who belong to
the association-who joined it at the time of
its honor and integrity, when it was content to
be the servant and did not aspire to be the
master Of the democracy. ! put the question
to those who, like myself, we're never admitted
to its embrace. and never sought to bc-who
never witnessed the impressive ceremonies of
the wigwam, nor saw. the blaze of the council
fires, nor drank at the waters OF the "Great
Spring What, inquire again, are the prin-
ciples and provisions Of its constitution and
bylaws? You might as well ask the sphynxes
Of the Egyptian desert to tell you the names
of their sculptors. Every member received
into the dark arcana Of the imaginary Saint
Tammany is bound by pledge not to disclose
what its constitution and bylaws are. Secrecy,
gloom, mystery, surround this moloch to which
the right and power of the people of New York
arc continually sacrificed. But some Of its sys.
TENS are revealed. 1t has grand council of
thirteen, majority Of whom-scven illustrious
sachems-may scalp the democratic party at
pleasure, and holding up III" bloody trophy and
the dripping tomahawk, shout wild war'song
Of triumph over the victim. Seven men, not
"in buckran," but with the insignia Of the
anti-renters, and perhaps with the same amount
of integrity, may decide upon the regularity of
the general committee, chosen by the demo-
cracy Of the city and county of New York.
And it is under this power that the Indians
in council have presumptuously pronounced
against the organization Of which Thomas j..
Barr is chairman. ! will not initiate the cx-
ample of our traitor foes, by calling names, but
ask You if these anointcd sachcms and their
followers, meeting, scheming. stabbng, and
holding their savage orgies in the dark, are not
indians in feeling, habit and action. I'M
derstand that gentleman named Ten Eyek,
the clerk of Kings county, and resident Of
Brooklyn, who supported the mongrcl Buffalo
ticket in ls4s,wielded the power Of ejecting our
committee by his omnirotent vote. The Tam.
many Society is corporation-Tammany Hall
is its private property; which it leases to indi-
viduals. Wha: becomes Of the moneys of the
corporation know not, But would like to
be informed, when, where. and how, that cor
poraton obtained the power to decide who COM
posed the democratic party, and at what times
or places the people ofNew York shoaldexpress
their opinions or exert their power. have ex-
amined the lease under which the building is
now held by my friend Howard and others. 1t
is portentous documcnt-longer than the
Constitution Of the United States. 1t provides,
amongst other things. that the lessee shall not