Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-04

character OF any persons Wishing 10 Heei III the
hall, steps shall be taken by which the "father
Of the council" shall call that solemn concave
together, that they may decide whether the
meeting shall be held or not, and their decision
shall be conclusive. Such are the stipulations
between the Tammany corporation and its
lessees, and care not to interfere with them.
But when and how did the people become n
party to that contract? When did you promise
that no democratic meeting should be held or
be worthy the confidence ofthe people,unlessitb it be
held in Tammany Hall? A delusion has existed
on this subject which should bedispelled. And l
would ask the people Of this country whether
they admit that they are the slaves of corpo-
ration which can absolutely control them in the
exercise of their highest rights of freemen? De
Mauprat says to Richelieu:
aFor Justice, sire,
All place temple, aud all seasons summer
What shall restrict the principle of democracy?
1t encompasses the whole earth-its light does
not alternate with any other, as do moon and
sun in their respective circuits, but sheds its eff
fulgcnce everywhere and at all times, despite
of bolts, bars, walls, spies, despots, and arma-
ments. 1t shines upon the soul Of the poor
captive in the deep and dismal dungeon from
which the tyrant has excluded every ray Of
heavens blessed light. 1t animates, tructi6cs,
and ennobles humanity, sending its beams to-
ward that period sure to come, when under its
divine influence all shackles and gives shall
fall from our race, and all nations and people
exult in the fearless and full enjoyment Of civil
and religious freedom. Is the Tammany So
ciety a Joshua to arrest that holy light? Can
this corporation, greater than Canute, roll back
the surges Of popular will? Let the fathers,
the sachems, and the scribes, fence round their
wigwam, however strongly-let them issue
edicts with no matter how much form and cere-
mony-still the people, their masters, will
meet when and where they please, and in such
measure as they prefer, from the mildest breath.
ings of gentle invitation to the loudest thun-
der tones of omnipotent decree, demand the
observance of their supreme will. Woe to the
audacious few who essay to interrupt the man
date or resist its power.
There was gathering III Tammany the
other night by gracious permission OF the SOY.
ereign sachems. A pow-wow was held, and
certain great chiefs were expected, who did not
come; but there were some who had the merit
of Falstaff's soldiers. They were mortal, and
would fill pit as well as better men.
They initiated Dogberry, and bestowed all their
! tediousncss on the impatient multitude. In the
| absence oforators, they had recourse to literary
entertainments; hut what they omitted was bet
ter than what they read. The audience would
have been quite inspired if the letters of Messrs.
Bronson and 'Conor had been exhibited; but
thesecrctary, like gentleman of the same faction
to be more particularly mentioned presently,
had no time to read them. Thanks to the press,
| which has leisure for such communications, and
even to examine platforms, the missves had
reached the public eye The collector strikes,
with ponderous battle-axe, an honest and stun.
ming blow at treachery, bullyism, and impotent
State policy; the district attorney puts in some
Eterrific blows III the same fashion. l wonder
how the governor, and what Mr.. O'Conor hap
PLY calls the unimpressive exception, have
felt since these onslaughts were made 1t ap.
pears that no hope or fear pointing to the Ex.
ecutive has extended beyond the surveyor and
ostmastcr-"A,radesa amdo." The antecedents
rs we'll as the incidents of that meeting arc
most interesting, and in considering them
must briefly call your attention to little of
our State history since ls47. 1t is quite i'm.
portant to know who and what arc the men re-
ceived into the embrace OF st. Tammanv, and
| who modesty seek to ostracise us from the
democratic party. suppose it is admitted
| that their leader is the gentleman sometimes
| called the Prince and whose resemblance
to one prince will appear presently. You all
know John Van Buren by reputation, and
have, perhaps, seen and heard him. He is well
worth looking at and being listened to, but a
! very dangerous person to follow or to initiate.
His first great political prominence began
when, like Hamlet, he entered upon the duty
of avenging the sacrifice of his father. There
were some indications, as in the case of the
Danish prince, that he would seek drefnl re.
tribution for the wrong his parent suffered; but
the purpose seemed, as with his predecessor, to
wane by degrees. AT last il died out, when
| ''union and harmony" offered q chance to him
and his followers to coalesce with the dcmocra.
cy by cohesion Of public plundcr.' He was
verv conspicuous at Syracuse in ls47, as he
was also in the present month. He can be no.
torious and effective in leading faction. but
he will never govern or guide party. He is
cminently destructive, but not constructive. He
can demolish, but not build. He will gain most
fame in minority, and we will afford him the
opportunity for that acquisition. He resembles
in taste the Roman emperor Commodus, who
preferred the triumps and title Of the gladiator
to the imperial dignity and power even Of the
Caesar. AS captain Of Prntorian guard, or
troop of free lances, he may occasionally
gain some small reward for himself and fol.
lowers: but it will require an extraordinary
and for him most fortunate concurrence OF
circumstances to make him the choice Of the
people Of this State for any responsible trust.
He went to Syracuse, and his peculiarities soon
developed themselves. He seems delighted
that quiet and orderly democrats were terrified
at his approach and the demonstrations Of his
gang. He became the leader of trumvira,c
in new reign of terror. He chose for associ
ates the didactic and pliable Cochrane, and the
active and unscrupulous Fowler. The steal,hv
Purser was on the outside Of the crowd, and
would have been serviceable in ham-stringing.
if such an important duty had been contded to
him. Those are now the rulers Of the Tamma-
ny Society. Cochrane was the principal speaker
the other night and evinccd great caution
in not undertaking to explain how obligations
to the government required him to be present
when his friend of the Albany Atlas sought to
unseat delegate in Syracuse by method not
recognised in peaceful political conventions.
| The postmaster has got some qualities that
make him f,vorite with few. One feature
in his character is predominant-the love Of the
ridiculous; and | am quite certain it was never