The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-05
The Confession or Ihurlow Weed and
Albany Liquidation.

Albany Liquidation.
We publish in another part Of TO days issue
a most remarkable defence, on the part of Thur
low Weed, to The charges that have been re-
Gently made by our city contemporaries against
mis- legislative peculaiions- 1t Is one OF the
most singular documents that has appeared in
this age Of legislative corruption; it fully cor
roborates the statements heretofore made in
the columns of the HERALD in regard to the
Wholesale bribery that exists at Albany. and
furnishes peep into The heart and inside work
irgs of the Albany LOBBY further than any pre-
y,ous statement thai has been made. This re
lew OF his operations, although giving only
the offers that be has refused to accept, Is
enough 70 open the eyes of every voter of the
Umpire STATE, and cause them to ask, whittier
are we drifting?
The public have for years past looked upon
the legislative bodies of our city and State a.
being the centres ara botbeds Of corruption;
hut few could be- made to believe that there tx
is.ed at Albany 60 poisonous an atmosphere ~
j. admitted in this defence OF MIR. Weed. lie
tells us that athere has scarcely been q session
of the Legislature for more than quarter OF a
century out Of which he could not have
made u large amount OF money" and
ina. the refusal TO do so has made
enemies out Of intimate friends. Who
are these eliminate friends" that flock to him
with thei. well filed purses and promise to
empty them at his feet II he will only speak
tne magic word to the LEGISLATURE Are they
brother republicans or democrats? Are they
either Presidential, Guberna,orial or Congress
sicnal aspirsnss, or simply private spectators
who are looking about for the best chance to
invest their money, and making up their minds
that there il money to be made in buying the
legislature cali upon Weed, who knows the
value Of each haad, to act rs their broker !?
There large offers Of money look like bust
re~- operation; money~d men are not In the
habit u promising their twenty or hundred
thousand Of dollars except 1t be In a business
gay; ana their calling upon Mr.. Weed, az be
ocnies-es they do, must be because they know
that he IL In that line of trade.
lie Informs Va that he has 'pers'stently re-
fused for Elk years to accept ffty per cent OF a
claim oi 81 got, 600 against the State" and in
the same paragraph We are also told that thou
sands Of collars have been offered for the de
feat OF citv railroads; also "thst there have
been legislative measures In which he has had
ultimate or prospective interests" In that
category be places tie city railroads psssed At
the last session. by which the city Of New York
was plundcred to the tune of two millions
81 doilars 10 enrich the pockets Of y band
Of spectators. among whom. by his own adj
mission II Mr.. Weed himself We are told that
these numerous brides are offered by friends
an admission that III associates are Of that clsss
Who are IN the habit of lowering around the
legislative halls aud like vrltures, preying upon
the chartered rights Of our city and State. This
must convince every one, even those who have
had any douois upon the subject heretofore,
Chat Thurlow Weed Is the centre Of the lobby,
The hub around which all the Albany freeboot-
ers revcive. Ifhc IL not the ringleader In the
Albany bribery. Row does II happen that every
body runs 10 him with oy-- o. thousands
Of dollars to secure the passage OF this or the
de'eas ~ That measure. Certainly these oyers
would never be made to hose not versed In
that Kind Of business.
Nov, he tells rs. on orc hard, that be ias re-
fused On cfftr tor $4,000 10 oppose city rail-
roads. and ye, labored tor the passage Of those
bile in which be Lad prospective interests"
The fair inference TO be drawn from this ndnis-
sion IL that bic prospective interest was more
than lbe cfers On the other side. That be l. In
The habit o, receiving large sums for lobby ser
vices i sbuDdantiy proven BY hts own state
menis, as well a. The fact ELECTED on investiga-
lion, that te received fvc thousand douccur
On Tie free wool operation at Washington,
whilst pretending "a be IA favor OF tariff, JET
sdvc atm. modification in favor Of those who
we're paying ~ he stated, political expenses"
with these facts standing on, Ia bold relief,
II not biz refusal Tor AK years Of the sum DISK
hundred thoutand dollars ensiiy accounted forl
II appear that he opposed the city railroads
for a long time. bat finally has prospective
Interests" induced hin TO take The other side.
l. not his holding back On tie claim against
the State simply 70 force The parties 20 come
70 Ills terms' q, perhaps, Il Ensy have been for
The reason that ne bad o. many Jobs on he
hands ~ he could attend e. II sceris that the
parties holding tie claim DO no. press II, FOR
come reason Or other;'it may be one az those
projects that arc On Tie slase FOR the sext ses-
sion.
The city railroads and other rsculaiing jobs
were disposed Of By TIC last Legislature, ieay-
ing the Geld open for other schemes That
body was tie Nest Infamous thai ever Assem-
bled st Albany; yet, from present indications,
the next win be tcnfold worse. Under The
cloak Of the Presidential canvass, the scherers
are q, work securing the election OF their men,
and preparing for crusade that exceeds the
buc caneering Of last winter. This enormous
claim, having been postponed until the right
lind Of Legislature IL elected, viii then pro-
badly be brought up for consideration, with