The New York herald., 1868-05-10
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE.


Asceuda ncv of Tammany and the Suppianting
Of the Old Albany Resency-The s'overnor's
OuarreI with the Senate-Poiice Commis-
.ionership and the Excise Lnw-The Erie
War and the Bribery and Corruption
Cbnraes-Issue on the Tax Levies-The I'm.
derarounds and the Strikes,-The New
ALBANY, May o. 1868.
The ninety.drst session OF the Legislature OF the
State OF New York was charact arized by sitting OF
one hundred and twenty-one days-the longest In It's
history since the adoption OF the constitution OF s46
Singular in this feature, it was no less remarkable
in its contrasts previous sessions. For the first
time in thirteen years the speaker OF the Assembly
sat over House democratic in Its majority, thus
presenting the Senatea political opposition which
promised and did result in the defeat OF a great
deal OF party legislation. With this democratic
majority to take command the Tammanyites
made a bold push for and won the ascendancy The
intrigues OF the remarkable firm of Sweeny Tweed
Co. part OF the history of the legislative session
of 1868. With eye to the future they laid out a
plan OF campaign which contemplated policy that
would derogate nothing from the success Of the
party and should not mar if it did not increase the
majority which had been achieved at the previous
State election 1t was in pursuance Of this policy
that they decided to select from among the city dele
gates man who was new in politics anu one not
liable to the ATTACKS OF the opposition the score of
his anecedents Henee the choice OF William Hitch
man, wno during AIS long connection with the city
departments anu especially with the Board of Edu-
cation, had established for himself an irreproacnab.e
character. The first struggle of the rannanytes
for the ascendancy was during the few days
before the caucus The country delegates manifested
some RIGHTEOUSNESS 10 the sway OF tner metropolitan
colleagues, and an effort was made to rally them
upon a candidate who should defeat the one pro-
claimed by the Tammany dynasty. The effort proved
rutless one. Tne new regency, acting on the
strategy, ''Dlvlde and conquer" dis sntegrated the
opposition by running several candidates. ana finally
succeeded, through comb nations based on promises
OF committee places, In elecling Mr. Hitcnman.
In the senate the campagn opened with bold
charge OF the antl-Fenon republicans, who, holding
the ba.ance OF power between the democrats and
their radical brethren, forced the President make
concessions TO them In The formation Of the com.
mttees. The od.time feud between the two factions
seemed TO be healed with these concessions and
analrs ran along quite smoothly in The republican
caMp nnt ne Governor sent IN the nomation Of
Geneiai James B Mchedn for Auditor of the Canal
ID pdrtmeAt. The nomination was rejected and
at4ough compromise was effected with reference
T. tns part once Dy whicn II was subsequently
neu the war was continued on the remaining APP
po ontmens the Tammanytes under Tweed looking
on wlth Aephlstophelean comp iacency at the wlan-
ges o! Their political adversares. The consequence
Is that the appointments remain to be made by the
expected Talnnlany Governor of next year. In ali
the ntrigues oi the senate Tweed showed himself
possessed 0. rare executive ability, and aided he
was by the shrewd advice OF his frend SweeDy |
seldom failed OF accomplishing his purposes when
evef the subject was not one on which the political
he eieced despite his inability TO sustain debate
OIL any topic, i'll which pecuiiarity he sngulary
matched by his lieutenant IN the house. Alexander |
Fretr.
After the Speakership the struggle was for Police
Commissioner, and here, despite the right OF The
Brooklyn delegates TO the nomination, their claims
were overuled AMI Tammany man eiecyed The
organization of the country members again
attempted ii TINS instance bat mserably ialed The
distribution OF committee patronage had been skill
fully made to prevent any disaIection. Tammany
came out stronger from the second contest than from
the first. An effort was made by the remnans Of the
old Albany regency TO subvert Tamlnany In this
struggle, bat 1t proved abortve. With this victory
Iannany mounted the throne in triumph and
welded the scepre during the rest OF the session.
The supplantpg oi the old regency by the Taninany
dynasty dates IN reality from this moment. Tan-
many controlled the subsequent STATE convention,
many's influence which induced the meeting of the
National Convention at New YORK on the Fourth Of
Jlly. ,,o ,o,., ,n,..,n oo,,
the legislation on the subject OF the Excise law. SO
unpopular was this law that half dozen different
bills were introduced for its repeal or amendment
The tate OF all is now known. Whatever mistakes
the Tammany leaders made IN the beginning they
sincerely rcpented later IN the session when they
desperately endeavOred to correct their in obe
dience to the demands OF their liquor dealing const-
tuents. Both democrats and republicans are blam-
abe for the failure to revise this odous measure.
Tho former o erreached themselves in Az attempt to
make political capital anl the latter op losed any
change, although IT was stated that OF its MEM
bers were ready for the consd ration Of twen-
ty-hve thousand dollars to turn the sea es in favor
OF amendment. The liquor dealers We're unwilling
to make such contribution, however, holding as
they did tlat their democratic representatives we're
IN duty bound to effect IL out OF pure gratitude.
There Is no doubt OF the fact nat the amendment TO
republican maJoriLy OF the Senate had the influences
o tne lobby been sufficiently dlriierous.
The Erie war settled In two ocampaigns-the first
by the victory oi the Vanderbilt party In the com
mttee room; the second by more determined con.
test, which extended to both houses. The second
bill TO authorize the deeds OF the Erie directory was
the offspring OF the senate Committee appointed to
Investigate the affairs of the company. 1t went
through the Senate after contest which IL said to
have required the expenditure OF less than half
million Of dollars. When IL reached The House the
Vanderbilt parry surrendered lne tota. amount of
money spent by both parties IN this struggle was not
less than "a million OF dollars-two thirds OF winch
I'M a,ft t,lsl.
the innocence OF the great railroad kings, who were
no matches for the sharks OF the third house."
The TAX levies excited "a great deal OF apprehen-
sion OH the part OF the republicans, VINO AFRAID
they might be made use oil IN hostility their inter-
ests, jus. rs they nau manipulated them for their
advantace IN ls67. The democrats kept ,le.n 20
last inonen;, but every item was jealousy scu.
opposition The city levy after passage IN the
Assembly, was wonderfully dissected IN TIE senate
and the thousand ana one charity donations stricken
out. The result was a conference commi.loe from
bJth branches OF the Legislature anu tue adoption Of
a bill when gave the republicans the notorlety of
besng devoid OF charity, while II saved all tile demo.
crauc "pums'-anotEer piece OF tie Tamnany
strategy already referred TO. Tue bin yet in
Governors hands, and he has until the lst of De-
ceipef next TO CONSIDER the proDrIety o. signing IL.
Tue underSround warfare resulted IN the success
oI one an--tnat KNOW as the Ceutral-whose roule
has been already luiiy described. The arcade plan
PASSED tne assembly anu came within few voes Of
passage n tle senate. lie bro aIway tunnel plan
covering the real design OF surface road-aiter
seeplnS lor NJ time, was reaodelled TO
contemplate west sale tunnel under Church street
Mercer street aad ruth aN aiied oi a third
rcaang, however. among the sd al ducks" OF the |
surface loats are the trOsstUwn ANA the 18th street
rauways-the iorner Leing sti.bOrn IN the t,otse !
aiu the latter falling to oSerr4e the Governors
veto.
The ferry investigation resulted In tue intro1pctio,
OF several mertotiOus bills but they died i'm tie
Senate-anOther PROOF o toe inability ~ rgnt 10 cone
with wealthy corporations. The "lAacS 1rookp
literature biii was Ohe o. the redeemng features Of
the session. There were several delihrrlle "srkes
sucn as ilat OF the proposed fifth Nveru, haroa,l
IL was the courts qdcsilun IN another IprIn. Ihe
proposition g. run an unei4tO,in raj road ON inc
pf p,pp .h.ru
winch, doubtless, was sugsesteJ b, ne Common
Council strategy The investigation Of Ere Depaft.
mcnt matters, with the suDsequepi bin was "A uo-
liical striEe" TO make capita against tie replb.
hcans amt ng the members 0f The 'oyte.
he Infamous attempt to break up the Cro'nn
Board and substitute political machine faliUI
through the Qparie OF the Governor 1yith -euate.