The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-02
THE WAR ON THE RING.
PROSECUTION OF THE PUBLIC PLUM
DERERS IN NEW FORK.

1
DERERS IN NEW YORK.
Charles O'Conor after VIM. NJ. Tweed
Mr.. Charles O'Conor, the eminent New
York lawyer, to whom the States attorney
general has delegated all his own official pow
ers for the pursuit and punishment of the city
"Ring," has been rendered nomination to the
State Assembly by the Reform Democracy
and in reply writes a remarkable letter, In
which he pays the following tribute to the
Tammany Sachem, VIM N. Tweed:
The atroclous frauds now attracting univer
| sal notice were committed during the contro
| of four persons over our local administration
| The nature and measure OF their guilt may, in
| deed, greatly vary In q moral point OF view;
but, nevertheless, those three OF them who
are still In possession OF power are acting 10
| perfect concert tor mutual protection. They
| have evidently no scruple about means, and
they are capable of accomplishing, by united
effort, nearly all the mischief attainable by the
| four, had their union remained unoroEen.
| One of these three, the Grand Sachem OF Tam.
many, has been rightly enough denomlnated
| by his friends their chief. The cant or classic
designation of "Boss' or "Casar" is applied
| to him indifferertly, according to the taste OF
the speaker, and each appropriateiy; Tor MS
| bad pre.eminence is indisputable.
Since the secret abstraction OF the vouchers,
By which the precise details OF the frauds COM
mitted might have been easily developed, no
honest and intelligent citizen has doubted tne
guilt of this leader. Whether manifest proof
could be brought home to him may have hith.
erto been matter OF speculation with some;
bur, in nv Judgment, the last lingering doubt
on this point must now be removed from every
fair mind. The recent Developments made In
connection with the regular acts and accounts
OF the comptrollers office and the Broadway
Bank, in which the public moneys were depos-
tied. must have had this effect.
The statutes which gave to this body OF men
its vast powers were procured from Leglsla'
lures in which their chief sat as law-maker.
1t is boasted by some as proof OF MS clever
ness, Indignantly asserted by others as mani
testing his wickedness, and conceded oy al,
that these statutes were mainly procured by
bribing our State legislators with moneys riled
from the public treasury. The precise cost OF
a vote in the horrible shambles where they
were thus purchased Is almost as well known
as the prices current OF merchandise. one
senator's vote was, of course, as valuable as
the votes OF four aSsemblymen:
In the face OF these undeniab!e and puoncly
notorious facts, the chief before alluded TO,
with an audacity absolutely more Impressive
than his precedent crimes, has presented
himself as candidate for senator from the
first city district his name appearing at the
head and front Of the local ticket put In noml-
nation by the triulnvirate. And we are assur-
ed By their friends that upon the canvass ne
will appear to have received greater n1od ma
jority than ever has at any former period
ushered him into the sacred seat OF senator.
Beyond any doubt the intent and power to
realize this prophecy do both exist; LOT
many, II not all of the other legislative dis
trc;s OF the city adherents OF this chief, more
or less notorious as such. have been or WIN oe
put in nomination with like intent on the part
OF the corruptionisis, aud IN many instances
with equal power and facility OF controiilns
results.
Mr.. O'Conor goes on to explain that he can
render more effective service to his fellow
citizens by giving his labor to the prosecution
OF the suits against the "Rlng" which he has
already instituted in the name Of the State,
than by going to the Assembly, and declines
the nomination. This has since been offered
to Hon. Horatio Seymour.
Trying to Get Rid OF Tweed.
New York letter OF Monday says:
An effort is making by prominent and inhu-
eutial Democrats mot connected In any way
with the committee of seventy to persuade
"Boss" Tweed to decline being candidate for
the State Senate In his district, on the ground
that, situated as he Is now, his election can do
him no good, while the fact that he is q candi-
date even is calculated to do the party much
harm. They do not place this advice on the
assumption that he is guilty OF the grave
charges against him, but that pubic opinion Is
80 strong against him that 1t is no use to seek
any longer TO resist 1t. Mr.. Tweed Is also re-
| minded that in case he Is found guilty In O
criminal suit he will be disqualified from TAX
| ing his seat In the Senate even IT elected.
Tweed replies to these gentlemen that,
come what may, he will remain candidate,
and he has no doubt the people will elect him.
| As TO not being permitted to take his seat 10
the Legislature, he says his advisers are look
| ing too far ahead, and taking too many things
for granted. He says he can prove his inno'
cence, and that being the case, he has nothing
| to fear, and no concessions and no compro'
misses to make with anything or anybody.
AS result of this decision, there Is good au'
thority for saying that Mr.. Tweed will be pub
| licly repudiated at Democratic meeting to be
| held In the Third Senatorial District, to be
| held In the course of the ensuing week. He
is too heavy load .or any party TO carry that
expects TO have TIE people on Its side, but al
| the same time ther, Is but too much reason
| to fear that, In spite of all these opposing In
| fuences, enough of "Ring men" and roughs
will vote for him to re-elect him.