New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-09
POLITICS AS A PROFESSION
HISTORY OF A POLITICAL CLIQUE.


the nature or Of the existing division In the
Republican party this State will venture to give
running sketch OF the organization from 1863 IL is well
that Republicans even If they figured in the very move
ments TO which refer should occasionally have their
recollection frcshened the subject The history VIII
illustrate who the real "Tammany Republicans have
been in times past and why they are not now serving III
the same interest.
In 1863 the Republican state Convention authorized
reorganization of the Republican party Of the CITY OF
New-York. The plan was TO enroll all the Republican
voters in each Assembly District, who should constitute
association in such District. These District Assocs-
tons 20 elect delegates to General CITY Cohni
tee which, authority Of the Convention had con
troll Of the Republican politics Of this city MI IhOuiaS
Murphy and his friends though formally united With
this General Committee cordially coUperated Win
thom The real Of this that they were then
in the interest of Tammany Hail. their chief leader be
ing ThuTlOw Weed. Their business was, even at that
time in the midst of the to prepare the way 10 u
feat Mr.. Lincon's reelection They awaited Mr. Weeds
movements and pledged IL the latter was successful
10 back him up in securing the election OF Deinooi
10 the Presidency in 1854 In September OF tha' So'
Weed came out in The Albany Eecning Journal expires
ing desire for change Of administration. no
leved Democratic President could prosecuV1 H C.
more sucoe ssfully than Mr.. Lincoln" Murphy w
heart and soul with Weed in thai A''olil' -,
throw the Administration of Mr. Lincoln anu 'iiHs INV
power the enemies OF the country VIM "ouiu H'
restored and perpetuated slavery anu es'ois'u ''
leaders OF the Rebellion firmly III the na'oi o"i'a'
The only thing shat then crushed out this treason OF
Wood NIurDI 4 Co was activity of the Republicans
and I-,on man of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, who
gave TO he country the glorious Union victories III those
states on the nth of October, 1864. Mortified and
chagrined at their position, these political rebels
OF New-York, who had discouraged the Repub-
Leans in those States by every means in their
e, r,,f- to fhQi track
trace their steps in order that they might be with the
vctors in the November election when Lincoln would
he reelected. 1t was decided that Weed must write
another letter IN Idc Erenin0 Journal defining his posi-
ton and That his friends. Such letter, dated Oct 49,
1861 appeared in Tee Albany E0enig Journal the next
day. II was two and half columns long 1t was hui
initiating az ment OF the reasonable attempt OF
Weed Murphy & Co. to overthrow Abraham Lincoln ana
the party Of liberty in the country and establish in
ulaca and mower at Washington the Sachems of Tam
MANY and their Rebel comrades in the South. 1t was the
production. as was truly remarked by Mr.. Lincolns
official organ at Washington at that time, of soured,
disappointed old man, whose mind was uneasy" III
showed that Weed, Murphy Co. were doing in Septe-
Der Of that year. when Weeds letter against Mr. Lincoln
first appeared Just what they have always been doing
since thew were "watching events" in Pennsylvania
Ohio and Indiana.
If the elections in those States have been carried by
the Democrats Weed, Murphy Il Co. would have been
governed by such events. and would have pronounced
for George f. Mcclellan instead of Abraham Lincoln
Mr. Weed paved the for such action in his September
pronuuciamento by declaring his belief that Mcclellan
was "A man Of integrity and patriotism" Mr.. Weed
himself never appeared much the surface afterward
He was under the the White House, and counseied
with his friend Mr. Seward secretly, at his residence or
at the state Department But the secret operations never
ceased
After the redstrieng Of the State under the of
f.f folio rvaI in
dered rcGnrOIment Of Republican Associations i'll the
new Assembly Districts. The Associations then elected
delegates fer the formation of Standing or General
City Committee. This also in accordance with the in
strucons OF the State Convention. composed of Repub
delegates representing the whole State 1t was the
supreme and unquestioned authority for such action by
the Assembly Associations of the City of New-Hork.
Murphy & Co.. sustained by Weed, denied the au-
tbority of the State Convention, and repudia-
ted the action Of the General City Committee
They proceeded to organize committee Of their own
established headquarters at Twenty-thrdst. and
broadway and that organization was known as "Ihe
Committee" Weed their chief coun-
selor They went with him to the arm-ln-arm CON
venton at Philadelphia in August 1866 and particpa-
ted actively in the doings of that famous body From
phia they went TO the Democratic Convention In
Albany, the same FALL and nominated Holman, Demo
crat for Governor and Robert II. Pruyn, PrOege Of
Weed for Lieutenant Governor. This was wholly IN the
interest OF the weed-Mmphy ring. Shortly after this
they called a meeting Of "The Twentythird-st Com
mee and pa ssed resolutions against Reuben h. Fen
ton the Republican candidate for Governor and in favor
NJ Hoffman ana Pruyn and the whole Democratic State
ticket They acted, during that whole eampaign pub
licly and privately in the interest of Tammany Hail.
Dnripg the ensuing Winter. StateSenatOrs Andrews,
Crowley and Foger, all Murphys friends, and now mold
ing Federal and Tammany Offices constituted the pal
ance of power in the State Senate. Instead OF voting
70 RpDuDliCau Governor,
they acted with Democrats, and rejected Governor
Fentons nominations harbOr masters and other I'M
portant positions They oonfederated with the Demo
Gratis TO create the Tax, CroOn Board ana other Con
missions in New-YOrk City. They afterward procured
with the assistance Of the Democrats the appointment Vi
their friends TO those Offices in the place OF Sounu
Republicans who were removed. This being done Cen
Chester Arthur, ex-senator Crowley and Others re
ceiyed and held office under these Commissions, subject
10 Tammany control Murphy made one OF the com
missoners to widen Broadway. Weed watched Tor the
tohs which were given from the different C0nmis-
sions.
So matters ran along until Weed Murphy Co. foresaw
that Grant would probably be nominated in 1863 for the
Presidency and be elected. Orders were Immediately
issued TO display Grant flag in front of the Twenty
1birdst ComnitteeroOms. They prepared the way for
emitting loose from Tammany, providing that they cOud
cat the inside track with Grant Playing upon these TWO
stxinps Tammany possession and Grant III prospect
they reasoned and plotted follows; Iammany was Sc
eure Before renquishing their hold upon It, Murphy
Co decided that they must make sure Of Grant One fhe
agencies which they employed to accomplish their object
was the money which flowed in to them from their CO.
with Tammany This was valuable source
hut Grant they thought, would be worth lncaicuaDY
more Hoy they employed their money agency ~
,i iv slall not be detailed here. The country is Ia
miiar with much of Murphy Co.'s operations. lie con
riyed to be with Grant whenever it was possible espe
ciay on public occasions in order TO he announced as
one of "The Generals companions. 1t does not maer
how ne ascertained the private wants ana spec'i tastes
Of "The General" but that he managed 10 ieain men
and made haste to cater to them are also le's III
tory.
Gen Grant was elected The "dlsintereS'eu enois "
sr, a 60 were then set forth by the outside ring or