New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-02
HOW THE WASHINGTON RING BEGAN.

Mo- a few people affect not TO know that
there is Such an organization as the Washington King
Or knowing that such political cabal does exist they
deny tai it has had Y influence Oh the politics OF the
county. Senator T. f. Bayard 10 speech to his con-
sttucu,g at Wilmington, Delaware. gave the following
terse description Of the formation Of The Ring, and
allowed what came Of it. He said:
On the lh OF March. 1869. the present President OF
the United states was lnauguTaed ana special session
~ Tic Senate was called. Tue Republican party mad
CompI ie control OF the Government They held the
South in chains OF military power or Dy governments
sSorse than military governments. They had their
SresdeuI ana n vast majority in both Houses Of Con-
gress Even the judiciary was found 10 De composed o
mon siding with them In the Northern states they nad
nosscs,iOn OF nearly every State Government They
ssemcd TO have unlimited sway say nothing now OF
fbne now u what they might have done. / only wish
20 draw your attention To what they did do Instantly
fIon 10 which the President OF the United States readily
lent himself. Never in amy Instance did he by his veto
sock cheek it. lie chose Tor nj associates thOse men
who had been most extreme and bitter as paTtisans
Men OF higher and more liberal views Rau no nhuence
with lin and he had very tie fhnY LOT theiI SOclety
His ignorance Of OWL government was Incredible All
that he knew seemed tuged by hs mihtsy EsDlts ana
instincts He surrOunde himself with stan OF military
ohcals and his orders were given and conveyed with
once system OF eentralizing legislation. They had
everything their power The pretext Of necessity
could longer be alleged 20 exist but they determined
20 Increase sDlidfy and consolidate the powers which
they had dsutped. This commenced with series OF
measures originating chiefly in the Senate for there the
chief strength Of the Republican party and OF the man
ayers i3y. .. =, Capitalization ,ve,t nm yoprmurs
K
began 70 be Leard ana ], sitting with handful or
other il hOpele opposition to all this course heard
occasionally with delight return 20 constitutional
doefriue ON the part " Judge Gumbnll, Of Senator
Schurz and and then some faint intimation OF OF
posoy to arbitrary power the part OF other gentle
men But then WAS brought into reqmsitiOD all the
OdOus machinery OF party 10 compel submission ana
destroy personal independence, and many times were
the debates Of Cons OurnCd IN order mat re
publican caucus should be held in whose secret recesses
measure should he framed and without public discus
sion enacted into law The record VIII snow lthat the
election law under lich Congress mas assumed 70 btt-
fere with the progress of elections IN the states, was
passed ln the Senate without word or debate III eA.
planstOn CUppOrt the measure by any menDer Oh
the IDubCa party, but that every amendment Oered
by the Democrats silently ana steadhy voted down
IN saYish obedience 70 the secret decree OF party
csucts But sun this went on; SUI these laws
seemed W until at last the patriotic fears ana
Instincts OF the people became aroused You lOoked
around the country aDd you found the men VINO hsu
made the Republican party, who bad nileo MI Lincoln
Cabinet who had sert cd IN high stations, gong over az"
fOiBDg the opposition. "a,
Where was hr Cnase Mr. IdncOln's Secretary Of the
Treasury A candidate for Democratic nomination.
Where was Dir. helles the Secretary OF the Nav! An
(utspOken opponent OF Grants Administration. Mscre
was David Davis the closest friend and adviser OF lfes
fdeut ncOlnl Another candidate for Democratic nom
fpafiOu IN OutepOken opposition To the 6cbees OF w
Administration. Ny friends 70 was In the patiouo lh
efucts OF that portion Of the Republican party VINO were
nj carried away by passion, that the Liberal RfIuD
tlug tended keep them within the ranks OF the parry
Ola marty friendships, ali the power which cOufd Dt
liyou y an enormous and swollen LxecutiYe pduOnasc
Naturalization Of all their press and all their party peace
oulet GOODWILL and power themselves, all tbeso thhE'
feudeo ~ keen them st; but something Detlef liti
tie love of paftythe love OF cOuntry-begau 70 lhl
feat ielf among them aud then began 10 nnd ny
their votes their speeches mat lheIe Woio "'D