New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-06

people was once an lnconcelVaple crime
1t now requires recognitions and a grade
of punishment equal TO its enormlty. The
charge against the two men named IS,
that they employed money to secure a
legislative act. The proof is SO corclu-
sive that each Of these men escape ex-
clusion from the representative station by
resignation! The proceedings against
them fall. and these political felons
escape. The resignation Of Tweed
establishes his personal turpitude. He
was at first charged with having procured
the appointment Of auditors. who passed
large amount Of fraudulent claims against
the city Of New York. It was alleged in
his behalf that the money SO obtained was
a corruption fund for political purposes.
Although this was in fact greater crime
than personal robbery would have been,
there might have been some palliatioG
among community where the practices
Of political corruption are 50 common.
The last charge agains. Tweed was. how
ever. one with which politics had nothing
to DO. Being member Of the Legislature
of New York. he was by the Fisks and
Goulds of the Erie Company. entrusted
with large sums OF money to be placed
where they would do the most good il
defeating certain hostile legislation appre-
hended by the company. Here was 10
pretense Of political purpose. It was an
open purchase and use Of the representa-
tive to enrich himself and others. This
special case shows how the purchase
Of representative may sell the people
whom he pretends, and indeed swears, 70
protect. The ''hostile legislation against
the Erie company was a measure to re-
duce and regulate freights. Ia such a
measure all the constituents of Tweed
who used the road for travel or transport
alton were directly interested. Yet he
was hired to betray those who had confd-
ed their interests to him. Recent testi-
mony shows that six State Senators were
paid each 5000 to support the interests Of
the Erie company. 1t seemed from the
very large sums paid Tweed by the com
pany that he might have been the inter-
mediary in these transactions. These
sums were paid him as counsel and as
legal expenses. This explanation was en-
tirely too thin, and the Legislature pur-
sued its scrutiny with such effect that
Tweed stopped the investigation with a
denial that he was Senator, and the pro-
ceeding dropped.
The New York World is a sagacious
journal Thoroughly Democratic, accord
ing to the former doctrines Of that party.
it denounces Tweed II calls him an sin
famous criminal" His gigantic frauds
and thefts are notorious" He has de
liberately cheated one Of tie Senate dis-
tr:cts out Of its equal voice. This is
right. 1t is eminently wise. Why should
the soul Of the Democratic party be bur-
dened in the hour Of battle with the in
EQUITIES Of Tweed: The Word reads the
political press lesson Of wisdom. 1t is
to court martial every suspected member.
A party may thus 60 into the fight to de-
fend or extend its principles. Indeed, the
code Of party should be as severe as that
Of an army. Nothing demoralizes an
army more than the plumber OF its bum-
mers. Nothing furnishes more arguments
to the people against the principles Of
party as the fagitioUs practices Of its
members The Word detracts somewhat
from the impai.iaIity Of its censure by
making the Republican Senate respor-
sible for the ''scandaious manner in which
this UNPUBLISHED rascal has been so long
permitted to trife with the rights Of his
constituents and the dignity Of the Legis-
lature." This may be so.
Il may be that "a mum Der OF the Republi-
can Senators had served III the same body
with him during his previous term, and il
is supposed that their completely in his
Otfense, against bis constituents and against
the dignity and interests of the State, mas
been owing to the fact that they took
Iweed's brides when ne was the Boss OF
the Legislature.
We have no plea to enter in their de-
Tense. One Tweed, no doubt. makes
many. We unite with the World in de-
handing that the bummers and blockade
runners shall be given up on both sides
and shot in presence Of both armies. Let
us have a square fight on principle. wholly
unencumbered with incidental slirmishes
upon the comparative Iascaities Of
Tweed, Ames or Caldwell.