Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-04
THE STORY OF WILLIAM NJ. TWEED.
From the Utica Observer, Nov. "a


From the Utica Observer, Nov. "a
Twelve years in the Peuitentiary at Black
wells Island and fne of $l2, $50. This was
the penalty pronounced against William NJ.
Tweed in the Court of Oyer aud Termiuer, by
Judge Noah Davis, on Saturday afternoon At
o'clock on Saturday morning the prisoner was
taken to the Tombs, and in that Egyptian pile
OF more than Egyptian misery he is now con-
fined The last act of the drama is played.
The man who, little while ago, was Senator
Supervisor, Commissioner the chief power
in the chief city of the continents now
condemned convict
William NJ. Tweed was born 10 the city of
New York fifty years ago last April His
parents were poor people, and the boy was early
thrown upon his own resources. He learned
the trade Of chairmaker and worked at it for a
few years. He soon became ambitious of poll
,ical distinction, and to increase his quali6ca-
tons and improve his chances he entered the
University Law School, from which he gradua-
ted as member Of the bar. His power began
in the old Volunteer Fire Department of the
metropolis. He became foreman Of Blk Six"
-au engine company famous in the lower part
of the city. His immense vital energy aud his
organizing ability were here developed and
exhibited. In that day popular fireman was a
positive power in local politics, and Tweed be.
gan to make himself felt.
In 1851 he was elected Alderman from the
Seventh Ward, serving in the Common Coun
Gil through the years 1923. In the fall of
1852 he was elected to Congress from the Fifth
District, which then embraced the Seventh
and Thirteenth Wards of New York and the
village of Wiamsburgh, Long Island. He
took his seat 10 the House in December, 1858,
while bis term as Alderman was about expiring.
He was thirty years old at that time, with the
promise of fair future before him. While 10
Congress he was elected School Commissioner
of the Seventh Ward. The year after his term
as Representative expired he was chosen to the
Board of Supervisors, and continued to hold a
In 1861 be was candidate for Sheriff on
the Tammany ticket. The Office is one Of
enormous emolument, and Tweed struck
for it With his usual energy. He reckoned
himself worth $4,000 at that time, and he
had made the money honestly. He ex-
pended every dollar of it 10 the canvass, led
on by the hope and belief that he would
triumph He was beaten, and during the
winter which followed he found great difficulty
10 meeting the house rent and paying his
butchers and grocer's bills. 1t is probable
that his career as public plunderer dates from
the day Of his defeat as Sheriff.
He was not 6ne-grained man nor troubled
with many conscientious scruples. He saw him
self as the victim of what he looked upon as
conspiracy. He had distributed his money
among various ward organizations in return for
their promised assistance. They divided his
fortune and withheld their support. He re-
solved to ''get even" with the public who had
preferred another to him, and he set about the
lob with the coolpess Of great general and the
wickedness of great robber. ln 1862 he be-
came Deputy Street Commissioner, aud while
holding that office he got his hand freely into
the public purse for the first time. At about
the same period he made himself the ieadlog
spirit n the Tammany organization.
He showed sooD that his power as an organl-
zcr was very great. He drew men around hm
usually by appeals to their selfish natures. To
honor and trust. He proceeded on the theory
that every man had his price. 1t rival arose
to dispute his authority he crushed that rival
if he could, aud if he couldn't he crushed the
rivalry by supporting the man for some Office,
aud thus making him his ally. In this way he
spiked the guns Of Fernando Wood and called
"a truce with his most popular euemy, the Big
Judge" Michael Connolly
La 1867 Richard B. Connolly, timid man,
pluusible in manners, but exceedingly corrupt
at heart, became Comptroller of New York.
With him Tweed formed an alliance. Connol-
y was greedy aud closcfstud. He held office
at the pleasure of Tweed, who was' however
compelled to share equally with him in thel di
vision of the mouey plundered from CITY, That
same wear, 1867, Tweed was elected to the
State Senate from the Fourth District by
large majority. In the Senate he found ma
orty opposed to him politically. How he used
that majority to effect bis purposes is one OF the
chronicles of Albany which is yet to be written.
We may undertake the task hereafter:
In 1869 Tweed found counsellor far wiser
and much more honest than himself in the
person of Peter B. SwecDy. He also found a
fppant but brilliant advocate IN A. Oakey
Hall, man free from corrupt relatives, but
one willing to blind his eyes to the crimes com;
mtted around him as a reward tor temporal
power and pleasant notorlety, When these
four men-Tweed, Connolly, Sweeny aed Hall
Joined their various forces and talents the
cvuspirecy vas complete. ln 1870 the hrSt
revolt against this concentrated power = oegan'
1t was badly planned and disreputably othcered.
Norton, Genet, Creamer, Peter Mitchell, Mich
ael Murphy and others, who led the movement
10 tue Legislature, we're not the men through
whom reform could come.
1t tlOoked tor time, however, as If the move
meut would succeed. Tweed was beaten 10 the
preliminary skirmish in the Senate. He pre-
tended to surrender and voted for the charte:
Of the Young Democracy But he had secret
.ly formed an alliance with the Republican
party in the Legislature and could afford to
bide his time Meantime his rivals had lost
their heads. 10 the flush OF TEN mporary sue
cess they divided-on paper-a!! the othces 10
the city among themselves. The charter under
which this grand distribution was to take
place. was taken to the Assembly, where it was
understood that it would pass by general con-
sent. But to the amazement of many, and to
the dismay of the Young Democracy, 1t was de-
teated.
Tweed's rivals surrendered at discretion;
Creamer, Norton Micbel-al but Genet-'sued
Tor terms of peace. The next week weeds
charter was introduced, and, receiving the sup
port of all the Republican Senators excepting