Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-12-11

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$50. This IVES the penalty denounced
against William NJ Tweed, in the
Court Of Oyer and Telminer, by Judge
Noah Davis, on Saturday afternoon =
At l o'clock on Sunday morning the
prisoner was taken to the Tombs, and
in that Egyptian pile Of more than
Egyptian misery he is now confined.
The last act of the drama is PLAYED.
The man who little while ago was
senator, c supervisor, commissioned
the chief power in the chief city of the
continents new condemned con
Wet ifany measure Of success attends
the efforts of bis counsel to secure a
mitigation of sentence, stay of pre-,
ceedings, or a ny trial, it will not
alter the essential fact that Twecd's
place henceforth is with the out
laws of society. 1t is time to consider
the mans lite and character with. the
same calm, dispassionate view that we
should lake of the dead, for Tweed is
dead beyond the hope Of resurrection
William II. Tweed was born in the
city OF New York fifty years ago last
April. His parents We're poor people
and the boy was early thrown upon lis
own resources. He learned the trade
OF haifmaker, and worked at it fer
few years. lie soon became am
bilious ofpolitical distinction, and to
increase his qualifications and improve
his chances he entered the University
Law School, from which ne. graduated
as member OF the lar. His power
began IN the old volunteer fire depart
ment Of the metropolis. He became
foreman of Big Six engine
company famous iii the lower part Of
the city. His im1neuse vital energy
and his organizing abil;ty were here
developed aud exhibited. In that day
a popular fireman was a.positive power
in local politics, and Tweed began to
make himself fte.t.
In 1851 he was elected alderman
from the Seventh ward. serving in the
Common Council through the wears
1852 SO. in the fall of 1882 he was
ele ctcsl IL Congress from the Fifth dis
trict, which then embraced the Seventh,
aud Thirteenth wards of New York
and the village of Williamsburoh.
Long Island. He took his seat in the
House in December, 1888, while his
term as alderman was about expiring.
He was thirty years Old 1T that time,
with the promise of a fair future before
him. While in Congress he was Il ct
ed school commissioner of the Seventh
ward. The year after his term as
representative expired he was chosen to
the board of supervisors, aud continued
to hold place there until the day Of
bis overthrow
In 1861 he was candidate for sheriff
on the Ianmauy ticket. The Office is
one OF enormous emolument. and
Nv eed struck for it with his usual
energy. He reckoned himself worth
$50, 800 at that time, and he had made
the money. honestly He expended
every dollar ii it i'll the canvass, led Oh
by the hope and belief that he would
triumph. He Was beaten, and during
the winter which followed he found
great difficulty in meeting the house
rent and paying his butchers and
grocers bills. 1t is probable that his
career as a public rlundeler dates from
the day Of his defeat as sheriff.
Ike was lot q fine-srained man nor
troubled with many conscientious
scruples lie saw himself as HE 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 bis fortune and Withhold their
support II resolved to ''get even
with tn, public, who had preferred
another to him, and he set about Il e
job with the co.lness OF a great general
and the wickedness Of 4 great robocr.
In 1862 he became deputy street com
missioner, and 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 leading spirit in the Tammany
organization
lie showed soon that his power as
an organizer was very great. He drew
men around him usually by appeals to
their setih natures. TO one he gave
money; to an other some place of honor
and trust. lie proceeded on the theory
that every man had has price. If a
rival arose to dispute his authority he
crushed that rival if he could, and if
he couldn't he crushed the rivalry by
supporting the man for some office, and
thus making Tim his ally. In this way
he spiked the guns Of Fernando Wood,
and called truce with his m, st pop