Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-12-06
THE STORY OF WILLIAM VI.
TWEED.



TWEED.
A Plain Narration by a Democratic
Journal.
Twelve years in the Penitentiary at
Blackwell's Island and fine of ST.. 80.
This was the penalty denounced against
William NJ. Tweed in the Court OF Oyer
and Terminer, by Judge Noah Davis, on
Saturday afternoon. At 1 O'Clock on
Sunday morning, the prisoner was tax
en- to the Tonlbs, 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, lit
tie while ago, was Senator, a Supervi-
sor, Commissioner---the chief power in
the chief city of the continents now
condemned convict. If any measure
of success attends the efforts of his coun-
sci to secure mitigation of sentence, Il
stay of proceedings or new trial, it
will not alter the essential fact that
Tweed's place henceforth is with the
outlaws of society. 1t is time to consid-
er the mans life and character with the
same calm. dispassionate view that we
should take of the dead for Tweed is
dead beyond the hope of resurrection.
William NJ. Tweed was born in 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. lie learned the trade of
a chairmaker and worked at it for few
wears. He soon became ambitious of po-
| litical distinction, and to increase his
qualifications and to improve his chan
ces, he entered the University Law
| Senool, from which he graduated as a
member of the bar. His power began
| in the old Volunteer Fire Department of
the metropolis. He became foreman of
ssBix Six'-an engine company famous
| in the lower part of the city. His inn
mense vital energy and his organizing
ability were here developed and exhib-
| tied. In that day popular fireman
| was a positive power in local politics,
and Tweed began to make himself felt.
In 1851 he was elected Alderman from
| the Seventh Ward, serving in the Com
mon Council through the years 1923.
In the fall of 1852, he was elected to
Congress from the Fifth District, which
then embraced the Seventh and Thir.
teenth Wards of New York and the vii
lage of Williamsburgh, Long Island.-
He took his seat in the House in Deceul-
ber, 1853, while his term as Alderman
was about expiring. He was 30 years
old at that time, with the promise of q
fair future before him. While in Con-
Sress he was elected School Commission
er of the Seventh Ward. The year after
his term as Representative expired he
was chosen to the Board of Supervisors
and continued to hold place there unit
the day of his overthrow.
In 1861 he was candidate for Sheriff
ON the Tammany Ticket. The office |.
one of enormous einolument, and Tweed
, struck for it with his usual energy. Ht
. reckoned himself worth $50. 900 at tha
time, and he had made the money hon
, estly. He expended every dollar of i
, in the canvass, led on by the hope ant
. belief that he would triumph. He wa
beaten, and during the winter which fol
lowed he found great difficulty in meet
!; ing the house rent and paying his butch
er's and grocer's bills. It's possible tha
i his career as public plunderer date
faom the day of his defeat as Sheriff.
/ He WAS not fine-grained man no
troubled with many conscientious scru
Piles. He saw himself as. the victim o
what he looked upon as n conspiracy.
) He had distributed his money among va
rious ward organizations in return 70
5 their promised assistance. They aiyide
his fortune and withheld their support
e He resolved TO Esget even" with the pub
: lie who had preferred another to him an
} he set about the job with the GOODNESS o
l | a great general and the wickedness of
: great rObber. In 1852 he became Depu
G ty Street Commissioner, and while hold
: ing that office he got his hand freely in
e to the public purse for the first time. 4
t about the same period he made himsel
1 the leading spirit of the Tammany OF
ganizatiOn.
t He showed soon that his power as
: organizer was very great. He DIRE,
G men around him usually by appeals [
d their selfish natures. To one he CAV
l money; to another some place of homo
r and trust. He proceeded on the tiieor
o that every man had his price. If riv;
}, arose to dispute his authority he crushc
: that rival if he could, and il he couldn
S he crushed the rivalry by supportin
n tile man for some Office, and thus NAL
IT ing him his ally. In this way he spike
y the guns of Fernando Wood and calle
u a truce with his most popular enem,
r the '.Big judge Michael Connolly.
s In 1867 Richard B. Connolly, a timi
o man, plausible in manners, but exceed
J ingly corrupt at heart, became Conn
It troller of New York. With him Twee
v formed an alliance, Connolly ":
n greedy and close-tisted. He neyt
q could secure a popular following. +
q held Office at the pleasure of Twee'
y who was, however. compelled to sha
Al equally with him in the division of Il
money plundered from the city. TIL
e: same year, 1867, Tweed was elected
q the State Senate from the Fourth Di
l trict by large majority. In the Sena
>, he found q majority opposed TO him p
,s litically. How he used that majority
u effect his purposes is one of the chrol
ID icles of Albany which is yet to be wri
l. ten. We may undertake the task her
es after,
"a In 1869 Tweed found counsellor f
'd wiser and much more honest than hin
IN self in the person of Peter b. Sweene
lie He also found 1lippant but brillia
as from corrupt motives, but one willing
as blind his eyes to the crimes commit;
To around him as a reward for temper
TO power and pleasant notoriety. Wh'
these four men--Tweed, Connoll
m Sweeney and Hall-joined their vario
n, forces and talents the Tammany co
tn spiracy was complete. In 1870 the fl
revolt against this concentrated pow
re began. 1t was badly planned and d
is reputablY officered. Norton, Gene
OF Creamer. Peter Mitchell, Michael M,l
al ply and others, who led the moveme
in the Legislature, were NOT the M
ne through whom reform could come.
ne 1t looked for a time, however, as
1d tho movement would succeed. Tive
=, was beaten in the preliminary skirmi
I'll in the Senate. He pretended to 81
render and voted for the charter of t
Young Democracy. But he had seer,
er ly formed an alliance with the Repub
w can party in The Legislature, and cot
IS. afford to 'bide his time, Meantime |
III rivals had lost their heads. In the flu