The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-12-24
BOSS TWEED.

has not been Of very encouraging character
every attempt having been met with denial,
and, as it were another clinch added to the
rivits which hold him to the island OF
which he has right Of survey, even if there Is
doubt as to his right Of control and release.
But defeat does not seem to drown the
Boss courage-he seems to be impervious
to discouragement,- and knock down to-
day appears but to strengthen him for grea
ter effort tomorrow. Thus, in course he has
tried all the minor courts; aud now we find
him knocking at the door Of the court oflast
resort, and, with an array of counsel, formid-
able because of its talent aud knowledge Of
the quips and quirks Of law, determined to
leave nothing undone to secure his end, VIZ:
his release from confinement and the enjoy
ment of the fortune which, it is clear he rob-
bed from the taxpayers of the great city
which he once ruled.
The punishment Of so great a criminal, as
the evidence in this trial proved the Boss to
be, is something in which the whole people
of the country have an interest. And yet 1t
will not do to do just thing, in an unjust
or illegal way. If the Court exceeded its
right of sentence, Or invaded any OF those
rights which the law, in It's desire to do exact
Justice accords even to criminals, then much
as the people of New York would regret such
action, and much as right minded people
every where else would regret it, there should
| be no hesitancy in wiping out the wrong by
| declaring that Tweeds incarceration must
| cease, and he be restored to his rights OF
citizenship and domicile. 1t would not do
der that it might punish another wrong-per-
haps no greater-committed by the lndlyi-
dual Aud this, if the court Of appeals find
the imprisonment Of Tweed an error, would
be precisely the position in this matter
Tweed criminal for the sake of political and
pecuniary aggrandizement. and the court
criminal, because of its enforced and unlaw
! fu! invasion of the rights of citizen, for re-
vcnee. Tweed and his counsel, and friends
claim this to be the status Of his case, and
there is no doubt the country will be glad to
learn, under the decision Of Tweed's court Of
last resort, whether, there is any foundation
| for the claim.
But, as they have right to expect. SO the
peoDle will look for righteous decision OF
the points at issue. There are but few per-
sous but believe that In his twelve years sen
tence on the island, more especially in
view of the fayors shown him there-Tweed
gets no more than full measure of his due,
and hardly SO much They think that as his
crimes were specimens Of first class rascaity
his place and mode Of punishment should
have been in keeping Herewith. But few
believe that less than the PeDitentuary, at
hard labor, would have come near reaching
the maximum of his deserts, aud, hence,
that there is error in the sentence, it was
error on the side Of leniency. And people OF
this belief will watch the proceedings now in
progress for his release with unusual interest.
They will look for fair and square rendering
iof the law in the case, and be content with
nothin, less than decision based upon It's
plain letter and spirit. 4 decision upon mere
techuicalities VII not meet their appreciation
nor secure for the judicial expounder any,
thing but the contempt which he will have
RI. hly earned for himself, an which shouic
b,iro upon him such scorn, as would certain
| " drive him into disgraceful retircmert.
! Il cannCt be denied but that there d.
| those who syn. pa tbise with Boss Tweed ii
his deserved imp isorment. They look upon
his recent luxurion, mode Of living, his un
matched political pow ers, and his immense
wealth, and DO not hesita te to exclalm wha
pity that man so situat. d should be helc
to such an end But the Other SIDE OF the
question seldom enters their thoughts. Low
he abused his power, how he acc,'muiatet
his wealth, and bow he lived his llte'
! thought of at all is only thought Of pass. ng
ly and dismissed to make room for pity. Ant
vet, in the use Of his political power he was
a tyrant Of the first magnitude, IN the ac-
cumuation of his wealth he acted the robber,
in villainy far above thousands who are, to-
day. the world over. expatiating their crimes
at hard labor in dungeons and in prisons in
the indulgence of his mode Of living sensual
ity ia its most damable phase cling to him as
closely, as bark to the tree. There was moth
= ing in the whole man but selfshness-noth
ing that commanded respect, and nothing
, that in his present straight de'ervlng OF pity
or Of the efforts that are making to rellevt
him from those meshes of the law in which
he has been so deservedly caught. bis
wealth itself would not be a cause o. repro2ch
but his manner of obtaining it righteousiy
places him side beside with the most nnre
lenting burglar who wears striped clothing IN
Sing Sing or Cherryhill.
AS we insinuated before justice is a neces-
sity in the case, and is paramount, but We
cannot dismiss the subject without giving
expression to the wish, that as Boss Tweed
proves to be the first big william who has been
caught and punished in spite Of his ill-gotten
81 wealth we hone tho court of last resort O!