The New York herald., 1875-12-13
It's Private and Public Con-
stitutions and Bylaws.
GRIPS, SIGNS AND PASSWORDS.
AUtccratic Power Of the
Grand Sachem.
TRIALS FOR CAPITAL CRIMES.


government OF each part but it expressly provided
that what is done privately and known only TO tn,
initiated, shall in all guide and control the worI
| OF the corporation entirety. Like tho Freema
sons Odd Fellows it has its ceremonies attendinl
admission; Its grips signs and passwords The puhlii
constitution OF Tammany announces its objects TO b
the promotion of patriotism and the political rights
human nature but the only declared purpose In the
private constitution is TO devote It's funds 10 charitable
uses. In the latter, however, there provsioni
bestowng extensive powers the officers Of the
cety, and for the trial and punishment OF offending
MEMBERS though the character OF delinquencics moi
specified As chartered body it has legally only
function to discharge-that OF relieving INDECENT mem
bers and their families, and is only by the fnlhmen
OF this contract that 1t exist such and hoa
real estate. As stated the Tammany Society Colum
bian Order is secret political body, fully much
the Know Nothings and until an entire change is mah
in its rules and regulations remains must be con
sldered a secret political society.
GOVERNMENT AND OBJECTS rAMMASY
After some search the HERALD has found the consi
tuition and bylaws of both branches Of the corporation
which given in full below These documents
rare and It may be remarked that Sachems great
small-Sagamores, Mackawalaws and Aanks-reservi
them treasures not TO be examined by the ousid,
world However, they have been discovered, and
now made public There have been some few unim
portant amendments made in the constitutions, bun
their provisions continue substantially they
the time the society chartered The times for thu
election of officers and for other purposes given
follows Monday in April election of Sachems
Secretary and Treasurer 18th of May anniversary FRS
Monday after officers instituted; second Monday aen
election of Grand sachem; Monday June Grant
sachem installed and Sycamore and wlskinskie elected
and installed first Monday in July, trustees appontet
to museum; July A. Declaration OF Independence readi
first Monday in October brother appointed to delivei
| long talk The public constitution is here prntet
| nrst the private constitution follows-
THE PUBLIC CONSTITUTION
/. This institution shall be known by the name q
Tammany Society, or Columbian Order.
IL shall connect in the indssoluble bonds or patri<
otc friendship American brethren of known attachs
ment TO the political rights OF human nature and tht
liberties of this country.
The constitution of this society shall consist q
two pars-the external or public, and the internal o
private The latter shall ever be subordinate TO tn,
former admitting construction contradictory eithe
to the letter spirit Of the external, calculated
further TO infringe the equal privileges of the Sons
Tammany than is necessary to preserve peace, good
| order and government
L. Every member upon initiation shall come under an
honorary obligation TO MAINTAIN the reputation; CON
stitution and harmony and TO preserve nvioaby th'
s. This society shall be governed by fourteen sachcms
annually TO be chosen by ballot who SHALL cxclusivi
OF the Grand Sachem, form Council and be invested
with certain judicial powers exclusively.
The president Of this society shall be known ana
| vested with certain executive powers exclusively.
T. There shall be treasurer annually chosen who
| shall preside over its funds, as by law directed
| s. There shall be secretary annually chosen VIII,
shall keep journal Of its proceedings and laws, as bJ
No person shall be eligible to the Office OF Sachen
unless native Of this country citizen in voluntary
allegiance the United States at the Declaration of In
dependence the service Of the United Statei
during the late Revolution to the Office Of Grand
Sacbem above year in three, nor TO any two ofcci
at one time
10 This society shall be divided into thirteen dist,nc
tribes, with OF the Sachems presiding each
| who may have separate meetings as by law directed.
H. The tribes in their separate capacity, nine being
quorum therein, shall have power to elect their
officers who shall not exceed three in number, and bd
entitled to receive the honorary title of okemaw Alank
Mackawaaw, at the discretion of the Grand Sachem
| IL The number of States the American Union
shall be the number constituting quorum in all meet
| ings OF this society
| Ia when alterations or amendments OF this constk
tuition have been constitutionay recommended DIS.
cussed by the society at three meetings they shall bG
finally submitted TO the Judgment Of the tribes the
consent of tribes being necessary either for tho
adoption OF the same or to render void any part OF this
| constitution.
| THE PRIVATE BYLAWS
| / The Grand Sachem shall be invested with the
power and right to command the peace Of the society,"
to determine the order OF business by his aud
promulgated rules to be unaerable unless with the
consent OF twcthirds of the society; TO silence dis
orderly debate to appoint committees when the
Der does not exceed three; to give the casting
whenever tie renders IL necessary; to confer dig
mites and honors of the society 10 call extraordinary
meetings with the consent Of majority OF the Sachems
met In council And in order 10 promote uniformity
and equal rights among the members OF this nstitu
ton and In case OF application OF any society bearing
| the name Of Tammany, he shall, with the consent q
the council be authorized to grant thereto dispense
| tion with all such communication as he may deem
| expedient except the Tammany password, character
| isc sign or grip which shall never be communicated
| by letter or by other symbolical marks nor Ia any
society ungovcrned by these constitutions but which
at all times open the possessors the this and
| every other such complete (orginaD and well organ
The Judiciary Council of the Sachen.s nine being i
quorum therein, shall have the power and right TO ap
point in the OF the absence Of the Grand Sachem,
president TO the society from their own body who,
for the time being shall DO invested with all the req
uislte executive powers; likewise to determine IN
all of real doubt tho the constitution and
laws; to convene themselves and appoint their OWN
Father or President TO try all mpeachmens for capi.
tai crimes; decide the last resort in all criminai
according law; have the sole appointment OF
the Grand sachcm by baIlot to recommend amendments
and alterations in the constitutions 70 direct the appli
OF the funds Of the society to charitable other
4 usos provided in instance the exceeds 600
cents; TO grant commissions for the extension Of this
chain Of freedom to persons, II designed
for other state or foreign country and to three
persons iffor any other county within this State
3 That the right Of impeachment shall reside solely
In majority of the society constutonally convened
a stated meeting where not less than twenty per-
| sons present, which impeachment shall be ap-
proved OF by a succeeding meeting TO become valid
Penalties shall be either censure fine or for capt
tai crimes, expulsion; no fine 70 exceed 100 ccnts No
person shall be tried condemned without oppor
tuny given for defence, either IN person by
sell The law shall determine what crimes, but no
| es post facto laws shall be enacted
There shall be forms OF Inauguration prescribed
by law suited 10 the various officers Of this society and
TO be observed at the annual nstament OF officers.
There shall be badges OF distinction prescribed by
law; the badge OF sachem shall be star worn the
breast, suspended by ribbon.
l. Not more than one candidate shall ever be pro.
posed for initiation by any one member at any ono
meeting Of the society.
s. Each candidate shall be proposed baloted for and
initiated at three different meetings OF the society
o In ballotng for candidate the dsapproving lots
shall reject II found in or above the proporuonae num-
| ber OF two TO every sixteen.
TO- The form OF initiation shall be suited TO the de.
sign OF this institution and the spirit OF the
fourth article Of the public constitution The initiation
fee shall exceed 500 cents be less than 200
| cents; every member shall pay quarterage Of -
cents and subscribe the constitution at the time OF
| Initiation amer as may be.
H. The tribes shall seyeray boar the name, ana IN
procession the arms Of the several States ~ the
American Union. And they shall have power TO I'M
peach or try their members, except for capital
crimes but the defendant shall have an appeal 70 the