Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-07-20

IIidl w III ilSip W ilicctAoSN wiz ASAN
lions which the Chairman of the
Democratic State Committee mains
tanned with the ssBoss" thief in the
days of his power. The studious
efforts of Governor Tilden, on the
cross examination, to conceal the
truth, are as instructive as the de-
liberate attempt made in the biogra-
ply which his agents delivered to the
press to substitute deliberate false
hood for the truth of history
cEoss-ExAMINATIoN.
By Mr.. Field, Question. When did your
acquaintance with Mr.. Tweed begin Ans
wer. really can't tell, knew him slightly
some time while he was Street Commissioner.
Q. How many years ago? A. | think he
was appointed by Mayor 0pdyke, or rather
Deputy Street Commissoner-about twelve
years ago. I do not exactly rccollect when
first met him.
Q. That was about 1864 7? A. l am not
positively certain about the time.
O. From that time did your acquaintance
with him increase A. Perhaps so.
0. How in fact? A. should think |
knew him rather moro afterward than did
him. never knew him much.
0. Your relations were not at oil close
then A. No, never.
Q. They were rather distant, suppose
A. Well, they were reserved
o. He was a man of very great political
influence. was he not ? A. At one time.
O. How early did that begin | didn't
think he had much political Influence until
after he got control of the Street Commis-
sioncr's Office, then it gradually grew
O. That, you think, was about l866-lS64,
I mean A. 1864 /; Mr.. Edward Ewing
was appointed Street Commissioner and Mr..
Tweed was Deputy | spoke only from recol-
lection.
O. Ho was successfully alderman and mems
bep of Congress A. Yes, sir.
O. And a member of the State Senate, and
member of the National Democratic Com
mittse, and so on A. He never was a mem
Der of the National Committee.
@. But he held those offices | have spoken
Of? A. He held those offices.
O. Do YOU remember how long he was in
Congress A. should think one term.
O. How long was he in the State Senate
A. | should think two terms.
O Was he not in the State Senate when
YOU were in the Assembly? A. No; he was
elected the same time | was elected to the
Assembly the last time, in 1871, but he did
not 90 there. ,oso0
O. Were you not in the Assembly in 1870?
A. No, sir-l872-I was elected in the fall OF
1871.
o. Did he become, after 1864, man of
great political influence ? A. He became
about 1869 man of great political power.
@. Not before A. 1853 or 1869,
Q. He had large number OF adherents,
had he not ? A. Yes, sir.
@. A man who attracted to himself
very large circle of supporters? A. lie had
a large following at one time
@. 1t continued from 1854 A. NOT so
early as that
O. From this time it began as you have
describod II mn to 1851? M
o. How is thls-did it continue up to
that time =? A. Yes, sir
O. You did not answer my question and
thought you were waiting. A. | did not
understand it as a question.
o. During this time, did he have the con-
troll of what was called Tammany Hall A.
can't fix the date. He had control of Tam>
many Hall for several years.
o. Were there two factions of the Dem>
ocratic party, one of which was headed by
hm-or, if the word faction does not express
it exactly, fragments use the word frag
ments A. | do not knew exactly what
YOU mean by that-two parties running diff
ferent tickets?
o. Were there two fragments of the
Democratic party which were struggling to
get control of Tammany Hall ? A Not at
this time.
O. For portion of the timer A. Occas>
onnly There was in the spring of 1870.
O. Mr. Tweed was tho head of one, and
somebody else led the other was it not so :?
A. There was a contest in the spring OF
1871.
O. During the period of his power think
Won said he was not member of the Demo-
cratic National Committee A Never,
think.
o. Look at that letter and tell me on
what occasion it was written. producing a
paper to the wi.ncss.) Mr.. Carter-lt is an
original letter +? Mr.. Field-An original let
Ter from Mr.. Tglclen to Mr. Taoeed, asking him
to attend the National Democratic Committee or
Convention. The Witness-It docs not ask
him to do anything Of the kind.
Q. We will see what it is at all events
A. The best way to ascertain what it is, is to
read it.
The counsel read the letter in evidence in
the words following:
MY DEAR SIR-The National Committee
meet at the Metropolitan Hotel, in Washing.
ton, on the 25th of February, at II o'clock
Yours, etc, S. TILDEN
Hon WIN. NJ. TWEED.
@. What is the word there before the
date ? A. Saturday morning, think, Feb.
ruary 10, 1868. -,
@. Will you state for what purpose, if he
was not a member of the committee, you
wrote him that note ? A. | remember Mr..
Belmont, who was President of the National
Committee. pressed me very strongly to go
there in 1868 to attend the meeting, on the
9Th of January, and did. | presume Mr..
Tweed must have asked me to send him
word when the meeting would take place, or
some thing of the sort, and | did it. | have
no recollection now.
Q. Look at that note also, and see lift is
a note you wrote him. Producing paper to
the witness.l A. That appears to be my
handwriting.
Mr. Carter-Let me see it a moment,
please,
Plaintiffs counsel examines the paper,
which is handed to the witness to examine.
Mr.. Carter--Do you preceiyo no relevancy
in these notes whatever-it appears to be
private correspondence upon matters A.
/ have no objection to that coming in.
Mr.. Carter-With the Governors consent,
we are not inclined to make any objection
ourselves.
Defendants counsel read the letter in evi>
dence in the words following
mo. Is GRAMERcY PARK
August II, ls66-1l A. NJ.
Ny DEAR SIR decided to go to Philadel>
phia in the morning, and shall not see you be-
fore / leave. Mr.. Richmond is at the St.
Nicholas, somewhat i'll. If well enough he
will come OH the p. m. train. Whether he
is there, to-day or not, I hope you sciR not fail
to Be in Philadelphia.
Very trcly, your friend,
S. j, TuDEN.