The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-06-30


ency in railway property replaced BY an
unexampled prosperity. His relations
with these companies, his thorough COM
prehension Of their history and require
ments, and his practical energy and de-
cision, have given him such a mastery
over all the questions that arise in the or
ganization, administration and financial
management of canals, as we'll as rail-
roads: that his influence, more than that
Of any other man in the country, seems
inseparsbly associated with their pros
perity and success, not only in his own
country, but abroad. 1t is. we believe,
an open secret that his transatlantic
celebrity brought to him quite recently
an invitation from the European credit.
ore of the New York and Erie railway
to undertake reconciliation OF the vari-
Gus interests in that great corporation,
which the proprieties and duties OF bis
official position constrained him to de-
cline. 4
Till the war came Governor TilS0n
made every effort to avert the rebellion.
When his efforts, combined with those
of other prominent patriots, had proved
sbortive, his convictions OF duty !were
perfectly decided and clear. They were
to maintain the integrity of our territory
and the supremacy Of the constitutional
authorities. He had been educated in
the school Of jackson, and had been g
diligent student OF the lessons taught by
the notification controversy of 1888.
He had studied carefully and profoundly
the relation of the Federal and State
governments, and of the citizens OF
those governments. He had thus early
formed perfectly clear and settled
opinions, about which his mind never
vacillated. They were the opinions OF
jackson, o. Van Buren,, Of Wright and
of Marcy, with whom, during most Of
their public lives, he had been on terms
OF personal intimacy.
During the winter of lS70.61 he at.
tended meeting of the leading men OF
both parties in the city of New York, to
consider what measures were necessary
and practicable to avert an armed collis-
ion between what were then termed the
free and the slave States. To the North
he urged reconciliation and forbearance,
approaching rs he did more clearly than
most of those around him the fearful and
disastrous consequences OF civil war,
whatever might prove its ultimate re-
suit. To the South he urged difference
TO the will of the majority and respect
for the provisions of the Federal Con-
stitution, within which they would be
sure of adequate protection for them
selves and for their property; but he
warned them that outsi de OF the Constl-
tuition they could expect protection for
neither.
When the war did come Mr.. Tilden
associated himself with and was the pri-
vate adviser of Mr.. Dean Richmond
then at the head of the Democratic party
of New York, and who was accustomed
on all important questions to visit Mr..
| Tilden in his retirement and seek his
counsel.
At meeting held at the house OF Gen.
Dix, Just after the first call of President
Lincoln for $1,000 troops, Mr.. Tilden was
present and participated in the discus
sioEs which took place. He then and
there expressed the opinion that they
were on the eve of great war, and main
tanned that, instead of $4,000 troops Mr..
| Lincoln should have called out at least
100000, half for immediate service and
the other half to be put in camps OF in
struction and trained for impending ex'
igencies. Unhappily that generation had
seen SO little of war and had such linn ted
means of conprehending the rapidity
with which the war spirit, once lighted,
will spread among people, that 1t was
not competent to appreciate the wisdom
of this advice, which, if adopted, would
probably have prevented the necessity OF
any further increase of military force.
To Secret airy Chase and his friends Mr..
| Tilden insis ted that the war ought to be
carried on under system OF sound
finance, which he did dot doubt the PEG
pie would checriully sustain, if the Gov
ernment would have the courage to pro-
pose it. At a later period of the war he
was invited by the Government at Wash
ington to give his advice as to the best
methods for its further conduct He said
to the Secretary OF War.
"You have no right to expect great
| military genius to come to your assist
ance. They only appear once in two or
three centuries. You will probably have
TO depend upon the average military
talent of the country. Under such cir
cumstances your only course is to avail
Yourself of your numerical strength and
YOUR superior military resources result.
ing from your greater progress IN INDUS
trial arts and your greater producing
csnacities. You must have reserves and
concentrate your forces on decisive points
and overwhelm your Anniversaries by as
proportionste numbers and reserves"
His advice was not taken, but he had
the satisfaction, within year after 1t was
given, of hearing the Secretary of w ar
acknowledge its wisdom aud lament his
inability to secure its adoption.
With the peace came to Mr.. Tilden
the most important political labor OF his
lite With the assistance of Charles
O'Connor, who followed the members OF
that band OF conspirators with all his
usual vigor and adroitness until 1t was
not only broken up, but its leading
members scattered To- the tour quarters
of the globe, he asssiled and overthrow
the combined Republican and Demo.
cratic Ring which ruled and ruined New
York. This "ripg' had It's origin in an
act passed by the Legislature OF the State
of New York in 1857, in connection WIZ
the charter OF that year, which PROVIDED
that but six persons should be voted Tor
by each elector and twelve chosen. II
other words, the nominees of the Kepuo.
lican and Democratic party caucuses
should be elected. At the succeeding se
sion OF the Legislature their term OF ONCE
was extended to six years This gave
Board of Supervisors, consisting OF s ~
Republicans and six Democrats, to 'naDs %
a majority, OF which 1t was necessary " "
have contrsl of the primary meetings Z"
both of the great national and State par,
ties for wears in succession-s series y.
co;ncidences which rarely happens IN =
generation. .;. 7, x.s a
civ Ram hllcan hnN