The New York herald., 1876-12-16
TAMMANY'S TOOLS AND TACTICS.
Lobby Management-The Albany
Legislative Market.
SWEENY'S AMBITIONS.
From the City to the State and Thence
to the Nation.

now the secrets about the Tammany Ring which for
years they have locked up In their own breasts or
copnded only to their cnums and coniederates. The
OF the HERALD have been busy taking
advantage OF this communicative phase. ana have
already gwen interesting gmpses Of that thev-
ish combination Additional Developments in regard
% the petty dcpravty and the ali-reaching ambton
of she Tammany magnates arc given herewith
Is TWEED GOOD HRALrHf
The writer met recently resident OF Albany, who
has known tho majority OF leading pot for
versatona mood favored the HERALD representative
with history Of the birth and development OF the
Tammany Ring Prior to entering into the heart
or hts subject the gentleman, who is physician,
stated that he had within few days called
upon Tweed, and had found him in perfect
health sThey may put In the papers what
they choose" said the gentleman, ''but Tweed is AS
strong as ever, physically speaking He is trine
thinner but he is we'll and hearty and likely TO live
for years All the stun about his being . broken
down old man false; his system is not shut
tered in the least his lungs are sound his digestion s
xood He talks freely about everything but politics.
He says tha, tho real story of his has yet
escaped the papers. He jcstingly told mo that he
would probably write IL out himself some day. Ho
processes consider that no has quite many frends
In New York now as no ever had among the people.
He is beginning to look upon himself the scapegoat
Of worse offenders and, II ever he makes up hts mind
that he Is to left In the Iurch he will probably
mako coan breast Of it-turn States evidence, amer
, fashion,"
IT BEGAN.
Reverting TO the Tammany Ring the gentleman with
whom tho reporter was convsrsns remarked that the
Ring was simply continuation and improved modi-
acation OF the Albany Regency. According to this
tlorn ais tha 6rat of ~ he
tame the Tammany Ring was suggested by no loss
lersouage than Samuel J. Tidon. ''The fact ISL said
he old gentleman, "Messrs. Cngger, Cassidy Rich
bond and the rss the old Albany Regency could not
lontrol their state. They we're supreme in the
democratic party; they could ever withstand the as
saults OF Fernando Wood but they could not control
the State elections. And finally Mr.. Tiden declared
that If the democracy to control New York it
must control 1t from the city of New York. Now York
city must handle New York city, and through its
patronage control New York State. This idea, ex
pressed by Mr. Tildcn, was afterward practically car
red out by Tweed, sweony & Co., 80 that
Mr.. Tilden may bc considered the orig-
nator OF tho '.Ring," though, OF course, he is
not to be held any wayacoountabIe for the dishonest
manner in which his shrewd views carried out "
The Tammany Ring contained moro brains and back
bono than tho Albany Regency, and soon made itself
fot every way and every place. II was no mere
local combination. 1t had three distinct ams-one
to control New York money and patronage; the
second to govern New York Sfnto through its Legis-
laturc; the third, BY means of its Joint control OF
money and patronage, OF city and State, TO become
the controlling power Of the nation, to make Prcsi
dents and manage them. 1t fully realized its rst
and second purposes and one occasion came very
near 10 accomplishing the last
THE LOBBY.
Tn Shs A,vo of Ring IA lobbv n0anta dourishcd
Il was chiefly through these that Tammany acted
In influencing the State Legislature at Albany. Now
there were two classes OF these lobby agents
those who wero employed In legitimate work or work
that was comparatively and by custom, legitimate
Influencing Legislation by argument or social presence
and those who wero simply the dirty tools OF tho
Ring magnatos, who carried brites and dispensed
them according TO Instructions, and who In
nucnced legislation by buying and selling log
isator Among the first class or Legitimate lobbyists
tho more conspicuous Eugene Durnn, 'Judge'
Charles Clancy, Mr.. Edward Phelps and Mr.. A. D.
Barbour. Mr. Durnin especial friend OF Mr..
Tweed ana was particularly trusted by him. He was
never used by .sthe Boss in any Of his characteristic
or dishonest transactions, but in all his legitimate
Official work tho Boss found Mr. Durnin most available
uap always ready In any emergency. Mr.. Durnfn is
one Of those men who seem to be very frank, who
talk freely and almost condentally to you, and yet
who never, by any possibility say word that they
do not intend saying. He passes for tho very beau
ideal of a genial companion, and yet withal hc Is
about any topic that would commit himself or any,
body else, as dumb any oyster He was well re-
vardcI tor his labors by Official patronage aud Is now
In very comfortable circumstances He Is perfect
mine OF information about Tweed, but II IS mine
which cannot be worked. he never mentions his old
masters name
nort rtour prof
his nc with Thurlow wccd and acted both sides Of
tho political fence HIS transactions always hon.
orabc he bore, personally, an estimablo character
in addition to possessing large fortune.
But there were among "thc lobbyists OF the Ring"
somc OF the unclean men known in politics, men
who were utterly consciencelcss and did the
Rings bidding without murmur. Through
these men the money stolen from the city
was distributed at Albany, particularly among
the republican legislators These agents werc during
the session. as Of them expressed II, "kcpt busy
bribing republican," II must be carefully borne In
mind py all who would have correct idea Of the Ring
limos that the Tammany Ring money was largely used
In "buying up" republicans The democrats at Albany
we're not paid directly for their votes having to pre-
servo their party TICS the cash in hand was paid
ovcr constantly TO the men ION the other side, /"
much % tho chagrln Of some OF the democrats.
LEGISLATIVE rAHiPrs
Tweed once remarked that "Republicans werc more
expensive than democrats" and he ought TO have
known what he talking about According to the
confession Of an ex-lobbyist, "the market price OF
republican Senator varied from $4,000 to 100000
SIS 900 was paid cash to srepublican for his vote
an n railroad bill Another republican. Tor similar
favor, received from Tweed farm vared at $4,000
sweeny promised another rural patriot Boulevard lot
In the mcsropolA He kept his promise and the rural
patriot 70 this day keeps bis lot These are a'' sne
big operations positively certain or" said the ex
,ebbyis. "but dare say there were ny others did
not get on she track Of"
wfvAxs' NOTE
Senator wInans, the republican who voted for
.he Tweed charter, Is said TO havo received tho
,.r,es, sum ever paid a. time TO any one rcpao-
,,e.a According TO general report the sum was
.6o COO. and II was paid In cash But, according to
z. us Hanana really pcxer receiyed ono