The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-04-21

SlOnS NJ Albany are giving Sl''lHl prominence
to the Ring charter Of 1870 which opened n
wide door for the Tammany Boss and his ac-
completes to enter in and sack the city of New
York. Tho charter was long act. full Of de-
tails. copied in part from existing statutes.
under which were concealed n few sentences
containing the real object and the vital force OF
the measure. Those pregnant sentences were
tho clauses which reached the existing city
Offices within five or ten days after the passage
Of the act. and provided for the appointment by
Mayor A. Oakley Hall OF new officers. on whom
were conferred all the powers of government
for long terms. and who were exempted from
liability Of removal by the Governor or Mayor.
rs had before been the case.
The Nec York Times. then as now the leading
Republican journal Of the country. in its issue
Of April 3. 1870. under the editorial caption Of
The Victory Of the Ring" described the pre-
limnary conflict in the Legislature wherein
Tweed came out triumphant. in the following
language:
A great battle has been fought at Albany. II
was Known far and wide that such a battlc was
To- he fought. The conflcnc" Of the leaders of
on" army wns 40 snnguine ana 50 freely az
pressed that u considerable part OF the com.
munity seemed 10 believe in their anticipated
victory. Opinion. at least WIS pretty furry
divided. much ~ il used 10 be IN New York.
over the first day n Of general "nglisn-
mont h. tween fhn Tntnn ami Cnnfrdor1tn
that 80 buoyantly prugnO stlcaind was IA stun
ninE IN some QUARTS rs ihn news 81 Aus.
about asking how il happened TINT clever men
for among the heads OF the Young Demo-
crazy there arc clever mcn-rOuld have been
So cgregiously deceived. Yet the answer -
very simple. There WIS something TO be bought
and there was plenty OF mon"y to buy IT, All
tlat was needed besides was plenty Of nerve
and plenty Of shrcwdness, and the Ring has
never shown itself deficient in either OF these
dOsIdcranis.
The Times thus early discovered what Tweed's
disclosures now make certain, viz; that the
charter was carried through the Legislature by
bribery. About that time. or not long after
Judge Noah Davis was reported as having
made speech ut Albion in which he charged
that six Republican senators received each
$4,000 for voting for the charter and an
equal sum for like services. Judge Davis must
have had ample authority for making 50 dam
aging a statement concerning prominent menu
bcrs Of his own purity. Perhaps he got his in
formation from A. ID. Barber. the notorious lob
byist. his half brother and who, according 10
Twced's revelations, figured In the corrupt
transactions ut Albany. At all events. the
Woodin Investigating Committee should call
Judge Davis before them. and intcrrosate him
us 10 the grounds of his charges.
When the Ring began to break. in the late
summer Of ISL the Times referred TO the pas
sugc of the charter. and the purchase OF vot' :
| for thut purpose. in these forms:
The recent revelations respecting tho
/ nnun 'os of our city SHOW how necessary 10
/ seemed 60 tle TaWuHuy adj 'rs 90 ilni som"
! pr.t.Nt Tor CESSATION Win ia would perpHtuut'
/ their control ui thee affairs ~ t1' 'lty 6"N m
] mont. nDf Duivi- against the i lu.llcan-. but
! AGAINST the u murrit-, um 1ng W'um existed a
| WIlr- Nreud dI-,'ff. Do. Tine uw.ul' = tyranny
! Han had already consolidated an opposition,
| which had 90" power 90 overthrow them. and
tins opoo- ton manifest d Hs,i imn'iiu -iy