New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-21
THE LETTER.

escape 10 the return II his statement Mr.. Townsend
reviews upon the Ring speaking OF the dis
position OF the against the fugitive members. as
well as those against Tweed. No names are mentioned
and only the prelude TO Tweeds statement is ncor-
porated
Mr. Townsend begins his letter as follows
Justice to the public to Nj. Tweed ana myself and
and thIoueh Won the public Much interest has bcen
manifested by the community generally IN regafa 20 M
Twecd's offer TO you to make iul confession Of ms ms
deeds and of his associates, in return Tor ms re,
lease from custody, and the very cur way IN ~
which you have disposed Of his application ater nohlhs
OF apparent deberaiion has not generally becn heu
Of e high S SG4 nav" Won "' Occupy them the
meuts so freely bestowed upon you are unjust;
and YOU are entitled To consideration, ana u VIII
be due to you aud the position You occupy That y0n
should be reInstated IN public opinion; hut H. on th9
your position ~ his sac TO lose the benct OF Mr.
Tweed's confession with its attending moral effect aud
have further deprived tins city OF MS testimony MlcIt
by millions OF money might he saved to Il, then l
tink press the popular sentiment IN SAVING tha tI
history Oi this State. at least, presents no more 1l
object than yourself If Mr. Tweed or rs ms COUNSEL
have attempted impose upon yon by offering 20 charge
euitess people with onenses, or by pretending that MI
able I, do So have endcavored To Obtain his discharge
you owe n The community to unnask The peiidy ana
hold as. OF either Of us. mp to public Indignation.
will that the public shan res; ~ DOUBT IN
seems 10 dictate the policy OF silence, propose TO adop
another. ana give tue history OF me en- -.
Dos i.iu u ,n lis.';rtesv toZrar me from no
conduct Tor 50 ne months and apprehension that notice
ot II ON my part might nuro the cause client has
alone prevented M from speaking of it, Time, however,
which heals all things. has removed the sung an Ieel
that state the without being influenced ~ an!
bitterness toward you. iOTg We YOU and, with al 'he
charity IN the world. viii attribute your co1uuc' as
either The result OF bad training ~ carry o1, O ~" ~,
fortunate social surroundings whichever IT may De or
indeed % the mistake OF friends III pacihS you III 'ic
position YOU occupy.
MI TOWNSEND after speaking OF the general proceed
ings against the Ring the whole brunt Of which appeared
to have been by Tweed. begins with his first con
necon with the matter IN 1873 when he advised Tweed
10 attempt settlement. This refused then when
Tweed was again returned TO Ludlow Street JAIL Mr.
Townsend was again asked TO assist him. He says
consented to do so, should Mr. Tweed send Tor me-
and Immediately advised on ne subject WIZ many NJ
tegept people who agreed with me that If Mr. Tweed
could be induced To make 2 iull ooneS,on great mora
elect would be produced winch loi time al le5st lsD'
destroy the possibility 81 combinations OF tual chdctI
render those persons odiOus who had Been connected
with IT. and have arcndency TO restrain the stsem wich
has so long polluted our legislative has 10 Nj man 49,
OCOnOr, VINO was then III c0n'IOl ol inc ,l l'lle
San and sd asi 5 my MI Views %DSg aHd while
would be correct 10 say that any encouragement was
siuon wOJld be accepted if made by Mr. Tweed, yet
can say That wnfn mpitl[p 10 tne r1 T i n
WITH no opposing views. on the day of Mr. TwccaSfe
Turn received note from him. TfggeSns ns 10 ii ~
Sdont the right course ne did it fully and entirely and
sent the letter Mr. OCOnor which has already been
published.
TIE NEGOTIATIONS WITH MR.. FAIRcHn0
After MT O'Conors retirement from the Rings cases
Mr. Townsend tells the Atoruey-Gencra that he be,
came the person to treat with While Mr.. Tweed was
waiting FOR some response from the Attorney General
who had been given copy Of the letter to Mr. OConor
he received two letters from Field Deyo in relation to
the judgments against him, desiring TO know whether
an appeal was to be taken These letters, Mr. townsend
writes. were shown to Mr. IaGclild and Mr. Peckham
prior 10 Feb g. and Mr. Flrchid informed that il
was Mr. Tweeds intention TO abide strictly TO his promise
10 Mr. O'Conor but in order that he might not be de
barred entirely from awaiting himself OF the opportunity
opened TO him by Mr. Field, through Mr.. Fairchlds de-
lay in deciding upon his proposition he sent letter to
Mr. Field stating that he undecided what course to
pursue Of the opinion that he would not appeal
or further contest MI Townsend continues
On Feb. % You and Nj Peckham. in my company,
called n the evening to Mr.. Tweed al the Ludlow
give Tweed understand tha nothing short OF com
pete confession OF his crimes and aocompces would be
actions that interview stands ont most credltabiy TO
yOu Mr.. Tweed, remember endeayored to induce you
1 VIM Ep', matters ami his memory Of
some thugs connected with them had become somewhat
indistnct You declined however, 10 suggest any
special matter aud him in effect that you desired
that he should consult with and have me make the
propositions 20 yOu-thus intimating that II your
position prosecutor you did not think proper 10 hOd
direct contamination with him. In accordance
with this understanding prepared Drigi
dressed u 10 YOU II contained The names 81
members of the legislature With whom Ny Tweed had
who had benefited by the Ring practices and was in
tended only a. SUMMARY OF %hat ne eoud 49, @nu 70
snow ms GOod Iailh I'M, tteI auuIesSgu ~ SVu
handed 70 Mr. Peckham, who sa he vas going 10 AlDaiy
the day the 27th 2Sh OF February, ana was
not a little asoni>hed learn from you the 9th Of
March. when met You at the OF the state Board
received it, From ABOUT tis time believe neither
heard from saw anything Of You until about the 4th
OF Apr. You, with your friend, Mr. Carolin OBryan
Bryant, seemed TO work matters 10 SUIT yourself Your
confidence HIM, Of course, induced Air Tweed to be-
leye that he your mouthpece. and was III conse-
Quencc 10 a great extcBt ignored-so much so that
seriously considered the proprey OF Withdrawing RON
all connection with the matter Inc Only information
could receive TO how matters stood was through Mr.
BRYANT ana was informed by him that You did not de
M Peckham TO have anything further 10 do IN the
matter
For some time after this Mr.. Bryant played, according
10 Mr. Townsend, very important part in the proceed
ings and gained the Of both Mr.. Tweed and
his counsel Mr.. Townsend says that Mr.. Tweed has
since Informed him while he, Mr.. Townsend, i'm
pressing upon Tweed the absolute necessity OF making
clean breast Of his misdeeds in conformity with the
tenor and spirit Of his letter to Mr. OOOnor Mr. Bryant
was advising him that il not Mr.. Farchid's desire
that he should do so, aud that Mr. Townsends persist
enee was only the result Of Mr. John Key's wish TO
make political capital out Of it. This explains also the
cause why Mr. Tweeds full statement not submitted
until April II. Mr. Townsend speaks Of the cessation Of
his interviews with Mr.. Peckham, and the Attorney
Genel ais statement that he wanted all information
brought him personally He then speaks of Mr. Bry
ants proceedings
The following letter from Mr. Bryant addressed me,
IT, believe, the first letter received from him after his
NEwYoRK Tuesday, March 10, 1871
Ny DEAR Mr. TowNs2ND have lust got IN on ne nght
Farhd made ior o'clock last eyeng at his ONCE
hope If presenting the interview The Of this epste
but e result as mos, s,,icay ne % iuy PaIk
sunday next He expects 10 90 10 toIt WASHINGTON on
mm.datcy Tho future coH0uct II The affair w be confined
strictly 70 oSonoI ana ine Atiornsy @ fribr ffer y
retWn from sleepy Hollow entered iuiis uIoh dn ea,e
th>t connection most important ana valuable i2otg NiS