New-York tribune., 1877-05-22


restless under the Attoney-Gcncrars long
delay. More than five months have already
been consumed in the negotiations for his re-
lease. 1t was on the 9Th Of December that
Tweed wrote his letter Of surrender
to Mr.. O'C0nor, and Il few days later,
Mr. OCmor, on retiring from the Ring
suits, turned the letter over to the At
torncv-Gencral. It is said that the vet
cran counselor advised Mr. Fairchild to ac-
ccdc 20 Twccds proposals; it is even alleged
that before withdrawing from the case he ac-
tualy accepted the Ludlow-st. prisoner as
witness. However this may be, it Is certain
that on receipt of this letter Attorney-GencraI
Fairchild entered into negotiation with
Tweed, examined his papers, and held
several interviews with him in Jail. The
first statement or summary of what the
prisoner could prove, was not considered sui
fciently definite. a fuller and more elaborate
papcr was consequently submitted on the
17th of April, and still further facts were
added few DAYS later. Twccd's counsel as
scrt that the old man has proicssed himself
ready to tell all that he knows on any other
points that may be suggested to him, and to
answer any questions the State may see lit to
propound; but no advantage has so far been
taken of this Offer Mr.. Fairchld is still con-
sidcring the value of the confession"
1t is absurd for newspapers, which do not
know the terms of Tweeds offer, to insist that
it ought 10 be accepted. The Attoncy-Gen-
cral must determine whether the evidence OF
this old sinner is important enough to justify
his release either for the sake of the exposure
his testimony will make of certain dangerous
politicians, or the money which it will save
the city by it's bearing upon certain lawsuits.
Tweed himself is entitled to no tender con-
sideration. His punishment, however severe,
has been far less than his deserts, and
if he should now 90 free his case
could be pointed to as an iilustra
ton of the defective laws which wreak
heavier vengeance upon the poor thief who
steals ten dollars than upon the rich one who
steals ten millions. But it is of more conse-
qucncc to the community that the ramicatons
of the Ring conspiracy should be followed mp
TO the end, and the guilty who have enjoyed
a long immunity DC brought to the bar, than
that Justice should exact the last penny Of the
penalty from one brokcn-d0wn culpnt; and in
this view of the case it seems probable that ii
Twccd's confession is really full and frank
there may be ample justification for accepting
him as "A witness for the people. The best
amends he can make now is to tell the truth.
1t is certainly to be hoped that Mr.. Fair
child will soon see his way clear to drawing
some profit for the people from the Tweed
papers, because he has already compromised
himself unplcasautly 10y allowing them to be
used for the profit Of the political faction with
which he is identified. lie has coniided
part of their contents 10 the head of the Tam
many organization, and that lively politician
has had no hesitation in giving them to the
newspapers and using them as a weapon against
his Republican opponents. By this premature
and unauthcnticatcd publication a number of
prominent party men have been placed in a
cruel position, charged, upon authority which
one cannot affect to despise, with direct brib-
cry. and yet unable either to confront their
accuser or to prove their innocence And now
the whole. community is filed with suspicion
of the motives for keeping back the rest Of