New-York tribune., 1878-01-07
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
THE QUESTION OF TWEED'S RELEASE.
1HURLow WEED THINKS THAT ANY PROMISE OF

lI1ry w EAoIION OI Il w
THURLOW WEED THINKS THAT ANY PROMISE VI
LIBERTY SHOULD BE OBSERVED
The Opini0n of ThurlOw Weed was sought
yesterday in regard the present phase of Tweeds re-
laons to the city. Mr. Weeds reply was as follows:
The examination Of the Common Council being now
finished have assumed that they contemplated after
having obtained all the information they could get from
Mr. Tweed, his release and notwithstanding all INC
cOmplications cannot doubt but that there was some
official pledge influential assurance that Tweed
should be restored to his liberty. He seems
10 have frank and full in disclosing all the methods
by which the city pundered the names OF all the
persons engaged with him In perpetratng these frauds
and the share that each OF them obtained. IL Is
claimed that the object OF the authorities in inducing
HG. Tweed to make these revelations, was to obtain
restitution from persons against whom suits were
pending Mr. OConor seems originally to have approved
OF the movem ent have withdrawn from 1t before
the confirmation. Tie Attoney General as far ss can
understand it, received the revelations III commence,
but after longer delay than seems necessary, declhed
not them. Meantime they found their way INTO
the public press, and subsequently the Common Counci
took the matter In hand Practically the results SEEN
not to have been very important. Mr. Twced's testi-
mony, however, could have been adyantageously used
against Sweeny, Woodward and others, II the SUITS
against such persons had not been compromised ,
THE ordeal to which Mr. Tweed has been sublected,
nr Weed continued has been very trying one. Tue
truth of the Scripture which teaches that the way OF me
Illustrated While his equally guilty conederates with
exception UngersOlD. nave escaped nnprlsonmeht,
Tweed has suffered long ana severely. SOoH hltci
first conviction he resolved to surrender all his avail
able property amounting to between three ana
four millions, but that purpose was changed un-
der the advice Of counsel; aud now. under a.
surances upon which he relied he has endeayorod TO
secure his liberty by restoring what Is left and furnish
ing evidence against those who shared III the punGer
Heretofore wien confessions have been obtained under
similar circumstances faith has been kept. The policy
OF using persons Staes evidence, whether moral or
otherwise, has been practiscd rrom time lmneinOiial
Offenders in criminal and civil suits have found lmnu-
uttY py DOING what Tweed asked 10 do. l have
assumed therefore, that III bis case somebody justly
bound 10 obtain his release from Imprisonment.
"Nor, II understand the nature OF his case con-
cuded Mr. Weed s 10 consistent with our State Law 10
hold ln In perpetual confinement. III the charge upon
winch ne is now held is criminal one, lie is entitled
TO the benefit OF the law abolishing Imprisonment FOR
debt Tweed has been great offender The city was
sWindied out many millions Of dollars. But he lad
many coniederates, two or three Of whom, at
least, were quite guilty as lie, one wing
ms much II not more, OF the stolen money than
ne d!d. SO far the public can be benefited By the
Imprisonment OF offender, or an offender hlnsef can
be brought TO a better OF duty, Tweeds punish
nent has all that public justice demands And If
he was induced make the revelations referred TO
under promise reasonable expectation OF being
restored to his liberty, think that faith ought to be
kent WItu him"