The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-13
Tho Life Of william VI. Tweed.

pTtltnSlOnS 10 puDllcUy.
Tho Life Of william VI. Tweed.
William NJ. Tweed was So years old on the
Cherry street. His father was chairmaker. n
partner with Hesekiah w. Bonne He was In
good circumstances. and gave his children
fair education. Young Tweed was sent to school
TO Gould Brown. the we-known author OF
" Browns Grammar" Mr.. Brown kept his
school in Pearl street near Franklin square.
Tweed's old schoolmates give him good repu-
tation. He was an apt scholar and had n most
retentivc memory. He was not uuarrelsome. but
had an indomtabe spirit. and would fight before
suffering imposition. One Of his boyish COM
panions says that he wns witty. and as full OF
the devil rs an egg is Of meat" At times he is
said TO have been stubborn and mulish. but was
always generous and ready to take the part OF
the smaller boys when suffering from the arro-
gancc Of their larger playmates. When about
IL years old William was sent 10 boarding
school kept by the Rev. Mr.. Halsey in Elizabeth
town y. J. Here he finished his education He
studied nothing but the English branches. The
Blue Book says that he is n graduate OF the New
York Law School, but his relatives pronounce
- On his return from boarding school. young
Tweed entered his fathers shop and became
sa to n"S So sa
his own account. His evenings were spent
either in the theatres or in engine houses.
cied the life Of fireman. He became runner
with Twelve Engine. in the Fourth Ward. be.
l0rn nn was ~ a ro m nJ i0nGG % ,b
organization was disbanded. and afterward re-
organized in the Twelfth Ward. Meantime
enth. Ward. He joined Engine Company No.
on Jan. |, 1S49 Within six months be was
elected foreman Rx Six. as she was called.
N
the city. She dashed through the streets. aim
ing TO be the first at all fires. Tweed led the
hand white lre-coat oyer his arm. and one Of
the old; fashioned stin hats, on his head He
was well known TO all bunkers and volunteer
and the friends Of Big SIX So numerous tnat
the company became powerful lever in mu-
ncipa politics. The Americus Club was the
offspring OF its popularity. and its influence
vas ielt in political matters years after It's dis
With the foremanship OF Big Six. Tweed be-
gan his political career. In 1850 he ran for As
sistant Alderman q the Seventh Ward. but was
Webb. The following year he again contested
the district with Mr.; Webb and was elected by
we're in the Board and % the Ssq leaders
OF the party predicted his rise TO power.
- Congressmen were elected in the tall of 1852.
nomination in the Fifth District, This com
prised the seventh and Thirteenth Wards Of
this city anG Willamsburgh. Mr.. Tweed was
Chairman OF the Convention. The two wards
presented one candidate and willamsburch
another. Several ballots were taken. the vote
standing A TO a. As a last resort. the Will
and nominated Mr. Tweed This shrewd
ing: Tweedy never goes back on Tweedy-
Tws;sy TTwe;edy GOES Eo wE, Ter Tweed old Oh, Joe
through the district, working like beaver
telling funny stories and filling the air with
eloauence, Tweed confined himself TO the
duent campaigns. and beat Hoxie by Il thou and
plurality. He served two yrars in Cong ress.
In this time the Kansas Nebraska bill was
the measure. He predicted that its passage
would ruin the Democratic party: hut Ie obey-
ministration 10 the last IN 1854 the Know
Nothings swept Tweed's Congressional dis
,rict; and elected ~ Thomas r. Whitney
Tweed ran for Alderman on the Democratic
ticket. He had fought the Native American
element tho previous year and excited their
bitter enmity They ran their strongest man
against him. and won. after a hot contest
Tweed became the ,recognized champion OF the
foreign element. He owed much OF his success
in his subsequent. political career 10 that fight
Defeated in 1865. he wns elected School Com
missioner in the Seventh Ward in 1886. In
1857 he ran for Supervisor and. though. op-
posed by the Know Nothing and Republican
parties. was successful ,Before this, he had
political ability was generally recognized and
his advice sought by such politicians ms Isaac
V. Fowler. Lorenzo Shepherd and Fernando
Wood In the contest between Fowler and
Wood. Tweed was a firm supporter OF the
former. Wood called him political fiat, and
Tweed never forgot nor forgaye it, With all his
power. however ne WIS unable To trip his wiry
enemy. Tweed became the ward leader, oust-
ing the veteran Capt. Isaiah Rynders. then
United States Marshal who had controlled the
ward for years. During all these years he had
carried on his charmaking business. Soon
after his election as Supervisor he sold out
and devoted all his time 10 politics. He served
as Supervisor until the board was abolished in
While n member OF this board. measures were
passed that laid the foundation of the vast debt
under the weight Of which the city is now stag.
what was known IA the old Supervisors Ring.
ne ana ms partners kept political t0llg4te,
passed the hoard. All the members Of tho
board. with possibly one exception became rich
during their term of office. His success as n
manlpulator OF his associates undoubtcd-
ly embodened him and led him to
plan and carry out the gigantic schemes that
afterward astoundrd the community
In 1861. Tweed was the Tammnny nominee
for sheriff. Mozart Hall placed Jlmes Lynch
in the field. .Twreds Anti know Nothing roc
Irishman. who had twice been unfairly beaten
while running for office, and his canvass was
In 1861 Tweed was elected Chairman OF the
Tammany General Committee. He held this
position until his downfall. The key TO his fu-
turr power was the Grand Sachemship Of the
Tammany Society; and the lock. the General
In 1863 Street Commissioner Charles G. Cor
nell appointed Mr.. Tweed u Deputy Commis-
sloner He was reuppolnled 10y Commissioner
Mclean and held tile office until the depart.
ment was abolished. In 1867 he was elected
State Senator. About this time he succeeded
John 4. Hoffman ms Grand Sachrm Of Tammnny
Hall. All these Offices seemed To have been
seized by Tweed with distinct object in view,
As Grand Sachem Of the Tammany Society and
Chairman Of the THmmanY General Committee,
he had complete control Of the political wires in
the city. and could dictate nominations at his
will. Virtually Street Commissioner, he could
employ thousands of laborers who might he
used III upsettng ward primaries whore lesser
chieftains showed spirit Of antagonism. La
horers were given work ut the request OF the
Aldermen. This and his position in the Legis-
lature gave him control Of that board.
AT Albany he was II political autocrat. The
Legislature. Democratic or Republican. carried
out his schemes II not paid directly, they
were paid by appropriations in the supply bill,
Legislation on municipal matters was shaped
to cover Tweed's plans and carry out his ends.
The County Court House was mine Millions
were drawn from It and used in forwarding
similar Jobs. Every Democratic politician OF
any note held Office There were street in
spectOrs. pump inspectors water inspectors,
inspectors of meters. of weights and measures,
of street incumbrances, all drawing salaries,
and all useless
With this vast power. Tweed became very
rich. He invested in real estate and iron mines /;
was Interested Ia every street opening and
widening. had n hnnd in all COntractg and Waa