New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-17
AN HISTORIC HALL GONE.

The fire in Albany yesterday which burned up
Tweddle Hall-tho leading hall in the oity-will
doubtless cause the embers of memory In many a
p litlcians breast burst into flames. For rwedde
Hall has been the scene of many famous political
gathering. Here IL was that in January 1861, the
Democracy OF THE state held its celebrated Peace
Confereuce." sO-called. Sanford +. Church. long
hief Judge Of tho Court OF Appeals. the tempo
rary Chairman of the conference, and Judge Parker
of Albany its president. Addresses were delivered
by Horatio Seymour Alexander Is. johnson, Junies
s. Thayer. Ex Chancellor Waworth aud others,
that wero flied with olive branches. suggestions
looking 10 compromise laudation Of tho South and
condemnation OF the Republican party Mr.. Thayer
brought down the house by declaring that If tho
Union could not be preserved there should be a
peaceful separation /; and the expression of sim
liar sentiments by other of the speakers also
greeted with hearty applause. Mr. Greeley in " The
american Conflict in speaking Of this conference
SAYS: The action of this convention OF great
moment under two distinct aspects first, indi-
eating truly and clearly the light in which the Sc
c.ss,on movement WAS regarded by the 'conscrva-
tive politicians of the North secondly. revealing
to the South tho probable action of those conSerya
tiyes should the Union DO constrained to defend
itself by fOrco against a slaveholdiug effort for It's
disin.egration aud overthrow"
Another notable. although less momentous, lived
oil. Hall convention WAS that of 1877 when Dir.
Ttlden made "A dies peTato effort to secure the renomi
ntiun of tho State officers that closely identified
with his Administration. The contest one of
the most stubborn and exciting In tho annals of
Deuocracy and resulted in the RranulatlOn of the
Tilden slate the restoration to power of the old
.rt and the nomination of Allen e. Beach for Soc
Rotary of State to succeed John Bigolow and Au-
pustus SchoouInaker r, fol Attorney General to
ceed Charles s. Fairchlld. IL at this ventiOn
that Mr.. Agar, member of tho State Committee
ami one of Mr. rildon's recognized neutenants, was
hailed with drastic, not TO say imprecaiory language
AS he stepped upon the stage and that George
Rainos, tue blonde Demostbeues of Monroe, woke
door aud gallery to an ocstacy of delight with a
entering and gorgeous speech In which no
" climbed the golden stairs"
And the Tweddle Hall Democratic State Conven-
tion of ISSlwo fancy that John Kelly for one will
recall the burned building with pensvo emotions as
he reflects upon that gathering and how 1t heated
the iron of contempt to white heat and then forced
Il INTO his soul. The convention was under the con
troll of Mr. Tdvn and at his direction In Arcticcold
blood IL cast out the Tammany delegates. The fire
that played around Twedde Hall yesterday must
have been tolorably warm. but we doub If Il was
any warmer than Ismmany'a temper asst withdrew
from the high council of tho party from which 1t
was cruelty eliminated. The wonder Is that it did
not set something on fire.
Still another important political meeting that Is
sure to live again In tho minds of many politicians
AS they read of tho destruction of the hail where il
took place. was that ut which the Republicans of
Albany who were opposed to tho snap primaries"
80 called. freed their indignant minds 1t this
meeting which mado tho snap primaries" notori-
all over the State and pat the name OF John +.
Smyth into tho trump of fame "a the goat dosun-
day schoolIzor of applied politics. Among those who
protested in speeches glowing with righteous wrath
against the snap primaries" were such we'll
known Republicans OF tho Capital city George
Dawson. who presided. Ex-Senators Hamilton,