The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-01
HOUyT0N. MONDAY. WOW. I, 1897.
SCRAP OF GOTHAM HISTORY.


Under the above caption the Macon Tele-
graph prints the subjoincd editorial. which.
in view Of the heated political campaign
now on In that city, will be read with great
interest:
Those who are interested In Greater
New York and It's many-ticket mayoraity
contest may be surprised 10 know that
th.rty-five ears ago an attempt was MADE
TO have that city secede from the Union
and become "a free city" Independent OF
all other government This action recalls
very prominent and striking character
In American politics-Fernando Wood.
Born dn 1Sig. at the age OF rs ne was
elected to the Tweniy-scventh congress-;
at the end OF his term he retired TO pri-
waite life. In 1854 he defeated three can
dldaies for mayor. In 1896 he was renon-
irated but defeated by Daniel h. Tie-
mann. In 1855 no was elected over VIII
tam IL. Havemeyer During this term
q great many war democrats, and a great
many peace democrats too. His sympa.
thies with the South were 40 marked
that his name became at once a byword
and "a reproach among Union democrats.
In January, 1861, he addressed am offichl
communication to the common council.
recommending that the city should side
with nather the North nor South but de-
clare itself "a free city" In the letter
no declared the dissolution OF the undon
''inevitable," recited the "friendly rela-
lions aud common sympathy with our
aggrievcd brethrel of the slave states,
denounced "the faBatical spirit with
which II portion of the State, In common
with New England, had become imbued,
and wound up by suggesting, as means
Of Kidding ourselves Of THIS odious and
City should proclaim her independence!
AS a FREQ city," he weat on to say. with
'but nominal duty on Imports her local
government could be supported with0ut
in ,tfa. hs.,- all
live free from taxes, and have cheap
goods nearly duty free. In this she would
have tho whole and united support of the
Southern States, as well as all the other
States To whose interests and rights an
der the constitution she has always been
true" 1iie scheme found few SYM
paimzers. even In his own party. and he
ably.
On january a5. tho metropolitan police
seized arms consigned to the state OF
Georsia. that State having passed the or
dfrsance of secession ON the 18th Gov
erDor Brown teegraphod Mayor Wood IN.
curing IL the report was true. The
mayor replied that the arms were seized
by tho ponce, over whom he had no con-
tnol, and added that II he hsnd the power
mo would punish them. This reply caused
Eenerll indignntisp throughout Inc North
but the mayor promptly espoused the Fed
ersi cause on the fail of Fart Sumter, ana
y was mainly through hts influence tina /
the board OF aldermen voted 81 .0oo 900 10
aid n the defense or the government. la
tho fall election of 1861 he was defeated
for mayor by George Opdyste. In 1867 he
WAS elected 10 congress arSi took his seat
AFTER an absence of twenty years. Hc
0nere distinguished himself by MS oppo-
etuon to the conduct of the war, and made
numerous speeches In favor Of tho an
pointment Of commissioners to procure n
ceeaa lion OF hostilities. In 1866 he again
pecame q congressional candidate as an
independeM democrat. II sies.ro my olec-
Lon said he ''as a popular rebuke Ia
encso who utter tho malicious falsehood
tnas durfrs the war was a rebel sym.
psHnixer and a disunionist" The poonle
ne district complied with has wlshSs
ma Fernando Wood returned TO the honsa
g reprceen tatives In 1867, and continued
mere UNTIL his DEATH February "a iSs,
tais record during those fourteen ycar
pongs % National histoay--his nttemn,
20 secure the speakership: his effort 10 40
cure impeachment of Grant In is7G no
Cause or the presidents action in ua,no
the troops In tho South during the clan'
t,o@ his determined fight In ISL to hnvc
me electoral law fully enforced Tins
GsoIain9 the electoral commission. ana his
gr1.t work on tho ways and means com me
snittoe ~ q tariff export and financier a ~
w wen known to require repeating.