Year: 1866

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The Death Of Dean Richmond-who Shall be


His Successors


Dean Richmond Is dead We shed our tears
over him In our obituary column while re-
counting the particulars Of his decease, the
leading facts Of his life, and the peculiarities
Of his character. But in this world death Is
too frequent an occurrence for wise man TO
waste much time in useless mourning. Let NJ,
then, wipe our eyes and our spectacles and
take q sensible and practical view Of IN event
which has caused as decided sensation In
Wall street and in political circles as among
the intimate personal friends Of the deceased.
It ID not every politician whose illness can
affect the chances Of elections, nor every rail-
road manager whose doctors can put stocks
up or down by their bulletins as to the state Of
his health; but Dean Richmond was such
politician and such . manager. His political
schemes were 80 identified with his railroad,
and his railroad operations with bis politics,
that 1t was impossible % separate the one from
the other. In Tact he owed no small portion
OF nis powsf as politician to the manner In
wnlcb .le secured control of democratic conven-
IONS by manipulating the elections Of delegates
through the numerous employees, attaches and
dependents of his railroad. On the other
hand, he used the political influence thus OBJ
tanned to strengthen and develop his road and
to gain for 1t the patronage and protection Of
State officials and legislators. His political and
business relations were so reciprocal and had
become so inextricably involved, that it is said
that the apprehension OF successful comblna-
ton against him among the stock gamblers in
Wall street, on the eve Of an important and
exciting political campaign in the State, aggra-
vated his sease and hastened his demise.


Now that Dean Richmond is gone, and even
before he has been laid in his grave, the ques-
ton as to his successor is being eagerly dis
cussed. The inquiry is not SO much who shall
succeed him as who can succeed him. There
are very few men vino have just the requisites
and qualifications necessary to take Dean
Richmond's place. He was in many things
remarkable. lie was anxious to put other
people into Office, but never cared to hold
Office himself He lived in the midst Of all
kinds Of corrupions, but had soul above
pecuniary dishonesty. In boih these partlcu-
lars he was SO far beyond the ordinary run of
political leaders that il is very difficult to select
anybody to fill his shoes. There are politi-
clans who refuse Office and might wear Dean
Richmond's right shoe, and there are other
politicians who do not steal, and ght find his
left shoe fit them; but those who refuse Office
are generally the most corrupt. and those VINO
are not corrupt are generally ambitious of per-
sonal distinction; 80 that we have to look very
far before We can discover politician without
at least one clovcn foot Besides this. the
successor of Dean Richmond must have an
equal talent for railroads and for politlcs, and
equal skill in engineering locofocos and loco
motives. Most wirepuilers would find 1t rather
difficult to settle . dispute about freights or
to arrange t;me table, and most railroad
presidents would shrink with holy horror from
the task Of packing . primary meeting or
making up the slate for y State convention.
Il was his ability to discharge he varied and
diverse duties both Of his business and politi-
cal positions that gave Dean Richmond his
importance, and in casting about for bis sue
cessor we must keep this qualification clearly
In mind.


The opponent Of Dean Richmond In the
Albany Regency, Mr.. Eras.us Corning, 10 also
reported at the point Of death, so that we need
not speculate as to the chances Of his regain
ing the asccndency from which Richmond
ousted him. Mr.. Peter Cagger, the next promi-
nent member OF the Regency, is nothing but
secretary, whose province Is to record what
abler men resolve and accomplish, and he is
Us much too small for Dean Richmond's place
as for Dean Richmond's old clothes. Seymour
was long since laid upon the SHELF and the
idea Of his putting forth claim to leadership
is absurd. Indeed, among the clique Of polit-
cans who surrounded Richmond, we seek In
vain for any one TO succeed him. The Albany
Regency lived in him, died with him, and will
be buried in his coffin. The green tree has
fallen beneath the axe Of death, and all the
dead and rotten branches that have clung TO
it 80 long will come rattling down in its fall
But although this Regency has passed away,
the conservatives of New York must have
recognized head and leader, and IL ls not i'm
possible that Commodore Vanderbilt may as
pirc 10 that position. The mantle OF Dean
Richmond seems TO have fiAlen upon him, and
appears TO he q very good fit; but whether
he will consent to wear ii is yet to be
decided. The Commodore Is something Of
politician, does not want Office, is rich enough
TO be beyond temptation, and stands stead
fastly for President Johnson. Besides these
qualifications he already has charge OF the
Harlem road and the Hudson River road, and
we are informed that he owns u considerable
number Of shares in tho Central. Fond as he
is Of turning out the fastest trotters Except
Bonner's) In the Park, we should like TO know
how he relishes the idea Of driving three rail-