Year: 1872

ana even that was but very moderately filled. The
platform was elegantly draped with the Stars and
Stripes, and at the left hand side Of the rostrum
large red cap Of liberty with circular band at It's
base Of blue silk studded with silver stars, was up
lifted on q huge pole. Over the proscenium boxes
were hung the escutcheons Of Rhode Island Penn.
sylvania, Maryland and New Jersey.


Assembling at haifpast nine, the Sachems,
braves and warriors held business meeting Of the
society, and this lasted little longer than was
expected, the public exercises did not begin till
somewhat later than had been announced. The
delay was improved by the audience In stamping
and other expressions OF impatience, which, how
ever, subsded when the band appeared In the gal
lery and played vigorously select repertoire OF
patriotic and national airs. So time passed. some-
what slowly. until about halfpast ten, when the
Grand Sachem followed by the other chieitains OF
the society. attired in the bravery OF the order,
came upon the platform and converted 1t into q
perfect blaze OF gay coored collars and insignia.


ADDRESS OF THE aBAND sACHEM.


Grand Sachem Schell, having formally opened the
meeting, said that the society again met In their
great wgwam to renew that pledge of devotion to
the principles Of civil liberty which had been de-
cared by our ancestors In 177o. The spirit Of devo
tion to the cause Of freedom had been preserved
ever since, and the changes Of q century had but
served to Illustrate and perpetuate the patriotism
of those great men who gave us the American con-
stituton-thc grand safeguard OF liberties. Be-
fore the Of another Fourth of July should have
shed its light upon the earth, our millions would
have passed through the strain OF another Presi-
Dental contest The last three elections for
the Chief Magstracy Of this republic had been held
at the beginning, In the midst and at the close OF
great civil war. Those who had tried to divide the
Union, which the constitution had been framed to
pepetuate had long since yielded to the patriotic
efforts OF the federal armies; but the blessings Of
FREQ government were still kept from them by an
administration which 1t was now the solemn and
patriotic duty OF the Tammany Society to use Ats
best efforts to overthrow. A military government
maintained tyrant pressure on the neck Of sub
missive and loyal people, and they ought
now to pledge their lives their fortunes
and their sacred honor to remove that
pressure and restore to the government
the principles and the practice which the men OF
1778 recognized as alone securing the happiness OF
our people. This year would become an important
epoch In the history of this country, and Tammany
with the aid OF Divine Providence proposed to pro-
tiOn in the hour OF It's manhood and strength. He
did not expect too much from the ancient and hon.
%a % wns ne 5t e
1t was nova military government; that
1t should pass into again being govern





what it threatened to become, an imperial govern
ment but that 1t should forever be what its found
intended that should be-a Union OF sovereign
and independent states-recognizing the obliga.
tiOns and receiving the protection Of the federal
constitution. They meant that war taxes should
They meant that the taxes necessary for an eco
nomical administration OF the government and for
the Of s o On the Re Of Ss
people, And they believed that the nominees Of
the Baltimore Convention would do all In their
IN ohon hA unfr 1tni0
tions which threatened the existence Of rights
and Of our personal liberties.


READING THE DECLARATION.


After some music from the band the grand duty
Of the day. the reading Of the Declaration Of Inde
pendence, was then begun by Mr.. Tho mas
nifcance to the noble, familiar words by the
dignity and vigor OF his eocution. He read quickly
almost every paragraph was greeted With applause.


Then came some more music by the band. and
the Grand sSachem introduced as the orator Of the
day the Hon. James Brooks, who was received with
q nattering burst of applause.


MR.. BROOKS SPEECH.


Mr.. BROOKS said he had accepted with alacrity
the invitation to address them on this the natal
day Of our country. The Tammany Society was
formed with the beginning OF the constitution M
ever excrted an influence SO vast upon the whole
human race in the promulgation Of the Just prin-
self to lucid description Of the origin OF the two
| great parties which now, as they would ever do,
the N PeI % OF TINS S
should not govern themselves, but should be ruled
by streng centralized power, while the other be:
then ascended to the township the State, and last
OF all, the federal government. The government Of
Mr.. Adams illustrated the principles OF the first
and the Alien and Sedtion laws were proofs Of its
and principles But under Jefferson, In 1800 that
party was defeated and the democracy had ruled
this country since until $780, when the federal
party under new name had again succeeded in
placing itself in the ascendant. And now, In 1872,
we had laws worse than the Alien and Sedtion





passed two or three years ago an act OF Congress
which suspended the right OF habeas corpus. The
democrats had been able to limit its duration to
the expiration OF the last session OF Con-
gress; but the Senate sent down to the
to go beyond the Presidential election, and so give
the President throughout all this great country
during the next election absolute control over the
personal liberty OF 100000 OF human beings, the
entire population of the United States No Parlia-
ment Of Great Britain, no House Of Lords even,
that. 1t had only been by the continued eIorts Of
democrats, and by their resorting to all the ex-
tremes OF parliamentary law and by an appeal not
i ton . against ' tyranny, that th they had
been able to keep back the passage OF that act
act equally wicked had come down from the
Senate--an act like one now in existence here and
which had been tried in our city elections, but
which IL was proposed to extend all over the
United States They had seen here, under the act
he referred to- the minions ofederal power the very
seethings and boings of the city sewers, thieves,
robbers, murderers, standing In the election dis
tricts appointed by federal authority to regulate the
votes OF the people. An effort had been made
to extend that law throughout the whole United
States, and to give the federal power supreme con-
troll over all the States. The democrats had not
been able to resist that altogether, but they had
extracted its fangs and made 1t practically harm
less. And now there was another miserable wrong
to which he wished to call their attention. The
dominant party were not content to give the negro
the right OF Suffrage merely, and making him poti-
cally. equal to the white man, but they wished to
give him also "social rights bi for that was the
true meaning of the ''civil rights b" comforting
power to enforce what could not be done
can, and depriving white men Of the
right to exclude him from any hotel or association
OF any kind The republicans had gone through
the forms Of passing such bill in order to curry
favor with the negro, but had themselves ac-
quiesced In changes In 1t which deprived 1t OF all
force and effect. These three measures showed
that the federal party still alive, although the
influence of American selfgovernment had been
such throughout the world that everv civilized