CHAPTER VII.

PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL INFLUENCE OF THE SOCIETY.

LTHOUGH the act of incorporation of the Tammany Society does not mention any political object as a motive for its formation, it was from the first an essentially political association, though not professedly so, and it was certainly not partisan. Keen observers, however, even on the very day of its founding, "saw something beneath the surface," and that "something" very gradually but steadily gained in strength-it was political influence. For many years during the first half century of its existence no other Democratic party was heard of in the City of New York than the party whose headquarters were in the Wigwam, called indifferently "Bucktails" or "Tammanyites;" and the general principles advocated by the society then, allowing for differences of time and circumstances, were the same as now. Mr. Hammond, in his elaborate work entitled the "Political History of the State of New York," speaking of Governor Tompkin's embarrassment, between appointing De Witt Clinton as Mayor of the city (the Mayors of the city being then appointed by the Governor), and the fear of exciting the displeasure of the Democratic party to which he owed his own election, says: "The Tammany party in New York, which then (1815) really constituted the Democratic party, pressed for his removal. Tompkins was much embarrassed, as he did not want to offend Clinton's friends. and yet dared not encounter the resentment of the New York Tammanyites." The first notice that we find of a Democratic State Convention was the introduction of a bill in the Assembly, in 1818, by Mr. Edwards, a Tammany member, calling for a State convention, to consider the appointment of officers. The appointment of officers had always previously been arranged in caucus, by the leaders of both parties, just as national candidates were selected in Congressional caucus before national conventions were thought of. In 1817 the Democrats formed their first county conventions through the State (not including New York City), for the express purpose, as they announced, "to enable the Democrats living in counties represented in the Assembly by Federalists to have some voice in nominating the Governor."

In the convention for the revision of the State Constitution, in 1821, the larger proportion of delegates were Democrats; those named from New York. City were all Tammany men. The Speaker of the Assembly in 1822 was Grand Sachem Samuel B. Romaine. The only divisions of any account up to this period were entirely personal, and the friends and enemies of DeWitt Clinton made nearly all the discordance that materially affected the party in New York. A little later came divisions, which will be narrated more fully elsewhere.

But, without following the general political course of the Society further, we here give a verbatim copy of the act of incorporation of the original association.

CHAPTER VIII.

ACT OF INCORPORATION OF THE SOCIETY OF TAMMANY, OR COLUMBIAN ORDER.

An Act to incorporate the Society of Tammany, or Columbian Order, in the City of New York. Passed April 9, 1805.

Whereas, William Mooney and other inhabitants of the City of New York have presented a petition to the Legislature, setting forth that they, since the year 1789, have associated themselves under the name and description of the Society of Tammany, or Columbian Order, for the purpose of affording relief to the indigent and distressed members of the said association, their widows and orphans, and others who may be found proper objects of their charity, they therefore solicit that the Legislature will be pleased by law to incorporate the said Society for the purposes aforesaid, vnder such limitations and restrictions as to the Legislature shall seem meet.

Therefore, be it enacted by the people of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, That such persons as now are, or shall from time to time become members of the said Society, shall be, and are hereby ordained, constituted and declared to be a body corporate and politic, in deed, fact and name, by the name of the "The Society of Tammany, or Columbian Order, in the City of New York," and that by that name they and their successors shall have succession, and shall be persons in law, capable of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answering and being answered unto, in all courts and places whatsoever, in all manner of actions, suits, complaints, matters and causes whatsoever; and that they and their successors may have a common seal, and change and alter the same at their pleasure; and that they and their successors shall be persons capable in law to purchase, take, receive, hold and enjoy to them and their successors, any real estate, in fee simple or for term of life, or lives, or otherwise; and any goods, chattels, or personal estate, for the purpose of enabling them the better to carry into effect the benevolent purposes of affording relief to the indigent and distressed; provided, that the clear yearly value of such real and personal estates shall not exceed the sum of five thousand dollars; and that they and their successors shall have full power and authority to give, grant, sell, lease, devise or dispose of the said real and personal estates or any part thereof, at their will and pleasure; and that they and their successors shall have power from time to time to make, constitute, ordain and establish by-laws, constitutions, ordinances and regulations as they shall judge proper, for the election of their officers, for the election or admission of new members of the said corporation and the terms and manner of admission, for the better government and regulation of their officers and members, for fixing the times and places of meeting of the said corporation, and for regulating all the affairs and business of the said corporation; provided, that such by-laws and regulations shall not be repugnant to the Constitution or laws of the United States, or of this State.

For the better carrying on the business and affairs of the said corporation, there shall be such numbers of officers of the said corporation, and of such denomination or denominations, to be chosen in such manner and at such times and places as are now, or shall from time to time be directed by the constitution and by-laws of the said corporation, made or to be made for that purpose; and that such number and description of members shall be sufficient to constitute a legal meeting of the said corporation as are now or may hereafter be directed by the said constitution and by-laws of the said corporation.

And be it further enacted, That this Act be and hereby is declared to be a public act, and that the same be construed in all courts and places benignly and favorably for every beneficial purpose therein intended.

[Signed]

ALBANY, February 24, 1807.

THOMAS TILLOTSON,

Secretary of State.

CHAPTER IX.

RECRUITS FROM THE FEDERAL PARTY.

The Democratic party of New York, with the Tammany Society as its earliest representative, has had the peculiar and pleasant experience of frequently welcoming back into its ranks, not only individual members who have temporarily declined to act with the majority, but also factional parties who have for a time acted independently under other names. One of the most remarkable of these accessions occurred early in its history, and has not been given that prominence in the political histories of the country which its importance deserves. This was a sudden desertion of fifty of the leading Federalists of the day from their own ranks and their application for membership at the Wigwam. This action excited much interest at the time, including, as it did, the whole of the powerful Livingston family in the city, including the renowned Chancellor, he having joined in 1790. It was in 1820 that this body of fifty old-time opponents, members of the Federal party, publicly announced their withdrawal from their late associates and their intention to join the Democracy, which, of course, meant the Tammany Society.

In explanation of this action, in referring to the documents of that time, we learn that there was a growing dissatisfaction among the more progressive portion of the Federalists, who, in the language of their day, were designated as "High-minded Federalists." On the 14th of April, 1820, a number of these put out a public address, in which they say: "The Federal party no longer exists; as a party, it is dissolved and annihilated, and even the bonds of mutual confidence and private regard are severed, perhaps forever." And again: "The Federalists have now no ground of principle on which to stand." And, therefore, these gentlemen declare their intention of uniting with the "great Democratic party of the State and Union." This extraordinary manifesto, which was of considerable length, was signed by the persons whose names are given below, representing as highly respectable citizens as were then to be found in the city, either in politics or society.

List of the fifty Federalists who announced the death of their party and joined the Democrats: Peter Jay Monroe, J. O. Hoffman, Jonathan Hasbrouk, George D. Wickham, Morris S. Miller, Melancthon Wheeler, Levi Callender, Joshua Whitney, John Suydam, R. W. Stoddard, David Hudson, H. Montgomery, H. B. Bender, George W. Tibbits, Thomas Mumford, John Duer, John A. King, Elisha B. Strong, George F. Tallman, Joshua A. De Witt, Charles A. Foot, James Lynch, Glen Cuyler, John L. Wendell, Charles King, A. B. Hasbrouk, T. S. Morgan, Jeffrey Wisner, James A. Hamilton, Ebenezer Griffin, John C. Morris, Livingston Billings, Tracey Robinson, Johnson Verplank, Henry Brown, Thomas J. Delancy, Thomas G. Waterman, John C. Hamilton, James Clapp, William A. Duer, William P. Sherman, Isaac Dubois, Zeb. R. Shepherd, Alanson Austin, Garrit Post, Elisha Ely, H. Vanderlyn, W. W. Mumford.

Another party of Federalists had quitted their wonted ranks in 1812, and joined Tammany. These were called by their contemporaries the "Coody party," the name being given in reference to a series of articles published, signed Abimelech Coody, the author of which severely attacked the Federalists for their British affinities and opposition to the war. These letters, as was afterward learned, were written by Gulian C. Verplanck, and were especially bitter against De Witt Clinton. Of this set of seceding Federalists the historian Horton says: "The leaders of the Coody party were Gulian C. Verplanck, Hugh Maxwell, Jacob Ratcliff, Richard Hatfield, Josiah Heddin and John Hopkins, about forty altogether;" and he adds, "they rushed into Tammany Hall, claiming to have become better Democrats than even the old chiefs of the Wigwam. Though a few of the ancient braves were inclined to be wary, the Coodyites were cordially received and granted seats 'around the Council Fire.' The sequel is interesting. Shortly after Ratcliff was made Mayor; Hatfield became Clerk of the Sessions, and Maxwell was made District Attorney. In retaliation, when De Witt Clinton became Governor, he removed a number of Tammany men from office; but most of them were restored by his successor, Governor Joseph C. Yates."

In the course of these pages the fact will be discovered that nearly all the seceders from Tammany Hall, who have at any time taken the shape of new parties, have eventually returned to the shelter of the great Wigwam, and have usually found themselves happier there than in endeavoring to maintain separate action as Democrats.

CHAPTER X.

EARLY CELEBRATIONS OF THE FOURTH OF JULY.

T will probably be a surprise to many people to learn that for several years after its formation the Society of Tammany celebrated the Fourth of July by a semi-religious service, listening to a sermon as well as the reading of the Declaration of Independence. In 1791 the Tammany Society invited the Rev. Dr. William Linn, of the Middle Reformed Dutch Church, to preach before them on the national anniversary. A copy of this sermon, now over a century old, is preserved in the collections of the Long Island Historical Society. The Tammanyites of that day had the grace not only to thank the preacher in very handsome terms for his sermon, but they also requested the loan of the manuscript for the purpose of securing printed copies of the same; of which six hundred were ordered. There were not, of course, any stenographic reporters in those days; nor, if there had been, any newspapers large enough to have given space to such lengthy matter. In this sermon the reverend gentleman had, dilated at length upon the great size and geographical advantages of the country, as well as its political superiority over the nations of Europe, dropping into poetry, by quoting the well-known lines:

"What is life?

'Tis not to stalk and draw fresh air

From time to time, to gaze upon the sun.

'Tis to be free! When liberty is gone

Life grows insipid, and has lost its relish."

Music and the reading of a religious and patriotic ode concluded the celebration.

In 1793 the 4th of July was again celebrated by the Tammany Society by listening to a sermon; this time by a Presbyterian clergyman, the Rev. Samuel Miller, who took for his general argument the proposition that Christianity is the surest basis of political liberty.

In explaining his choice of a subject, he said: "To this choice of a subject am I led by the recollection that the respected society to which this discourse is in a particular manner addressed hold up as the great object of their attention everything that may tend to promote the progress of civil liberty, and to transmit it pure and undefiled to the latest posterity," adding to these noble words many more complimentary remarks on the patriotism of the Tammany Society.

We will refer to only one more of these early religious celebrations of the national anniversary by Tammany; this was in 1794, and was conducted by an Episcopalian, the Rev. Mr. Pillmore. This gentleman struck a more florid style. of oratory than the society had hitherto been treated to. His especial theme was unity, and he thus saluted the members of the Tammany Society before him: "Hail, patriot leaders of the happy tribes! Raise your banners in the temple of honor of our Heavenly King! To you, gentlemen, we, and all our citizens, are much indebted for your encouragement of art, and the science of archæology, in