of it, of restoring to general acceptation the principles we have at heart, we must vindicate our party; we must remove the load of disgrace brought on us by official corruption in this city. Here we are in control. We have undisturbed possession of all branches of the municipal government, and an immense majority of voters. For all frauds, peculation, venality, and iniquity in the municipal government we are responsible, and no party with such a record will ever be given the possession of the National Administration. We must crush Tammany, or Tammany's dishonesty will crush us. Large portions of the money stolen from our treasury were used to bribe Republicans; notoriously, the very charter under which we live was carried by the purchase of a Repub lican. Municipal officers and the spoil of our citizens have been divided between both parties. But none of this excuses us. We are in power; we can correct the abuses; if we do not, we ought to suffer, and we will. If Republicans are not blameless, we are mainly guilty. Already we are threatened with the loss of the Germans. That economical people will not submit to have their houses mortgaged by the issue of municipal bonds in order to give to corrupt men wealth and luxury. From all sections of the country come complaints from Democrats that they have to defend the iniquities of Tammany Hall, and that they are beaten by the bad record of our city rulers. If Democracy would survive, it must put down with a strong hand these abuses. We can still do so. The people are not so entirely helpless as our masters would have us believe. The latter cannot defy an outraged and indignant community with the impunity they hope. The power is still with us if we are willing and determined to exert it. In times of great excitement the usual barriers are swept away, and the people rush along in a mighty current which carries all before it. Those who would resist it are overwhelmed and perish, but the corrupt always cower before it and are most earnest to conciliate it. So it will be here. Canvassers, inspectors, and registers, be they Democrats or Republicans, are as fond of their lives as though they were honest men; and no one appreciates the danger of irritating the people more than they. An aroused and outraged public is not patient, and Judge Ledwith laid down good law when he told his friends that if they saw an inspector tamper with their ballots they could shoot him on the spot. The man who cheats a nation out of its birthright has committed the highest of crimes, and deserves no mercy. We are living under a wrong system. To allow a mayor elected for two years to appoint all other municipal officials for five years may be Tammany Democracy, but it is not ours. That system must be changed; a proper mode of selecting polling officers must be established; every protection must be given to the ballot; and, incidentally to these reforms, the Ring which secured control of Tammany Hall must be put down; and then, not only will our city's fame be redeemed, our taxes lightened, our business affairs improved, our commerce increased, and our metropolis made what it should be, the grandest city in the world, but Democracy and Republican institutions will be relieved from the discredit which has been brought upon them. LIST OF PRESENTS RECEIVED BY MR. TWEED'S DAUGHTER ON THE OCCASION OF HER WEDDING. James Ryan, sable chain necklace, gold and diamonds.. 1,500 Mrs. Augustus L. Brown, fruit-dish, bowl, and pitcher.. 250 Joseph G. Harrison, cameo sleeve-buttons, with diamonds.... 1,000 John McB. Davidson, neck-chain, gold, pearls, diamonds, and enamel.... 1,500 John H. Keyser, necklace and diamond cross.. 1,000 James H. Ingersoll, diamond wheat-spray for the hair.. 2,000 Thomas C. Fields, gold and diamond necklace and ear-rings. 5,000 W. E. King, emerald, diamond, and gold bracelets. 5,000 George G. Barnard, gold, diamond, and pearl necklace.. 1,000 1,000 A sincere friend of W. M. Tweed, diamond set, in gold and glass box.. 5,000 Thurlow Weed, sugar-bowl.. W. W. Watson, silver set.. H. J. Hastings, silver punch-bowl.. $500 500 500 250 250 500 250 100 250 250 400 250 1,000 500 APPENDIX XII. ACT OF INCORPORATION OF THE TAMMANY SOCIETY. AN ACT to Incorporate the Society of Tammany or Columbian Order in the City of New York. Passed April 9th, 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, under 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 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, defending and being defended 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, 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; and 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 suf ficient 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. STATE OF NEW YORK, SECRETARY'S OFFICE. I have compared the preceding with the original on file in this office, and do hereby certify that the same is a correct transcript therefrom, and of the whole of said original law. Given under my hand and seal of office at the City of Albany, this 24th day of January, in the year 1859. [SEAL.] S. W. MORTON, Dep. of Secretary of State. |