Manhood From the moment of its foundation in 1789, the Tammany Society fought for manhood suffrage and against °im prisonment for debt.* On 1 Dec. 1820 a Tam many Hall mass meeting resolved: °That the distinction of the electoral rights; the mode of appointment to office and the union of the judiciary and legislative functions were objec tionable and highly pernicious? The meeting urged the legislature to pass the reform meas ures they advocated and when the legislature overwhelmingly advocated the extension of the suffrage, Tammany celebrated the victory for reform 14 June 1821, at Tammany Hall with democratic jubilation. The sentiment dominant at this gathering is tersely expressed by one of their members: °We would rather be ruled by a man without an estate than by an estate without a man.* On 4 March 1822 a banquet was given at Tammany Hall for the purpose of expressing their utmost joy at °the extension of the right of suffrage and the abolition of those cumber some relics of old centralizing methods, the Council of Appointment and the Connell of Revision.* The function of the former was expressed in its title; that of the latter was to give final approval or disapproval of all legislation. The °Toasts* at this banquet ap propriately express the Tammany sentiment of the participants. Here are two illustrations: °The right of suffrage — corruption in its exer cise most to be apprehended from its limitation to a few.* This was another: °The young and rising politician — may integrity and prin ciple guide him — studying the public good, not popularity.* The extension of the suf rage greatly increased the voting power of Tammany and augmented its political pres tige. In 1820 manhood suffrage in full became a fact ; Tammany's political power having vastly increased, in this year Tammany succeeded in abolishing the last vestige of property qualifica tion to the right of suffrage by an overwhelm ingly large popular vote. In 1826-27 Tammany forced the fight for the five-year limitation for the acquisition of citizenship. In 1827 a Tam many delegation visited General Jackson at New Orleans to present an anniversary address on the famous battle in which he humbled Eng land, and to urge his candidacy for the Presi dency in the coming year. Martin Van Buren (who was a member of the Tammany Society) visited New York later in the year and organ ized the sentiment of the Society for Jackson. To offset this sentiment and the large alien vote of Tammany, the °Native American Party* was formed, whose battle was °Political privileges should belong exclusively to the na tives of the country? In 1828 Tammany gave General Jackson nearly 6,000 majority in a total vote of nearly 25,000. This was the first na tional election held wherein the State of New York chose Presidential electors by popular vote.
On 26 Nov. 1830 Tammany Hall held high festival in honor of the French Revolution. President Monroe, though in feeble health, reviewed the Tammany parade and later presided at the banquet at Tammany Hall. Patriotic speeches for democ racy were delivered and elaborate fireworks concluded the celebration. In 1831 Tammany abolished °imprisonment for debt,* where the debtor was a resident by New York City. On 3 March 1831, Tammany, by a unanimous reso lution, declared the renomination of General Jackson and the nomination of its Grand Sachem of the Eagle Tribe, Martin Van Buren, for Vice-President. In 1832 Tammany gave General Jackson 5,620 of a majority in a total vote of 30,474, despite the flagrant corruption and frauds openly used to defeat Jackson in this national election. The United States Bank and allied financial interests denounced Jackson as a °Revolutionist,* whose °despotism* would spread throughout the nation °the fearful con sequences of anarchy.* The bank officials pub licly gave $6 a vote, and as their resources seemed unlimited, raised the bribe in particular cases, yet failed to defeat Jackson. On 13 June 1833 General Jackson exhibited his gratitude to Tammany Hall by a ceremonious visit to the wigwam, accompanied by Governor Marcy, Vice-President Van Buren, the Secretary of State Woodbury and the mayor and common council of the city. In 1833, through Tam
many's persistence, sustained by the public opin ion which it aroused, the State legislature was forced to pass as a reform measure an act per mitting New York City to elect its mayor. In 1834 Tammany Hall for the first time in United States history elected a mayor by popular vote. Tammany's candidate was Cornelius W. Lau rence. The United States Bank and the com bined money powers of the period bent every energy to defeat Laurence. AU the newspapers were subsidized, and alarmed the citizens with inflammatory editorials predicting "Universal disaster,* *general destitution,* 'trade paralysis" and ((appalling panic." Agents of the banks hired thugs and bred riots. Serious disorder and daily scenes of violence preceded the elec tion. Every form of coercion was employed on the business element and actual trade suspension was artfully produced. Yet, despite all these artificial and real terrors and their influence on the timid and greedy, Tammany elected her candidate and gave an enduring argument for the spread of manhood suffrage throughout the nation. In June 1861, Grand Sachem William D. Kennedy took to the front a regiment com posed of members of Tammany Hall, which had been raised and equipped by the Tammany Society. This regiment, the 42d New York Infantry, distinguished itself for valor in 36 battles and engagements. In 1864 Tammany presented General McClellan's name at the Chi cago convention as the Presidential candidate of the Democratic party. General McClellan received, in the ensuing election, from Tam many's efforts, a majority of over 37.600 in a total vote of about 110,000. In 1870 Tweed, having gained an ascendancy in Tammany Hall, committed the organization to many extrava gant expenditures, thus bringing much scandal upon the wigwary. He was forced to retire from his leadership and was driven out of the country, a prey to ruin and disgrace. Since that time Tammany has ceased to stand for high policies and has become emblematic of boss rule and policies for "what there is in it.'> Later History.— In 1872 the reform of the organization was undertaken by a group of Democrats udder the guidance of Samuel J. Tilden. Tammany came to the front again with John Kelly as its leader. It became a factor in city, State and national politics. Under Mr. Kelly, Tammany largely regained the confidence and .respect of the Detnociacy. Upon his death, in 1886, Tammany was gov erned by a committee consisting of Richard Croker, James J. Martin, Hugh J. Grant and Thomas F. Gilroy. This government even tuated in the absolute leadership of Richard Croker. Under the influence of Mr. Croker, Tammany in 1888 won a series of brilliant po litical victories, establishing democracy firmly in the city and State. It was due to Mr. Croker's skilful management that all of the so-called Democratic organizations in opposi tion to Tammany Hall were put out of exist ence and Tammany left the sole representative of Democracy in this, the greatest city in the United States. In 1900, after the defeat of the Democracy in the country at large, Mr. Croker ceased to take an active interest in Tammany affairs. He resigned his leadership after the municipal defeat ih 1892, and the Hon. Lewis Nixon, a protege of Mr. Croker's, was placed in command. Mr. Nixon's training had been for the navy. His knowledge of poll tics was purely academic, and his leadership was naturally very brief. The organization then drifted along under the leadership of a committee consisting of Daniel F. McMahon, Louis F. Haffen• and Charles F. Murphy. In 1903 Mr. Murphy assumed the leadership upon the vote of the executive committee. Mayor George B. McClellan and the entire Tammany ticket were elected in November 1903.