CHAPTER XXXII.

THE TWEED RING, AND THE COMMITTEE OF SEVENTY.

The Ring Makes Itself Useful in Speculative Deals.—How 327

Tweed and His “Heelers” Manipulated the Money

Market.—The Ring Conspiring to Organize a Panic for

Political Purposes.—The Plot to Gain a Democratic

Victory Defeated and a Panic Averted Through

President Grant and Secretary Boutwell, who were

Apprised of the Danger by Wall Street Men.—How the

Committee of “Seventy” Originated.—The Taxpayers

Terrorized by Boss Tweed and his Minions.—How

“Slippery Dick” got Himself Whitewashed.—Offering the

Office of City Chamberlain as a Bribe to Compromise

Matters.—How the Hon. Samuel Jones Tilden, as Counsel

to the Committee, Obtained His Great Start in Life