Page "Samuel J. Tilden" Paragraph 4

Tilden became chairman of the Democratic State Committee after the Civil War.

After having good relations to William M. Tweed and working closely together with him in the Democratic Party, Tilden came into conflict with the Tweed Ring of New York City.

Tilden led the reform movement in the Democratic Party when the ring was breaking up.

He was again a member of the New York State Assembly ( New York Co., 18th D .) in 1872, and took a leading part in the impeachment of Judge George G. Barnard.

By analyzing the bank accounts of certain members of the ring, he obtained legal proof of the principle on which the spoils had been divided.

As a reform-spirited Governor in 1875, he turned his attention to a second set of plunderers, the “ Canal Ring ”, made up of members of both parties who had been systematically robbing New York State by overcharging of the canal works.

Tilden succeeded in breaking them up.

His successful service as governor gained him the presidential nomination.