determination to
enrich itself at the public expense.

Yet this measure encountered little opposition. The Young Democracy,
backed by Tilden and the remnant of the Albany Regency, exposed its
dangerous features, the _Times_ called it an "abominable
charter,"[1235] and Manton Marble bitterly denounced it. But Tweed
raised no flag of truce, and after the distribution of a million of
dollars the Sweeny charter had an easy passage through both houses,
the Senate recording but two votes against it and the Assembly only
five.[1236] It was said that five Republican senators received $40,000
each, and six others $10,000 each. Six hundred thousand went to a
lobbyist to buy assemblymen.[1237] Within three days after its passage
(April 5) the Governor had approved it, the Mayor had appointed Tweed
to the position of most power, and Sweeny had taken the place of most
lucre. Thereafter, as commissioner of public works, the Boss was to be
"the bold burglar," and his silent partner "the dark plotter." A week
later the departments of police and health, the office of comptroller,
the park commission, and the great law bureau had passed into the
control of their pals, with Connolly as "sneak-thief" and Hall "the
dashing bandit of the gang."[1238] Indeed, a month had scarcely elapsed
before the _ad interim_ Board of Audit, authorised by the Legislature
as an additional scheme for theft, and composed of Tweed, Hall, and
Connolly, had ordered the payment of $6,000,000, and within the year,
as subsequent revelations disclosed, its bills aggregated $12,250,000,
of which 66 per cent. went to the thieves.[1239]

[Footnote 1235: New York _Times_, March 25, 1870.]

[Footnote 1236: The Tweed Case, 1876, Vol. 2, p. 1212.]

[Footnote 1237: Document No. 8, pp. 84-92; Gustavus Myers, _History of
Tammany Hall_, p. 272; James F. Rhodes, _History of the United
States_, Vol. 6, p. 395; New York _Tribune_, September 17, 1877.]

[Footnote 1238: Albert B. Paine, _Life of Thomas Nast_, p. 143.]

[Footnote 1239: John Bigelow, _Life of Tilden_, Vol. 2, p. 185.]

John T. Hoffman approved Tweed's measures. During the earlier months
of his gubernatorial career his veto of several bills granting aid to
railroads gave promise of independence, but after Tweed and Sweeny
became directors of the Erie he approved the measure enabling corrupt
operators to retain possession of the road for an indefinite period in
defiance of the stockholders. It is probable that th