"In the State, the Democracy ruled for twenty-five years—from 1821 to 1846—under Van Buren, Wright, Marcy, and Flagg; and corruption, always condemned and punished by them, was almost unknown.
"In the 24 years from 1847 to 1870 the Democracy never had a majority in the Senate. Twice only did it have a slender majority in the Assembly.
"The Republicans had the legislative power of the State, and that is now the government both at Washington and at Albany.
"The Republicans made the morals of the legislative bodies what they have recently been. When Seward and Weed took the place of Wright, Marcy, and Flagg, public and official morality fell in the twinkling of an eye.
"Even as to the city government of New York, until 1870, it was exactly what the Republican legislatures made it. The Republican party was born in 1855. In 1856 it swept the State by 80,000. In the Senate of 1857 the Democrats had but 4 out of 32 members; in the Assembly, but 37 out of 128.
"Then the Republicans made the city charter under which we have lived until 1870. At the same session the same hand which created the Republican party created also the supervisor's board, which has been the source of all the corruptions in our city government.
"The league between corrupt Republicans and corrupt Democrats which was formed during Republican ascendency was too strong for honest men in 1870. The charter of that year had the votes of nearly all the Republicans. I denounced it in a public speech.
"Wherever the gangrene of corruption has reached the Democratic party we must take a knife and cut it out by the roots.
"S. J. Tilden."