State party leader Following the end of the Civil War, Tilden won the election for chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee.Morris (2003), p. 98 He served as Seymour's campaign chairman in the 1868 presidential election, but Seymour lost the election to Republican nominee Ulysses S. Grant.Morris (2003), pp. 97–98 After the election, Tilden broke with William M. Tweed, the leader of the Tammany Hall political machine.Morris (2003), pp. 101–104 Through bribery, patronage, and control of Irish-American voters, Tweed and his allies had become the dominant power in both New York City and the state of New York.Morris (2003), pp. 99–102 In 1871, former Tammany associate James O'Brien leaked Tweed's account books to the New York Times.Morris (2003), p. 103 The Times subsequently began a public crusade against Tammany Hall, and Tilden launched an investigation into Tweed's bank records.Morris (2003), p. 104 Tilden ran for the New York State Assembly as part of a slate of anti-Tammany Democrats; at the state party convention, he declared that it was "time to proclaim that whoever plunders the people, though he steal the livery of heaven to serve the devil in, is no Democrat." The anti-Tammany Democrats, including Tilden, won a major victory in the 1871 state elections, and Tweed was indicted on 120 counts of fraud and other violations.Morris (2003), pp. 103–104 After the election, Tweed fled the state, but he was eventually extradited back to New York, where he died in prison in 1878.
state party leader following the end of the civil war tilden won the election for chairman of the new york state democratic committeemorris (2003) p 98 he served as seymour's campaign chairman in the 1868 presidential election but seymour lost the election to republican nominee ulysses s grantmorris (2003) pp 97–98 after the election tilden broke with william m tweed the leader of the tammany hall political machinemorris (2003) pp 101–104 through bribery patronage and control of irish-american voters tweed and his allies had become the dominant power in both new york city and the state of new yorkmorris (2003) pp 99–102 in 1871 former tammany associate james o'brien leaked tweed's account books to the new york timesmorris (2003) p 103 the times subsequently began a public crusade against tammany hall and tilden launched an investigation into tweed's bank recordsmorris (2003) p 104 tilden ran for the new york state assembly as part of a slate of anti-tammany democrats; at the state party convention he declared that it was "time to proclaim that whoever plunders the people though he steal the livery of heaven to serve the devil in is no democrat" the anti-tammany democrats including tilden won a major victory in the 1871 state elections and tweed was indicted on 120 counts of fraud and other violationsmorris (2003) pp 103–104 after the election tweed fled the state but he was eventually extradited back to new york where he died in prison in 1878