The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-14

they cane, and presently dedled before me in full
view. They were not soldiers-f only they are
waIsa proudly and fss 10 & their hearts the indie
pendence Of well-requted labor. They bore aloft .
most beautiful silken banner, on whose gorgeous
folds was inscribed, 76!-Its deeds are fresh In the
memory of the boatmsn" Near the centre Of the
procession, a handsome boat was suspended, sur.
rounded by sea of painted canvass, SO natural
as at little distance to deceive the senses WIN
in this boat sat two pretty little boys dressed IN
regatta costume each holding two oars in the row.
locks. Quite large number of flags were display.
ed, on all of which appropriate notices were en-
blazoned-one of them, l remember, az it struck
me for its Califernianism. 1t run thus
sour spades are oars our cradles boats,
Our dggngs in the bay"
But they have turned the corner, and here comes q
mounted procession; what splendid horses! what
hardy mem their bronzed features and sun tanned
hands indicate the contempt they bear for storm
and sunshine Nor are these soldiers, unless he
be atrue soldier who fights manfully for an honest
livelihood. Why, 1t seems that the line is inter
minable. Just now jet black steeds were prancng
by; behold these are snowy white-there come the
iron grey, and far away in the rear the longeared
honest progeny Of donkey tie drst. are approaching
car laden with goods, boxes and drawn by that tan
DUN Of magnificent mules Away they go! the
wooden-paved, hollow streets, echoing the firm
tread OF their horses, like the distant beowings Of
But here comes a silent band-what sober set
OF fellows. Yes, you guessed right-they are the
Sons Of Temperance" Their nea, clean, pure re-
gala CORES ponding well with their motto blazing
in gold upon yon banner" Truth, Love, Purity.
They are all young men; resolution sits, like god.
enthroned upon their brows, and they have just
been listening to an eloquence which convinced
them, that the sons Of those sres who conquered
others should have the courage to conquer them
selves God 60 with you, young enthusiasts, and
may your efforts be crowned with success
Again music swells upon the breeze-again the
measured footstep speaks OF discipline. The rat
Ting car in advance proclaims at once, that those
who now approach are the fremen Of San Fran
cisco. How droll fire engine appears in a process
zion. | never saw one before, that did not appear
to be in great hurry. Here comes one, which,
it not for the flowers decorating every part Of
t, should think, was going to a funeral 1t has a
ubdued sort oflook about it, as though it felt out
Of its element, and wanted to hear the cry that
would set it in full gaop, and fill its empty sides
with its favorite fluid.
But they have passed by, and left nothing but
dust and memory behind-l must go too. Twelve
plaza, to the plaza-the world is gone before me,
but I'm just in time. Thirty-two guns have boom
ed their thunders over the bay and received the far
resounding echoes Of Contra Costa in return.
procession has gathered. The noisy drum and
piercing fife are silent; and, at given signal each
hat is removed, and the chaplain invokes the
blessings of God upon the assembled null
own. He prays for the President and the
cabinet, the soldier and the statesman the egisa-
tor and the judge. But his accents assume more
earnest tone, and bis eo} { lofter range, as
constitution, and spare the American Union.
The Mayor, then, in Of the neatest, concisest,
most eloquent-like speeches | ever heard, intro
duced the reader Of the Declaration to the audience
lie spoke Of the ruins arodnd Us on every side, Of
the repeated disasters, the city over whose coun
ellis he presided had been visited-of the disorgan-
lied seciety in which We lived. But then he con-
trasted, with admirable skill, the in iomtable re-
IN sha OLE
hopes awaiting our country in the future, and the
long line fillus trious deeds consecrang the past
He placed his hand upon his heart, and testified,
how utterly impossible IL is to curb the Amer-
cans love Of country, and assured US, what each
one felt before, that no circumstances, how
ever untoward-no misfortunes, however dire,
could blot from the American heart it, memory
of the Fourth Of July.
The Grafton followed, and fully indicated the
good sense Of the com uittee in the selection they
made for orator. For though have heard far more
eloquent speeches far better delivered yet / never
listened to one more appropriate to the occasion.
As 1t will probably be published, | will not de-
tain you by any attempt at analysis. Suffice it
to say, that it was cheered and appla lded through
out, and that the orator wound up in perfect
blaze of glory.
Then followed the standardization the dinners;
and lastly, the fireworks. / saw the stars fall in
1888; but it was reserved for the 4th of July, $751;
to send them up again Oh sir, you never beheld any
thing half so mag ifcestly splendid as the fight Of
sky rockets from Mount Aventine From every part
Of the city they rose into the heavens and burst in
glory at every point Of the horizon. Some altered
themselves into brilliant stars, aud gracefully float
ed by the side oftheir sister umnaries; others dis
solved into meteors and "streamed along the sky"
whilst Others again rose in maj esti, curve, and
burned 4 fiery rainbow on the brow OF night.
But the plaza WAS the spot for fun and frolic and
danger, too. Roman candles were discharged into
the doc RS and windows Of every house in sight; ser
pene wtizzed about eyerybodys ears, and pop
crackers exploded in everybody pockets. The boys
had n v.arfoc fNhfla Ako,,t MD . -
cask Of oil on FIRE, whose bright red glare llumi-
mated the entire city, bay and highlands. This
seemed to be the grands fnl; and, with the rest Of
the world, retired by its ligh, to my humble quar-.
ters, and In a few moments more was traversng
the brilliant promenades Of New York and visiting
the scenes Of my boyhood, forgetful alike Of exile
California, and the Fourth Of July. w. II. X.
SAN FRAsclsco, July I3, 1851.
Tho Inefooscy Of the Lars and the Vigilance C1n-
mitto-Ereeuii1n Of Botany Bay Conrici nau,ci
juno, Sfuart, .aiias Ul2iam Sierens, &C., &c &C.
The current steamer brings you the account Of
the summary execution Of q villain named James
Stuart, BY the hands Of the people Of san Fran
cisco, and as 1t will be undoubtedly proclaimed as
notable instance Of mob law, give you the sub.
joined statement Of facts, by which you will soc
that this execution was no. characterized by any
Of the usual incidents Of mob law and was not per-
formed By the mob at all.
About two years ago, the "hoznds," as 4 set Of
miscreanis were termed, were tried at San Fran
ciseo. Some were hanged at Stockton, and the
rest were banished from the state. The gang was
broken Up, and the strctest order prevailed for
many months. No thei,s, no burglsries were com.
mitted; property was safe everywhere, and goods
we're secure IL le exp osed night in the street
or on the plaza. But during the long and rainy
winter Of 1880, new order Of things arose.
The convict colonies Of Australia vonited forth
upon US their hordes Of certified villains, thieves
and burglars, who here met their fellows Of the
same Graf: from London, Paris, New York, and
Philadelphia. Robbery became frequent. bur.
glary common and murder by druyging, the
pistol, the bowie knife. and the sung shot an often
recurring incident Of city news. Add Just a, this
time the Legislature, IN the plenitgis Of It's wis
dom and power, adopted, as our code Of crimir al
urf AZ ftr II 4. 4