New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-11-11
CALIFORNIA.
The Vigilance Committee of San Francisco.
To the Editors Of The n. Y. Tribune:

To the Editors Of The n Y. Tribune:
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. ISL
notice in the papers by the last mail
from the Atlantic States much discussion pro
and con respecting the Vigilance Committee Of
this city Not in any letter OF mine to a single
friend IN New-YorN have expressed any opin-
ion OF this Committee not because the subec
was Indifferent, but because it interested me 50
much that did not feel myself quite prepared
amid the heats and evaporation to which IL
gave rise, to speak OF ii with entire impartialiy
had hopes, too, that hme would show my ap-
prehensons unfounded, and prove the Commit
tee if not all that It's friends claimed 1t to be, at
least TO have wrought more good than mischief.
have been disappointed, and It is time that our
friends IN the old States should have that know
ledge of the Vigilance Committee Of San Fran
cisco-0 its character, operations and effects
which they never can derive from the coNardly
and servile press OF California.
1t is less than year ago since the Supreme
Court OF this State delivered, IN some two ~
three cases, opinions OF considerable ability in
which large class OF paper titles to land IN
this city was declared Invalid and insufficient 20
prevail against title by p0ssesslon-ln other
words, a squatters title These Judgments have
not been successfully questioned on any recog-
nlzed principles OF law nor can they be. But
they assallei a large smoun, Of real estate M
the hands OF The leading citizens the most
respectable men" OF San Francisco. who had
grown rch on; OF grants from Alcaltes of the
most valuable ground IL the city. ~ >l6 lot.
1t was IN the good old times, q st before and
after the discovery of the gold IN Suffers mill
race.) and II happensd that some dozen Ortwenty
persons, beng close friends of the Alcaldes, got
pages OF grants OF the pest lots IN san Francisco
Tor mere song These grants were IN many
cases grossly fraudulent, and N most cases He
cal, either by the laws OF Mexico or Of The
miod States. - fragrant was the wrong, that
tht Aicaldes most prominent ~ the business
tell INTO universal iisrepute, and TWO OF iaree,
more active than the rest. are Ooects o. pubic
tNecfatlOn. Nuca Is tine justice o. tne world,
that While the tools n these operations have
heeu thus cast away, the men VINO used them
have held unto the fruits ~ fraud-havt sold
their >lt lets icr IS many thou sands . they
PAID dollars, anu have become The first men.
tho respectable gentlemen" and "thc leading
cltzens OF >an nnciscO
y matter Of course, property resting on
u;lo this. or rather no tile Al an, wa tender TO
DEGREES. OF course. TOO. the decisions OF the
supreme Court, laying bare the rcttenness Of the
whole ia0nc produced a tremendous hubbub
Property. usually so Stald. sober. Conservative
(Nhere II rs Us interest 50 To- be- became wild
turbulent, anafchica.-heTce lor the Ian OF the
strong hand. and for ab0llshlng al Courts and
JUDGES mcOnunently. Al this could not be
done out OF hand. The Courts could not be Al
Tosated nor the Judges hanged. exactly, how
ever mnch property curious agains, lncuirny
into It's iTauosl might desire Il. The Courts aud
Judges could, however, be brOu shi into contempt
their authority broken down and their efficiency
impaired, 50 that then judgments should moi
have power 10 trouble prosperous wickedness or
disturb me acquisitions OF the respectable ci,l-
Lens OF San Francisco, however ulrshieo1sly
obtained
From that date a systematic variare com.
menced upon the Courts, the Judges. ana the
ministers OF tie law, which gradually included
The iags themselves. Il may be there was some
ground Tor tie outcry that was then raised. and
mas seen since continued, against the ineiiicien-
cy OF the Courts, and the administration OF the
laws generally. Our cTimlna! code as II then
STOOD, was failure chiefly because i, was
ooPieo too literally from the criminal code OF
o'oeI states, and Vas an attempt 10 apply their
criminal laws 10 condition Of things WHISKY
oineIeht The delays, which In New-Yurk were
e>sehha4 10 the dISpensation OF iUstlce n, AZ
ieasl no oo>irucuoG TO II, insured II. GeSa, IN
Ianiornla, with It's onward ush Of hfe. ia en-
stantV changing population, its half ORANGES
social and political condition SO IN Other 70.
spects IN fast country, slow. deliberate ustice
is no justice at all.
Partially and ignorance have been incss,an,.
~ charged upon the Judges, and sometimes even
corruption That our Judges have not been nm
to the standard OF the Judiciary In New-Yort
Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, for ability. err
Penencf and gravity Of character, is certain.