The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-23

From The Alta California, jane IA.
Order.
The steamer OF one month since earned TO our
friends upon the Atlantic the sad intelligence OF
The almost Total destruction OF our city by hire. That
OF to-day, whilst it will tell OF the rebuilding Of
our town, and The gradual resuscation OF our former
prosperity also takes udings Of most momenous moral
import-udings which the honest, the generous the
and the pa otic must wish were forever
and silently buried beneath the OF that deep
over which they soon to hurry.
But no such obllvious fate awaits them The tale OF
murder, robbery, and arsonthe record OF judicial NAL
feasance and weakness, OF inapposiie laws, OF legal
qubbles to save the guilty, OF inefficient police, and es
capes OF criminals through fraud or caIelessnessthe
story o; excitement, secret conclaves. midnight trials
and Lynch execulionsw be multiplied and reproduced
throughout the world. and in each duplication il will
have accession OF California, litlle has
been understood heretofore, WILL instead OF being
garded with degree OF confidence come TO be
gefous materials that whilst lis mines of gold hollow
promises, there is security for the lives ropeIy OF
the worthy, The quiet and the good.
Cannot simple statement oil acs prevent SO depora-
BILE result \
For than three years this State has been the
ceus OF the largest emigration known. The great
mass OF the people who have thus given up old assoca-
lions and jouTneyed 10 the Pacific and indus
trous orderly, and patriotic The neglect OF Con-
gress to furnish to this people government, the large
emigration and other inherent causes, left the community
situation nearly bordering upon anarchy TO remedy
this, State government was formed, laws enacted, Ju-
dcia and executive officers chosen. and all the machinery
winch necessary 10 the existence OF society
was put in operation. How has it worked
II has been found that with the good emigration the
bad have come aso From every part OF the habitable
globe but particularly from the British penal colo
nies California has received large numbers OF the most
daring, depraved, and reckless men ever inflicted upon
any community he consequence has been that every
crime known 10 the calendar OF vlany has been perpe
lra,ed upon The deienceless and orderly Citizens have
been assaulted murdered and robbed not only upon I'M
equened highways but the streets Of crowded Cities
houses have been broken open and ried and cities
hpan hurnp cd u he n
Month after month has this evil condition grown upon
the land Inc police have failed, through want OF energy
weak, vaciIalng cupabe judiciary have permitted
the "qups and cranks Of legal gentlemen to shield the
guy-or insecure and unguaried prisons have allowed
condemned and uncondemned burst forth again upon
society In fact, The whole machinery Of government
which the people instituted had utterly failed 10 accom-
plish the good ends for which it was established
What, then, was to be done Patience exhausted
hope dead; where could The people turn for support
Nowhere, but TO the sacred la OF sedefence There
must be end 10 this melancholy state OF affairs. How
it to he brought about! II the established legal au-
thortes failed maintain law and orderif they could
not protect and preserve the ommunity-the community
must defend and preserve itself II the agents OF society
be poweress no matter from what cause, the people are
compelled to take upon themselves the duty OF sell.
preservation.
Blu, the people enforce punishment for crme without
due process OF law, they commit treason against the
State and wrong upon the citizen. Certainly. II Is
revolutionary act but revolutions. even il they wrong
sometimes Unsuitable. And the question
then Were the circumstances attending the recent
trial and execution of John jenkins by the vigilance
mee Of this city, and the end 10 be attained thereby, OF
such nature as TO justify the course pursued !"
Society was in the partially dsorsanzed state above
portrayed Many Of reputable and intelligent cill
mpelled by righteous desire 10 promote the pub
lie good, organized themselves into society for the ar
rest, trial, and punishment OF all criminal offenders The
first who came within their grasp was jenkins. HE
crime was robbery be was tried before committee OF
abou, two hundred The whole proceedings delibe
rate dgnifed. and firm There was no doubt of his
nd ha nIomn cd IN auHp ha nan.
ally was inflicted upon him at midnight ny the CON-
miee
But why not leave the criminal 10 the proper auiaor
ties Because ii believed that experience had con-
cusvely demonstrated that, even il he tried and
convicted, he would easily escape punishment, ),
Why try him in secret concave! Such trial could not
Pitched. il could be only achieved BY the few II the
multitude participants. nothing but confusion. dis
order, and iiresolu,on would result
Why Try, condemn, and execute at midnight and with
such extraordinary ceerityl Because, ii vengeance be
just in such case, would follow from other
Why visit upon the offender such unusual penalty ;
Because it honestly believed that such action was
necessary for the purpose OF numdang and restraining
other offenders
And what good is be brought about by this revou.
tonary assumption of arbitrary poweri The safety OF
the lives and property OF the peaceable and patriotic c
zcns.
Does not all this, calmly and deliberately weighed,
keeping IN full view the pressure OF the dangerous
which surround this community constitute
justification Of the committee Of vigilance Is not in
sober earnesness, efa6s rsrofufionf there can be
but hrswer-fe.!
This article has been written not 80 much TO defend
the vigilance committee before this Commonwealth as to
show the world, and Particularly TO brethren oil
The Atlantic States, the evils which bese IL is well
for old es abshed communities TO pore and regret
those unusual acts OF excited multudes which are by
common consent denomnated proceedings OF Lynch
courts" bu, they must beware how they condemn. if
they would be just Let il be remembered that the ele-
ments which compose the population Of newly settled
country tand particularly occupied with such speed
ibis) cannot but be OF various and conflicting chaac
ter and let them not forget that time-lhat worker of
all great changes-will eventually raise from sad,
unfortunate, and almost pefous condition. Law and
order will come out Of the excitement and chaos that
environ the city, and will be established upon such
basis that neither the maieasance of judges subord-
nate officials nor the Teckessness oil criminals will
avail against IT, The great majority OF the body polite
reputable, reliable, intelligent. and honest. No mat
what difficulties may oppose or what dangers may i'm
pend the assurance should confidently 90 abroad tina,
this community has the determination and the power to
protect and preserve the interests rights and life OF each
member OF il.
The Me Maous Dinner.
The complimentary dinner to this distinguished Irish
patriot who lately arrived in this city from Van DIE
mems Land was given last night al the Rassete House.
corner of Bush and Sansome streets The was
were beautifully inertwined with each other round the
walls. About two hundred gentlemen sat down TO
dinner
c. Brennan, ESQ +, the Mayor OF The city, presided
On the RICH, OF the chair sat ference Beew McManus
ESQ the guest OF the evening Thomas Butler KING .sq
The Hon. Mr., Weller late OF Ohio; the Hon
Mr. Green of Texas; and Gen Addison The lett
he Hon Mr.. Gsin United States senator of California
Judge Murray, OF the superior court the Hon Mr. Me-