The southern press., 1851-04-11
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
stste of sooisty in California.

aDldlo u OoVtoty III SootoHuAo.
We have received files of papers from the
Paradise of the Pacific" as it's admirers term
that aurifcrous region--and the picture ofits so
cia condition which they convey, is such as to
make it verify the description of
ga purple land
Where law secures not life''
Reeitals of murders and outrages, promptly suc-
ceeded by the wild justice" Of Lynch law, ms
Lord Bacon terms revenge, following each other
in swift succession, crowd the columns of these
papers and in one only, the Inder, is voice OF
expostuation raised against the summary pro-
ceedings of the mob, who supply the place and
exercise the functions Of judges and ministers
Of Justice.
That manly and fearless expostulation against
the rule Of such Reign of Terror as the sway
of mob law must introduce, we will give to-
morrow. Our space to-day we reserve for a
brief recital Of some few of those popular de-
monstrations, and of the crimes which provoked
them
The stern necessity on unsettled frontiers of
an occasional resort to such examples, to awe
the lawless rufians who fly like wolves before
the advancing footsteps Of law and order, no one
can deny, however much he may deplore the
substitution of such irregular and lawless modes
of procedure for the regular administration of
that "I.aw whose seal is in the bosom Of God"
and whose forms afford protection for the in
nocent against the sudden gusts of passion
l:..J IN ms fO Dir m of
extenuation.
But from the numerous accounts given of
resort to this Lynch law in California Of late
as well as from the following cool commentary
which we take from the Sacramento Transcript,
it would seem that it was to be enthroned as
the ",higher law" of the free State of California
ANOTHER LYNCHING AFFAIR-The people of
California-at least that portion of it who re-
gard all evil doers with an abhorrent spirit
have, as it were, spontaneously arisen, en- masse,
to repress crime and punish the guilty.
We have accounts within the past week from
all quarters of the State, where the people have
risen in their majesty, and stamped the vile in
fringement on good order and personal safety,
with their broad seal of condemnation. That
q better and more healthful state of society will
When the passion and the excitement of the
hour passes away, the more sensible and reflect
ing portion of the people of California will per-
ceive the necessity of promptly putting stop
to these excesses, which undermine the very
foundations of law and order, and lead to the
commission of the very evils they are originally
intended TO prevent the recurrence of.
We doubt not that the "sober SECOND
thought" of all such will assert its supremac,
finally over ebullitions of misdirected anger, a
blind MS brutal
There is no evil in new societies comparabl
to that of placing power in Irresponsible hand
and dignifying moblaw with the holy title {
justice. The following is an account Of tn
scenes that occurred at Sacramento, San Fra,
cisco, and Coloma, to which we add also fe'
other items Of interesting intelligence:
Tremendous Excitement at Sacramenio--A Nq
Shot and the Murderer Hanged
On Tuesday, about 2 P. NJ. a young man,
MINER was in the Mansion House, well knowr
gaming hell, corner of J. and Front streets lie
wa. looking on at a monte table, when the deal
erick j. Roe, a gambler, told him to 90 to h--ll
Some words ensued, and Roe struck the mine
in the face.
A fight was the result, in which Roe was
worsted then he was joined by several of his
fellow-gamblers, and they al together fell upon
the miner. Mr. Charles ii. Myers, blacksmith
passing by ut the moment, interfered on behalf
of the miner, and cried, "Fair play, don't four OF
you get on one mani" He struck no one, how
ever, but succeeded in drawing off Roe, who
thereupon drew his pistol, Colts revolver, and
turned upon Mr. Myers, with "What the h--ll
have you to DO with t?" Myers was running
away, when Roe fired and shot him through the
back part of the head Myers fingered, about
four hours, and died at o'clock. 1t appeared
from the statement Of Roes witnesses that he
had been on "bust' the night previous, land
had been drinking just before the affray.
Roe was Immediately arrested and placed in
the lookup. An immense crowd speedily con-
gregated, filed with indignation, and determined
to nflict immediate punishment The meeting
having been organized and chairman appoint
ed, twenty-five persons were deputed TO aid in
guarding the prisoner, and after several inefiec-
ua attempts by various citizens, TO dissuade the
people from their evident purpose, committee
was appointed to investigate the facts. Myers
was sober, industrious citizen from Columbia,
Ohio, where he leaves a family.
The TRIAL.-The following jury Cor commit
tee of investegation) was selected J. ii. Scran-
ton, j. Il. Bayley, w. +. Prettyman, DR.. v.
Spalding, Ogden Mills, J. b. Starr, ID. b. Milne,
II. G. langley, DIR. Cronn, p. b. Cornwall, Levi
Hermance, Gen. Winn, and G. G. Wright
The jury met at Orleans House, at p NJ.
levi Hermance was chosen as Judge, and Mr..
John Clea Sheriff. Col. Kewen appeared as
counsel for the prisoner. Several witnesses
were examined for and against Roe; those for
him being mainly gamblers.
The proceedings Of the committee were fre.
quenty interrupted by messages from the crowc
without, demanding despatch, and that the law
yers should be "hustled out" as they were onl,
making delay. The witnesses having concluded
Col Kewep, Roe's counsel, said if the commit
tee judged it of murder the law wou
not The room was then closed for the jury T.
deliberate. j he room was then closed for tn
jury TO deliberate The evidence was summe
up, and vote taken as to whether +. j. Ro
shot C.. II. Myers II was decided unanimous