The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-08-20

time when almost the entire American population was
made up OF the dsbanded American troops who were IN
the country when il ceded TO the United States by
Mexico and the adventures from the coast the islands
OF the Pacific and the States, who had been attracted by
the discovery OF gold Every one was intent upon
ing fortune in The shortest possible time with which 10
retire and leave the country. Few men willing to
take office. and sll smaller number capable OF
dschagng The duties so to meet the exgencies OF the
times, aud provide for the due administration of justice in
State where the whole population under long
change every three months.
In this state OF things the first legislature was com.
posed OF men wholly unacq uainsd with the business OF
legislation, and large majority OF them not only igno
rant OF the general spirit and object of all laws, but IN
capable OF daughng them IN such form and with such
precision and point to render them available Besides
this, all were intent upon the main chance Sudden and
great wealth, with little pains and trouble was the all
absorbing and all engrossng thought The laws OF the
first legislature were, therefore. made in great haste The
organization of courts, fixing their terms aud appointing
the Judges and officers. were all governed by the same
everlasting principles OF self interest.
The government of San Francisco was formed in the
same way and OF the same character OF men. The hrs
sep rob the city OF It's rghtin domain. and place
the whole of ii in the hands OF city officials and their ia
voriles and when this consummaed the faith OF the
city pledged TO the amount OF fifteen hundred thou
sand dollars. aud fooshy, lavshy, not 10 say raudu
enty, squandered. system of public plumber was reg
ularIy carried on, in which the officials and bold nan
cierng favorles outside were mutually Interested Thus
they undsturbed and unrebuxed until the city
hopelessly involved and the more honest, indusr
ous laborng classes the holders OF iredeemable
city scrip and The wire pullers and officials in possession
OF gold and silver to lis nominal value.
Justice halt in the streets Crime in all forms
staked forth with unbushng etfroDiery both by night
and by day. until was safe, either IN the street or
in his domc AS murder, robbery, theft. incendia
rsm gambling, drinking, and the most shameless self
indulgence became not only unrebuked, but tolerated.
nay glored in-by large portion Of the community.
In this stale OF disorder and moral corruption the sec
ond legislature convened, and OF the material
the FIRST with but here and there solitary excepion
Meanwhile this city had been five tunes reduced to
merchandise OF every description The general impress
sion was that the officers OF the law all corrupt,
weak. and inefficient and that change Of any kind was
desirable Accordingly, the whig ticket at the charter
election in May was almost entirely successful
But when they elected on The aSth OF April 1851
the cry at least fifteen hundred thousand dollars
t$l 500 00O) in debt. On the 4lh OF May following
dlsa Than any previous one swept away
the portion Of the city, ing with it the cusom
house, and many OF the most substantial and las was
suppo,ed) hre-proof buildings, with large amount OF
properly burning the plank streets and wharves, and
cutting of the income of the city some twenty thousand
dollars per moath over and above actual losses The hre
supposed TO be the work OF incendlaes tor the
poses OF plumber. large number Of crmlna from the
penal colonies of England, with sprinkng OF The most
desperate scamp- fom Older States amt countries ada
reni here and what moi destroy ed
by fire stolen by vvrs, I'LL the peoe, outraged be-
You'd endurance by repeated and aggravated wrongs rose
in their strength and assumed the right Of sei-ieence.
by the infection OF summary punishment open guilty
aud hardened villain taken in the act OF stealing safe
from counting room IN open day They hung The cu-
the public plaza, al O'Clock al night
The sell constituted tribunal organized band Of
some Two hundred men, who made a thorough canvass
of the entire city, hunt the abodes of the crim
nails. and served notice upon them 10 leave the city
within five days, pain of being shot or hung found
alter that time The result has been to expel (or time
at leas from the city large number OF precious scamPs
and to arouse the public mind TO a more vigorous and
active energy for the faithful administration Of JUSTICE
aud The suppression and punishment OF CRIME.
The new administration entered upon Their ofcia du-
ties the morning after the fire OF May 4th, without
funds TO meet The expenses OF the city government, with
oa credit. and with Judgments resting on all The avala-
bic property belonging 10 the city Other had la.
bored and they bad en. red into their abors ITO reap
reward as undesirable as was unjust" The present
officers OF the city are IN the main honest and capable
men, devoted to the welfare of the city, and desous oil
etrenchRg It's expenses and increasing its income, in
the nope OF resuscitang It's credit, and establishing It's
claim 10 the large and valuable of land to WHICH,
under the Mexican law, Pueblo, the city Is emil
tied But before they had been comfortably settled IN
their Offices another fire swept our city, destroying
the City Hall and City Hospital besides hundreds OF other
tenemens. many OF great value, 10 the extent OF some
three millions OF dollars. All these evils have come upon
city scarcely ico years old and even now IS lager
than any OF the eastern cities OF ten or hfieen years
growth LIS geographical position with reference TO the
commerce OF the world and It's local advantages with
reference TO The coas, trade and that OF the islands OF
the Pacific, well as the whole eastern continent and
the Atlantic States, lift the enteprsng spirit OF It's in
hahitans above all the ills and losses which have be-
fallen them and keep them steadily building the waste
places and look ing forward, buoya0 with hope expect.
ing that. IN spe OF every DISASTER San Francisco will
and rival every city the Atlantic coast excepting
perhaps New York; in trade, in incredibly short pc
Rod OF time. Many oil the evils labor under for the
pfetent the inevitable result of causes which have
worked together 10 accomplish them, in be
fore slated but there is believe that these
causes are daily diminishing Among them is spirit of
reckless adventure that stakes everything upon single
venture IN the hope OF which develops itself IN
every conceivable species OF neutrality-suspicious. games
sanctioned by the law OF license Growing out OF this
is excessive smoking aid drinking, which swallow up
thousands and lead 10 RIGHTEOUSNESS III every form, I'M
al almost every house in certain localities Is drinking
house. or house OF infainy OF still guilty and
fall upon in every form nor do know OF any way
earth TO escape from them except by closing the gam
bling houses and their legitimate ills, by remembering
the Sabbath day, and obeyng the commandments OF the
Supreme Ruler OF the universe.
Providence has opened this country in the midst of
revolutions IN the Old World, and disposed TO fill
Il with OF all nations, to make it the theatre OF some
great and GLORIOUS revolution in the moral and political
condition OF the world well kind OF natural lever
by which to introduce the nations OF The world to each
oiher and furnish opportunity Tor the diffusion OF
knowledge in all the arts and sciences in every branch
OF industry and economy known TO Americans and the
civilized world and, what still CHE great end and
design OF all The rest, 10 make known the knowledge oil
The Gospel Of God To accomplish this He will sweep
away with the besom OF destruction every work OF
calculated to defeat bis designs.
p S.-Since writing the foregoing the vigilance
committee" TO whom reference has before been made)
have arrested tried, and executed second well known
murderer ny the name OF slim Stuart" Silce his exc.
have focked and stll fooking enroll
their members of the vigilance committee, thus
swelling their numbers and increasing their power and
efficiency.