Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-08-23
4 cRY FOR Law AND ORDER.

A
A cry FOR LAW AND ORDER.
rnou TIE Hxw JOURNAL conNERcx on AUGUST ~.
CALrToRxIA.-A month ago intelligence was re-
ceived of the arrest, trial, and execution of roo
Der at SAN Francisco, by a Committee Of Citizens,
sel.orgmized body, unknoUn to the latc, Uisach
assumed the functions Of a Judicial tribunal %
punish offences against lifs aud property, alleged
TO have become alarmingly frequent through the
remssness Of the legally constituted authorities IN
executing the laws Of the land The last advices
bring Information that this committee, having en-
larged itself TO the number Of nearly seven hundpd,
had become committee Of permanence, sitting a.
all times Of day and of night its members relieving
each other alternately for refreshment and rest (;
that II had usurped all the functions Of sovereignty
and acknowledged no other power in the STATE
refusing obedience TO the ordinary process OF the
courts. and opposing armed resistance TO the exc
cuton of hat process that il had declared its pur-
pose 10 be the extrpstion of crime by means Of its
own deviing. and in pursuance Of that end had
taken life, inflicted stripes, and driven suspected
persona into exils; that its jurisdiction had been
extended beyond the graver crimes, 70 all the minor
offences against society, comprehending even those
practices associated in the popular mind with witch
craft for under that head must be classed the abb
surd and uncertain denunciations made by the
Chinese against their countrywomen, and enter
tanned by the !. Committee Of Vigilance - and that
it had asserted and exercised the right Of search,
without warrant. in private domicils, and had
warned party who appealed to the law for re-
dress Of such illegal proceeding against prosecuting
his appeal, and commanded his counsel to with
draw the suit.
Most of these various assumptions of power
have been exhibited in the extracts copied from
California papers, describing the executions of Jen
kins and Stuart the refusal 10 surrender Stuart to
the ministers Of the law, pursuant to writ OF
habeas corpus issued by the Supreme Court; the
banishment Of alleged sydney convicts, and Of sus-
pected persons generally; and the whipping of
offenders. Aman named Metcalf having instituted
suit against some members of the /" Committee of
Vigilance" for respass in breaking into and search.
ing his house without warrant, that body issued .
manifesto in these terms:
ar VIsrLAscI CoMMrrTsE Room. having become ne
cessa the peace and quiet Of this community that all c
mnas and abeos In crime should be driven from among
good citizen, having the welfare Of San Francisco at
heart will deny the Committee Of Vigilance such informa-
tion will enable them carry out the above object Nor
will they interfere with said committee when they may deem
best search any premises for suspicious characters so
len property Therefore,
Resolved That we, the Vigilance Committee do claim to
ourselves the right any person persons premises
deEce to subsanae and carry out the object Of this body
and, further deeing ourselves engaged in good and just
cause, INTEND TO MAINTAIN IT.
By order Of the CoMMIrTEE OF VIeILAsCE.
No 81, Secretary.
San Francisco, July 5, 1851.
Two days afterwards they dispatched to the plain
tf's counsel an extract from their minutes: n
s.That committee be appointed 10 wait on Messrs Lock
wood, Tlfod e. Randolph acting counsel in the case OF
MetcaIf Argent, Atkinson, and Others and they are
hereby directed request those gentlemen to withdraw the
suit and decline further proceedings in the matter touching
the &6ss aaH
COMMITTEE. Messrs Sharon, Curtis, Bromley, and
Spence. JuLI 2, 1881"
To which was returned the following pertinent reply
SAN FRAScIsco, JULH 2, A. D. 1851
GENTLEMEN We have received with astonishment COM
muncaon through your hands, purpong to be an extra
from the minutes of the proceedings Of certain association
styling itself The Vigilance Committee" in which we are
requested Withdraw the suit which have instituted in
We orbear remark upon the folly the presumption, the
ignorance your powers and Of character and the
entire disregard Of the constitution and laws and the rights Of
your citizens which that communication etokens You
will for answer to those who sent yos that we need
no advice and will submit dicaton from the Vigilance
Committee collectively individually and that they may
fully assured that will prosecute the suit Of Metcal
Argent and Atkinson, and all other suits Of similar nature
which may be employed with the utmost Of our ability
and to the end Of the law.
We remain your obedient servants,
r. A. LocKwooD, @
Il F. TILYoRD,
sa EDMUrD RANDOLPH.
To Messrs. Sharon, Curtis,
g. ~ , I