Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-08-14
fRIDAY::::::::::::.s::::::::::::::AUGUST 8, 1851.
Hob Law In San Francisco.

The execution Of the man Jenkins at San Fran
ti,co. BY several hundred Of the most "respecta-
~ and ssinflueutal" citizens of the place, has
usfoondly impressed the public mind through
out the country with the enormity Of the transac-
Nm. and the fatal precedent it establishes for the
future use of mobs that may hereafter rise up, on
uvtences equally inadmissible, to take the law
into their own hands.
Because vast amount Of crime has been per-
retrated for a long time, and because they deem
ID il impossible by process of law 10 convict and
punish the guilty, or keep them in safe custody,
number Of the citizens resolve to take the law
into their own hands. They organize themselves
;nto scommittee of vigilance" with { fixed de-
termination to punish those whom they find gull
II Of any felonious act.
The unfortunate man Jenkins, was detected at
sieht carrying a bag of money which he had
few moments before stolen from shipping Office
On the wharf. He is taken possession of by the
vigilance committee, conducted to head quarters.
red in the presence of eighty members OF the
eonclaye sitting with closed doors, convicted ami
sentenced 10 be hung that very night. The pre-
ix its progress large crowd had assembled at
he ringing Of bell; all very much excited. The
prisoner was entirely composed and indulged in
ssar-he was tall man with great muscular
Developments, and rather forbiddng counten-
,nce. He gave his meme as John Jenkins and
,aSi Ne was native Of London With his arms
pinioned and his hands tied behind him, he Is
sarrounded by large crowd and hurried to the
public square for execution. A block is rugged
10 the end Of s:the old adobe long rope is run
through it. The police in attempting to inter-
fere are roughly handled and beaten off, The
prisoner in the mean time is nearly dead With
fright and rough usage. A rush is made towards
rope manned by twenty ready hands. The heavy
form Of the unfortunate felon sweeps through the
al and bangles from the block
Jenkins, il was said, was desperate character
from the British penal colonies. where he had
passed many years as transported convict. or
bis guilt there was no doabt. His real name was
symptom. He had been in California about year,
and had been loug known in the penal colonies as
saesperate villain. , sgre
Is there any thing, however, 10 justify the con-
duct Of the mob, or Of the Vigilance Committee?
We yield ready assent to the force of the argu-
nents Of those who urge the impossihility Of coa-
victiny and punishing offenders at San Francisco
The great number Of Migrants and desperate
characters thcre-the great destruction of prop
aty there BY incendiaries, and the necessity of
making public example Of some offender. Al
Aese are entitled to their due weight. But it
seems to US that they do not stand moment
against that great principle which ought 10 be
dssrer to us than all the gold Of Calfornia--tAs
shsolsts supremacy Of tAs lars the right Of every
nan, whatever may be his character, to be tried
land II convicted, to be punished according 10
law. Society, government. laws, are worth
nothing Il they cannot protect the weak against
the strong.
II the San Francisco mob were right-what Is
there to restrain them from hanging every petty
thief they find At large in the streetse What is
there to prevent them from deciding any man TO
be thief who may render himself obnoxious to
them? That the men who compose the "vigi-
lance Committee" are substantial and respecta-
BE, is entitled to no weight. II their conduct
cannot be vindicated on principle, their respecta
biiity viii not make it right The principle Of
al mobs is bratc .force-and that is game at
which two may play-the horse thieves, gamt-
blers and cut throats as well as the srespectable"
and "substantialp' men composing the committee
u vigilance. Give them the numbers on their
side. and they will soon be able TO show that they
have the same arguments for hanging substantial
and respectable citizens, as the vigilance commit
tee had for hanging jenkins.
II, too, the design Of the mob law advocates in
San Francisco is to preserve life and property,
they are pursuing plan which will lead them to
abloody reverse. Anarchy and Terrorism must
Be the inevitable result. The only safeguard is
in the scrupulous maintenance of the law. If
there are bad men in Office, on the bench or in
me jury box, let proper vigilance be exercised a.
me ballot box-and not be diverted to form ''rig-
lance hanging committees"
The darkest and most discouragng aspect OF
this whole case e,arses from the fact that The Cal
norna press, elaborately uphold and defend the
conducto of the mob. II win be long time. how
ever, before It will be able to wipe away the stig-
ma from the fame Of the first commercial city OF
the Pacific coast.