Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-11-01

THE LYNCH LAW ExEcUTERs IN CALIFORNIA
Il rHoA 1Hs sxw rcnK connEacrAI Apyrsrrsxn.
IL will be remembered that when first thr 'nsei-
lgence reached US that so-csllcd /. viel,. q COM
mstee had been formed At San Fs'cisco on
Lynch-sw principles, and that, instes'o endeavcr-
ing TO make the courts purer and pSre emcient tne
committee assumed 10 be indepe~ieni oi anu supe-
rlor to the law and its officer we deprecated me
whole movement as conlainis me very essence oil
anarchy and misrule, as iact substituting vlo-
lence and an irresponsbp authority ior recognised
institutions with officers sDnabe to Tie people We saw
in that step the irtroduca OF principle that sooner or later
must work mschef foprincipIes ndesuctble and
operative. and must oduce results The emergency Of the
case was pressed Dfpy and told that In other
way could life ap4 property be protected that the commit
lee were al hoyorablo that the popular sentiment
entirely with them, fact which undoubtedly at one
time but to- true, shown by the hdeous longing for
an exception evinced BY the popusce when Whitaker and
McKanzie hung.
The ground assumed in these columns with reference
the vglance committee system was, tha. wrong IN
principle and therefore eventually become e, in prsc
tce that assumption Of authority vested elsewhere
by the people, and by chem legma.ey Transferred
the vigilance mmittee that it not merely local
patton Of magseal and executive power but violent op-
position the laws and constitution Of the Satsa dsspoic
administration Of life and death, Of unheardof punshmen,s,
and Of Chamber examinations and convictions all tend
ing to demoraize and debase the people, by mskng them h
miar with summary convictions and executions without the
show of mercy and orbeaance or decent ceremony
The last narrative that published Of of these execu
lions truly horfying, end than justified our CEN
sures and prophecies lis eiec upon Oop. .Aas do
scrbed by Independent writer citizen Of San Francisco
''Two Of the vigilance committee have alien
ated from them some Of their best friends well as large
majority of this community You have already heard Of the
execution by this committee Of Whitaker and Mckenzie on
Sunday Suffice say that that hord deed has 90 shock
ed this community that confidence in the humanity and pru
dence OF the COMMITTEES has been again to be
restored This community contends if the
were 60 wanting in vigilance to permit the authorities
take the prisoners from hem they should have let the
pass and determined be careful in future but this
breaking into the prison, and in spirit of retaliation upon
the authorities, hanging these gully on Sunday is
an outrage which the better part of the community cannot
made either to sanction tolerate This committee will here
after only be commended for any lawful efforts which hey
may use in bringing criminals justice but the time is past
when this community will permit them become Judges and
ex xecutioners. a, sts
Another move which has already rendered the commit.
lee unpopular, effort the part Of many Of it's lead
ing to get up what have called landmonopoy
cke at the elections This has caused some TO be-
eve that the extensive land chalmers and wealthy will
70 some way other this vigilance committee to favor
heir own selfish ends. do not know whether these fears
groundless otherwise but the truth IL the committee
has longer the bone and sinew of this community with it,
md is safe to infer that will again be executed
~ its authority"
That the vigilance committee is losing the confidence of
lecng men, and becoming the subject of suspicion and
vii sumising, not to be wondered at The only marvel
that such despo'ic and dangerous power has been permit
ed to establish itself upon its present basis But what will
ollow this reaction of public sentiment Will the members
+ the committee themselves be safe from reprsals May
he same people who delighted when the committee
tole prisoners from the city Jail and gave an exhibition Of
ouble execution the Sabbath may this popuace
AXE its second thought and join the authorities u demanding
om the committee the evidence Of its legal right condemn
nd hang for crimes which the constitution does not
unish with death And how the committee prepared
such day Of reckoning is one thing to suspend
from beam and jerk him up and down until he is kill
d as n the above Sunday execution, amid the howngs
graifed moh, and it is another and widely ereut thing
Iness st. f~.roH.oii'y
onal rbuna which, ty the silent but uncsasng operation
great principle, has recovered its authority with the peo
'e and can now punish those who assumed its powers and
1ercised, and even exceeded, its prerogatves