The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-06-24
IncendrarIsm I'm California.

The late cOnffagratl0ns In San FRANCISCO and
other cities of California have doubtless given the
most ample assurance to the people of that State
that either the most stringent laws and regulations
to detect and punish incendiarism must be enforced
or the Yellow Lands must be abandoned. The
monster Incendarism is not be crushed except by
the most vigorous and united efforts of all good
citizens. If the Californans fail to make these ef
forts, relax in enforcing the penalties which
they aim to infict, they may have much where-
with to give themselves censure, should they ever
have to contemplate the ruins of another confla-
grafton.
The subjoined article is of exceeding interest,
inasmuch as it points very plainly to the peculiar
accessibility of California to the visits of incendia-
ries, and all villains of deep dye:
Lncendidrism and ITS Agents-7he Remsdy.-It
appears now beyond doubt that the recent cOnf1a-
grafton, by which thousands have been impover.
ished and numbers of lives have been lost in this
city, was the work Of an ncendiary. 1t is stated
on good authority, likewise, that the thieves and
vagabonds throughout the State have sworn to be
avenged on the people of the cities for the summa-
ry treatment they and their fellows have, from time
to time, lately experienced at their hands. Theirs
is good reason to place confidence in this statement
For the last four months, the people of this State,
stung by the supneness of the courts into an ati-
tude quite unusual in American society, have taken
the law into their own hands, and put down the
bold and daring criminals who had exhau ted their
patience by repeated murders and outrages. In
many cases thieves and murderers have been sum-
marily tried by peoples court, and when con-
victed have been executed. Others for lesser of
fences have been whipped and otherwise degraded,
and hence their bitter anmosity towards society in
general in California. The attempt 10 burn this
city was made at a time when they knew from the
prevailing wind it must be successful. 1t did sue
succeed-dsubtless even beyond the expectation of
the projectors. Two nights after, Stockton was
fired and the whole business portion of the city
consumed. On the night previous, we believe, a
house in Sacramento was found on fire, in all pro.
liability the work of one of the same atrocious
gang. 1t is but few weeks since Nevada one of
the most hourishiDg of the mining towns, was re-
duced to heap of ashes, and there is to be-
lieve the same agency was at work in producing
this disaster. Unfortunately the peculiar structure
@0H5 neeuaas e p the psps'a0n
The fact cannot be disguised that the most noto-
rous Of the burglars, thieves and cut-hroats, who
now iniest this country, from the penal set
Elements OF Van Dieman's Land-and without the
remotest intention of leading to the persecution of
any class in the community, we must urge that it
it is time now to put stop for evermore to the i'm
portation Of convicts from those settlements into
California. Should Providence in its mercy accord
the blessing of a change in our judiciary, the
law will take care of those who have already ar
rived; but it will be the fault of the citizens if they
permit single convict hereafter to land on these
shores-always excepting those whose love oi
liberty made them obnoxious to vile despotism
at home, and entailed upon them expatriation and
a living grave in the colonies. This must be the
work of the people themselves. We are too far
from the Government of the nited States to avail
ourselves of its immediate interpostion against
these evils; and to prevent the absolute demorali-
zation OF our society," must ourselves apply the
remedy. There can be no time more suitable than
the present to make commencement.
1t is said that ship has arrived from some port
in Van Dieman's Land, within the last week with
some two hundred passengers-several Of them
conviets BY the following act, passed at the first
| session Of the Legislature, and approved April II
1885, i. will be seen that the remedy is provided
| and we trust an effort at least may be made te
have it put in force forthwith, against the captain
of this convict ship:
An Act to prevent the importation of Convcts int
this State, passed April IL, 1850.
Section l. No captain or master of any vessel
| or other person or persons, shall knowingly OIL
willingly import, bring, or send, or cause procure
to be imported, brought sent, be aiding or as
sisting therein, into this State, by land water
any telon, convict or person under sentence o.
death or transportation, or any other legal disability
incurred by criminal prosecution except for trea
son, or who shall be delivered sent to him from
| any prison or place Of confinement in any place
| without this State.
Section 2 Every person who shall offend agains
any Of the provisions of the preceding section sha
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on con
victon thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment
in the county Jail, for term not less than thre,
months, and shall forfeit and pay, moreover, the
sum Of one thousand dollars for each of suc
convicts so imported, brought sent into thi
State; one-half Of which penalty shall go to him o
her who shall sue prosecute for the same, ant
the other half to the county in which such prose
cution shall be had
Should this law be Intellectual, then let the mex
| convict vessel which arrives be watered and pro
visioned by citizens, and sent back to the pac
from whence she came. This is case whic
admits no delay, and which demands the physica
interposition of the people, if the law afford
| medv.