The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-08

TIE vigilance COMMITTEES OF California al
the Administrators.
GOVERNOR JOHNSON 10 THE PRrsTDx,r
Executive nxPARrnnr
sAcsAaEsro CRY, Cal, June ID, 1855.
Sa-Ia view Of the existing condition Of Affairs in the
city and county Of Ssn Francisco, in this State am
constrained TO call upon the general government through
the Intervention of your Exceency for aid and assist
that you may better understand the propriey OF
readily granting such lest would beg leave to pre-
sent brief recital OF events which have recently trans
spired and rendered necessary such application.
AS early the 10th OF May last organization styling
themselves the Vigilance Committee wa, formed in
that city secret In it, character and to the taed
Its purposs unknown, except their subsequent acts
have developed themselves, although the presumption
Is that the organization had its origin in the events
connected with the shooting Of Mr.. James King by
Casey, on the lain OF the month. Apprehensous
were entertained from the incendiary appeals OF the
press and the public excitement that an attempt would
be made 70 attack the jan where Casey confined
summaly punish ment 10 h--in fact an effort was made
to do by mob, prior TO this organization, but was
sisted successfully In the meantime, the Mayor had
allied on the military forces OF the city numbering
en- companies for ASSISTANCE tue Sheriff did his utmost
obtain the aid Of capable Of resisting such antici
ated attack il found that the response in both
but limited; not than City sixy of the
mill AIRY could be depended on; companies dasbau led,
large numbers of them joined the Vigilance Committee,
torcbly placed In the possession Of that organization
and aceoutrements (ncndiDg the only two pieces of
artillery belonging &C the stae) which had been issued
to them volunteer companies by the state and
In ten those noned By the Sheriff would obey his
call II seemed as II universal panic had seized upon
the people and the fear CT this formidable organization
impeed Law abiding anc law obs CRYING citizens gepe.
rally TO shrink from the responsibility resting
on them as citizens osing obedience 10 the con
sttution and avs Of The State on the nth Of
tais month, when II was manifest that neither military
O. citizen force could be obtained to aid The Sheriff
Tending the Jail armed body, estimated at three or
four thousand peons marched 10 the Jail de anded
the delivery Of two prisoners. Casey and Cora. The
Sheriff vas powerless; The few he had about hi
would have constituted mpee imen in the fhese
superior plumbers. and resistance useless he
forced TO give up the prisoners lew days later this
same body from the windows OF thec place OF meeting,
hung the two refer red to- Furthermore they pro
ceedec to arrest several individuals search the houses OF
many o! the best eitizers. the most frivolous aoi
gfoundlesS pretexts-es s6shng ssste OF espionage
over the ccnyersaion and movements Of respectable
citizens male and female Who'll unknown 10 the laws
usages OF a republican form OF government length
Tor Of the parties arrested oy order Of this seltc
sutes tribunal proper application being made 10 one
Of the Sudges Supreme Court he issued writ OF
haLeas oyfuS TIE Sheriff preventei by the resist
ance e. this armed body Il men, from serving
this wit issued was, in company vito
srveral e,her citizens transported beyond the state 10y
different modes Of conveyancel aud to different PAGES
report says China, Australia and toe sandwich Islands
In the meantime OF the namber they had arrested
ana hist 10 their custody learning his sentence OF ba
nj hment from the country rather than submit TO com
United suicide in the cell where they hal him condnea
On me third day Of the present month issued proca
NATION IA copy Of which ! inclose in the form Of
printed sp), declaring the county Of San Francisco
state Of nsurrecon. To General Wool bad previously
in personal ineryieT let uied the condition OF affairs
OF hich matters he was fully Informed otherwise A
such interview he unhesitatingly promised me on the
representation made him, that almost wholly
destitute Of arms (and AMMUNITION had none) u
furnish on my requisilon when wanted them, suct
arms ana Ammunition as | desired Within one or two
Gays after the issuance my proclamation OF which
duly notified him, made requisi,ion on General Woo
ior certain arms and ammunition 10 be furnished MAJOR
General w. sherman command OF the State troops
San Francisco but 20 he refused aegi
that he bad authority DO in any To show
him that the necessities OF the Of such
gent character should induce q complains with my
request, ! communicated WITH HIM again "a copy of
which letter. dated June sth herewith enclose) To
this, hs reply was A. oefore-a peremp'ory refusal to
furnish any part OF such Tequisition. In the meantime
the Vigilance Committee cont iued to arm themselves
with muskets, large quantity OF which they early pro-
curedgnns OF various cabre. ranging from SIX 20 thirty
tive povnders numbering near OF about thirty pieces
erected Notifications IN the central business portion
the cty-proceeded with the trial and conviction OF
persons, and now haze ia tneir custody severa
citizens while others have been compelled 10 flee f,t
protection and safety 10 remote parts OF the state Nht
all these warike demonstrations are PROCEEDED with
members Of their raanizston the streets and 10 pubic
assemblages and through columns OF press
trolled and directed by them the most violent harangue
and inflammation. apPeas ln1hlsed IN, oota Agaias
their organs comes out boldly and dehanty against exist
ing authority, and calls upon the people TO assemble
OF the State IL set nought These unlawful proceed
fngs cannot be arrested, SIMPLY because destitute
Of and ammunition whereby TO equip force capa
ole OF coping with them which, il Is now said, Numbers
six thousand, with their Eympathisers in large
numbers outside AT most, we have not muskcts and
i&fes enough 20 six hundred men--ordnance and
ammunition we have none. would, there FORE most ur.
gently ask that you the officer wko
may be commanding the Pacific division 20 issue 70
the State authorities the requisiion d the Executive
such arms and ammunition a. may be needed Tor the
purpose OF suppressing the existing Instruction at
least the number and quantity specified In the requisi
ton made General Wool appears In the p0s -rpt
the enclosed copy Of the COMMUNICATION 70 hin Of June
Z. | would also urge the importance Of transmitting
such orders 10 the officer Ing this department
render such sistance IN arms and ammunition, any
future period, may be required by the Executive for
the purpose Of enforcing obedience stuuon
laws. feared the example afforded by the present
organization may extend is Influences TO other loo les
In all probability TO the present one after ds
banding their forces.
In conclusion would add without the aid which 4
sought NJ the hands OF the general government the
state authorities can no longer Afford protection is
have been guilt Of; and with IMMUNITY they may and
doubtless will proceed with their OF aggression and
dssobedencc towards tho government will ultimate "
result IN rs entire destruction.
would beg leave 10 refer you TO the Hon r. Augustus
Thompson recently United states Lana Com tor
this state, aud Col. F0rmau the Postma ter OF
THIS city, who are depued by lay this connuniea.
minute relation o. these affairs than conveniently be
embodied IN written communication.
ioLr earliest possible attention this matter is ex
ueney desrable Very pectiuy your ODE tieat ser
want, ,. NEfLY JOHNSON, Gov. o. California
TO NJ kxceuency fh,NKiis irEtk President OF the Un
tel states, Washington, n c.
MIR. MARCY TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON.
pffAKrMESr SIATE,
WASHINGTON july 10 lsj5 4
lis ExceIlency J. NENY j0HS~oy Governor of California
slR-The President has received your communication
OF the 10Th Of June representing that illegal
ton the city Of san Francisco had ovepowered by
force public authority there and requesting the aid Of the