The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-10-02

oiosing Adaress Or the San Francisco vi.
razss gtlant Cemniefee.
The Executive Committee Of the San Francisco
Vigilance Committee In cofng their lAbors, have r.
sued aa address to their fellow members After re-
hsarsins the causes WITCH brought the organiza-
ton into existence. they end ~ follows:
Tns aggregation and dfscipline Of large military
rCIce lot Was measure Of prudence and necessity
!, .ne peace and safety Of the community REQUIRED
uNnout IL overwhelming power . bloody
.ssue a.N .ouid have been forced upon you. By It's
Nlcng1n and perfection the exertions of your
oupponents to organize and bring into the field
nnehne force. Of the worst outcasts Of society 10
oestroy you. have been rendered impoteut and
s ssool.lve, and thus the city has been spared the
tion, and not for aggression. Had no armed on
pos.ion been arrayed against you, your work of
us"ce would have been accomplished W ithout
.S vSosne arms Determined yourselves to avoid
.ne sneeding Of blood, you made no attack upon
your ioes until they took the field against Won.
Other rogues remain unpunished and some hioh
IN position They can hope for no immunity in the
so)ournment of the Committee The eve Of VIII.
..nce u upon them The sword of justics is vet
suspenoed over them; other modes OF punishment
Hre IA reserve for them. The vigilance of the
wnoie community in rsspsct to crime and the abuse
OF once mas been awakened, its moral sense and
intellect are quickened Iniquity, hitherto disQuis
90 VILE fascinating mask, stands exposed in hide
l. cu uAt0 OeuoUb0eQ the fortress
OF CRIME and corruption. and have scattered its
garrison to the four winds
The archives of the Committee contain n largo
amount OF testimony which its session has aeon
muiated' and which can be hereafter used in the
punishment and prevention of crime and political
abuses, by the employment of those ordinary rem
edies which hitherto have proved imperative.
fou WIZ now adjourn. You will mingle once
more with citizens without the distinctive cbarae
ter of Vigilants Let us. then, fraternise with
those good citizens who have honestly differed
from u.s. Let us unite vigorously and generously
Ia those measures of public good upon which all
tne patriotic and honest agree. 1t ia the duty of
good citizens to quiet popular excitement. Al the
same time manly vindication of your past course
is incumbent upon you when occasion arises You
were not assembled to subvert laws but to main
tam tue peoples rights. Justice demanded of her
deVoted adherents that vindication which the
usurpers OF her throne had denied her. You have
dispersed the pestilent vapors which eclipsed her
ana once more her benignant vision smiles upon
tne people. The great heart of the people, long
oespairng and inert has been aroused to gene.
rous and healthy action.
The people have found that they are not power.
less under the rule of crime. Mighty has been
the demonstration of the mind and voice of an
awakened public in great, moral conflict Let
TINS moral power vast and terrible when fully
aroused, complete the work which your hands
have begun Aid it with your hearts and handsl
Ald 1t by your example, your voice, your votes!
Aid 1t in the jury box-at the polls-by your dai-
ly life and conversation-by the public press-by
the pen, which is mightier than the sword. Let
not the good work flag. Remember that Eternal
vigilance is the price of liberty" Be vigilant in
bringing criminals to justice. See to it that the
courts and the officers Of the law do their duty -
Ala them In the execution of that duty and in the
unswerving integrity of manly and honest hearts,
looking to that Providence who has guided yos
in doubt and danger, who has brought your labors
to successful result smay you ever adhere to
the true principle of vigilance, sustaining the
laws when rightly administered. and government
when faithful to the people, and the supremacy of
the people as the .ssurce of government and law.