The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-07-24
TIE CALIFORNIA VIGILANCE COZ

The New York Herald has private advices
from San Francisco to the erect thai the
Vigilance Committee has unsninoSsH re-
solyed TO disband o. the 2AkA Of this month.
The remedy prac,iced By the Committee
ives certainly an extreme one, but Il ap-
pears to be the opinion Of the most reflect.
ing portion Of the people in the old States,
that no other course could be adopted
whereby society in California could be pre-
served from the worst evils Of anarchy and
d~espotism. The right Of revolution, how
ever unacceptable j, may be Of 4 strict def.
milton or Of rules for it's application to par.
ucuiar cases. is acknowledged by the theory
Of republican govern ments, and Is from time
to time exercised in the worst systems Of
despo,ism.
Affairs in California have never been en-
tirely reduced to that order and regularity
which prevail ia older communities, ana an
extraordinary amounts OF crime and boldness
Of criminals have called for extraordinary
remedies. 1t il proven beyond controversy
that an organized band Of gamblers, MUIR
derers, thieves, robbers and otheT despera-
dos had acquired a paramount influence in
the State, managed things according to their
own will and pleasure, and kept the peace
able majority ofthe people in a condition Of
continual agitation and apprehension. II
was the wors, species of tyranny by which
a community could be oppressed. and so fal
were the officers OF the State government,
rom exerting themselves to suppress tn
organized iniquity, that there was too much
ground for suspecung II had their comm
vance and encouragement. Such being the
condition OF affairs, it seemed absoluteiy
necessary, unless the State was to be giver
up a passive prey to the ~disreputabie char
acters who had obtained such . dangerous
prominence. thst the organization Of the
xrong-doers should be met by . superior
organization of the trends OF law and order
The Committee of Vigilance thus resulted
as well from the wishes as from the fears
Of the large majority Of the Peaceable ant
well-inclined people of the State, for il
seems to us plain that it could not have
maintained its position for a day, unless i
was we'll ascertsined that il was supported
by such a majority. This fact was alst
shown by the almost unanimous refusal o
the volunteer companies and the miliu'
generally, to act against the Committee.
The proceedings of the Committee wer'
summary to the last degree, and the pow er
which it has usurped have been OF the mos
dictatorial character. But We believe it Ia
put its fearful enginery in motion agains
none but those persons whose undenied an
manifold crimes had made them both feare
and detested BY an outraged people. Tn
question was whether the supreme powe
should be exercised BY an organized band Q
gamblers and murderers, or BY an extern
~poraneous committee OF the large body Q
the people. Public opinion approved tn
latter alternative, and the Vigilance.C Com
mittee has depended exclusively on ths
support. When the work is done for whic
the Committee was constituted, it Wi
doubtless disbsnd itself according to tn
atoye information OF the Herald. Such a
institution 10 certainly a most dangerou
one, and not to be tolerated except unde
The most imperatvt circumstances. But
is much easier to fiad abstract argument
against the Committee, than to tell by VIVA
| other attainable means California coua
, h ave been rid of the mIscreants BY whom
was infested. The remedy was an ex,rem
one, but it is 10 be hoPed that the storm
> having blown over, the social atmosph her
will become calmer and purer, and nc
habie 10 be again SO greatly overcharge
with such pestinential and dangerous in
iuences.