The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-06
The San Frane,seo Vigilance COMMITTEES.


Vigilance Committee we subjon account of their acts
IN 1851 II is extracted from the "Annels Of san Francis
CO." p Sos to $751; The the Committee here
given and, no doubt, the same persons acting
with the Committee
There district of San Francisco that noted rs
being the rendezvous Of tue rascals have
been describing; ana from which perhaps at this time
emanated AS much vllany at any perot the 'Soren
Dals' or the "Five Points" produced TIL quarter Ivy
around Clark Point in Broadway Pacific street. aud tho
immediate vicinity. II the notorious yaney town
Of San Francisco Low drinking and dancing houses
lodging and gambling houses of the same mean class tue
constant scenes Of lewdncs. drunKenness arr strife,
y occupants OF these vile abodcs had every one moro
or less been addicted to crime and many OF them were
at all times ready for the most tring consideration ~
kill man fire a town. During the early hours Of
night when the Alsatia in revel was dangerous In
the highest degree for single person TO venture within
It's bounds Even the police hardly dared TO there
ana II they attempted to apprchend some known indivdu
ais, it was always in numerous, strongly armed com
pany. Seldom however, were arrests made. The law
less inhabitants Of the place united to save their ucess
brothers and generally managed to drive the assants
away When the allerent fires took place In San Fran
CISCO bands Of plundercrs issued from this great haunt
dissipation TO help themselves TO whatever money
valuabes lay their way which they could possibly
secure. With these they rereated to their dens and de
fled detection or apprehension Many OF these fires
believed TO have been raised by ncendiares solely for
the opportunity which they afforded for plnderng Per
repeatedly in the act OF kndlng loose in
lammable materials in t-houses and secret places
while the subsequent confessions Of convicted criminals
left doubt Of the fact that not only had frequent
tcmpts been made to fire the CITY, but that some OF these
had unfortunately been successful Fire, however, was
only Of attaining thu r ends The most daring
burgarcs committed and houses and persons red
Of their yauablcs. Where resistance was made, the
bowie knife the revolver settled matters, and left the
robbcr unmolcsted. Midnight assaults ending murder
common. And not only these deeds perpe
ratcd under the shade OF aigh but in in
the highways and byways Of the country the
of the town. in crowded bars gambling saloons and lodg
ing houses. crimes Of an equally garng character were
carried during all hours and wherever they happened
be- loaded firearms about their persons; but these
pons avaed nothing against tho sudden stroke Of the
suDg shot, the plunge and rip Of the knife the
cret aiming Of the pistol No decent man in safety
to walk the streets after dark while all hours both
night and day, his property was jsopardized by
incendiarism and burglary.
All this while the law. whose supposed majestyis
awful in other countries was here only matter for rdi
cue. The police few in number, and poorly well
rregulary paid Some ofthem in league the
criminals themselves and assisted these at all times
cude justice Subsequent confessions Of criminals on the
Of execution implicated a considerable number OF
people in various high low departments OF the Execu
tive Bail was readily accepted in the most serious cases
where the security rendered was absolutely worthless
and where whenever necessary both principal and
toner quietly disappeared The prisons likewise were
ANAL and insecure; and though filled to Overlooking
could no longer contain the crowds OF apprchended
offenders When these ultimately brought TO trial
seldom could conviction be obtained. From technical
the part Of the prosecutors laws i'll understood
and worse applied false swearing Of the witnesses for the
prisoners absence often OF the chief evidence for the pro-
secuon dishonesty OF jurors, incapacty weakness
venaly Of the judge, and from many other causes, the
Not criminal had yet been executed Yet II
orous that at this period at least hundred murders
while nnumerable were the instances Of arson and Of
theft robbery burglary and assault with intent to kill
was evident that the offenders dehed and laughed at all
the puny efforts Of the authorities TO control them The
tedious process Of legal tribunals had tcrrors for them
A. yet thing had been pleasant and safe they
why it should not always be San Fran
had been just destroyed fifth me- by contagra
ton. The cities Of Stockton and Nevada had likewise
shared the same fate That part OF was the doing Of
dtartp btad nd 0npt lad hut
that this terrible state OF things would continue and grow
worse un il new and very different Executive from the
those pests that worried and preyed upon the vals
society. 1t at this fearful lime that the Vigilance
nary duty TO perform. They forcsaw not merely much
tme labor, expense and actual danger occasoncd to
thcmseives-hesc were ties-out Also grievous respon
sbty and perhaps much misconcepnon and undeservcd
personal obloquy thrown upon their mo ives and uc
They were prepared for ALL for what will not man suffer
10 life, limb and property They knew they might
possibly open a gate to INSTRUMENTATION and general
anarchy thereby pcrillng all future law peace and hap
piness but they did not think that probable Gaze and
any the risk must be The chances were all
calculated beforehand and the result showed only clear
winning game.
superior 10 all civil law, jusies every means for self
prcservstitn. An individual n community attacked
Ss se r e. resisted ed s ana wncrc Una. attack cannot
der proper Where the constituted tribunals Of acouS,
fail TO accomplish the ends for which they were created
society becomes resolved into It's first elements, and
method must be adopted TO preserve it, very
existence. Opinions diier to the particular In
slant Of time when formal law and legal courts become
imperative, and sanction community In resortnk 10
and extraordinary measures for It's own safety but
In regard to the general principle, ali history and what
Is better common and moral feeling abundantly
establish IT, The people OF San Francs:o-and they OF
all the world could alone know their troubcs-Lc-
heyed tina, the unhappy point Of time had been reached
and they cordlngly seized the occasion 10 make some
terrible experiments by vieh to check the growth OF
those crimes that rapidly surrounding them.
In the OF STUART alias Blrdue in February 1851
the want Of organization and previous ARRANGEMENTS on
the part OF the people had been severely felt As the
popular demonstration Of that period hid failed 10 strike
criminals with terror or lessen crir,e, number OF the
leading citizens organized themselves into the Vigilance
Committee. This was IN June, ls5l The Constitution Of
the ASSOCIATION was a. ioows:-
Whereas II has become apparent TO The citizens Of San
Francisco that there Is security Tor e aud property either
The law a. now administered Thcrcioe tho crens
names are herenn,c attached DO unite hemseye INTO an ss.o
ccy and he preservation OF the lives and property OF the GU
ahs 10 10 pese "s.y lawful act for tho main
prap ~ sra 6 we are sseTna a no h.
bgrgar neends Of a.ss.n shall eesEe H.
eareess.es o. eerrgon q ,he police or in q those
se prsen e san1r nee And TO secure the Objects
l. Thai The name and -tye & he association shall be The
properly Of the cxens and residents Of the city OF San Fran
: That there shall be room selected FOR nc meeting and
deh, ration Of The committee Of which there shall be
u attendance, all hours e DAY ami night
eeye he report q .ns member q ne a. cation g = any
cone 70 the properly citizen Of san Francisco
md L IN the iuleneit Of the member m1mbera Of the
tnmee present be such an act usihes the Interference
he committee either ~ aiding IN the execution 81 the laws
he prompt aud summary punshm NJ n the offender. the
shh he assembled for the purpose % taking
IN action majority Of the committee When assembled
shall dee rnlnr urUn.
b Tint s.ai be Tie duty Of any member members II
The cordce On duty at he committee ROOM whenever
assem- LACE ~ The lmmec deemed necessary 10
a call 10 iv strokes upon bcll which
hall be repeated with of minute between each
alarm The alarm 70 bt struck uHl 0FdeF e be stopped.
That when The committee h. ve assembled action the
deosn q majority present shall be binding unon e whole
committee ami that those m'rnbors 81 e c?nmtise whose
hereunio attached do edge their honor aud here
~ hnf themselves 90 defend each other
ing The determined action of this committee the hazard
ofthe,r lives and their fortunes.
5 That there thal BE- chscn monly President Secretary
and Treasurer and shall he thG duty oac Secretary 10 de-
toll thc mthcrs required 70 be in daily attendance o. the
committee Serge arms shall be appointed.
whose dus shall be 10 notify such members Of their details
The Scrgea sa reside and be In
slant attendance at the committee There shat be
standing committee q finance and quac alton consisting u
I've q w. and shall BE- admitted member OF this
alton unless H. r. respectable citizen aud approved of
~ the committee on qualification before admission,
An coca ion harrercd 10 tcs the character and
CNf I'm tho