The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-09-27
The California Vigilance Com.,ttto.

Committee.
The Bucaneer press f the country, whose
editors can see nothing very wrong in the
numbering and scalping of Free State men
by the Border Ruffians in Kansas, have been
terribly Mortified at the just doings of the
Vigilance Committee in California. 1t is but
a day or two since the Pioneer was out in
strong condemnation of the acts of the Com
mittee. No doubt our neighbors have lost
some of their strongest political leaders in
the Coded State by the hanging of Hether-
ington and others, but justice should follow
as punishment for crime, let who may suf-
fer.
We copy from the Alta Californian the
following description of the great procession
which took place the day the Committee
dissolved:
"The procession was led by three compa-
MES of artillery, with Is pieces of cannon
Then followed the Executive Committee of
% members; the mounted dragons, num-
bering 26O men the medical staff of As
men, mounted; and the Executive Commit
tee of 1851. Then came 33 companies of
infantry, including the French legion of 2
companies, which latter comprise 275 men.
Last came the Vigiant Police, and mounted
citizens. Each regiment bore the national
standard; and in the muZzle of almost every
musket and rife was bunch of flowers,
presented to the soldiers as they filed past
by the ladies. Each regiment was preceded
by fine band of music. The whole num-
Der of men who answered to the roll-call
was 5, 13. Many were excused from duty
on account of busness-but the number un-
der arms exceeded 5000, and the line was
over mile in length, II IN platoons. About
l 200 of the Committee did not answer to.
the roll-call, being absent from the city or
engaged in business that did not admit of
pOstpOnement.
Notwithstanding the rapid speed at which
the body moved, and the infantry being
from 10 to 16 abreast, with just marching
distance between the platoons, it required
50 minutes to pass given point.
Thus has ended very remarkable phase,
not only in the history of California, but in
the history of the United States. Those
who predicted a reign of terror, or suspected
the undertaking of spirit of disunion and
accession, have been, we are happy to say,
greatly mistaken. 1t is to be observed that
San Francisco had peculiar object. 1t was
not to create, but to put down disorder; not
to overthrow, but to secure the supremacy
of the laws; not to do any violence to the
State; but to preserve tranquility. Their
arrangements, though effective, were merely
precautionary; and moderate counsels-won-
lerful as it may appear-marked their pro-
ceedngs during their three months admin
istration. If absolute necessity, if the most
appalling danger, if perfect insecurity of life
and property be any excuse for the assump-
ton of extraordinary powers, the friends of
the Committee clam that they are fully ex-
cused. The readiness with which they have
laid down, certainly vindicates the honesty
and integrity of their motives. At all events
an important problem has been satisfa torily
solved, which effected the American charac-
acter and threatened the stability of our in
situations.
1t was supposed by many that the dsso-
luton of the Committee would not have
taken place until after the election, at which
it was expected their influence would be
paramount and immunity secured but they
did not wait for that day; they have sub
mitted themselves to the calm judgment of
the people, and California is again tranquil"