The Placer herald., 1856-07-05

Yankee Jim Correspondence.
JANKEE jim, JUNE 80, 1856

Mr.. Editor:-We have long observed the
conciIiatory but firm course the Placer HerGia
has pursued in relation to our existing diff
culties in San Francsco-our existing diff
cuIties for the people everywhere are deeply
interested in the veal or the woe that NAV
result therefrom.
1t is needless to say that nine-tenths OF
the people throughout the land are in favor
of, and determined if needs be, to support
the Vigilance Committee at the risk Of all
dear to them in life. The Vigilance Com
mittee must triumph--for they are the peo-
pie and their cause is a just one.
The public press have solemn duty to
perform at this iuncture of time--for after
all, to a great extent, they are the common
directors Of the great public mind. Hip.
hip. hurrah. for the Vigilance Committee
should be watchtuIy but tjudiciously avoided,
for we know how easily the great mass of
the people are excited to deeds of overt acts;
and we know, too, that there is class of
our fellow citizens, passing to and fro in our
midst, as respectable men, ever on the alert
to join in this song of excitement for the
purpose of accomplishing their own aggran-
disement. FIRMLY gentemanly, and up
above board from the commencement have
you gone in for the purifying Of this land Of
the many villains who have been tattening
upon the vitals of its best and dearest in
terest.
In this place our people are ever on the
alert for the latest news from San Francisco,
and anything threaning to the Vigilance
Committee the public mind becomes highly
interested therein. In the triumph or in the
defeat Of this body of our much beloved
tellow-citizens the popular heart has beat but
one pulsation. Out of population Of some
five hundred we have but two in our midst
preaching law and order-they are old budS
well known by their daily language and
past deeds of noble notoriety, we have our
eye on them.
Judge Shattuck's discourse to the people
of this State cannot be endorsed in this com
munity. His motives in throwing oil Of
peace upon the troubled waters Of this com
monweaIth may be accepted for what it is
worth; but on no account can his ideas of
war existing between the government and lis
people be received in extenuaton of Terry's
wautonly eliminating act--a Judge preach
ing law and order-but practising death in
shameful violation of that law which he has
sworn to justly and impartially administer
Nonsense. Look at the proclamation of our
Goyeinor-it proclaims the county Of San
Francisco in a state of insurrection; and
necessarily those aiding and abettng them
are subject to the same punishment accord
ing to the common law applicable to rebels
This is the name the present government,
under its Interpretation of the law, will give
the Vigilance Committee and its supporters
it can give no other, nor can it acknowledge
the right, in the people to take up arms
against its administration.
Judge Terry must be treated as any other
man-such is the voice Of the people-and
so sure as the Vigilance Committee fail in the
discharge Of this noble but imperative duty,
so sure and certain the people Of this section
Of California will be down, down on them
Indeed, his assuption of dictatorial interfer-
ence calls for Just and determined eXem-
plary punishment. He was no more the
Judge when he left the Judicial seat Of his
calling-but the abettor Of gamblers, thieves
and ballot-boX corluptors,
"Birds of feather
Will flock together"
An old saying, but true to the letter, and
fully exemplifed in the conduct of this
righteous iudg dge-sding with desperadoes and
taking up arms ncalled for, to put down
men who are but seeking their tramped
rights Oh! Judge Terry, hadst thou lived
in the days of Jetfries-what fit companion
woudst thou have been for that monster.
If Hopkins die, Terry must also die
Blood for blood is the past word here, until
the entire State is purged Of the scoundreIs
who have long usurped our dearest rights
Let the scales Of justice, Notwithstanding the
much and foul wrong done US as a people,
be equally balanced no matter who the
offender may be-
We repose our entire confidence iii the
cool, calm and Just actions of the Vigilance
Committee and may they continue the course
they are now pursuing until the object for
which they organized shall have been fully
accomplished-acting wisely, coolly and de
terminedly always on mercy's side when
susceptible.
The present State of affairs, doubtless is
much to be deplored- is public calamity.
but the existence Of the Vigilance Committee
is, as Publius says, dire necesstv-caIled
to act by the voice of the poopIe-and to ex-
ercise the only public remedy left
FRANCISCO.
LEAP IEAR-The last Downieville CH-
zen tells us a lhumper-no less than that the
ladies at Eureka hal a Leap Year ball the
other night to which they invited the young
gentlemen. They ordered the supper, paid
the bills and saw their bushing partners
| home in the morninr. II is said they ran all