Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-09-03

| vi 'uVso "noIn Iuey oy 1orce have driven from
the polls at the mouth of the pistol, shoulder
or knife; and who have controlled our sIec.
tions by the use of false bottomed ballot boxes
and thus foiled the known and express will of
| the people. L will, in passing, say that the
strongest opponents Of the Committee are
Southern Democrats; but few of any othsr
party or section, except Irish Catholics, keep
aloof, and some of those were kept out with
| the idea that the original movements was for
| political effect, and of Know Nothing
stripe; but this is not true in any respect In
fact, know of leading party men who were
| inclined to talk loud, with leaning towards
politics. In the Committee rooms, who were
| politely notified to withdraw as members, and
this for no other reason, than to prevent the
introduction Of politics into lthe Committees 8
garrison.
Now, to come back to the alI-absorbing and
engrossing theme and topic of the day-the
Terry trial. 1 beg, first, to remark, that if
not mistaken, it is necessary for the Execu-
tive Committee, acting as a jury, to give
majority vote to decide case ; that done,
their verdict, and the entire testimony taken
on the trial. go TO board Of delegates fer
concurrence These latter are composed Of
the captains of each division, and two mon
| CHOSEN from their respective companies; so
that there are with the field officers ;also del
egatcSl some liz delegates. A two-thirds vote
(or MAJORITY Is necessary to carry a verdict
| OF guilty or acquittal. 1t is generally under
stood that In the Terry case there was tie
In The executive body; or, if not SO, a bare
majority In favor Of acquittal; while, On the
o'her hand, the delegates are almost to a man
In favor of verdict of guilty. If the two
| combined bodies cannot harmonic, of course
a m0n-sntt will be the result, which will
probably be the last of the case I think now
that tie chances are decidedly in favor Of
Ierrys acquittal by the Committee. He may
be sentenced to banishment from the State
put the difficulties In the way are so great
IN this case, that it would be almost an i'm
possibility to carry into execution any sen.
tence that might be pronounced against the
Judge OF the supreme court of California, with
several years Of his unexl ired term vet to
serve out. But any man guilty of even one
halt OF the acts charged and proven against
u ,. Terry, should resign his high Office and
let the people of the State of California write
guilty or not guilty upon his brow. The blow
inflicted by Terry upon Hopkins, with his
knife, passed directly through the ueLuet coat
collar and neck handkerchief, and came with
In about one inch Of passing entirely through
the neck of his victim and yet Hopkins Liver,
and Is riding about the streets. L trust an
other fortnight will decise the Terry case
His wife comes to see him daily 1t is charged
upon the Masonic fraternity, that they have
been to work and Influenced tho vote Of the
Executive Committee in this case. Mrs Terry
has, at all events, taken some kind Of de-
gree, In order to bring lever to bear some
how on the case
As for Gen Volney E. Howard and his
army, commanded by j. Nicely Johnson, Gov
erncr Of the State, L have 10 add that their
numbers are but few, and that there is 10
danger OF collision with the people, unless
the Committee should sentence Judge Terry
to be banished from the State aud as they
the law and order party have two steamers
In constant readiness for a rescue, we would,
IN that event, and that only, have a collision.
But that event will not occur, in my opinion.
Terry will walk out free. L hope he will at
cast Facate his seat On the bench.
Ihus tar had written, and read to friend
IN the secrets, when he penncd and added the
following remarks regarding the Committee
and the Terry case, which L fully indorSe:
Judge ID. 5 Terry has been tried by the
Foople of the State, and found guilty. He has
the same results He has been fully and
fairly tried by the Board of Delegates, and
they find him guilty, not only Of the assault
upon Hopkins, but upon sundry other persons
during his California life. Enough has beer
proven against him to condemn him forever in
the eyes Of the people Of this State; and We
predict that whom he leaves the prison heusc
of the Committee of Vigilance, he will never
dare to aspire to his former position of Judge
of the Supreme Court of Californis. The tet-
timony will soon be published to the world
Ten thousand rumors are afoat as to the
finale of this ease, and predictions are abuu-
dant as to the disposal of Terry, and its effect
upon the people and the Committee. Some
predict an immediate dissolution, and a gen.
eral disbanding of the association. Others
that the people will suddenly rise up, in con-
junction with the dissenting (or minority
Committee men, and will imprison and prose-
cute, and harrass and torture, the active men,
bers of the Committee of Vigilance. But al
low your humble informant 20 suggest the fal-
lacy Of all such croakings
First, it is not possible, in the eyes of the
General Committee, for the Executive body to
err; and now as we listen to the cry of the
enraged General Committee for Justice to be
dealt out to Terry speedily, and some say his
blood, others say his banishment from the
State, and all appear to be unanimous in op-
| posing his liberty, yet the Executive Commit
| tee, as a body, have only to speak, all is
quiet-all Is harmonious. Some may doubt
| the power of the Committee to do as they
please with Terry. For six long weeks they
have held him captive, and his friends have
! canvassed the State, have made infammatory
| speeches, have resorted to falsehOOd, and all
| other measures, to arouse the people and rally
| them to the relief of Judge Terry; to rescue
him from the so-called 'infuriated mob But
| Fort Vigilance still holds the Judge, as
| surely and as securely as on the day of his
assault and arrest. Some doubt the ability of
| this Committee to punish Terry, but rest as
sured, that simply because they have and
! hold that power, they will not abuse it, in this
case, or in any other.'
Thus writes my friend. Now in conclusion
let me add that this Vigilance Committee is
| composed of the poor as we'll as the rich. l
have seen two men at one time standing sem
. tinel with muskets on their shoulders on the
sand bags in front of Fort Vigilance, that
wero worth each their hundred thousand dol
lars in cash while at the same time, by their
side stood men who had left their work shops,
their daily toll, and lost their usual daily
gains, for the purpose of doing what We all be-
| lieve is q duty we owe to our mothers, wives,
children and property.
August, 5th,-P. N.
1t is understood that the Committee of Wig
| llance ship three prisoners to-day, banished
for crimes and misdeeds that the laws have
failed to reach-Ritchie, Toy and Bulger.
In reference to my previous letter of this