New-York daily tribune., 1856-07-15
THE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE.

CeHeSpoDdeDco OF The NJ L. IriDuno-
SAN FRANCISCO Friday, June 20, 1856.
"Order reens in Warsaw! I" We are under the
benign rule of the Vigilance Committee. The
Golden age having failed us, we have fallen back
On the Iron. Learn from us, ye Gothamites how
10 puniy your city.
Two nights ago, at the midnight hour, some
fifteen or twenty men gathered about house on
Stockton street, occupied by negro. After sundry
whbperiDgs and planpngs, one steps hastily to the
door and raps. Without waiting for an answer,
he raps louder and louder, and soon bangs away
with a noise which reverberates through the entire
peichborhood voice from within is answered
by the cry" Open the door l want to come In =
accompanied with furious banging. The door
ppens-tbree or four men enter with dark Ian
tern-snd the cOlored gentleman stands before
them nearly white with terror, and but scantuy
clad. He is a washerman, and they inquire Tor
whom he washes clothing he had washed shirts
Tor the notorious Ned McGowan, for whom the
Vieilants were searching and for another man
whom they had ordered into banlshment: Sur
peace-officers then began to search the mouse;
thew ransacked all the closets and drawers, turn
ing everything upside down. FINDING notning'
they pitched into the Deighboring houses arter
IKE fashiop. with the like success. They then lit
on small house in the yard occupied as an occa-
sional lodging by the widow who owns the prem
ises hut who was nov absent 10 the country.
This they broke open and searched, leaving the
door unfsstened. After all this foray they de-
camped as quietly as they came. But the poor
people whose slumbers were thus disturbed, Will
not soon forget the midnight visitation OF the
Vigilance Committee of San Franchises; aud the
Young darkes will hereafter lie down to sleep with
the conviction that, in this Republican land they
are sure of safety and protection:
have given you specimen of the regular busi-
ness now carried or nightly in thls city. Nov and
again the arrangements are varied For Instance,
q few nights since detachment OF the Niglants
made descent on the house Of Mr. Cunning
ham, who had fallen under suspicion as an acces-
sory to the ballot box frauds which have been at
various times extensively perpetrated. Mr. Z. not
being disposed to let them in they broke the glass
at the side and opened it, aud then requested him
10 accompany them. In vain the man proposed
they should call in the day time, as he was always
about. They did Rot regard his entresties nor
those Of his wife, but proceeded to mount the
stairs. Several pistol shots were fired, it is not
known BY whom But one of the Vigilants was
alichtly wounded, and Cunningham was borne of.
That is the last of him in this part of the world.
He will soon find himself i'll chip for Australia
O. China.
Take another specimen. A man is asked by
supposed friend to enter groggery aud take
drink. He is then surrounded by party with
htNONtIs pOluNu al uie ohu P"'N'' "S'NN w
70 with them to the Vigilance Committee. Though
o courageous and desperate fellow, resistance IS
Of no USE He goes, and in few days-after his
friends have tried every way to get hold OF him,
including the habeas corpus (now fsrce)-he IS
shipped stealthily to foreign port in company
with other suspected and guilty persons This
man was lately Chief Engineer of the Fire Depart
ment His Ofenses had been committed long
before his election 10 that Office and consisted in
several assaults and attempts TO kill-a of which
were excited by the rum which the merchants of
Me Vigilance Committee imported and sold For
several years he had conducted himself with COM
parstiye decency, and was twice elected to the
head of the Fire Department, and the choice
highly lauded by the daily press He sat at the
table on public occasions BY the side OF Mayors
and dignitaries, and made speeches, and received
honors from the very men who now Danish him.
Another method is this: A letter comes 10
mspec,ed pt rson ordering him to leave by the Goth
80 and signed by "No. 80, Secretary" with the
.eal Of the Committee, an "All-seeng eye" with
an snouam dormio " as the motto, " aich indicates
Sssvn not 10 sleep nor let others sleep. He istold
- depart or he s6an suffer worse. No name ap-
.ssn. no officer: no judge; no responsibility Of
Ssr.onal character. Who the Committee are lie