Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-07-11
From the Richmond Enquirer.
T.vnch-Lavv In California.
Ell e al Eaa1s,

To the Editors Of the Enquirer:
SAN FRANcIsco Cal June 3, 1856.
Gentlemen Ry the last mail you observed that
James King of William, Editor of the Evening Bull
Ietin, of this CITY, had been shot by James T Casey.
Editor of the Sunday Times and Supervisor OF this
city, in consequence of an attack made upon the
character of Casey by King the Editor of the Bulle
tin In few minutes after The occurrence, our city
was in the most intense excitement and it was with
much difficulty that the officers of The law could pro-
rect the prisoner from the hands of Infatuated mob
Nevertheless be safely confined in the prison, and
protected by the military Of the city, during the first
twenty -four hours after the commission of the act
During this time, the mob met and organized them
selves into body styled the Vigilance Committee.
procured muskets, cannon and Other munitions OF
war, formed themselves into companies, elected cap
tains, and regularly drilled and parade through
The streets Of the 'ity, before making any demon
stra,ion of attack upon the Jail. During This time
our imbeciIe Governor, Nicely Johnson. came down
from Sacramento, and, instead of maintaining the
dignity of our laws and constitution, tramp!ed them
under foot, dsreg arded his oath and put this So
styled Vigilance Committee in possession of the Jail
and all the prisoners confined therein. Oh could
we have had such Governor as A Wise, how
dfeIent the result would have been. These men
then proceeded 10 take the prisoners from the jail
this was on the 2Oh. On the 22d, James P. Casey,
who shot James King of William and Charles Cora,
who shot Cen Richardson, United States Marshall,
who had one trial but the Jury could not agree upon
which time they have arrested some eight or ten
other individuals, of whom they brought out of
their star chamber few days ago dead, who they
say committed suicide; but the members Of the com.
mee refused to answer any questions relative 10 his
death before The corones jury. There various
rumors in the city relative his death |, for one,
am wiling to take their version of the matter, it
renders them the less culpable n the eyes of all
law abidng citizens This band of rebels have star
chamber, consisting of % members, who styled
hp1h
this Executive Committee know anything OF the
secrets of this helIish star chamber, supported by
5000 glittering baycnets in this free city, but
now worse than monarchy, we know not our
masters what laws we are to obey. In the first
Article of The Constitution, it is declared that all men
have certain inalienable rights, among which
those of EMO, ing and defending life and liberty and
acquiring, possessing and protecting property, which
is Of inestimable value to all the right to
the writ of habeas corpus and OF the trial by jury. and
also makes it the imperative duty of the Governor to
see that the laws are faithfully executed By thus
calling upon heaven and earth to hold to this decla-
ton OF what he acknowledged to be his official duty,
Johnson became the chief magistrate of State,
and its sworn standard-bearer, under e|ery circum-
stance which might arise going tc threaten any
hict with that Constitution or those laws How has
he performed this promise! Called down from the
capital to perform the highest functions of his Office
how has he exercised them? He finds armed.
anzed body bound by secret oahs TO subvert and
lrample in The dust every requirement Of the cOns-
tuition and laws, and setting themselves up above
both He ends that, under the rule Of the cannon
and bayonet, the constitutional tribunals of justice,
and all judicial officers, perfectly powerless, and
their process and decisions scOrned and deded. Does
he, realizing his high position and remembering his
Obligations, nobly denounce, in plain, appropriate
and unmistakabe language. the principles and pro-
ceedings of this body striking at the foundations
of private rights and the public welfare and subver
sive of the constitution and laws OF the State Does
he, in clarion tones call upon the good and true (and
hank God, even here there many who would
have promptly and gladly responded to such calI)
to rally around hin Tor the preservation of the con-
stituton of their county, Alas! he has forgotten
hat he is the chosen standard bearer of Stale
he sworn champ ion OF her constitution and laws
the uphoIder of every acknowledged principle of law
Ind right
How long this state of affairs will continue, God
and this immaculate Executive Committee only
knows The domicils IF our citizens are invaded
and searched by this immaculate body, and when
their authority is demanded for doing, they answer
that We. the people, arc the uhorty. We ale free
men, in San Francisco, longer, as shown by
the public meeting we held yesterday in order to OBJ
lain the expressions of our law abiding citizens on this
subject. Having made all the arrangements for
regular organized meeting for the purpose of discus
sing the most sacred principles of our constitution in
dignihed and dspassionate manner every possible
means resored to. to disturb and to prevent
my heart bled for the scene there witnessed. Age
and talent insulted in the effort to illustrate the
sublime principles of the constitution of country
The turbulence and clamors of conspraors against
the laws and American rights, almost drowned the
voice of reason and liberty in their vindcation Has
it come to this, that refuse to permit the public
discussion of the principles involved in the present
disordered state of the body potic9 Is there not
reason tor such discussion, with a standing army
of three thousand Conspirators against the laws and
constitution of our country? Is the poor privilege to
be denied us of examining the nature of their novel
and extraordinary pretensiOns Would it not have
been reasonable, would it not have been polite even
tor the most reck less and abandoned to every prnc
pie OF reason and law, to have granted peace and
quiet to such discussions Was not the organized
arrangement 10 disturb and destroy the designs of
that meeting of value to lis objects than the
lawless conspirators dreamed Yes. the silent
eloquence of those who for time overpowered
by the clamor and yels of those lately vocferous
for the liberty of speech, far persuasive on
the side they had espoused than could have been the
most powerful efforts of their genius, in being allow
ed the undisturbed liberty of expressing their sent
ments. Let not future these advocates for social
and political reform dare to approach with reason
Let them not attempt to convince by speech
They have proved that they despise both. Let the
musket and the sword be their substitutes for the
voice of reason and speech. They have shown which
they prefer. But | say, for one, let the lovers OF
law and order only upon compulsion concede them
their choice. Let them still endeavor to reason 10
convince, and persuade, and only when the sacred
temple of the Constitution is absolutely polluted by
the foot of dissertation, let then true worshippers
DC iouno there united to drive out the sacreliglous
invaders. HANOVER C. H.
JUNE 4h.-Since writing the above, Gov. Johnson
has issued his proclamation after permitting us 10
live under military government nearly three weeks,
declaring the city in state OF Instruction.
IT,, Al TIL.