Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-25
The California Troubles.

A perusal of our last files of California papers
shows Us that the San Francisco Vigilance Cons
mittee is much perplexed to how it shall get out
OF its trouble II is clear that either it some of
its friends contemplated the transfer OF power to the
legitimate authorities; but the moment that nego
tiations were entered into with Governor JOHNSON
the members Of the committee began to perceive
the dangerous consequences likely to ensue to
themselves
The Governor, unofficialy, appointed two COM
misSOners to carry on the negotiations. The com
mittee wanted to stipuate that no proceedings
should be had against themselves and also that
Judge TERRY, of the Supreme Court, arrested by
them a common felon ,or using violence in resist
ing one of their outrageous undertakings, should
FIRST resign his judgeship. 1t will readily be seen
WAY this matter insisted upon; for. though the
Government might agree to an amnesty, yet, il
Judge Terry resumed his seat on the bench, he
would at once commence the issue OF writs against
the committee, and prosecute its members 70 the
full extent Of the law. JUICE Terry promptly and
properly refused to resign his post, and, as the
Governor had made his release q condition of any
agreement, and the committee refused that unless
coupled with his resignation, the negotiations failed
1t is worthy of note that Judge Terry, on being a
second time importuned to resign, sent the follow.
ing written reply:
"The most speedy and satisfactory manner Of as.
cerLRnlUg
to my continuance on the Bench which suggests
itself to my mind is the following:
Let the offences charged against me be SUBJ
mitted to public trial before an impartial jury as
speedily as may be. If am found guilty of any
offence whatever, will at once resign.
~ take it for granted that the people Of Califor-
MIA desire to see no man occupying the position OF
judge who is guilty OF any crime, and will accept
the verdict of impartial jury the sense of the
people, and act promptly on that verdict"
Instead of agreeing to this the committee decIin.
ed, and at the latest accounts were trying him in
secret, by a code OF which no one but the commits
tee itsel could know ything.
We have said that the dctators had wanted to
resign their authority. This was positively an.
nounced in the Sacramento Union before the nego-
tiatons were opened. Bot when the thing began
to be looked at closely il seems that the committee
saw nothing but danger on every hand They have
created so many powerful enemies that il they once
get out Of power they will be sure to be prosecuted
in some way In this strait their resource has been
revolutionary. They have held meeting, and. oy
force OF military display and the arrest Of the heads
Of the opposition, passed resolutions calling upon
the State authorities to resign. We notice in the
published accounts of some OF the meetings 10 San
Francisco, as well as in the statement OF our own
correspondent, that one prominent person is indi-
Gated as having been an advocate Of the movement
for an independent Pacific republic. This project
has always been disbeieved; but here is evidence
Of its reality
The San Francisco Bulletin, which is the organ
OF the committee, boldly advocates the organizes
ton Of provisional government, the abrogatiOn OF
all the exstin- laws, and the commencement OF q
new system. The reason is thus stated.
"The existing officials have a heavy score to set
tie with the commttee-with the people rather for
-. Il, al.
they sympathise with and support them Revenge
is sweet, aud the stgmatised officials will seek re-
venge. Private malice, disguised in legal forms,
may be naturally expected to faint all their future
official acts"
Here is q confession that a new revolution is ne
cessAry to the lives of the committee from the
consequences OF their own outrsges In fact, the
case OF the usurpers is gradually becoming desper
ste.-P Philadelphia American.