The Placer herald., 1856-05-24
The Recent Events in San Francisco.

The events Of the past eight days IN San
Francisco are Of the most extraordinary ma
ture, that ever transpired in free country.
From the tragic scene on the l+th-the
shooting of Mr.. King by Casey-until the
present moment, one fact has hurried upon
the heels of another in quick succession, thus
keeping the public mind under strain of the
most intense excitement, forbiding that calm
reflection which leads one to reliable ronclu-
sions. Knots of citizens would collect to-
gether, make up purse, and eagerly gather
from the telegraph wires the very latest ru-
1nors as they transpired at the scene Of ac-
ton. These again would spread the intelli-
gence, but little less rapidly than the tee-
graph-passing it from mouth to mouth,
until, if business was not stopped, men were
rendered less capable to transact it, by the
suspense that hung upon their feelings.
Il is great responsibility for any people
to wrest from the appointed officers the exc
cution Of the law; but it is far greater, when,
as in this country, the people are in the full
exercise OF the sovereign power and may
appoint who they please as their Judicial,
ministerial and executive officers. One may
excuse, nav, even sanction, the acts Of an
ignorant inturiated mob, goaled by starva-
ton, and insulted by protligate tyrany, as
has been the case in Europe. because those
people had no hand in making the govern
ment under which they live. The slave may
cast off his burden, and if done violently no
one blanes him.
fes the organization of this Vigilance Com
mittec government, and the establishment OF
martial law in the city'
In answer to this question, we can only
give our impressions.
The property holders and business men OF
the city-the very men most interested in
preserving and enforcing due observance OF
law in spirit and in truth, are the members
and leading spirits of the Vigilance Commit
tee. Men of property-rirh men-are never
As a body revoutionsts; strong governments
are their idols, for in their strength depends
the permanency Of property rights. We
cannot regard these men when acting In
quiet harmonious concert, without passion,
deliberately and with the most perfect order
as a mob.
The leaders are men Of intelligent discl-
plined minds; sober but determined action
marks their every step-these are not the
characteristics of mob
Without the forms Of law they seem to be
administering it in its true spirit, and to the
satisfaction of the public-a mob acts with
out reason and in violation Of the genius OF
order.
Life and property are probably more Sc
cure in San Francisco to-day than they have
been for years--in times Of arnachy there is
no such security.
From the lights which we can gather, we
incline to the belief that the best class OF
citizens are not entrusted with Office. That
class of men have crept into place, and
are kept in position by combination OF
their fellows, interested in peculation and un-
scrupulous as to the means Of carrying II
ont-that these officers assist in the perpe
tration Of this villany, through adhesion to
the forms Of law cast as cloak over the
criminal; shielding him from just punishment
Viewing the matter in this light. we are
inclined to tolerate the present state OF at
fairs, as under the circumstances, the least o.
two evils. 1t is better for the people to rise
en- ns4sle and themselves vindicate the virtue
of law, than that all law should be brought
into conteanpt, through corrupt and perjured
men, and the mockery Of adhereing to the
forms of law in our courts.