The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-08-07
Affairs IN Cal Hernia.

Affairs N Cal ifsrnia.
Astss q Ii. visilss<s Csnni,s-s- Pfosrsss 81 II.
krvelstson, ke.
ceussp ssiroes q tie Mes York Daily Times.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 1856.
! can easily conceive that many--very many
OF the people Of the Atlantic States, whose re-
lance upon tie laws for the redress Of griev
apces is seldom misplaced, will doubt the No
cessity that has induced the citizens Of San
Francisco to take away from the Judiciary in
. measure, the power in theory that belongs to
it. and TO vest i temporarily in themselves.
But our eastern friends deceive themselves. il
they think we have lightly assumed this tire
mendeus responsibility. or without adequate
cause The address Of the Vigilance Commit
tee "to the People Of CALIFORNIA;" which will
lie published in every newspaper In the United
States sets forth In general but truthful terms
the grievances the people have patiently en-
dnred for so long time. and the hOpelessness
of redress through the regular channels Of the
law and ballot-box.
The first two or three years after our admis
sion as State We were prosperous beyond u
precedent in our country. Our merchants
were coming money--Our mechanics our mi
ners and agriculturalists were in the full tide
of success. All the better clnsses were too
much engrossed in business to attend TO poi
tiles The interests Of the State were subser-
Went to individual interests. We must con
Tess IT, we thought more Of our present than
our future welfare. This il the origin of most
Of the political and social evils with which We
have been afflicted. Bad men-gamblers,
thieves, shoulder strikers and vagabonds gen.
erally-saw and embraced the opportunity 10
seize the rcins Of Government. In little time
they occupied majority Of the Offices in this
city, and controlled its funds. The treasury.
Of course was soon empty. A large public
debt WAS created, ninetenths Of the proceeds
Of which went into their pockets. This source
at last being dried up, they turned their atten-
ton to State Offices. The Legislature was
packed by their creatures. Judges were stuff
ied msd cSscx7 ~ao wr.r'' Pie1sgs1 y-w;n< at
their crimes. But still we had few honest
men on the bench--such as Shatuck, Hagar
and Norton but these were hedged 10 by
packed Juries, so that their efforts to admins
ter justice were almost always frustrated.
These organized bands OF robbers made them
selves felt in the remOtest corners Of the State.
Plans for public plumber, connected in gamb-
ling dens and fashionable brothels, were at
once endorsed by our city councils and State
Legislature.
When honest citizens, partially aroused from
their supineness, essayed TO stem this torrent
OF crime, they were met ut the ballot-box by
the bowie knife and revolver The pres was
muzzled. Successful crime began TO be looked
nPon as rather praise-worthy than otherwise.
1hieving was styled speculation. Murder was
one of the lesser crimes, If committed BY one OF
these men, and might be compounded in money
or Office. Rascality was "smartnesss." Moth
ing that was bad aud vile was called by its
right namc. A Tennessee anecdOte will Illus
trate our condition in this particular. A not
cd villain IN Hon. Baiie Peyton's district, who
WAS always hardworker against the Colonel,
was observed to he missing on election day.
What's become Of Billy Joness' asked the
candidate Of one OF Bills cronies well"
responded the latter, IL believe he's been shut
up down in Georgia for rough gambling"
though gambling exclaimed the Colonel
what's rough gambling down In Georga"
Why, cutting trunks OH from behind stages,
and such like
will cite you the character OF few Of our
rulers, merely remarklng that they are fair sPe
linens oil majority Of the whole.
Who are our Supreme Judges? Hugh 4.
Murray, who was elected last year Tor term
OF six years, had majority OF few hundred
votes; falling some 1000 below his ticket
Ned McGowan under Indictment as accessory
to murder Of Mr.. King. pulled the wires for