The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-30
TAe Sam FranciscO Vigilance COmzaittce ana
its Rev0luti00a9y Tendencies.

the sphere or Its operations 10 the seizure OF the
State arsenals in the city, and the arms in ransitu
from General Wool, of the United States Army,
to the State authorities These proceedings place
the Committee in the position of an Instruction
airy force against both the State and federal gov
ernments, and hence it is that the question where
gravest consideration
There are two local governments existing in
California-the one the regularly constituted
government, which is utterly pOwerless for the
time being and the other the revolutionary gov
eminent of this Vigilance Committee, which,
within its circle of operations, is perfect des-
potism. Admitting that the causes resulting in
this spontaneous revolutionary organization had
expanded into mischiefs, atrocities, crimes and
dangers beyond longer forbearance the difficulty
still recurs as to the point of safety for the disco
luton of this Committee. 1t appears to US that
the objects of their organization into Supreme
Provisional Directory have been accomplished
that justice against horde of impudent crimi-
mails and scape-gallows of al sorts, has been
satisfied; and that the time has come when the
Committee should dissolve, adjourn, and return
to their allegiance to the legitimate State and
federal authorities. They may readily command, as
a condition of their dissolution, an absolute am
nesty for all that has occurred, including all con-
cened in the transactions of the Committee; but
we have reason to suspect that there are restless
and ambitious spirits among them whose ORR
ginal obect-the punishment and expulsion of
murderers ballot box suffers and gamblers-has
been enlarged into great political revolutionary
enterprise.
Some six or eight months ago we published
letter from San Francisco exposing the pro-
gramme Of new party there upon the revolution
airy platform of the separation Of California from
the Union, and the establishment of an indepen-
dent republic on the Pacific coast, to be formed
of the State of California and Oregon and Wash
ington Territories, and such annexations-upon
the Ostend doctrine Of selfpreservation- it
might be deemed expedient to make from the
helpless republic Of Mexico. There are symp-
toms that this scheme is not stranger to some
of the aspiring politicians who are mixed up with
the management of this Vigilance Committee. Ii
is not only fascinating scheme to reckless ad-
venturers. but to calculating political managers,
from its appearances Of practicability. Should
the Central Committee of San Francisco resolve
upon this plan. and proclaim it, while yet the
prevailing confusion OF ideas and feelings of I'M
certainty exist all over California, il is probable
that the movement for secession and separate
republic could only be arrested by those strong
arms Of the federal government, the army and
navy. II the project Of secession and an indepen-
dent Pacific confederacy were adopted and car
ried out in California we all know from what
was attempted by Count Boulbon, and from
what was accomplished by General Walker in
Lower California and Sonora, that California
could instantly raise body Of volunteers which,
in less than three months, could overIun and con-
quer the whole of Mexico, and that in three
months more they could carry their line of an
nexation TO junction with General Walker in
Nicaragua.
Some such magnificent ideas as these, we sus-
pect, are seriously entertained by the more am
bilious and reckless leaders Of this San Francisco
Vigilance Committee: and the further mainte-
nance Of the Committee as the supreme directory
Of the city and the State, is, therefore, fraught
with dangers of the grandest dimensions. AT
this crisis the destiny of California rests entirely
upon the conservative character Of the masses Of
her people, and upon their sober second
thought" The Vigilance Committee was, we
will admit the resort Of necessity; but the imme-
date objects Of this last resort having been ac-
complished the Committee should resign its revo-
utionary assumptions of power back into the
hands Of the regular authorities, and trust to
decent administration Of the laws In n
sharper attention hereafter to the State and
city elections. and the ballot boxes. We fear
that to whatever extrcmities Of revolu-
ton the Committee may 90, there Is
no hope Of any saving Intervention from
this Pierce administration; for Mr.. Pierce i in
the hands Of those Southern democratic ultras
who believe that the right Of secession j. State
right, and that the Intervention Of the general
government 70 arrest the movement would be a
fragrant invasion OF State sovereignty.
This view Of the matter in no small degree
enhances the Importance Of the crisis in Califor-
MIA. and OF the Presidential election; for the
sacrifice OF California, Oregon and Washington
free State and free Territories-if such sacrifice
should become question to Mr.. Buchanan, as the
successor Of Mr.. Pierce-is a secession which
would, probably, be encouraged rather than ar
rested. The los Of the whole Pacific coast would
be a political gain to the South in the United
States Senate and the same influences which
have driven Mr.. Pierce into the service Of the
Kansas border rufiians, would undoubtedly con-
troll ne policy Of Mr. Buchanan's administration.
Sr1 h are some Of the reflections arising from
the present anomalous condition Of things in
California: and the further continuance in power
Of that Vigilance Committee will be very apt TO
result in some such Developments. Kansas,
California. the Ostend manifesto-such are the
fruits Of modern democracy. A revolution at
Washington Is the thing we want. Meantime,
We sllall await with lively interest the next intel