The Trinity journal., 1856-06-14
]. Nicely johnson VS.. The People.

The Governor III his letter TO Col. Crockett and
others Committee from the citizens of San Fran
cisco, published elsewhere says: :" By cirtue Of the
Constitution Of the State It is made my duty to enforce
the eaeettion Of the laacs" What laws? Is there
not double dealing in this matter? Does this not
smack of favoritism? Why had the Vigilance
Committee hung Casey and Cora eleven days pr-
to its being made has dutyto enforce the lars,
cording to his Excellency's notion of duty. The
lives Of two men had paid the forfeit of their no.
torious crimes, and those that were charged with
offences of less grade, were confined in the Com
mttee Rooms, ard had been for several days pre-
vous to the dead letter proclamation, and yet the du
ty made apparent by the Constitution Of this State,
and the oath taken by the Governor to make that
duty visible to his india-rubber conscience was
not sufficient to him to q sense of that du-
ty! Why sleep on the justice of that law that was
made your duty to enforce from the very moment
you toek the Constitutional oath in the presence
Of the assembled Legislature Of the State 4? If
you could witness the death of Cora and Casey
the arrest of the % SIX" and the timely death of
Sullivan, without feeling any remorse of con-
science, and believe all the time the people of San
Francisco were violating the laws of the State
your conscience surely had been scared with that
instrument mentioned in the Good Book
The Governors fayorte had not been pursued,
or he was feeling the public pulse His friends
say that Gen. Wool deceived him by promising
that the arms and ammunition of the General Coy
ernment under his control should be placed at the
disposal Of the State authorities, and this promise
on the part of Gen. Wool, caused the Governor to
issue his proclamation. If this statement. made
by the State Journal be true the Executive of this
State is far more reprehensible than we imagined
him to be, although we believe him to be weak.
aud not over scrupulous as 10 his duties as Chief
Magistrate Of the State, yet we were not prepar-
ed for the announcement that he would not do his
duty until he had made every preparation to des-
troy the lives of worthy citizens, that would just
ly entitlc him to be the Cief of assassinators --
What must be the feelings of the Commander-n-
Chief OF a gteat State, when he makes call on
his army to muster to service to see them muster
themselves out Of service. lIumilating indeed.
and annoying as this may be to the Governor of
the state Of California, nevertheless il is true
Nine-tenths of the people are with the Vigilance
Committee, and whole Companies of militia have
disbandcd at the call Of the Governor and ioined
the people. The cup is bitter one but it must
be drank, and that too by j. Neely Johnson. The
proclamation has gone forth, and not been respon-
ded TO by the masses in sufficient numbers to nerve
his heart to the combat. General Sherman has
declined acting any further in this matter for the
reason that the proclamation contains a fasehood.
The General says there is no insurrection in the
city, and hence he declines farther participation
in NeeIy's force Again we say the cup is bit
ter one, for the proclamation must be withdrawn.
or the law and murder party must be defeated-and
God forbid that the folly of an indiscrcet man
should force the people to the latter, but if the
crisis must come the conclusion is foregone and
let the responsibility rest where it properly be-
longs. If blood must be shed to maintain the pu-
rity of the ballot-box and the independence of
the press, then let it be SO, and let it flow until
our fair State is rid of the cause that produced
the result