The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-23


before them, the courts or rather the Juries wouid
never inflict uoon him.
The Committee, within four days, number.
ed over 1900 men Of the BEST and brsvsst
Of the city, all well armed and all sworn
70 aid each other as band of brothers
in the eradication of the evils with which
society was almost overbone. On orignt SUNDAY
morping they surrounded the jail and took Casey
from the Sheriff, who could make no resistance;
they took Cora also, who was waiting In fsncied
security for his second trial and conveyed them to
the rooms which they had fitted up for their seen
rty and after the lapse of another four days hanged
them nom their windows, in presence OF an i'm
mense body of spectators.
But the iabers and duty OF the Committee did not
stop here. They felt that the time had for the
publication of the city from its worst evils. They
knew that it contained some Of the greatest villains
in existence, whose means OF corupting influence
would enable them to escape the operations OF the
DULLES and those skilled in the peverson Of the
will Of the people by frauds on the ballot box-a
crime in an elective government scarcely second 10
murder itself. Many Of these they arrested and cent
cut of the country, on evidence, however, Of the
most convincing character Of their heinous conduct
The numbers of the Committee daily augmented
another atrocious murder occurred In hotel in
broad daylight, and within five days the perpretator
other who had committed murder more than year
previously, and had escaped through some techni-
cality Of law The Committee continued It's action
Of purging the city Of the wretches who had rem
utItu IL sidruiuR ItpuaCu III CNhtLcu Nouh
tries until about five weeks since, when to the great
chagrin OF its enemies who had urged that its objects
were political, and that it would be Continued until
November for the purpose OF controlling the elec-
lions, il adjourned, merely so Tar preserving Tvs Or
ganization that in of great emergency it can
lie re-assembled with but little preparation.
The whole proceedings Of the Committee were,
technically speaking illegal The Law was against
them, but the law had been perverted or set ct do
fance by some Of its chief ministers, who them
selves had been ballot swindled" into Office. The
community stoed in terror of the wretches who pa
raded the streets in all the pride OF that power
which they boasted they could, through their con.
troll the elections perpetuate, ana thus control
the action of the law! The pistoi and the knife
were the argument and the resort in every case OF
simple dispute, and no mans life was secure
against the revenge of the bully and the coward.
Anc wbyy Because corruption had crept into the
balls of jsstice. 1 do not mean to impugn the
direct action Of the judges, but You know how much
depends in criminal case on the subordinate OH.
OF the courts. Shefls, clerks and jurors united
with the arts OF corrupt counsel, and this whole
machinery was in full organization in our devoted
city. What was to be done? Tamely submit to the
action OF men clothed with authority through fraud,
and linked with others stained with vice aud pre-
pared, nsy, eager, at any moment, to perpetrate
horror on the community for hire, or to revenge
some faneied wrong? To this they felt they could
not submit. They were surrounded by families ana
kindred, and hao acquired by their industry those
means which are the object OF every mans hsnor-
able ambition, and they felt that the time had come
for bold prompt and effective action. Hence
this association. 1t was technically illegal granted.
So is il at any time to take lie, but YER
diets of '.justfable homicide prove that such Is
often the only resort for selfpreservation SO was
il here-the entire community felt that they were
in the estual power OF men VINO could outrage all
law and escape through the control they exercised
the officers OF the courts The Sheriff was Tor
long time the keeper OF one of the lowest gaDb-
ling hells and through him the purity OF juries was
doubted. They felt all shis and they organized
for their own selfpreservation. BY common con-
sent, every necessary power was coded to the Com
mittee Of Vigilance, which in brief space numbered
more tbsn five thousand men, TO whose acts IN the
emergency Of the times the people submitted with
that confidence which Is the offspring OF peril, and
which, in different parts OF the world, has so IRE
quently created temporary despotism for the gene
raj security.
The chief acts Of the Committee are widely known
and need no repetition. They were calm, tempe
rate and deliberate. Their course was marked by
no scenes OF violence, cruelty, or arbitrary ca
price. With the dignity OF fixed determination,
they marked The men whom ft was feit were dan
gerousto the peace and security OF society and sent
them ont Of the country, inficting capital punish
nent only on those who had taken life under cir
cumstanees OF peculiar atrocity. From those whom
they baDishsd, the amount OF information obtained
of the frauds Of elections was perfectly appalling,
duplicating men whose names 1t has been deemed
expedient not yet TO make public. The people, in
booy now speak OF the Committee only with the
pratitu6e due 20 men who have rendered our city
once more an abode OF peace and security Tor It's In
habitants-
But sou ask who were the enemies Of the Commit
tee for Of course there suchl They were chief
" those who were linked with the practssed election
saunders, whose reign had been thus suddenly cut
of. The lawyers. whose pretended respect for the
law, was simply the ebuliion Of their disappointed
ambition and the loss OF the emoluments IN criminal
cases, which. at the courts, were wonderfully 70
duced through the wholesome terrors OF tue Com
mittee. The men In Office, who dreaded the disclo-
sure Of the mears by which they had obtained
power. The gamblers, the Flash gentry, and all
that large Gin sis city, fraternity Of men who live
by their wits or their-yillan'es. These were the
enemies OF the Committee, with. perhaps, small
body Of citizens, who honestly differed with them
On the only reasonable grounds OF objection t. it,
organization, the danger Of coufering absolute and
irresponsible power on any man or set OF men Tor
any purpose whatever. But the people chose that
risk as The least OF the two despotsms-that OF the
deprayed and INSCRIPTIONS, or OF the kno IN repu-
table and honorable leading men In the society.
What now have been the results? Peace and
good order reign supreme. The bully's occupation
ia goue-the halitual assassin hides his bowie knife
and his revolver from the light OF day, in the still
dreaded fear Of the famous Committee and even the
petty thief and Drawing dTunkard less frequently
grace the front seats at the DAILY receptions OF the
Recorder. Our elections are close at hand, with the
certainty Of resulting IN the legitimate exposition
OF the popular will. In short. the evidences Of
gereration greet Us at every turn. Men walk abroad
with that confident security which Springs
no longer trembe at an accidental detention
Of Their husbands, fearing they may he brought TO
their doors the bleeding victims Of burial chvalry"
and little ones sink to sleep In the sweet certainty
Of parental greeting with the opening dawn.
Crime II no longer every day occurrence, and the
people can again base their action the security OF
that obedience 10 the Law, which Ia In truth the
seDce and spirit Of every elective or popular system
OF government
fbave dwelt 90 long upon this prolific theme that
I must hasten 10 speak Of this wonderful country
per Its great natural resources were for time
almost unknown, such was the all absorbing interest
I'm the gold discoveries but they have gradually
ben disclosed in all their grandeur and importance.
Our climate Ia both beautiful and temperate
summer clothing IL not needed, although once or
twice in year we do have hot day. From October
% May We have such rains a. you are accustomed
10 at the East but in Ae other i've months perpetual
sunshine Besides the mere personal comfort OF such
weather imagine it, value 10 the farmer who gath
ers his crops, and threshes, and prepares them for
market in the open air without fear Of damage from
the elements
The general health IL beyond all my experience,
and have yisiecd many parts of the world. For