The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-29

authority The least obnoxious 70 any class Of citizens His
purity, his manlness his sterling integrity have
been questioned In his upright and honorable character
there every guarantee against abuse maversaon
But the worst feature in this organized defiance of the
ministers Of the law is the admxture of alien ele
ment in the ranks Of the rebelious band. American
citizens may bear yoke imposed by Americans detes
an inernecne war may make men tolerate many wrongs
at the hands OF their fellow citizens but the whole spirit
Of our people, every instinct OF their nature every prn
ope nsed in them in childhood revots against the hui
initiation OF wearing chains forged by who
allegiance TO the government and who have sympathy
with the institutions Of the land Gentlemen Of the Com
mittee, in this you have made fatal mistake When
Saturday evening officer Of the Law resisted
in the performance Of his duty and repuscd with bayo
nets from your portals and when in anticipation Of
danger your entire force called out your guard
doubled, your whole array was displayed for the pur
pose Of overawing the citizens; the organs OF your
despotism next morning proclaimed TO the world, with
approbatory mention, that the French battalion had
sad tale that mandate from the highest officer in the
State the Judge Of the Supreme Court forciby
how, at the dswnng Of this great republic vicious and
tyrannical monarch, by o sordd bargain, employed
army Of Hessan bayonets to crush out the freedom Of
people struggling TO independence. Gentlemen d the
Committee has your action furnished parallel for this
great historical crme9 Have you not reproduced that
than any other sin committed by George the Third
against people has ever since ranked bitterly in the
Need we state il not our purpose 70 say one word
that can affect the interests Of aensst less Of adopted
citizensl As well from principle as from feeling we have
always been advocates for granting the largest privileges
10 those not natives Of the SOIL But citizenship have
any value, is that II confers rights those invested
allegiance TO the government But how much less
right than citizens have those who not citizens 70 take
up against the laws which shelter and protect them
We aord TO speak thus plainly 10 those who compose
the foreign legion in the Vigilance Committee organiza
word has escaped that did not amply recognise the
courtesy due 70 their respective nations Our
n as S IN
character We can them afford to speak frankly 10 those
who have been entrapped into this movement
Men Of France ard Germany, who are in those
ranks with arms in your. hands, believe US, upon
you will fall the brunt the evil consequences, the
that when the turbulent feelings of the present
hour shall have subsided-years from now-when
its principal shall have sunk into obscuri,y the
gravc-you, gentlemen will be the marks for the hos-
lily Of the very men who are now using for bad end
your galanry, your generous instincts your Reproduction
Of wrong and all the finer feelings which characterize
your nationaties Men will hereafter tell the unwccome
story how, by aid of German bayones and French runs,
the constitution Of this great republic the consttu Of
this free commonwealth were ramped under foot-how,
by the same aid, American laws, framed by American
freemen, were set at napghtEhsw, by the same aid,
of California treated with conumely and scorn,
and their mandates derided-how by the same aid, the
business Of great city impedcd its citizens terro
rzed its ordinances abrogated, its officers mocked-and
how, by the same aid, despotc olgarchy, an rrespon
sble una was maintained for an indefinite period in open
defiance Of the Executive Of the State in avowed anita
gonism to the ministers Of the awo the great detrment
Of the public interests to the utter prosraton Of mercan
tile pursuits producing everish excitement in the pub
lie mind and to the lasting ruin Of reputation abroad
as loyal, peaceful and reputable community.
THE COURSE TO PURSUE.
from the San Francisco Alta California June 5.
When the people Of San Fracisco united themselves TO-
gether for the purpose of purifying the city, they tooka
Upon themselves high and holy duty, one in the fuln
ment Of which they will be sustained by their fellow
citizens and the large majority of the people of the State
plan Of action was laid out, which is now being pur
upon perform the executive portion of the duty to
petc their work. to continue in the good which they
have been travelling till the object which they had in
view in the commencement has been attained and suf
fer no interference from any quarter to embarrass or
prevent their further action.
il the issue must come (Which God grant may be
averted) if struggled for the supremacy must be made
between the good citizens and the vile hordes of thieves,
murdcrers and ballot box suffers, who have ruled too
long already If We must fight in defence OF dearest
rights and our future peace and security, so be it,
hoier never nervcd the OF mortal If we
faer now if we permit the class OF who sympathse
with felons and murderers, whe countenace and cup
port ballot box suffers, again to establish themselves
here, might well give up all hope all desire for the
future peace and prosperity of our city, Should this re-
suit ensue assassination violence and fraud will again be
rampant amongst us and good men had better prepare to
abandon the city.
The people and the Committee must be firm They
must steadasty pursue the course they have declined
pie Of San Francisco are with them and if require
other aid, thousands Of brawny armed, stout hearted
They must not go backward, but forward.
And word of advice to those who ere disposed to
oppose the will the majesty and the might OF the sove-
reign people. We caution you to beware-we caution
you, and you particularly who leading in this move
inent to commit no overt acts If you desire to indulge
in the harmless Of organizing military compa
Mes you will be inerered with. But be careful how
you provoke the spirit which is now reused the
munity Be careful what Dorders you give and what or
ders you obey You effect nothing but slaughter and
bloodshed by your action; and God help the man who
either with orders or without orders, fires the first shot
upon the people All the minons Of official power, all
the executive authority all the election suffers and muir
derers in the State, would not be sufficient TO save him
from the gallows.
Vigilance Committee.
The following is the concluding portion of the report Of
the Grand Jury in San Francisco rendered on the evening
of May 81
The events Of the past month"; which have taken place
in midst productive of so much excited feeling in our
community cannot be passed by this Grand Jury
without comment or remark.
However, no good purpose can be subscrvcd by an
other reeraton of the details and that have
all and whilst constrained to confess that from
experience and belief apart from our investigations as
Grand Jurors together with the additional Developments
Jeduced from nquests regret to say that with
few honorable exceptions the administration of the laws
have been in the hands OF corrupt and inefficient men.
The sacred rights Of the people have been outraged.
life and property have not had the security Of well
regulated and honest administration OF law and justice
Under color Of law great crimes have been committed
and permitted, and in the almost vain pursuit of justice
in the execution Of law the viles criminals have escaped
punishment; when all other modes failed by technical
defects in prosecution disagreement of jures Never
theess in view OF the sacred oaths have taken before
the honorable court well the dangerous principle
and precedent allowing any body OF men to WELD
checked power however respectable and intelligent that
body may be, whilst we deplore that the aggravation
existed which in their wisdom has led many to affirm the
necessity Of a revolution, we are compelled to condemn
the which large and respectable portion Of our
fellow citizens have approved and we sincerely hope that
fellow citizens WILL speedily possible restore to
the community q condition Of society relying upon The
laws alone for protection and redress and that in future
the administration of Justice may be conducted to
obpatc for painful necessity as has, in the
judgment Of many good citizens been considered un
ayoidable. THOS. j. POULTERER Foreman
f. Gorham David Jobson,
=. ". Leonard s. r. Throckmorton,
T. Olmstead. c. WEIGH,
John ~ Neara, J. J.. Riddle,
J.. Nils, Lafayette Story,
L. T. fo,ger W. b. Parker,
Peter Crystal, Y John N. Dali.
Ballot Box Stufhng-How IL Is Managed.
from the San Francisco Bulletin, May 20,
The day breaks at last. The villany and corruption