The Placer herald., 1856-06-28

Of taking possession of all the arms and am
muntion belonging to the 'aw and order" or
Sanizatlon.
1t may be needless to say that this was the
work of but a few minutes The most impor-
tant armory of the law faction, was the one at
the corner of Kearny and Clay street. This
was occupied as head quarters; in here the
best companies met at night for drill. At the
| first alarm, number OF the jackson Guards ~
Union rifles, about sixty men all told, hastened
to this point and commenced preparations to
assist the party at Dupont street armory, but
so sudden and rapid were the movements OF
the Vigilant troops that before the others had
time to arm and equip, they were completely
cut off and confined to their own quarters
Finding that any manifestation OF dis
position on their part to resist the Nlgl'ant
troops would be certain to entail destruction
to themselves they very wisely determined to
surrender.
Their arms were Immediately removed to
the Vigilant head quarters, but the men were
| kept in confinement until late hour of night
when they were allowed their liberty.
The statement in morning cotemporary
to the effect that these men were asked to
make oath that they would not bear arms
against the Committee Of Vigilanceis is entire
lv without foundation.
The few arms and small stock ofammuntlon
belonging to the law faction in other parts OF
the city were easily taken possession of by
the Committee troops, and by midnight, al
though the streets were still alive with people
anxious to learn of the condition of Mr.. Hop
kins, there was not the least cause to fear
that any futher demonstration would be made
on the part OF the law and order faction, and
the troops of the Committee quietly stacked
their arms leaving but a few men as guard
at the Committee rooms.
CARGO OF BRICK FROM POINT SAN QUENTIN.
While the excitement was at its highth in
the city on Saturday, a scene bearing some
affinity to the scene on shore was being enac-
ted in the harbor. 1t appears that second
cargo of arms and ammunition destined for
the use of the opponents of the Vigilance
Committee had nearly reached their destina-
ton when the vessel was boarded by boat
containing a party of the Vigilants and not
wthstanding the assertion of the parties in
charge of the suspected vessels that she was
freighted with bricks from Point San Quen-
tin, little Investigation proved that she car
ried rather too many guns for a simple ira
ding craft. The vessel was apparently load
cd with brick, but upon turning over por-
tion Of the cargo, twelve cases OF rifle and SIX
cases of ammunition were developed. The
war-like implements were landed and slowed
away, Just about the time the Committee
troops had accomplished the work on
shore.
ARREST OF JOHN l. DURKEE FOR PIRACY.
\ complaint was made by John Phillips
on Saturday last before Geo. L. Johnson, y.
S. commissioner, for the arrest of J. L. Durkce
and several other persons whose names we
have not been able to ascertain, for piracy on
the high seas
A few persons expressed hope that the
/ Committee troops would 90 down to the office
| Of the T. s. Marshal and rescue Mr.. Durkce.
! 1t is needless to say that these persons are
svmrathisers with the law and order faction.
| The following is the law under which the
complaint was made:
Kcnt's Commentaries, vol l., p. 1O8. The
! Act Of Congress of May 10, 1920, declares,
that if any person upon the high seas. or in
any open roadsead, bay, or river, where the
sea Gibbs and flows commits the crime ofrob-
berry in and upon any vessel the lading thereof
or the crew, he shall be adudged a pirate.
So if any person engaged ina piratical vessel
should land and commit robbery on shore
such an offender shall also be adjudgcd a
pirate. The statute in this respect seems
to he only declaratoly Of the law of nations,
and upon the doctrine of the case Of Lndo
Us Rodney such plunder and ROBBERY ashore,
by the crew, and with the aid OF vessels is a
case marine and OF admiralty Jurisdiction. The
statute further declared, that the above proys
sons was not to be construed to deprive any
particular State of its jurisdiction over such
otlenses when committed within the body of a
county, or to authorise, the Court of the
United States to try any such offenders, after
conviction or acquttance, for the same oflense
in State Court
We commend the article signed "Publius,"
to the attention of our readers The author
is political friend Of Gov. Johnson's has
taken no part in the discussion of the diff
culties below, has no interest to subserve,
save what may become any good citizen,
has weighed every word he has uttered, and
his communication is for these, as well As the