Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-08-01

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e.fRlvATE LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
The following letter from California lately received
in this city, has been kindly furnished for publica
ton
SAS FRaScIsCo June 2Oth 1856.
NV Dear -: Though have but Il short time to
write before the maiis close, must 1t least write you
short letter in reference 10 the condition OF things
in California at present. Perhaps You will have
in the papers this reaches you, different, versions
to the state of Affairs -3:sng IN San Francisco.-
The statenrnts of the S..n Francisco Herald are the
most reliable. For f,ug wceks now We have he'd
Vigilance Committee IL session, gving laws to his
city and State through the force OF seven thousand
armed men. The immediate cause OF the formation
Of the committee WAS The shooting Of james King OF
William by one Casey. King, u lew months before,
started evening paper, called the Bulletin, aud
commenced his editorial career by attacking the cor
ruptions OF certain banking hrns IL this city Whlle
he continued at that work his paper increased IN cir
culGtlon, and the community sustained him; but TINS
was not enough. He soon !Uund the sure way TO bud
himself up was to attack honest merit aud men III
high placeB-such Judge Thompson and V. T.
Howard, and young Watkins Leigh than whom there
is not purer in the S;d:n. In word, King soon
became editorial bully Besides he would not
hold himself responsible for what be wrote. except in
street fight. After striking bigh game, he turned his
attention again to the low fellows, aud the trst
was Casey. 1t appears tiat Cfsey had formerly
been in the State prison of New York for sell.
ing some furniture which lie had bought and
had not paid for. King comm=aced upon this
| sore in the most abusive nanEe. and contnu.
ed upon it until Casey was provoked to attack
him in the streets. Casey, ms friends say, had been
trying reform and could not bear tn have that blur
upon his character referred 10. In my own opinion,
the death Of King was blessing to this community,
bu, had he been the best living and Casey the
worst, it would not justify body OF armed men in
going 10 the Jail aud wrestling him truln the hands
u tn. law. Not oGiy did they tsIe Casey and hang
him. but they tUnll Cora, who si5 Richardson, aud
hung him too. Though wns who believed Co.
ra guilty, stll hert were a. Elsny who believed him
innocent OF murder. This ,Gne committee still
unue in session and have seut OF great many ineu
Objectionable to them aud vii. send uE many more.
General Wool, Instead OF throwing the weight OF his
| influence against them has strengthened them by
throwing every obstacle III the way of the Governor.
| They have violated the Constitution ot the United
States in ts that they have refused 10 allow the pro
per authorities to serve the writ OF haOens corpus
and hanged two men without trial by jury. The
Committee certainly hns the power in tie State at
present, but it is to be hoped that reaction will take
place when the voice the Atlantic side Is heard in
condemnation Of them. Thousa we mad great ma
ny abuses tc complain of things were gradually i'm
| proving. But alas, the force OF the law has been
broken and there is no telling when we will recover
| from the shock.
| find my sheet full and must hasten to close, as
| the mai soon leaves Ahectiouately yours