The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-06

l
Tss. TsECrE IN San fRANcIsco-UoMIrTEEs
OF SaRErY.-ave have Al, eady expressed an OPT
nioG that San Francisco is in a state Of revolu-
ton. Thefiegal authority of the State of Califor-
MIA has for a time been subverted bye recurrence
to ahe natural principles of protection and
sit.defeRce--always a violent recourse, and
erea:ly9te be regretted.
In its internal administration California has
been fast getting out of the pale O. real civiliza
ton The aur1 sacna flames has ledto it's usual re-
suits, as well known in antiquity as at the pre-
sent day. Its constitution and its laws have been
but 1.-The empty skin of an imuolated victim"
| Its'iife and spirit were gone Into the hands of
| theworst of people the actual power Of the State
has been betrayed. All the tricks peculiarities
| and bad results of New York elections have be-
come naturaized in California. The polls have
become shameless where votes have been bought
and sold, and liberty stricken down.
4 Under the auspices of such men as Sullivan,
the Coras and the Caseys any candidate who
4 could bleed well was sure of being elected to
office. The courts OF justice were in fact the pro-
4
rested and he was safe. He found himself in the
hands of his friends. The judges and jnries and
Sailors did not in the least alarm him-the right
l To steal to rob and assassinate was in no way In
danger, Of any ,curtailment 10y the ordinary pro-
! cess of law.
The conviction Of the insecurity OF life and
property under such state OF things, early led
! to the formation of vigilance committees, who
determined TO nbandage the eyes Of the blind
goddess. and LET her zee what was going on.
| The yecent action of this committee, reinforced
by large numbers Of the best men Of California
has been signal and decided. A. we have already
said il is revelation and in that sense very diff
ferend in principle from the action Of an ordinary
| mob
/ In San Francisco the Committee of Vigilance
have always acted with solemuity and cautisn
During the revolution committees Of safety were
| numerous. and their conduct was resolute, held
and sometimes rigorous in the extreme. In lzI5
| committee OF one hundred gentlemen, of which
| Isaac Low was chairman. and which con,aised
such men as John Jay. Philip Livingston. Henry
Remsen. John Broome Samuel Verpanck, james
Beelsnan Comfort Sands and others Of the same
eminent character. for time governed this city
and province. notwithstanding the existence at
the same moment Of the Provincial Congress
The known will Of the people was their only
guide, and their authority was every where obey
ed, in spite of the Legislature in which torysn
was still in the ascendant.
Indeed, committees of vigilance and safety
were the main springs of our revolutionary sue.
cesses. and prevailed throughout the States
We have little fears for the result As soon
az the civil arm Is stretched forth, the committee
will retire. 1t is to be hoped that the lesson,
dreadful as it il. will not be lost upon Us here
1t il q matter OF doubt whether san Francisco l.
worse governed than New York. BY what arts do
our Mayor. Aldermen and municipal functional
res obtain otfice! L. Ii their good character their
acknowledged integrity, or their public services:
Or is it by the management of the primary
meetings, controlled by prize fighters shoulder
hitters. bullies and suffers Of the ballot boxes
Il Il not well understood that the price Of a nom
nation to the Mayoralty costs the of ten thou
sand dollars? Are not hundreds of thousands
voted 10 contractors. sewer builders, dock build
ers-to all classes Of operatives who manage the
primary elections? Has not the fact recently
come out that most Of the jobs given to favorites
are overchargcd largely, and that this practice
has been going on for years.
New York il as dirty az immoral, and unregu-
orderly men rule.
The courts Of law seem to I've under some sopo-
rife influence here. as well a. there. Our Courts
and Judges are ready enough to issue attach
ments, warrants Of arrest, and orders for impri-
comment for contempt, on the affidavit of any
pettifogger who will swear for dollar; but cri-
minals, murderers burglars robbers. gamblers
and thieves are in no particular danger OF quick
trial or prompt punishment They remain for
months on months in comfortable quarters, or out
upon bail, till the witnesses arc dead or have run
away. Those Of this class who have been active
! politicians, and mean to be 20 again. have not
much anxiety as to the result We have seen
! public Official who has the expenditure Of large
suns Of money twice tried for nalf,assaee with
! the slor incontrorertible evidence in w own
handwriting Of an attempt to cheat the eEy out
u thirty or forty thousand dollar getting clear Of
two jurios. because they could not (would not)
| a@ec, ard remaining in bis place. with fur
Their opportunities TO practise on the much sbused
| fort.mance of the citizens.
What need have we to talk about San Fran.
cisco. when such things are an every days occur
renee in Nc7s York;
We have not exaggerated IN The least What
we say is true TO the letter; and In the sate Of
affairs In San Francisco We eco a forcstadowing
Of what i to happen hero, IL The dshonent men
who are plundoring the city, and Tie bad men
Who are filling it with violence ore no- brought |
to puni.hnni in due course Of law.