The Nevada journal., 1857-01-16
Democracy VS.. Vigilance.

enemy stands before us, is to have true
courage to strut, and foam and swag-
ger when no enemiesare near, is to show
the grit of a coward The latter is now
being exhibited by the democratic de
tenders of the constitution assembled at
Sacramento, III their ralorous dcnuncia-
tions of the late Vigilance Committee of
San Francisco.
The.history of that powerful organi-
zation is familiar to every one, and has
become matter of notoriety through
out the civilized word. Its character
and objects-whether the precedent it
has set will counter balance the good it
has accomplished-whether the end at
tanned justifes the unusual means taken
to attain it-whether the up rising of
the people in their primative sovereignty
was the only effective remedy for exist
ing evils-all these are matters which
we do not propose, at present, to discuss.
We simply wish to allude to the past
and present position of the democratic
party in relation to it.
When the Committee was in active
existence, and up to the election-when
its actions were still fresh in mems minds
it was undoubtedly endorsed by nine
tenths of the people. 1t originated
among the best citizens of San Francis
CO, and had the sympathies of our best
citizens throughout the entire State. 1t
was emphatically the act of tie people,
If, therefore, there was any wrong done,
it was not wrong committed by indi-
viduals against the sovereignty of the
State, but wrong, or rather an error,
committed by the sovereignty itself.
This being the condition of affairs,
many of the leaders of the democratic
party were placed in an unpleasant sit
uation. 1t SO happened that most of
the scoundrels who were roughly han
died by the Committee, had been ac-
tive workers i'll the democratic ranks,
and had been conveniently used by
these leaders for political purposes
Their hatred, therefore of the Vigilance
Committee was inveterate, and many of
them strongly urged the party to take
ground against it, in the campaign
The celebrated "Y Dung Mems Democrat
ic Club" of San Francisco, led off in
that direction, and the less celebrated
young, old, and middle aged mems dem
ocratic club Of Nevada city followed
suit, for one trick. The former, howev-
er, lost, and the latter-so soon as the
Grass Valley club showed its hand,
abandoned the game. Wiser counsel
lors prevailed on board the democratic
craft, and seeing that opposition to the
gale that was blowing toward Vigilance
would bring shipwreck, they steered the
vessel into the tranquil waters of nom
committalism. They dared not, and
they did not make it an issue before the
people, and SO fearful were they of the
subject. that an anti-Vigilanee resolu-
ton introduced into their State Conven-
ton, broke it up in confusion.
But ''the times change, and we change
with them" The Vigilance Committee
having accomplished its purposes quiet
ly laid down its great power and dis
solved. 1t is no more. 1t matters but
little, for all practical purposes, whether
it was right, or whether it was wrong.
for if we are to pmniM anybody for its
acts, we must punish "the people Of the
State of California" rather herculean
job for our Legislators to undertake.
The election, too, is over, and the de-
mocracy steering between wind and
water" on this question, has been sue
cessful. Its Legislative leaders assem-
bic at the capital. Feeling that all
danger is for the future over, and hoping
that by another year, they can change
public opinion, or that the Vigilance
Committee will be lost sight of, they
give terrific vent to their private malice
and call it indignation at the violation
of the Constitution" These valiant gen
tlemen are not afraid of the departed
Vigilantes, but exhibit all the courage
of Falstaff over the dead body of Percy.
Macbeth said thatif Banquo "wcre alive
again" he would not fear him, the mar
rowless bones of the ghost made him
tremble. These chivalric democrats
have no superstitious dread of spirits,
1t is only when a living foe fronts them.
that they slim k away.
Had these democratic Legislators
announced the fierceness of their anti