The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-17
Proclamation Of the San Francisco Vigilance
Committee.
THE PENALTIES AGAINST THE ExrATRIATEp PERSONS

To rrE MksHrRs op TH COMMITTEE oF viGuAscE-Your
Executive Committee deem proper officially 10
the sanction Of the Board OF Delegates, and act
Of the Committee OF Vigilance
Resolved, That by and with the concurrence Of tho
Beard Of Delegates all existing penalties attached 70 sen
tonces Of expatriation are hereby rcscnded.
However much honest men and patriotic citizens may
have differed ~ 10 the right and justice of the organx
ton and acts of the Committee Of Vigilance no candid
man can deny that great reform in public morals and
political estate has been achieved q result Our eec-
tons, on three occasions have been poaceabIe
and untanted by fraud quiet and order
reign IN our streets virtue s not openly out
ragged on the highways; deadly weapons longer
publicly displayed and defanty used; liberty of speech
and of the press no longer msnoner tho of
bloodshsd; public plumber neither practicable
the object for which Office Is sought; rigid scrutiny INTO
public affairs has been naugurated, and " consistently
maintained BY citizens whou, let or hndrance the Offices
Of the city and county have been died by men Of proby
who the undoubted choice Of the electoral majority
ballot box stung and fraudulent election returns at
end the people have confidence that political
favorSm Will in future the convicted guilty
from the punishment decreed by law; tho community
enjoys tranquil repose and hopeful prosperity ms
state a affairs con,rasted with that which existed when
your abors commenced, procams the magnitude OF tbs
uumphs that have been achieved. We believe that thu
people happy and contened under the change, desire
that every Of future excitement and possible
chy should be removed.
The highest duty and aim of the Committee Of Vigilance
is TO establish the rights and promote the welfare and tran
auluy of tho community which conhded interests to
the charge Of that body To any Of the expa
trtated who might have the temeriV 70 return, would
under the changed and existing state Of Affairs interrupt
tho present peace and quiet of our city, without bringing
adequate advantage. The necessity for such cansa al
public excitement longer exists The return OF mo-
worthless individual and the execution OF the death Pc
nalty upon him, should weigh the scale with the ps.c,
and happiness OF our citizens ON the other hand
carry out the extreme penalty returned criminal,
during its existence sentence would sultfy the
mittee, and v remedy at which the stern and rcsouts
character OF its members would revolt. Ether contn-
gency s too serious hazard the chance Of the nou
return ~ one of the exilcd.
banished for the public good their presence ~ times
past having been the signal for disorder or the cause ~
frauds upon the rights Of the peopcrendered poweess
az they now but assert our srengm ana conn-
deDce In the support Of public opinion by me present act
Determined the people 70 protect ther rghts no
fear need be former scenes OF nuy,
violence and Official corruption viii ever DC IN
San Francisco.
The resolution now adopted s not so much an act of
cemency 10 the guilty regard 10 the interests OF the
public Yet the annals of history furnish abundant pre-
cedent for The removal the penalty q banshment upoo
Turbulent and offensive cbrscters where goySnments
have attained b. position of strength and repose which
did moi exst At the period Of the expariaton. Why
then shnuId We who do not claim the dignity 0f ahor
Az "a government, be reluctant 20 follow the weH estab-
Isbed preresent of stronger and exalted powers
when the necessity FOR MAINTAINING the penalty longer
exists
will be seen by the tenor Of the rcsou,on that tho
sentence of banishmc~t s not revoked, the committee
have 10 retract IN their DEGREES 0 exgtriaon
they simply relieved ~ their present act from tho
Obligation inic the death penalty returned exies
the dis, of banshmen, stu upon hen. ii
they return, will bo upon suBorance they VIII BE- sui