The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-06-10
A Vigilance Committee in New Orleans.

A Vigilance Committee in New Orleans.
For some days past, our exchanges
contain the intelligence of a serious
disturbance in New Orleans, and the
appointment of Vigilance Committee.
The announcement of such a thing as
the appointment of Vigilance Com
mittee in. city like New Orleans, that
annually pays millions of dollars to sus-
tain police force, to preserve order,
is, to say the least, rather startling. /
appears from the telegraph dispatches,
that the municipal authorities-the
police force-consists of gang of ruff
fans and desperadoes, who participate
in crime and disorder, instead of sup
pressing it; and the people have at last
risen and taken the reins into their own
hands, with the intention of admins
tering the laws so as to keep order, and
as means of self protection. The
latest accounts brings the intelligence
that the city is in state of intense
excitement; that the Vigilance Com
mittee had erected barricades, and
was still fortifying its position, and mo-
mentarily expected a battle; that La
fayette Square was in possession of the
mob, where they had cannon loaded
with grape, commanding all approaches
to the square.
1t is also reported that the Mayor
has surrendered to the Vigilance au-
thorities, and that he has issued proc
lamation revoking the powers of the
Recorders to appoint special police, but
who refuse to give up their authority,
and have appointed some eight hun
dred special police, among whom are
some of the worst men in the city, and
they have arrested several men known
to belong to the Vigilance Committee.
Samuel III. Kennedy, commission mer-
chant, was acting as Mayor, under the
authority of the Committee. The re-
ports say that Randall Hunt and other
distinguished citizens had been ordered
to leave the city, or remain at their
peril. On the 5th an editor of the Pic
ayune was arrested for being drunk
and disorderly. Monday two reporters
were arrested by the special police, as
dangerous characters, but were dis
charged on parole. 1t was confidently
asserted that no election would take
place on Monday, the 18th, and rumor
had it that the Sheriff had seized the
ballot boxes. Itwas thought that some
five or six of the leaders of the mob
would be executed.
On Saturday evening during the con-
fusion of an attack on the barbados,
there were four of the Committees
forces killed and twelve wounded by
the accidental discharge of cannon.
There is no telling where the dis
turbance will end, as affairs go on from
bad to worse daily. But we believe,
with the Buffalo Commercial, that this
revolutionary and extraordinary pro-
ceeding, is matter of sad omen for
our country. If it is uncalIed for, q
wanton overthrow of the civil powers
by violent men, it is deeply to be re-
GREETED; but if it is step justified by
the escape of criminals from justice
the failure of the municipal authorities
Ito maintain order, or of courts to ell.
force the punishment of offenders, then
it is much more an occurrence sugges-
tive of deep evils in the body polite.
LATER.-Since the above was in
type, the telegraph brings the intelli.
gence that quiet was partially restored
by the election of Gerard Stith, Amer
lean, to the Mayorship of the city. Mr..
Stith was one of the City Recorders,
who fought the Vigilance Committee
from the commencement. 1t is said
that the Committee has been disbanded,
and that writs have been issued for the
arrest of the leaders on a charge OF
high treason. The dispatches are to
the 9Th inst, as follows: a5aai
New ORLEANS, June s.--Gerard
Stith, American candidate, has 200
majority. Many of the principal names
on his ticket are defeated. City quiet.
The Vigilance camp broke up last night,
disbanded, but not disorganized. They
say they are ready to carry out their
principles at any moment. The muni-
cipal authorities are engaged in arrest
ing all concerned in the Vigilance
movement. Writs are issued for the
arrest of the leaders on charge of high
treason. 9H
| DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION