Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1858-06-12

THE ENcAMPMENT OF THE VIGILANr Con-
mrrEE:-The mass of the people OF New
Orleans were up betimes yesterday, and
breakfasted early, in order to be out
upon, the streets, and walsh the move
mentssof the two ~contendlng powers
Many were foolish enough to imagine
that the buncombe speeches Of Col
Christy and Henry had aroused a war
like spirit into the souls Of the quas
militia, but when the time came for &C
ton, not only had the troops departed
but their leaders were not to be found
An organization was attempted about
midday, but a shower coming up scat
tered the forces, and the cannon were
left to touch off themselves, and the
stacked %bayonets to- make an automaton
charge.
The query naturally arises, if a show
or of rain so ~disorganized things, what
would a shower of bullets have done?
about the same time, at the headquar-
tiers of the Vigilants, Il barricade was
being thrown up at the corner of St.
Peter and Royal, made Of pieces of
scantling laid across the street, and the
square blocks Of the pavement torn up
for the occasion and placed on top The
stones were taken from in front of the
b%arricade, but did not prevent the pas
sage of carriages and %omnibuses. The
crowd around the different outposts i'll
creased towards midday, and the streets
were cleared several times by squads,
who with fixed bayonets, drove them
like SO many sheep, pell-mell before
them One man, who was a little OBJ
s%tinate, had a bayonet run through his
glossy silk hat, which operation quick
ened his steps, and starting off at a full
gallop, left his hat and obstinacy behind.
q The rules and regulations of the Com
mittee had become more and more strict,
and at 3 o'clock no one was allowed to
enter, and those who were already in
side were obliged.to procure a written
permission from the commanding officer
to pass. out. Hundreds of persons APP
piled for enrolment but were refused;
the officers stating that the force already
was more than, sufficient. About one
o'clock Mayor Waterman, whose head
quarters are at the Arsenal, was prevail
ed upon by some persons from up town,
to send a note to Recorder Stith, the
nominee for Mayor, authorizing him to
swear in any persons he might see fit, to
act as special police, so as to preserve
the peace and quiet Of the city, Accor-
d~ingly,,as will be seer elsewhere, Recor-
der Stith issued a proclamation calling
upon the citizensto come up to the First
District Recorders office, and help to
restore the city to its usual quiet state
Accompanying the proclamation was
one from the Chief ofthe Police, Colonel
.Eorno, desiring the day and night po-
lice to come up tothe offices of their res
pectlve l~ieutenants, and report them
selves ready for duty. This action of
Mayor Waterman, which was unlocked
Tor, created a slight reaction in his favor
by the opposition, and some of them
were lndlscreet enough to hurrah for
him. ~e~ssrsvg
The snrollmest Q thA Special Police Nm,
der Recorder Stith then commenced am
quite a number was on the streeta Will
the new badges and paraded themselves
down st. Charles street, looking bigee,
than life. But their glory was SHORTLY
ed for about 5 o'clock another note cam,
from the Mayor countermanding the o.
der and commanding Recorder Stith t
desist from enrolling any more men, an
to furnish the names ,of those who ha
been enlisted. The howl of disappoin.
ment which came from the mouths (
, the mushroom police vas truly pitiable
They ranted and raved like madmen, an
vowed eternal vengence against Mayo
Waterman, and some suggested th
Ipropriety Of hanging him to the neares
lamp-post, but to get him first was tn
question, and 40 one among the crow,
would undertake to, tie the bell. roun,
the neck of the cat.
It was then rumored that no oficia
notice had been received countermand
/ ing the first, and the enrolment of name
again continued Col. Lumsden, of tn,
Picayune, it appears, went down to. tn
h~eadnnarferc If the Viri1ants uvhcn \