Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-15
LIZ vIaILANoE C0MMITTEE.

THE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE.
The Pafriet, after acknowledging that the Ameri-
can party controls the city government Of New Or
leans, sud after 7ainly attempting to defend the
outrageous conduct Of the authorities in their en-
enlargement of crime and disorder in that city, has
finally abandoned the task Of sustaining its Know
Nothing brethren in their lawessuess and guilt, and
devotes portion Of its last issue to the denunca
ton Of the Vigilance Committed. With al the.in-
genuity and ability which The Patriot could bring
to bear in vindicaion Of its political friends, it has
not been able to shield the rufians who ruled the
city from the condemnation Of al impartial and
unprejudlced minds. The press Of its own party
the Banner, Of this oity-refused to yindicate the
outlaws, and united with Us in denouucing their
villainy. The Patriot was thus left almost alone,
without single disinterested witness to sustain il
in its position The Thug" organ the Crescent,
was The solitary authority upon which the Pairiot
relied for the justification Of its party allies in New
Orleans 1t now seeks to divert attention from the
aWkwardness Of its situation by opening lie bate
ries upon the Vigilance Committee. But We cannot
suffer it to escape so easily. Having admitted that
the KnoW-Nothing party held the reins Of municipal
authority, the KnOw-NOthing party must be ae-
oountabe for the abuse Of their power and the bad
government Of the city. The Patriot is obliged TO
admit that his party is responsible for the evils
which they authorized committed, and the people
viii be compelled to conclude that organization
which cannot control city,. without filing its
streets with crime and bloodshed should not be
trusted with the management Of State nation.
The Patriot itself should abandon an organization
which il cannot rescue from the just Odium 1t has
provoked and aid the friends Of good government,
in every city and community throughout the coun-
try, in freeing themselves from its baneful infuen
css. The Vigilance Committee was organized with
this view. It is composed Of the most respectable
members Of the Wing and Democratic parties, and
many Of the better class Of KnOWNOthings, dis
gusted with the crimes of their political associates
united in the movement. Prominent among the
leaders of this organization we recognize the names
of C. N. CoSBAD, late Secretary of War under Mr.
FILLMORE, and the Hon. PIERRE SoULE. formerly
Senator in Congress from Louisiana. WIN the Pa
triOt question the responsibility Of these gentlemen
or denounce them as outlaws and enemies to good
Order2 These men, and others equally respectable
signed the following card, which shows the objects
which the Vigilance Committee desired to accom-
plish by their organization:
NEW ORLEANS, May, 1858.
To Major 6. 7. BEAUREGARD-
DEAR sIR-We, the undersigned, citizens Of New
Orleans, entertaining a deep interest in the good
name and prosperity of our city, and feeling the
importance Of rescuing the administration OF the
municipal government from the baneful influences
of party politics, respectfully ask your AID IN so de-
sirable an effort, by permitting to your name
a. independent candidate for the office Of May
or at the ensuing election, 10 be held on the 9TH
June next
The Patriot quotes the New Orleans Bu2etia, an
old whig paper, to sustain itself in iseOndemnatOn
Of the independent movement in New Orleans and
closes with the following paragraph:
The whole story briefly told is, that sham dem
Oorsic minority in the City Of New Orleans, took
the hypooritical name Of Independents to defeat
the American party they pitched upon Fed
eral Office holder to head the ticket; concealed
their purposes by charging all sorts of criminalty
upon the existing authorities Wheedled number
Of well meaning Americans into the movement
and finally organized a mob Of law and order de- 1
fers, under the name of a Vigilance Committee, to
carry out the scheme with bayOnets, powder, slung
shots, bowie knives, and the other insignia of ban
dts and outlaws 1t is less fortunate than 1t is
ereditabe 20 the citizens of New Orleans that they
rose in their might and crushed this nefsrious at
tempt to subjugate them TO a party, which they
have more reason now than ever, to distrust and
despise.- Patriot Of Monday.
Since the Patriot has called the Bulletins author
lily to its aid, we will quote few passages from
that paper to show how far it harmOnizes with the
Patriots sentiments on this subject:
If there eDer ,gas increment urhich perfectly ignored
9oljtcs haDig reference alone to the restoration ofOrdr
and security the community and freedom election
days, the present Is such 1t is what it purports
to be, an Independent Movement and, as we have
before said, embraces the staunchest Old Line
Wings Americans and Democrats. This is the true
basis. No ticket for a municipal government ever
ought TO include general politics. This principle
think is beginning to be pretty generally recog
nzed and viii hereafter be acted upOn or We great
ly misinterpret public sentiment. Let the bona
fde voters Of the city, those who have no purpose
but the good Of New Orleans at heart, therefore,
give this movement steady unwavering, and per
severing support and its success will open up new
and golden era for this great COrnucOPia.-BuiletiH
Again the Bulletin says:
We say the present movement has the distinct 4
approval and warm support Of Of the most Op- 4
pOsite political principles men representing differ
ent classes, professions, ana views; many Of whom |
have for years stood aoof from our municipal af- |
fairs, who have wished only TO enjoy the benefits of
peace and good government, but who now, deprived |
Of these, and seeing no hope ofsecuring them with
out an effort, have come forward, and, putting their
shoulders to the wheel, determined TO pretermit
no proper efforts till New Orleans is redeemed re-
generated, and dsentbralled.
We are no alarmists but If the disorders the
black deSolqtiHg disorders Cih lrbich all readers
familiar, ia this city, not stayed, then God help
It's business as merchants its property hOtieTs its tar
payers. Let them look 10 it. They have an Oppor-
tunity now to help themselves. A better one could
hardly be desired. The community is awakened
Political antagonism is hushed. Harmony of sen
timcnt reigns supreme Tue movement has been
well and wisely commenced, and the grand ground
swell Of popular feeling in its favor be mis-
taken. The tide comes in strong and steady. The
moment is propitous. The great popular heart has
been touched and 1t throbs true to nature
The men Of the city must therefore rally and
by decisive energetic, manly effort, strike the
fetters-the CALLING fetteTs-from this metropolis
that she may stand proudly erect and free!
Now, we ask our readers whether they will re-
CeiEe the Patriots unsupported assertions on this
subject, in preference to the authority Of the BuIs
tin, paper located in the very midst Of the scenes
which it describes, and unbiased by party sfilia
lions political prejudices? We refrain from quo
ting the opinions of numerous other papers which
might be supposed to be Influenced by partizan feel
ings We think the evidence we have produced
amply sufficient to refute empty declaration
RON, tho pggrSof