Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-03-16
They Have Disbanded.
rFrom the Aurora Times, March 18th.

The Vigilance, or Citizens Safety committee,
have wound up, what the members 'nereoi con
Sidered their business. and adJourne" s'he dte,
night before last. This organization coIIlienue I
on or about the 3D. ultmO, and continued iIttIe
more than one month. All must admit 1t 10 nave
been an organization outside. and Ill contraEch'!oh
of law while ut the same time none can dispute
the extraordinary and alarming state VI lacts tn'i'
brought it into existence. 1t Is NOT within 'He
scope of argument to prove thar such VI s"niES
tions have for their support any known prlnGiPie
of law natures first and great law OF "hicn
man. under all circumstances, may avail himself
to-wit EefpreservatiOn. When inns lalIS III up
plication to the particular case those VINO are ell
gagged in their formation and action VIII nave 10
bear whatever of odium may attach tncrt'u: W.
are aware that it has been often Saia. anu iIus
too that Vigilance Committees ought NOT 10 De
formed; not TO exist: that citizens should not
take the law into their own hands. 1t can WIN
the same propriety. be said that crime should NOT
be committed that one should moi injurc his neigh
Dor; that none should steal neither quarret ana
fight, and by no means should one XIII MS ielIo"-
man. These things arc enjOned upon the human
family, and no reasonable man, cooHy considering
them will pretend to contradict tn" correctness oil
each proposition
Are they not all violatcd1 We often hear
things spoken of al necessary evils. we 40 moi
regard Vigilance Committees III coming uhuer in'lt
definition even admitting such evils proohole'
that Vigilance Committees, as wei as every DAY
occurrences, 90 to illustrate the difference De-
tween what man should be and what he really 49,
The former condition will likely never be attained.
The lattrrNye have to deal with, and our conduct
for good or evil must be measured thereby.
Penalties imposed upon those VINO VIOLATE the
law are not provided because the community en-
acting them would inflict punishment upon evil
doors in 4 spirit of revenge. but 10 warn others,
and thereby prevent the commission OF crime.
The old law, AN eye for IN eye ana tooth lOr
TOOTH" is said TO have passed away, and It may
be 80. But he who abaudonS the path OF rccti'
tude heeis not the admoniton OF humanity,
stains his hands with his fellows blood, may es-
cape punishment for time, yet the inSultcd peo'
pie will finally bear no more, and If they do not
revive that old law in detail may come TO the con-
cusion 10 demand head for head. We have
said that punishment IL inflicted 10 prevent crime
In view of the circumstances. we must regard the
action of the Committee rs being for that pur,
pose 1t is true that some scrubs and possibly bad
men were associated with the organization, out
certainly none will claim that other than prom!'
rent, respectable and good citizens controlled H.
Bad spirits may be found everywhere. We read
of teudish subjects that at one time were even III
the precincts of heaven, and were in close com
munion with saints Of the blessed
The Committee have disbandrd. and we arc
glad of il. and may the citizens never have auoth-
er occasion excuse for this assembling, IS our
most sincere WISH. luOse VINO uTc DHltiiN VIZ
posed 10 such Committee, permit us to conJnre
you TO pursue that course which will insure the
passing away and entirely making them unca!led
for in the future. Await not until the deeds OF
horror and bloodshed have been committed IN
our midst, and then raise your opposition to the
action of those whose patience with offenders has
been exhausted but commence against the cause
give your influence 10 the prevention Of crime,
check the pcrniciuus plant in the bud, and we VIII
venture the assertion that our city will never
sgain be subject TO the action of an illegal COM
ulittrc or association. 1t is said that everything
mortal must have an end. Apeople ever so kind,
patient, and furbeariug. will finally give over
these traits under the continued imposition OF
the vicious, and when they do these same cool,
deliberate characteristics will be turned TO avenEe
the wrongs they have so long suffered. Then be
warned in time Act the part of men governed by
principles of right, Justice and equity, and we
need never tenra recurrence of the scenes which
have passed at Aurora during the last month.