Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1874-04-03
,ILANCE COMITTEES OF SAN
FRAN CISCO.

erv naturally the publication of
keral Shernlan'S letter to Judge
HI. in the Oreyidnd Nonthiy of Feb
~, relative to the Vigilance Com
zee of lS56, has caused much dis
ion as to the correctness of his
ement Of facts, and the SoundneSS
be Judgment he passes on the re-
s that flowed from the transactions
The Committee. While none will
n that he believed in the entire
u of what he wrote, Il large part
hc people ofthe city and state, who
ember the events, cannot accept
Statements and conclusions as quite
hcnir or just. No man who had
lived in California for years pre-
bS. could understand the peculiar
ation of affairs at the time of which
General wrote; and it is not ut all
Inge that he made mistakes in con
kion> as we'll as in the facts he de-
fd from persons opposed to the
nmltee. 70 properly understand
condition of society, ut the time of
Hast Vigilance Committee. it would
necessary to 90 back to the wear
when Il body of desperadoes
<wn as The Hounds" openly rob-
people in the public streets, tore
In the tents and Shantics of unof-
1ing ChilcnoS and others, and did
to shoot all who resisted
h. 1t WAS not until these outrageS
become so common and notorious
it was evident no mans life or
*pprtv WaS safe. cit her day or night,
i the citizens were aroused to the
l2er of their condition. At length,
Etlcd that no other course could be
en with any prospect of safety, a
WAS iSSlled for Il public meeting on
plaza, Monday. July 10Th, 1912.
] meeting took place, an or@aizalion
rc>olvcd ON, and Immediately car
! into effect. An armed body OF he
nbcr> WAS formed. who proceeded
hwi h to apprchend the criminals.
accused were tried and convicted.
a court composed of some of the
citizens, and various sentences
fe passed upon them; but i'll no ease
the life of any one taken, though
ga> evident that some of the Of
ler> were hardly fit 10 live. These
hSnrrS ha1 Il SallitatOry effect for Il
e; but as most of the criminals re-
ined i'll the city. they by degrees
nmcd the bold practice of their mis-
iS. and with the addition of others
the same sort from almost every
n of the globe. they were even more
ngerouS than before. In two wears
Elca>t a dozen murders had been
Hmlltcd, Vet not one murderer had
II the penalty OF his life. lnnu-
(rablc eases of burglary, robbery.
Pm, and attempts to kill We're known
he public, and it was evident that
offenders laughed at and detied the
lble efforts of the authorities to
Rirol them-that the tedious pro-
seS of legal tribunals had no ter
p, II, indeed, the judges were not
aid to impose the penalties required
law. Such being the situation OF
MS, Vigilance Committee was or
1lzed in June. 1851, with written ar
es OF association. Its membership
fiuded large portion of the most i'll
ehtal citizens, men who justly pos
sed the confidence of the respectable
~ oi the community. They arrest
! tred, and executed several notori-
j burglars and desperadoe>; the eff
ol Which was TO drive away many
IL similar character, and to make
r return to the city and to their for
II Practices II dangerous undertake
J. People breathcd more freely
zen they were assured the Williams
L. had gone unpuniShed so long,
u. some of them, been capitallN
EEi>hed. while others had LETT town,
triilg their turn would come next. 1t
ts admitted by all honest, induStri-
u chizens that the acts of the com
ptee We're not only .justitiab.e and
to the community, but were
Is"iltely required by the circum-
:llces of the times. BY these means,
plhes Of the character alluded to
gre TO great extent suppressed; but,
yer all, most of the -defving, des-
'''ie men We're still to be found in
! eity, plvin" their various trades Of
Ne. . II was believed very generally
a. many had contrived to make pol
- Profitable, by packing primary
.ihS> and political conventions, Sc
!, i"@ ihe nomination of the candi-
80 'a VINO paid and promised them The
80 ana relying on those officials for
o'e''ion from legal punishment.
~ dli not hesitate to stuff ballot
- WIN spurious votes, 10 secure
~ 'iF'tl"n of their friends, aS was as
/ 7, - ned at Il later period.
! w ""N III tins time that James King
i N. WAS thrown out of business as
,aiNcr by trusting To the representa-
N oi an agent, and advancing
a,N 10y To an irresponsible water com-
10y III the mines. PAVING on all his