The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-03-18
THE yIGILANTs OF 1sso.

How San Francisco was PuFEed OF ~
LaWieSs Elements u Quarter OF n Cen
tury AGO.
New York Herald.
The famous episode in the early history
Of California which excited the attention
Of the civilized world in 1855 has become
dimmed in general recollection by stu
pendous intervening events, although per-
fectly well remembered in California it
self. The only precise knowledge 1t pos
sessed by the new generation is derived
from Gen. Sherman, who, in his "Me-
molrs," glvss a lively, but one sided and
hostile sketch Of It's history.
Gen. Sherman was at the time banker
in San Francisco. Some time before the
creation Of the vigilance committee he
had been appointed Major General of the
State militia, but had not accepted and
qualified. On the outbreak OF the dis
turbances he was pursuaded by the gov.
ernor 10 take the office, and he entered
with characteristic dash and zeal upon
the task Of suppressing the "vigilants."
As the movement was outside the law II
was the duty Of the State government TO
suppress 1t, and II was for Gen. Sherman,
as commander OF the militia, TO devise the
plan.
But he had mo- success, and threw up
his commission in disgust. He applied
10 Commodore Farragnt, then stationed
at San Francisco, for ship, but was re-
fused. He applied to General Wool, then
commanding the United States troops in
California, for arms. He asserts in the
memoirs" that they were promised, and
that General Wool afterward denied his
promise, and he Is pretty severely hand.
led In the "Memoirs" in consequence.
When that alleged promise was violated,
Sherman found that he was powerless,
since all the arms on the coast were in
possession either OF the vigilants or Cen
eral Wool. Thereupon Sherman resign.
ed his commissioner and went back to his
bank. An application was afterward made
by the Governor 10 President Pierce for
federal assistance, which was refused. |
The best public opinion was strongly on
the side Of the yigilants that it was deem.
ed unwise to interfere.
The state Of affairs was much worse |
than than It is now. Casey, the Kearney
OF that period, bad been exposed in the
Bulletin as graduate OF Sing Sing Prison.
On the same day he shot King, the editor,
in the street before the latter could draw
his pistol. This was the elimination OF
an excitement which had been growing
for weeks. Casey, after the shooting,
went and surrendered himself to the
sheriff. friend. The next day after
Kings funeral the vigilantes went to the
prison, seized Casey, tried him by their
secret tribunal, convicted and sentenced
him, and on the following day hanged
him and another murderer, Cora, in front
OF the vigilance headquarters. These swift
measures struck terror into the corrupt
ring, and the vigilantes kept control for
the ensuing three months, until they had
accomplished their work, in the course OF
which they hanged four miscreants and
banished about twenty. The most re-
markable instance OF their defiant and re-
lentless energy was their arrest OF the
Chief Justice OF the State for stabbing one
OF their constables, and they would have
hanged him If the constable had died Of
Of his wound.
The friends OF Terry, the Chief Justice,
applied to the United States Judge for
habeas corpus, which he found apretext
for refusing. They afterward procured q
habeas from State Judge, which put the
vigilants in a dilemma. But their wits
were equal to the occasion. Before the
officer could approach to serve the writ
they had spirited away the Chief Justice
and then opened their doors and told the
officer to satisfy himself that they were de-
tanning nobody in custody. When they
had done their work they resigned, amid
a festive celebration. Although they were
technical murderers no attempt was made
to punish them, for no jury could have
been found to bring in verdict OF guilty.
For the ensuing twenty years San Fran
cisco was one Of the best governed cities
in the United States.
Such extreme resorts are always to be
deprecated, and we trust and believe that
that terrible example Of rebellion against
the law in the interest OF justice is not to
be repeated, and that Kearney will not
share the fate OF Casey.