VIGILANCE COMMITTEE OF 1856.

747

eastern record as a convict had been exposed by his victim. This slaying of a champion of the afflicted citizens, and by a pronounced public swindler, roused in the breasts of all good men the greatest indignation, and set on foot measures which were to raise King of William to the rank of a martyr, while dealing destruction to the public foes. The long-silent bell was quickly sounded, and a new work of reform was begun.

Recognizing as before the danger lurking in a maddened crowd, the remnant of former vigilance members determined on May 15th to revive the old committee on a plan more suited to the changed condition of affairs, and the prospective encounter with greater opponents. An executive committee of forty members was chosen, under the presidency of William T. Coleman, a prominent merchant, a model Californian for enterprise and integrity, and a man possessed of practical sense, presence of mind, and determined courage. The members of the general committee, which quickly mustered 6,000 men,10 and later increased to 8,000, were organized into a military body, mainly infantry, armed with muskets and clubs, complemented by some cavalry, flying-artillery, and a marine battery, with commissary, medical, and police departments, and patrol service. Subscription soon reached $75,000, and several hundred thousand flowed in due time into the treasury from dues and voluntary subscriptions, to cover the outlay for armament, police, testimony,

At first of 26. For names of officers, see Pop. Trib., ii. 113 et seq., with biographic traits of leaders.

10 During the first 24 hours 1,500 enrolled, and in July 6,000 stood on the list, with many more ready to join in case of emergency.

11 Employing constantly 300 or 400 men. When 4,000 strong there were 40 companies, including two companies of cavalry, three of flying-artillery, one marine battery, and one pistol company. The police numbered 200 or 300 men, partly from the city police, and several under pay; the medical dept had a hospital; the commissary attended also to rations for the patrol. The companies elected their own officers, and many possessed their special armories. C. Doane was chosen marshal or general, with Col Olney as second. No uniform was required, but most members wore a dark frock-coat and cap. In Aug. they possessed 1,900 muskets, 250 rifles, 4 brass six-pounders, 2 iron nine-pounders, 5 smaller pieces, a portable barricade on wheels, also swords, pistols, etc. A board of delegates, composed of three members from each company, had to confirm verdicts.

deportation, and other demands. Headquarters were selected on Sacramento street,12 east of Front street. In the ranks of the reformers were persons of all classes and creeds, laborers, merchants, and mechanics, master and man alike shouldering a musket, standing guard, and marching side by side. They differed from their brethren of 1851 in having among their number more solid business men, with a sufficient majority of sedate, deliberative, and broad-minded conservatives to control the hot-headed ràdicals. Seldom has been seen an array of patriots playing soldier who combined more intelligence and zes..

13 י

The first task was to secure and try Casey, who to escape popular fury had eagerly availed himself of the protection of the jail, there to wait till the storm abated sufficiently to permit the usual circumvention of justice. His voluntary surrender being hopeless, the committee mustered en masse to enforce it, advancing in sections, by different approaches, toward the jail. It was Sunday, May 18th. A sabbath stillness reigned throughout the city, broken only by the measured tread of the reformers and the call to worship of church bells. The law-and-order party was also abroad, confident in the stout walls of the prison; but as the line of gleaming bayonets grew denser around it their smile of derision faded, and it was with serious apprehensions that they beheld the yawning muzzle of a gun uncovered before the entrance. They saw the hopelessness of opposition. Casey was surrendered, together with another murderer named Cora.14

Rebellion! was the cry of the law-and-order party,

12 Old no. 41. It was the old appraisers' store. Description, with plans and views in my Pop. Trib., ii. 97-108. The first temporary quarters were at 105 Sacramento st. The constitution of 1851 was revised and adopted. Text in Id., 112-13. The inspection of jails was an early task.

13 Fit to found a state organization, a nation,' as the London Times exclaims. Men of nerve and honor, aiming for no reward. Americans from the northern states predominated, then westerners, followed by southerners and foreigners. Many sympathizers gave pecuniary aid while holding personally aloof.

Cheers began to roll up from the exultant spectators, but a sign of admonition hushed them into mute approval.

which found itself baffled in many respects. Its appeal for volunteers had brought only a feeble response, chiefly on the part of lawyers and politicians.15 The local authorities nevertheless planned a campaign. A habeas corpus for a certain prisoner being evaded by the committee, the attitude was construed into defiance of state authorities, and Governor Johnson, a man of narrow views and vacillating character, thereupon appealed to the United States troops for arms, declared San Francisco in a state of insurrection, and called out the militia. But the arms were refused, and the militia held back.16

Meanwhile the committee had tried the two prisoners with all fairness, and condemned them to death. The sentence was carried out on May 22d, at the time the remains of the assassinated editor were on the way to the cemetery with solemn and imposing pageantry." The reformers followed up their task by ferreting crime, watching officials, collecting testimony, and driving out malefactors; but the greatest test was yet before them. On June 21st, during the arrest of a noted political trickster, a scuffle ensued, wherein a committee officer was stabbed by Terry, judge of the state supreme court, who leaving his duties at the capital had come to drag his already soiled ermine in the demagogical slums of San Francisco. A moment later the significant tap was heard, and within a few minutes the reformers were flocking up and falling into line. The law-and-order men had noted the signal; but while they were still gathering, their

15 Assisted by a number of catholics and southerners whom King had assailed. Both the military battalions of the city disbanded to avoid serving against their fellow-citizens. 'Not one in ten responded,' reported the gov ernors. Pop. Tri., ii. 350.

16 By orders of June 21 and 3d, W. T. Sherman, appointed major-general of militia and given the military command in San Francisco, promised to quickly disperse the vigilance men. Sherman soon resigned, disgusted with the governor's attitude, and was succeeded by Volney E. Howard, who talked much and fought little. U. S. Gen. Wool and Capt. Farragut declined to interfere. Loud appeals come in vain from Sacramento and elsewhere against the proclamation.

17 The procession was two miles in length. Places of business were closed; distant towns hell simultaneous obsequies, and joined in subscribing a fund for the widow, which reached about $30,000.

prompter opponents were upon them with bayonets fixed and artillery in limber. One body arrested Terry, and others enforced the surrender of dif ferent strongholds, thus seizing the pretence and opportunity to cripple the foe. Terry's stab had stricken down his own party, while crowning the victors with triumph.

For a time the life of the chief justice hung on a thread; but the disabled officer recovering, the offender was arraigned on minor charges. The executive committee found, after a trial of twenty-five days, that while Terry undoubtedly deserved expatriation, he was too strong politically to be treated like an ordinary criminal. The state and federal authorities might join to interfere in behalf of a supreme judge, and failure would injure the prestige of the committee. The success of their cause demanded an acquittal, and so it was decreed, despite the disappointment of the unreflecting members against the seeming lack of equity and firmness. The decision was wise, for a sentence of banishment, which could not have been enforced, would have entailed, not only serious litigation against the city, but the annulment of other sentences and general discomfiture.19

The struggle with the state government brought another victory for the reformers. The governor had prepared to carry out his proclamation, partly by transmitting armament from the interior; but the committee boldly boarded the vessels laden therewith and seized the weapons.20 They nevertheless took measures for defence by intrenching themselves at head

18 About 1,000 stand of arms were taken, besides pistols, swords, and ammunition, and 200 prisoners, including U. S. naval agent R. Ashe. The prisoners were soon released. Gen. Howard blustered nervously to prop his fallen prestige and plumes.

19 The board of vigilance aelegates held out for some time against the acquittal. Terry took refuge on board the U. S. sloop of war John Adams, whose commander had been blustering against the reformers till his superior quieted him. The judge thereupon returned to his court at Sacramento.

20 Their officers were arraigned for piracy, which implied death; but as it was shown that the arms were seized temporarily to prevent bloodshed, the jury acquitted them.