The sweeping purification of 1851 served long to restrain many evils, but as watchfulness relaxed they sprang up again, changed somewhat in their nature, however, from the former predominant outrages on property and life, to the less glaring phases of political corruption. It was deemed safer and more profitable to steal from the public, under cover of law, than to rouse the outcry that must result from individual spoliation. Thus, at a time when commercial prosperity was on the decline, taxes were increased to four per cent to furnish dissolute and scheming officials with money, even the funds not embezzled being diverted into channels most conducive to sustaining them in authority. And to this end public positions, requiring able and trusted men, were distributed among the subservient tools of domineering bullies, knaves, and ruffians, who manipulated the ballot, and reduced judicial investigation to a farce.

An ominous frown of discontent had for some time been gathering on the public brow, when on May 14, 1856, the community was startled by the predetermined assassination of James King of William, editor of the Evening Bulletin, a man of fearless nature, who had assumed the task of exposing roguery and promoting administrative reform. The murderer, James Casey, also an editor, was a noted politician, whose greater zeal. On Aug. 22d it hanged a reprieved robber. As the centre of a district overrun by horse-thieves, and entrepôt for the southern mines, Stockton suffered greatly, and on June 13th a citizen police was organized by 170 volunteers, preliminary to a vigilance committee. Marysville had its committee, which adjourned in Oct., only to meet in the following month for the pursuit of Murieta's band. In July 1952 it was revived by incendiarisms, and continued to act as late as 1858, when five desperadoes were sent away. Shasta, Nevada City, Grass Valley, Eureka, and Mokelumne Hill figure ia the list, the last two applying the noose in 1852 and 1853. Sonora was among the most busy in the daily dispensation for some time of whipping and banishment, with shaving the head and branding H. T., even on the cheek. At the same time, she displayed a generous charity in efforts to save the less culpable from temptation. San José and Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Santa Bárbara, and San Diego, were represented in the south. At Los Angeles robber gangs and riots kept the place in a turmoil. In several towns were uprisings at a later period, as at Monterey, Truckee, and Visalia, the last named doing sweeping work, and Truckee obtaining martyrdom for one of its defenders. For details of vigilance work in and beyond California in early days, with its exciting and romantic episodes, I refer to my Popular Tribunals, passim.

VIGILANCE COMMITTEE OF 1856.

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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 sclected 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 radicals. Seldom has been seen an array of patriots playing soldier who combined more intelligence and zec...

13

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 oll appraisers' store. Description, with plans and views in my Pop. Tri., ii. 97-18. The first temporary quarters were at 105 Sacramento st. The constitution of 1851 was revi ed 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 an 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

17

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 governors. Pop. Tri., ii. 359.

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 gov ernor'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.