San Francisco Vigilance Committee of 1856 | Page 6

him to a speedy, public and ignominious death. The People,
whom he had so long abused and deprived of their rights, as at last
almost to have learned to ignore their very existence, had reached that
point at which forbearance had ceased to be a virtue. Through the City
darted with the speed of light the intelligence of his crime; and to the
scene of it rushed from all the streets, lanes and by ways of the City,
with wild haste and fearful imprecations, the thousands upon thousands
whom that word of fearful import had filled with sorrow, hate and
desperate resolve. Filling every street and avenue in the neighborhood
with the innumerable multitude which swayed to and fro like the
tempest tossed waves of ocean; the main body continued for hours,
loading the air with hoarse murmurs or angry shouts; detachments
breaking off from time to time to rush with frantic speed and hurl
themselves successively but impotently upon the iron doors and stone
walls of the Station House or Jail.
During the evening, so threatening became the demonstrations of the
people that every effort was made by the authorities to reinforce the
Police. Armed men were dispatched from time to time to be stationed
around and on the top of the Jail. They were received, as they made
their way through the dense mass with hootings and execrations. The
Mayor vainly endeavoured to obtain a hearing, and to calm the fiery
passion of the multitude. With wild rage, fruitless clamor and
ineffective effort, that great crowd waited impatiently but vainly for
some leader to give direction to their energy. At half past eleven a
mounted battalion consisting of the California Guards, First Light
Dragoons and National Lancers, were mustered, supplied with
ammunition, and marched off to the Jail, where they did duty during
the night. The safety of the Prison being now provided for, the people
quietly dispersed to their homes, not, however, until a Committee,
consisting of Messrs. Macondry, Palmer and Sims in whom they had
confidence had been sent in, and reported to them that the prisoner was
securely locked in a cell within it.

Meantime, amid this wild tumult of the people, a number of merchants
and other prominent and influential citizens had assembled in a store in
the lower part of the City, and there after full consideration of the
intolerable condition of affairs, it was resolved forthwith to organize a
Vigilance Committee. At an early hour the next morning another
meeting was held and a Constitution adopted, the publication of which
was sometime after sanctioned by the Executive Committee.
This Instrument was deliberately approved, and was subscribed by
several thousand citizens of San Francisco, who, in action under it,
periled life and fair fame. The following extracts from it will show the
causes of the movement; and the ability and determination of those
who inaugurated and prosecuted it to its final issue:
Whereas it has become apparent to the citizens of San Francisco that
there is no security for life or property either under the regulations of
society, as it at present exists, or under the laws as now administered,
and that by the association of bad characters our ballot boxes have been
stolen and others substituted, or stuffed with votes that were never
polled, and thereby our elections nullified; our dearest rights violated;
and no other method left by which the will of the people can be
manifested; therefore, the citizens whose names are hereunto attached,
do unite themselves into an association for maintenance of the peace
and good order of society; the prevention and punishment of crime; the
preservation of our lives and property; and to insure that our ballot
boxes shall hereafter express the actual and unforged will of the
majority of our citizens; and we do bind ourselves each to the other by
a solemn oath to do and perform every just and lawful act for the
maintenance of law and order, and to sustain the laws when properly
and faithfully administered. But we are determined that no thief,
burglar, incendiary, assassin, ballot box stuffer, or other disturber of the
peace shall escape punishment, either by the quibbles of the law, the
insecurity of prisons, the carelessness or corruption of the police, or the
laxity of those who pretend to administer justice; and, to secure the
objects of this association, we do hereby agree, that the name and style
of the Association shall be "The Committee of Vigilance, for the
protection of the ballot box, the lives, liberty, and property of the
citizens and residents of the City, of San Francisco."
That there shall be Rooms for the deliberations of the Committee at

which there shall be some one or more members of the Committee,
appointed for that purpose, in constant