A Sketch of the Causes, Operations and Results of the San Francisco Vigilance Committee of 1856Webb, Stephen Palfrey
History
A Sketch of the Causes, Operations and Results of the San Francisco Vigilance Committee of 1856
Webb, Stephen Palfrey
San Francisco Committee of Vigilance of 1856
with deep and solemn thought.
The Constitution likewise provided for a Board of Delegates, with
whom the Executive Committee might confer whenever matters of vital
importance should require it. This body was organized by the choice by
each company of two of its members, who, with the Captain, should be its
Delegates. When the military organization of the force was completed,
the field officers were added to the Board of Delegates; and when the
organization included many regiments, the number of Delegates was of
course larger. Whenever the death penalty had been decided upon by the
Executive Committee, the whole evidence upon which it was based was
submitted to the Board of Delegates, and a two-thirds vote of that Board
in confirmation of the Executive vote was required before it could
be inflicted. The element of discussion thus introduced into a body
essentially revolutionary, and whose success might be supposed to
depend upon the secrecy, promptness and unfaltering determination of
its councils and of the blows it struck, was thought at the time to
be likely to detract from its efficiency, if it did not endanger its
existence. But the good sense and prudence of the members restrained the
innate Yankee propensity to speech making, and this danger, with many
others, which from time to time threatened to make shipwreck of the
organization, was happily surmounted.
The Constitution having been adopted, the doors of the Committee Rooms
on Sacramento Street were opened for initiation into the body.
The greatest caution was exercised to prevent the admission of any
disreputable or unreliable man. Every person presenting himself was
carefully scrutinized at the outer door by a trusty guard and at the
stair head within by another; and if unknown to them, was required to
be vouched for by two respectable citizens. From Thursday the 15th until
Saturday the 17th at two o'clock P. M. a crowd of people were constantly
pressing forward for admission. On Thursday both battalions of the
City military refused to act further as a guard upon the Jail; and the
companies for the most part disbanded; several of them reorganizing as
part of the Vigilance Committee force. The defense of the Jail being
thrown entirely upon the Sheriff; he placed arms and ammunition in it;
and made strenuous efforts to provide a force which might suffice with
his Deputies, the Police & co. to accomplish that object. On Friday his
Deputies were very busy in serving printed notices upon all citizens
whom they could induce to receive them, or to listen to their reading.
The summons was to meet at the Fourth District Court Room in the City
Hall at half past three o'clock to aid him in keeping the peace. The
meeting took place at the time and place appointed, but for various
reasons, did not prove a very decided success. The replies made when the
question was propounded to each individual whether he was prepared
to proceed with the Sheriff to the Jail to defend it against all
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account