Monthly Archives: July 2012

As the meeting of San Francisco citizens in front of the Oriental Hotel wound down, Bailie Peyton again stepped to the podium and raised high, so that the enormous crowd could see it, the now famous double back action ballot … Continue reading →

While the Committee of Vigilance prepared for whatever might be in store for it, the citizens who had been so shabbily treated by the governor at Benicia did not stay idle. Partly to justify their own actions and partly to … Continue reading →

With Fort Gunnybags prepared for an attack by the enemies of the vigilantes, the committee turned its attention to the many and various offers of sympathy and assistance from the interior of the state, as the effect and influence of … Continue reading →

Military men among the vigilantes recognized the headquarters on Sacramento Street as virtually indefensible in an attack by the law and order party. There was some talk of moving but in the end it was resolved to strengthen the existing … Continue reading →

In addition to the publication of the address of the Committee of Vigilance, which clearly showed its determination not to disband until its work was done, and probably because of the ill-advised positions taken by Governor Johnson, the committee rescinded … Continue reading →

The Committee of Vigilance believed the people had entrusted them with the power to expel from the community those ruffians and assassins who had outraged the peace and good order of society, violated the ballot box, over ridden law and … Continue reading →

While San Francisco’s Committee of Vigilance had not yet discovered any indication of a lack of confidence from its constituents and had no reason to doubt that the greater part of the community endorsed their action and wanted them to … Continue reading →

Deeply embedded in the principles of republican government were the truths that the majority ruled, and when corrupt officials fraudulently seized the reins of authority and purposely prevented the execution of the laws of punishment on the notoriously guilty, then … Continue reading →

The address, directed to the people of California, stated that the Committee of Vigilance, while acting on the will of the vast majority of the people, desired to define the necessities that had forced them to organize. Great public emergencies … Continue reading →