Vigilance committee

This occurred toward the evening of May 14, 1856.

It so happened, on the urgent solicitation of Van Winkle and of Governor Johnson, that i had only a few days before agreed to accept the commission of major-general of the second division of militia embracing san francisco i had received the commission but had not as yet formally accepted it or even put myself in communication with the volunteer companies of the city of these at that moment of time there was a company of artillery with four guns commanded by a captain johns formerly of the army and two or three uniformed companies of infantry after dinner i went down town to see what was going on found that king had been removed to a room in the metropolitan block that his life was in great peril that casey was safe in jail and the sheriff had called to his assistance a posse of the city police some citizens and one of the militia companies the people were gathered in groups on the streets and the words vigilance committee were freely spoken but i saw no signs of immediate violence the next morning i again went to the jail and found all things quiet but the militia had withdrawn i then went to the city hall saw the mayor van ness and some of the city officials agreed to do what i could to maintain order with such militia as were at hand and then formally accepted the commission and took the oath in eighteen fifty one when i was not in california there had been a vigilance committee and it was understood that its organization still existed all the newspapers took ground in favor of the vigilance committee except the herald john nugent editor and nearly all the best people favored that means of redress i could see they were organizing hiring rendezvous collecting arms etc without concealment it was soon manifest that the companies of volunteers would go with the committee and that the public authorities could not rely on them for aid or defense.

Still, there were a good many citizens who contended that if the civil authorities were properly sustained by the people at large, they could and would execute the law.

But the papers inflamed the public mind, and the controversy spread to the country.

About the third day after the shooting of King, Governor Johnson telegraphed me that he would be down in the evening boat, and asked me to meet him on arrival for consultation.

I got C. H. Garrison to go with me, and we met the Governor and his brother on the wharf, and walked up to the International Hotel on Jackson Street, above Montgomery.

We discussed the state of affairs fully, and Johnson, on learning that his particular friend William T. Coleman was the President of the Vigilance Committee, proposed to go and see him.

On route we stopped at King's Room, ascertained that he was slowly sinking, and could not live long.

After dinner, I went downtown to see what was going on, found that King had been removed to a room in the Metropolitan Block, that his life was in great peril, that Casey was safe in jail, and the sheriff had called to his assistance a posse of the city police, some citizens, and one of the militia companies.

The people were gathered in groups on the streets, and the words Vigilance Committee were freely spoken, but I saw no signs of immediate violence.

The next morning, I again went to the jail and found all things quiet, but the militia had withdrawn.

I then went to the city hall, saw the mayor, Van Ness, and some of the city officials, agreed to do what I could to maintain order with such militia as were at hand, and then formally accepted the commission and took the oath.

In 1851, when I was not in California, there had been a Vigilance Committee, and it was understood that its organization still existed.

All the newspapers took ground in favor of the Vigilance Committee, except the Herald, John Nugent, editor, and nearly all the best people favored that means of redress.

I could see they were organizing, hiring rendezvous, collecting arms, etc., without concealment.

It was soon manifest that the companies of volunteers would go with the committee, and that the public authorities could not rely on them for aid or defense.