“When a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to repudiate such government”–Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence,1776
“When the people are sheep, the government is always a wolf.” – Theodore Parker, The Present Crisis in America, May 7, 1856
“Corrupt public officials and an influx of criminals _____* combined to create such a state of lawlessness in ______** that private citizens took law enforcement into their own hands through the formation of “vigilance committees.” The first vigilante group banded together in 1851 against the “Sydney Ducks,” a gang of riffraff from Australia that was suspected of setting several fires that menaced the city of ____***. The second group, known as the Vigilance Committee of 1856, and formed under the guidance of the prominent businessman William Coleman, drew up the following constitution and rules of order. Vigilante justice was not an unusual phenomenon in the West at the time, but the San Francisco committees were conspicuous for their dignity and self-restraint.” – Annals of America, Vol. 8, p. 383.
“Whereas, it has become apparent to the citizens of _____ that there is no security for life and property, either under the regulations of society as it at present exists or under the laws as now administered; and that, by the association together 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 the maintenance of the peace and good order of society, the prevention and punishment of crime, the preservation of our lives and property, and to ensure that our ballot boxes shall hereafter express the actual and unforged will of the majority of our citizens.
And we do bind ourselves, each unto 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 law when faithfully and properly 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 a 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 this committee shall be the Committee of Vigilance, for the protection of the ballot box, the lives, liberty, and property of the citizens and residents of ____ .
- 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 attendance, at all hours of the day and night, to receive the report of any member of the association, or of any other person or persons whatsoever, of any act of violence done to the person or property of any citizen of _____; and if, in the judgement of the member or members of the Committee present, it be such an act as justifies or demands the interference of this Committee, either in aiding in the execution of the laws, or the prompt and summary punishment of the offender, the Committee shall be at once assembled for the purpose of taking such action as the majority of them, when assembled, shall determine upon.
- That it shall be the duty of any member or members of the Committee on duty at the committee rooms, whenever a general assembly of the Constitution is deemed necessary, to cuse a call to be made in such a manner as shall be found advisable.
- That whereas, an Executive Committee has been chosen by the General Committee, it shall be the duty of said Executive Committee to deliberate and act upon all important questions and decided upon the measures necessary to carry out the objects for which this association was formed.
- That whereas, the committee has been formed into subdivisions, the Executive Committee shall have power to call, when they shall so determine, upon a Board of Delegates, to consist of three representatives from each division, to confer with them upon matters of vital importance.
- That all matters of detail and government shall be embraced in a code of by-laws.
- That the action of this body shall be entirely and vigorously free from all consideration of, or participation in, the merits or demerits, or opinion or acts, of any or all sects, political parties, or sectional divisions in the community; and every class of orderly citizens, of whatever sect, party, or nativity, may become members of this body. No discussion of political, sectional, or sectarian subjects shall be allowed in the rooms of the association.
- That no persons accused before this body shall be punished until after fair and impartial trial and conviction.
- That whenever the General Committee has assembled for deliberation, the decision of the majority, upon any question that may be submitted to them by the Executive Committee, shall be binding upon the whole; provided, nevertheless, that when the delegates are deliberating upon the punishment to be awarded to any criminals, no vote inflicting the death penalty shall be binding unless passed by two-thirds of those present and entitled to vote.
- That all good citizens shall be eligible for admission to this body, under such regulations as may be prescribed by a committee on qualifications, and if any unworthy persons gain admission, they shall be on due proof be expelled.
And believing ourselves to be executors of the will of the majority of our citizens, we do pledge our sacred honor to defend and sustain each other in carrying out the determined action of this Committee, at the hazard of our lives and fortunes.” – Constitution of the Vigilantes of San Francisco, 1856; The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, XXXVII, San Francisco, 1887, p. 111-113.
* during the 1849 Gold Rush
** California
*** San Francisco
