CALIFORNIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 44, 8 November 1851, Page 3

CALIFORNIA.

Further news from San Francisco to tbe 28th July had been received at Sydney. The Governor of California had, at length, moved in the matter of the infamous Vigilance Committee. The following is his proclamation. Proclamation. Executive Department, Vallejo, July 21st, 1851. To the people of the State of California. It has been represented to me that organizations of citizens, styling themselves "Vigilance Committees," have been formed in various portions of the State, and assume powers inconsistent with the existing laws, and serious apprehensions are entertained ot collision between the constituted authorities and the citizens thus organized ; and it becomes my duty to take some step by which so great a calamity may be averted. It is earnestly hoped that a few simple and practical suggestions may serve to secure this desirable end.

No security of life or property can be guaranteed except the constitution and laws are observed. Let these be forcibly dispensed with, their sacredness violated, and submission to their authority refused, and we are reduced to a state of anarchy more dangerous in its tendencies and probable results than the worst laws under our system can possibly be, no matter how corruptly administered. We are just entering upon our career, our character is not yet formed, people from all climes and all countries are flocking to our shores, it then becomes us to take no unadvised step which shall retard our progress now, or prejudice our claims to a high and

commanding stand hereafter. But more than this, we owe it to ourselves to impress upon the strangers who have settled amongst us, unacquainted with, and perhaps entertaining prejudices unfavourable to the practical operation of our peculiar institutions, that our government is a government of laws, and that though they may sometimes prove inadequate, sometimes operate oppressively, or be administered corruptly, the remedy is not in a destruction of the entire system, but is to be secured by a peaceful resort to those constitutional means which are wisely afforded to reform whatever abuse may exist, and correct whatever errors may have been committed.

The occurrences of the last three or four weeks, the apprehension of individuals within the jurisdiction of legally constituted tribunals, their trial, sentence, and execution, without authority of law, by a voluntary association of citizens, who thus virtually place themselves above and beyond all law except that prescribed by and for themselves, will prove sufficiently prejudicial to our interests abroad, commercial and otherwise, if such organizations, assuming such unquestionably dangerous powers, were now dissolved, but if continued there is no calculating the extent of the injury which may result to us as a State. The dangerous tendencies, in other respects, of organizations of the character under consideration, the excitement produced in the public mind, consequent upon their action, resistance to the constituted authorities, which must almost inevitably result, and threatened collisions between themselves and officers of law in the execution of their duties, cannot but be appreciated and deprecated by every right thinking and patriotic citizen of the State, and need not therefore be dwelt upon here. Whatever may have been the exigency heretofore existing, requiring, or supposed to require the adoption of extraordinary measures on the part of the citizen, it has now happily, in a great degree, passed, and such measures should, ou this account, if on no other, be at once abandoned. Another criminal code, with more efficient provisions, attaching adequate penalties to the commission of offences, and directing a more prompt and effective administration of justice, has gone into operation. Courts are now enabled to try, sentence, and execute, as the offence deserves; safe and secure prisonhouses are being provided, and the officers, there is reason to believe, are ready and anxious to discharge the high duty imposed upon them by the people.

I cannot do less, therefore, than earnestly recommend to my fellow-citizens every where throughout the state, to aid in sustaining the law, for in this is our only real and permanent security. Associations may be organized, but they should be formed with the view to aid and assist the officers of the law in the execution of their duties, and act in concert with the civil authorities to detect, arrest, and punish criminals. By pursuing this course, much good may, and undoubtedly will, be accomplished, and all the dangers which threaten unlawful assumptions of power thus averted. Inefficiency will not then secure impunity to crimes, nor dangerous criminals be permitted to go uirwhipt of justice. It is my sworn duty to see that the laws ara executed, and I feel assured that all good citizens will cordially co-operate with me in its discharge.

John M'Dougal, Governor.

Anarchy, murder, and every other crime continues to reign in California, and in addition to her internal foes, the State begins to tremble for the consequences of her outrages upon foreigners. That she will have a serious reckoning to answer with Great Britain there now reniains no question ; France is about to prefer a heavy claim for goods confiscated on pretence of the State's revenue law not having been complied with by French merchants, and the Government had received notice from Obihuhua, that claims to the amount of tweuty millions of dollars, for damages done to Mexican property, by the Indians from the side of the Rio Grande, have been filed with Mexican authorities for presentation to the central Government under the treaty, which provides that the United States shall prevent Indian depreciations. Thus it would seem, that for California, a fearful day of retribution was at hand.

English Nkws.—Home News to July 3, had been received at Hobart Town.

Parliament were sitting, and the only important measures were the Papal Aggression Bill, and the Jewish Disabilities Bill, which had nearly passed through the different stages, and may now be considered as passed. The former Bill was to be read a third time on Friday, July 4. —Four large steamers were advertised for Australia, two for Sydney, and two for Melbourne, to carry passengers at a low rate. — At last it had been decided, by a Bill passed in the British Parliament, on the 24th June, that Smithfield market, London, should be removed. —Alderman Salomons was returned for the borough of Greenwich, on the 27th Juue, by a majority of 897 over Alderman Weir.