VIGILANCE COMMITTEE. 
55 
the matter in the distance, may feel disposed to censure the 
Committee and its proceedings as hasty and precipitate; but, 
when we take into consideration that not only property to an 
immense amount, but life itself, was in jeopardy—the want of 
facilities for securing and retaining criminals during the tardy 
process of law, the numerous rescues by accomplices, and the fre¬ 
quent pardons by the authorities when the accused were noto¬ 
riously guilty,—I say, when we take these things into con¬ 
sideration, together with the fact that not an individual was 
executed who was not clearly proved guilty, and even confessed 
his guilt; we can look upon the acts of the Committee not only 
as just—but imperative. In the confessions of some of those 
who were executed they implicated men in authority, in such a 
manner that not a doubt was left upon the public mind. The 
result of these summary measures is apparent to all. Crime, 
since the organization of the Committee, has decreased one half, 
and they have no w ceased to make arrests, leaving all to the 
jurisdiction of the proper authorities. They, however, main¬ 
tain their organization, and would, no doubt, act in case of 
emergency. 
