THE LAND OF LIBERTY. To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald. San Francisco, 30th June, 1851.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 568, 24 September 1851, Page 4

THE LAND OF LIBERTY. To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald. San Francisco, 30th June, 1851.

Gentlemen, — Perhaps, if you have a spare corner in your sheet, you will kindly clap in this. The subjoined letter was written for the Alia California of the 24th instant, two days after thrt almost trngic occurrence wbicli gave rise to it. That journal would not publish it, nor indeed will any other here, for the simple reason, no one can controvert it. The facts are too stubborn to be put down, and bear too hard upon the " Vigilance Committee" whom they all wish to uphold — at least seemingly so. At the bottom the probability is, there is more fear than either love or admnation. San Fiancisco editors are very voluble and pugnacious, like most other, when the danger is remote. But to grapple with it at the threshold requires nerve ; and the " Committee of Vigilance," as a foe, is omni- ! potent. So they araooth down thin— almoat murder—

with mi "unfortunate occurrence," winch I forwaul you to issue conjoint iy v\ith thi«. But a few days ago, as the good people of Austialia are aware of, a fellow-creature was kinged in this city, in open violation of the laws of civilization. "He was a buiglar," tln>v say, and a* Sydney man." Granted — and granted also lie deserved death (which people are beginning now vorv much to donht). |1 lore then am T, who am neither, and who can, in the public columns of n newspaper, dc/y thn world to point at me the finger of scorn ; or for one being to step forward and say bo has known me to do a dishonourable thing ; I, who in every land have not only conformed with its established laws, but also the national and social prejudices of its people to the utmost scope of consistency ; I al«o was seized in the midst of a " thousand free and pnlightened citizpns" of a Slate of the American Union, in the middle of a public square, and all but " Lynched ;" yea, hut for my acquaintance with two or three men of affluence, who can tell but I should have shared the samp fate as Jenkins, the burglar. However, to give you the letter. To the Alia California, "'June 24 l8."il' " Messrs. Editors,— l have waited until now, thinking that s"mc amongst; my acquaintances whose pens are abler {than mine, wnulrl set forth my tale. However, as they have n«t I shall,— though but little qualified mentally or physically— the results of the rough handling I received in rewatd for services rendered the commonwealth. To make this known will be, I hope, of benefit to the public; if not make them wiser and better, it should certainly insinuate to them discretion in the exercise of the piimitivelaw which leigns— and as wiser heads than mine say, justly -in this land. It is not my purpose nor indeed province— had 1 the al'ility to discuss the social politics of San Francisco, or to reflect aught to the prejudice of that " active and | decisive body of her citizens, who have enrolled | themselves under the banner of " Vigilance." So you | will, 1 hope, give publicity to this. Sunday last, on the hist alarm of fire, 1 landed from the barque Timandra, (of which I am the master), not with the idle intent of sight seeing— to staid aloof on i bill or hoi'se-top, and view with gloated tye, and light* ed cheroot, the rapid strides of the devastation. No, but to yield my mite towards arresting its caicer, and snatching property from its grasp. Both these in turn j I did, together with many more of my professional brethren, and wh ise only interests in San Francisco are good-will, sympathy, and esteem for her suffering citizens. I fit st repaired to the abode of an acquaintance of slender means- 1 found his bouse in flames gone bc-yond redemption ; next 1 proceeded to the Customs to procure my snip's register. Thence duty directed me to tender my service to Messrs. Davidson and Argenti, — both these gentlemen being connected with the vessel I command. I laboured with the first until their office was absolutely cleared : then remained at the force pump of the latter till the well became dry. Not fo continue inactive, I wandered forth to give mv sei vices where required, and I hope it may be assumed from my position gratuitously. In crossing the Plaz t, from the way of Kearney street, 1 saw opposite lo where the Altn California Office had just stood, a bunvngtar barrel. Its close proximity to sundry packages of merchandise gave uneasiness to some, speculation to others, and who knows but pleasore to not a few. Still, of all the medley group, not one seemed to adopt means to extinguish it. I stepped forward and with a drag of my feet along the ground, threw sand and ashes npon it, so as to smother if. This simple idea was caught; and a man who, till now looked somewhat perplexed, hi ushed up, and s> emed to wonder it had not occurred to him before. Vet was he puzzled for means of application — he wanted a shovel. 1 took a piece of sheet-tin, of which there was an abundance lying about, 'o subs'itate a shovel, and remarked that neces-ity always found means. At length, some five minutes perhaps, a shovel was brought bv a Urge idle-lookins: fellow, and thrust into the hands of a small boy. The little fellow could baidly raise it. This was cowardly. •' for shame" cried I ; "in a moment all these things will be on fire. Why don't you work ?— you see 1 do, who have uo interest at stake. Now wo k." This was " t'>e head and front of my offending." '* The d 1 you haven't," quoth he ; "then, why do you order me, a citizen! — and be d dto you. You likely set it on fire. You likely set it on lire." I saw at once my position, and endeavoured quietly to retire ; but no, the fellow made a big noise. In a moment I was surrounded, and ci ies of " thief, Ithief, Sydney thief," and " take him to the Committee," became astounding and univers.il. A man of powerful fiame rushed forward, and seized me violently by the throat, in the name of this Committee, followed by many others of like character and brutality. By this time a mob oi many hundreds had assembled from al! quarters. The regular police force demanded me, the Vigilance refused^ the most horrible impiecations were bandied ; revolveis pointed ; bowieknives glittered and clashed. My position became fearfully critirical. I could perceive that the "Vigilance" were the most numerous and mighty, hence, expressed my wish to be tried by them. Every declaiation of my innocence, name, and capacity was unheeded, nuy, it exasperated them the more; so when I cried, " try me by the Vigilance Comm ttee," I yielded to necessity. Had I appealed to the legal force, sought their aid and protection, 1 have no hesitation in saying, that I should have met with almost instant death, for my captors looked upon me as so entirely theirs, that to part with me living to the officers of the law, to be placed by them for a week or two in the county gaol, and then allowed to escape, was too monstrous to be thought of. No, the city had been burnt : the citizens cried aloud for vengeance j 1 was the victim, my blo"d was to quench the flame, extinguish the embers. Then again would your •' fair city 1 ' arise, Phoenix-like. However, since the police has been subdued, 1 was u-hered more quietly along, until abont the Middle of Montgomery street, when suddenly a fearfully tremendous rush was made upon me from all sides. "He is known, bang him, hang him," became the almo«t unanimous yell of the multitude. At the same time, a ruffian who had sciewed his way through the crowd, looked at me for an instant somewhat eagerly ; then, with clenched hand struck me forcibly in the face, and my blood streamed profusely. This villain swore to the mob tbat he had known me to prowl about for the last six months ; he then took, me by the hriir with both hands, and tugged it fiercely. \ Divers others to show their new zeal for the new sham of justice, did the same ; and the most zealous and sinceie, to prove indisputably their abhonenee of me, accompanied it with a lew kicks and twitches of the nose, and finidly attempted to strangle me by twisting my hnndkerch'ef behind. This, thank God, when all but dead, 1 succeeded after a violent struggle to unloose. The excitement of the people had now become so great thrtt '« hang him up to the lamp post ' was the cry, and forthwith they proceeded to make the uecessaiy aii'fiiigements. This was opposed by a powerful party of the " better disposed," who kept me in their grasp, and around my person. These men of course thought like good citizens, and cried " try him first," aye, and insisted upon it. They weie men who had the interest of the city at heart. A trial and public execution in an hour ] or so, in the Plaza, in sight of the "Liberty Pole," would have a more grand and salutary effect. " No one doubted my guilt ; all knew me to be a thief, with pretty good giounds of suspicion for incendiarism iilso. Even the man who first arrested me, and still remain ed with me, asked no questions of his own bosom or of another ere he committed the rash deed ; and had I j been murdered quite instead ot nearly, the citizens would merely have said, " tis a pirty," then reconciled themselves to the act « in fact, "that the public mind was excited." Not a sting of conscience, not one pang of remorse would have visited them, their faith is. " better six innocent men die than one guilty shall escape," 1 was now conveyed through the doorway of the Cl Vigilance ( ommittee's" judgment hall, and passed rapidly through that body between two guards into an adjoining closet, crushed, bruised, bleeding, and naked. Two watches had been taken from me— one only was restored, less half the gold chain ; the missing one is a silver one, chro. balance, jewelled in every action, No2orO, (I think} Joseph Sewell, South Castle street. Liverpool, in full upon the plate inside. It was now ascertained who I was, every manifestation of rcgict, and apology was made, I was clothed, and conducted to apartments. Poor amends for the past What. 1 ask, can compensate for such a flagrant and monstrous outrage ? No pecuniary remuneration, no, its acceptance would be Humiliation— restore me my watch, keep your dross. Publish these facts, and let the world comment. Such at piesent is all I ask. Isaac Harris, The above is the letter the Alia California fears to publish. Such are the wrongs an Englishman has received in the presence of bis Consul, who fears to act, indeed few would, unless with a regiment of " Guards" to back him. All I can do is to circulate it widely, and " bide my time." The danger and personal suffering waa mine. The dishonour and insult is shared by every Briton. Messrs. Editors, I would also that you rose your trumpet tongues against emigration from the fair shores of Australia to this land. Every species of insult may be offered with impunity, indiscriminately lo all. Blood-hounda under the specious names of '< Liberty" and '* Order" roam continually on the " good work" of exterminating the Austiahan. This is no fable, there« fore why should he leuve a land capable of conducing to his own and his children's happiness, to become a marked man, and reproach amongst the heathen. Yours, truly, I. Harris. Master of the British Barque Timandra.