The Vigilance Committee of 1856 by James O'Meara
"The Vigilance Committee of 1856" by James O'Meara is a historical account written during the mid-19th century. The book focuses on the Vigilance Committee that formed in San Francisco, examining its actions and the political climate that spurred its creation. O'Meara, a journalist with no affiliation to either the Vigilance Committee or its opposition, aims to provide an unbiased narrative that reveals the consequences of mob justice during a time of perceived
lawlessness. The opening of the book sets the stage by addressing the shortcomings and biases of previous accounts of the Vigilance Committee, which were often written by supporters or members. O'Meara firmly establishes his position as an impartial observer, recounting the Committee’s emergence in response to public demand for law and order amid rampant crime and corruption. He introduces the Committee's structure, including prominent figures like William T. Coleman, and underscores the organization’s militaristic approach, detailing how it operated outside formal legal frameworks. Through his examination, O'Meara raises questions about justice, authority, and the tension between order and chaos in a rapidly growing city. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | O'Meara, James, 1825-1903 |
|---|---|
| Title | The Vigilance Committee of 1856 |
| Note | Reading ease score: 69.7 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Credits | Produced by David Schwan. HTML version by Al Haines. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | F850.5: United States local history: Pacific States |
| Subject | San Francisco Committee of Vigilance of 1856 -- History |
| Subject | Vigilance committees -- California -- San Francisco |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 4642 |
| Release Date | Nov 1, 2003 |
| Most Recently Updated | Dec 28, 2020 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 156 downloads in the last 30 days. |
| Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free! | |
