The Vigilance Committee of 1856

"The Vigilance Committee of 1856" by James O'Meara is a historical book from the 1800s about the San Francisco Vigilance Committee, exploring its operations and the political conditions that led to its establishment. O'Meara, a journalist with no connections to the Committee or their rivals, tries to offer a fair story covering the outcomes of mob justice when people thought the law wasn't working. The book begins by pointing out the flaws and prejudices in earlier accounts of the Committee, which were usually written by people involved in the Committee. O'Meara makes it clear that he is neutral, describing how the Committee appeared because the public wanted law and order to combat widespread crime and corruption. He describes the makeup of the Committee, including important people such as William T. Coleman, and highlights the group’s military-like nature, explaining how it worked separately from the official legal system. O'Meara's study brings up important topics, such as justice, control, and the conflict between order and disorder in a booming city.