Hubert Howe Bancroft

“ Had the territorial finances been in a sound condition, had the military force been thoroughly organized and promptly paid, had there been fifty curates at hand to take charge of new parishes, had the territory been to some extent independent of the missions — even with these favorable conditions, none of which existed, secularization would have been a difficult task if not a risky experiment, requiring for success at least the hearty coöperation of the friars. ”

“ Duran also refused to take the oath, not, as he said, from any "disaffection to the independence," nor for any "odious passion," for indeed he believed independence to interest Spain more than America — that is, that Spain was better off without Mexico. But he was tired of taking so many oaths during the past few years, when oaths seemed to have become mere playthings. "I offer," he writes, "an oath of fidelity to do nothing against the established government, and if this be not accepted, I am resigned to the penalty of expatriation, which the constitution imposes." ”

“ He claimed to have tried to dissuade Solis from his foolish scheme of raising the Spanish flag. In a long and eloquent communication addressed to Echeandía, protesting against the manner of his treatment, Martinez, while not attempting to deny his well known political sentiments, claimed that he was not such a fool as to suppose that Spain could be benefited by petty revolts in California, that he desired the welfare of the territory, and that in his opinion it could not be advantageously separated from Mexico. ”

“ On arrival at San Diego the strangers were brought before Echeandía and questioned, the younger Pattie, who had learned a little Spanish in New Mexico, serving as spokesman, and expressing his ideas with great freedom on this as on every other occasion when he came into contact with the Spaniards. The governor believed nothing of their story, accused them of being spies for Spain — worse than thieves and murderers — tore up their passport as a forgery, cut short their explanations, and remanded them to prison. On the way they resolved to redress their wrongs by force or die in the attempt ”

“ Of all the padres, Martinez of San Luis Obispo was the most outspoken and independent in political matters, besides being well known for his smuggling propensities. Echeandía deemed his absence desirable for the quiet of the territory, and had issued a passport which had not been used. It was thought best on general principles to make an example; it was particularly desirable to give a political significance to the Solis revolt, and Padre Martinez was banished on a charge of complicity in that revolt in the interest of Spain. ”

“ Yet from the spirit of the narrative, from the numerous erroneous statements, and from my knowledge of Echeandía's character, I have no hesitation in pronouncing Pattie's complaints of ill treatment grossly exaggerated. This opinion is confirmed by those of the company who remained in the country. Entering the territory without passports, the hunters were, according to the unwise policy of Mexican laws, liable to arrest. Presidio fare, and especially prison fare, in California at that time, was even less congenial to American hunters than was the narrow spirit of Spanish policy. ”

“ On receipt of the constitution, Argüello at once summoned the diputados to assemble. The rivers were so swollen by the rains that the southern members could not come: but on the 26th of March the four Castros, with the president and secretary, met to ratify the new organic law of the nation. The document was read by Secretary Torre, and the oath was taken by governor and diputados. Then the constitution was read again in the plaza, and Argüello administered the oath to the garrison drawn up under arms, and to the assembled citizens of all classes. ”

“ He was pre-eminently the greatest coward in the Mexican army — so great a coward that he subsequently, without striking a blow, surrendered a fort, with a garrison of 500 men, unconditionally, to a party of 50 foreigners. Such was the great General Echandrea, the Mexican conqueror of California; and such was the army that he led to the conquest of unarmed priests and an unarmed province.' 'Had there been 50 resolute persons to oppose them, this valiant army would have absconded, and California would have remained an appanage of the crown of Spain,' etc. ”

“ During the Spanish rule, and the interregnum that followed, the provincial finances had been managed — for the most part honestly, if not always with great skill, so far as accounts were concerned — by the habilitados of the respective companies, one of whom in the later days had been named administrator, with very little authority over the others. On the establishment of the republic, Herrera had been sent, as we have seen, in 1825, as comisario to take charge of the territorial finances as a subordinate of the comisario general of the western states Sonora and Sinaloa. ”

“ For all these reasons, and with all obedience and subjection to the laws, we have proposed: 1st, To suspend the exercise of D. Manuel Victoria in all that relates to the command which he at present holds in this territory as comandante general and gefe político, for infraction and conspiracy against our sacred institutions, as we shall show by legal proofs. 2d, That when at a fitting time the excelentísima diputacion territorial shall have met, the military and political command shall fall to distinct persons as the laws of both jurisdictions provide, until the supreme resolution. ”

“ The córtes of Spain had decreed, however, in 1813, that all missions ten years after foundation must be changed into pueblos, subject to secular authority both in civil and religious affairs, [31] and the success of independence made the change inevitable. The spirit of Mexican republicanism was not favorable to the longer existence of the old missions under a system of land monopoly strongly tinged with some phases of human slavery. If the Indians were not fit for citizenship, neither were they being fitted therefor. ”

“ I have no doubt the plan was in some manner to insist, with the aid of the diputacion, on the carrying-out of the secularization scheme. Efforts to convene that body were continued all the spring and summer. At first the ayuntamiento of Monterey, aided to some extent by that of San José, was the medium of appeal, though the governor in February assembled that body to explain how inopportune had been the petitions of Alcalde Buelna, and warned the municipal authorities not to meddle with matters that did not concern them. ”

“ For the last half of the decade under consideration, the course of events adapts itself more conveniently to a grouping in topics than to strict chronological treatment, since the epoch, with the exception of the Solis revolt, was not one of radical changes and startling events, but rather of gradual progress toward the Mexican ideal of republicanism and the secularization of the missions. ”

“ Next day the soldiers gave in their adhesion to the plan readily enough, but the officers, especially captains Portilla and Argüello, showed considerable reluctance. They shared the feelings of the rebels against Victoria — so they said, Portilla perhaps not quite truthfully — but they felt that for military men in their position to engage in open rebellion against their comandante general was a serious matter. At first they declined to do more than remain neutral under arrest; but finally they were induced to promise active coöperation on condition that Echeandía would accept the command. ”

“ With more justice might they have complained of the navigation laws, which, though no doubt beneficial to inhabitants on the eastern coast of Mexico, where there are vessels to conduct the coasting trade, are extremely disadvantageous to the Californians, who having no vessels are often obliged to pay the duties on goods introduced in foreign bottoms.' 17% higher than on Mexican vessels. Not only this, 'but as a foreign vessel cannot break stowage without landing the whole of her cargo, they must in addition incur the expenses attending that which will in general fall upon a few goods only. ”

“ As for the military officers in actual service, opposition is naturally to be expected from them to our plan, and we must allow them at first this unfavorable opinion demanded by their profession; but not so later, when they shall have fully learned the wise and beneficent intentions with which we act; for they also, as Mexican citizens, are in duty bound to maintain inviolate the code to which we have all sworn. ”

“ A woman with more patriotism than modesty was induced to send the alcalde an amorous invitation, and he was surprised at her house by the watchful regidores. Rodrigo del Pliego was sent to San José to prosecute the case; and a little later Duarte was brought in irons to Monterey to be tried by a military court. There was no trouble in proving the truth of the only charge to which Victoria attached much importance, that of laboring to secure a meeting of the diputacion, and all went well for the governor until the opinion of the asesor was rendered September 30th. ”

“ But at the same time, in order to secure in the enterprise the best order, and a path which may not lead us away from the only object proposed, we choose and proclaim lieut-col. of engineers, citizen José María de Echeandía, to re-assume the command, political and military, of the territory, which this very year he gave up to the said Sr Victoria — this until the supreme government may resolve after the proper correspondence, or until, the diputacion being assembled, distinct persons may in legal form take charge of the two commands. ”

“ Echeandía heard this year and forwarded to the supreme government a rumor that the Americans were plotting to seize the port of San Francisco; while on the other side of the continent we find a rumor from Mexico, by way of England, that California with Texas was to be made over to the United States for a term of years, as security for a large sum of money to be spent in resisting Spanish invasion. ”

“ In fact, the criminal case was hardly strong enough to suit Echeandía's purposes respecting Herrera, the only one of the accused for whose fate he cared particularly. A more serious charge was needed, and grounds for it were easily found. After their defeat at Santa Bárbara, Solis and one or two of his men, wishing to gain the support of the padres, like drowning men clutching at straws, talked about raising the Spanish flag. It was easy to prove these ravings of the soldiers, and the foolish remarks of Padre Luis Martinez at San Luis Obispo. ”

“ Having assumed the command, Victoria issued the 1st of February an address to the people, a brief document, in which the author made known to his 'beloved fellow-citizens' his purpose to reform the evils that most afflicted the country, and his hope for cordial support from the inhabitants. "The laws must be executed, the government obeyed, and our institutions respected," he writes; "I have to favor honesty and to punish perversity, the first being in accord with my character, the second demanded by my honor and conscience." ”

“ We trust that after you know our aims you will regard the removal of all these evils as the duty of every citizen. We believe also that the public sentiment of the territory will never attempt to violate our rights, or still less provoke us to make a defence foreign to our views (!) ”

“ The master of a ship, on arrival, must furnish a report of his foreign passengers, and each passenger a report of his name, business, etc., to the customs officer, who will grant a boleto de disembarco to such as are not Spaniards, and have a passport from the general government, or from duly accredited Mexican agents abroad, or a bond from the consul or agent of their nation at the port of landing, or of a Mexican citizen. ”

“ Prefect Sarría, as we have seen, declined to swear allegiance to the federal constitution or to sanction republicanism either as friar, prelate, or vicar. He left each of the friars free to decide for himself, and refused to issue instructions on the subject. There can be no doubt, however, that the question had been thoroughly discussed by the padres, and a definite understanding reached, during the many months in which the formal declaration of the republic in California had been only a question of time. ”

“ The law of 1827 on the expulsion of Spaniards from Mexican territory, [18] reaching California in 1828, had no other effect on the status of the missionaries than to give them another safe opportunity to demand their passports, as many of them did, some perhaps really desiring to depart. There was no disposition to enforce the decree, for reasons known to the reader. [19] Meanwhile the Spanish friars had been actually expelled from Mexico, and a most disheartening report came respecting the state of affairs at the college of San Fernando. ”

“ A sergeant and twelve soldiers were in charge of the convicts. [35]
How to dispose of the new-comers was a question of much perplexity. Nobody wanted anything to do with them; and a month passed before any decision was reached, perhaps before they were landed at all; and then, late in April, thirty of the worst of them, and probably many more, were sent over to Santa Cruz Island with a supply of cattle and fish-hooks to get a living as best as they could; while the rest were set to work for private employers in the region of Santa Bárbara and Los Angeles. ”

“ California's urgent need for an organic law was presented, as also the necessity of establishing courts of justice, and regulating the administration of finance. It was complained, moreover, that a great injustice had been done in the promotion of Mexican officers like Zamorano and Pacheco to captaincies over the heads of Californians who had grown gray in the service. Carrillo requested the territorial diputacion to petition congress for the reforms for which he was working, including the appointment, or rather paying, of two competent teachers. ”

“ After 1826 an army of hunters, increasing from hundreds to thousands, frequented the fur-producing streams of the interior, and even the valleys of California, flitting hither and thither, individuals and parties large or small according to the disposition of the natives, wandering without other motive than the hope of more abundant game, well acquainted with the country, as is the wont of trappers, but making no maps and keeping no diaries. Occasionally they came in contact with civilization east or west, and left a trace in the archives ”

“ Personal feeling was his motive in part; moreover, it was important to remove certain obstacles likely to interfere with his policy of secularization, of which more hereafter. Prejudice against all that was Spanish was the strongest feeling in Mexico, and there was no better way for the governor to keep himself in good standing with the power that appointed him than to go with the current. It also favored Echeandía's plans respecting his enemy Herrera, while increasing the importance of his own services, to show the existence of a strong revolutionary spirit in favor of Spain. ”

“ On the way the men revolted in March 1825, at Guahan, one of the Mariana Islands. They landed all the officers and passengers who would not join in their scheme, burned the Garinton, put José Martinez, formerly of the Constante, in command, and returned eastward with a view of surrendering the vessels to some of the American enemies of Spain. The Aquiles started first and was not seen again, and the others directed their course to California, as the most practicable route, and with a view of obtaining supplies. ”

“ Estanislao was a neophyte of more than ordinary ability, educated at Mission San José, of which establishment he was at one time alcalde. He ran away probably in 1827 or early in 1828, took refuge with a band of ex-neophytes and gentiles in the San Joaquin Valley, and with his chief associate, Cipriano, soon made himself famous by his daring. In November 1828 he was believed by the padres of San José and Santa Clara to be instigating a general rising among the neophytes, and Comandante Martinez was induced to send a force of twenty men against him. ”

“ States that it is the president's desire to do away with so vicious a system, but suggests that the reform should perhaps be one of policy rather than of authority. It is not expedient to break up openly the system of the padres, who if offended might by their influence cause great evils. Still it was essential to check the arbitrary measures that oppressed the Indians, and afford the latter the advantages of the liberal system — but guardedly and slowly to avoid the license that might result from unwise measures. All is intrusted to E.'s experience and good judgment. ”