History of California, Volume II, Part 44

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 826

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428

INSTITUTIONS AND INDUSTRIES.

which he did after throwing his hat on a pile in the corner; and, as soon as a large boy had shown him the place, began to read his lesson as loud as his throat and lungs would permit; or, if learning to write, he ruled a sheet of paper with a piece of lead, and went to the master for quill and copy. At a certain hour the copies were examined, and the ferule was in constant motion at that hour. "Here is a blot, you young rascal." " Pardon, master, I will do better to-morrow." "Hold out your hand"- thus ran the usual preliminary conversation. A more ter- rible implement of torture than the ferule, however, lay on the master's table-a hempen scourge of many iron-pointed lashes, held in reserve for serious offences such as laughing aloud, running in the street, playing truant, spilling ink, or, worst of all, failing to know the Christian doctrine. The guilty child was stripped of his shirt, often his only garment, and stretched on a bench, with a handkerchief stuffed in his mouth, to receive the dread infliction. The course of study was six months or a year of primer, or a, b, c; six months of the Christian caton, or second book, a mass of stupid and worse than useless study; reading manu- script letters of officers, padres, old women, or the master himself; writing from eight grades of copies, from straight marks to words; and finally the four rules of arithmetic, with more doctrina Cristiana. This last all-important branch was learned chiefly from Ripalda's catechism, the bete noir of every Span- ish child, to be learned entire by heart, and recited in a monotonous sing-song-a perpetual torment, every page of which involved more than one scourging. Saturday was a day of examination and especial tor- ture, when each pupil had to tell all he knew of Ri- palda, unless good luck or a kind providence sent an ever welcome broken head, fever, or cholera morbus as a temporary respite. Mothers sometimes showed sympathy for a child's sufferings; but fathers, never. Sola is accredited, however, with having enter-

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tained some advanced views on education. He sug- gested to Archuleta that there were other useful branches of learning besides the doctrina; that be- sides Ripalda and the caton and the novena de nuestra señora and the lives of saints, martyrs, or virgins, there were other books worth reading. Conciliating the good will of the smaller children by a distribution of sweetmeats, he gave to the 'big boys'-Vallejo, Alvarado, Estrada, Pico, Castro, Torre, Martinez, Rodriguez, and Agredo, two of whom were yet alive in 1883-some copies of the Gaceta de Mexico, decrees of the cortes, Spanish constitution of 1812, and even a Don Quijote. He urged upon them the importance of attention to study; stimulated them to effort by sending samples of their writing to Mexico; and often visited their school or invited them to his office. On the arrival of a ship it was customary to let the chil- dren run to the shore. Once at such a time, despite the master's warning to be careful, the gatera was left open, and the room was found occupied by hens, which had overturned divers ink-bottles and made sad work with some neatly copied habilitado's accounts which were to have been sent to Mexico. Of course a gen- eral application of the scourge was in order; the big boys were called on for the usual assistance in holding the feet of the first victims; but they flatly refused, and drove the master from the roon. This unpar- alleled revolt created a commotion at the provincial capital; but Sola settled the trouble and restored order by pardoning the boys on promise of good be- havior.36

35 Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 128-32, 272-7; iv. 180-91; Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 72-5, 123-4.

CHAPTER XX.

THE LAST YEAR OF SPANISH RULE. 1821.

BEGINNING OF A NEW DECADE-NOTHING KNOWN OF THE REGENCY-MARO- MEROS-SECULARIZATION DECREE-PADRES OFFER TO GIVE UP THE MIS- SIONS -- GOVERNOR AND BISHOP DECLINE-PAYERAS VERSUS SOLA-POLICY OF THE FRIARS, REALAND PRETENDED-DESTITUTION-SUPPLIES-POLITIC GENEROSITY OF FRANCISCANS-DUTIES ON EXPORTS AND IMPORTS-A CON- TROVERSY-MOVEMENTS OF VESSELS-AMERICAN SMUGGLERS-VACCINA- TION-SOLA'S DISCONTENT-RUMOR OF A NEW GOVERNOR-INDIAN AFFAIRS-COLORADO TRIBES-SOUTHERN RANCHERIAS-A COLD SEA- SON-AN IMPERIAL DOCUMENT-FOREIGNERS-ARGUELLO'S EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH.

THE opening year of the new decade belongs, in all its aspects save that of chronology, to the past; it is the end of an old rather than the beginning of a new epoch in this history. California was still a province of Spain, or so believed herself to be. Stirring events were taking place in Mexico. The fire of rebellion had for a time seemed extinguished, but with news from Spain of liberal success and Ferdinand's enforced adherence to the constitution of 1812, it burst out hotter than ever. Iturbide, in the earlier struggles a valiant royalist, proclaimed the independence of Mex- ico in February 1821. His success was rapid and complete; the whole country espoused his cause; the treaty of Córdoba in August sealed the submission of the viceroy and the capital; and in September a regency was established with Iturbide at its head. Nothing of all this was known in California; at least not officially or popularly known, for it is not unlikely that certain individuals had a pretty clear idea before

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POLITICS.

the end of 1821 of what was happening in Mexico.1 The Californians had the year before sworn the con- stitution of 1812, and still regarded themselves as loyal subjects of Fernando VII.2 The political hori- zon was clear enough, and the people had ample leisure to consider internal ways and means. Many would have welcomed news from abroad, whatever its pur- port, if it could have come accompanied by the memo- rias of olden times.

Nevertheless the shadow of coming troubles was creeping over the missionary establishments. I have already alluded to the secularization decree passed by the Spanish cortes in 1813.3 After an unexplained delay of seven years the royal confirmation of the decree was published by Viceroy Venadito in a bando of January 20, 1821, and the news was at once for- warded by Guardian Lopez to Prefect Payeras with instructions to comply at once with the requirements of the decree, by surrendering to the government the administration of temporalities, and to the bishop the nineteen missions of California as soon as demanded, while insisting on exact inventories and other requi- site and customary formalities. On receipt of these instructions in July, Payeras notified Sola that the padres were not only ready to give up the missions, but rejoiced at the prospect of being free to engage in new spiritual conquests or to seek retirement. A

1 Yet we are told in Sinaloa, Proposiciones, 7, that the Californians prepared to oppose the plan of Iguala.

2 Dec. 15, 1821, Sola says that Capt. José de Estévan, comandante of Guay- mas, had arrived on the Zertaje (S. Javier), having fled after refusing to take the oath of independence. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 69-70. This is the only allu- sion to the subject of independence that I have found in the records of the year. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 255-7, and Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 119-23, mention the arrival, perhaps in this year, of a company of maromeros, strolling actors, or rope-walkers, who were in reality revolutionary agents. They gave exhibitions at Santa Clara and elsewhere, tried their revolutionary arts without much success, and were closely watched by Sola and the padres, who could obtain no definite evidence against them. One of the number was called Maldonado.

3 See chap. xviii. of this volume. The only evidence that this decree was known in California before the correspondence I am about to give was a men- tion of its provisions by Payeras on Jan. 25, 1821. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. i. 42-3.

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THE LAST YEAR OF SPANISH RULE.

similar notice was sent to the bishop of Sonora, and corresponding information was sent in circulars to the friars.

In the communications of guardian and prefect there appears no word of protest, no complaint, but only joy as at relief from a burden. In this pre- tended readiness to comply with the decree of the cortes there was perhaps a decree of honesty, but not much. The complacency of the Franciscans was for the most part assumed, and the more easily because it was deemed unlikely that secularization could be effected. It was known that the bishop had no priests to put in charge, and it was not believed that the provincial authorities would at present assume the management of the temporalities. Doubtless there was at the college and in the minds of president and prefect a feeling of weariness and disgust arising from the complications of temporal management during the past ten years, and a corresponding sense of relief from the measure proposed; but that these feelings were sufficiently deep-rooted to have withstood a real danger of secularization may well, in the light of earlier and later developments, be doubted. Private as well as official communications were circulated by Lopez and Payeras, and in them the friars were given clearly to understand that there was but little real danger; that the friars might safely be enthusi- astic in favor of the new decree and the founding of new missions in gentile ground; and that if the worst should come they would doubtless be permitted to retire, or such at least as were not desirous of new homes in the Tulares.4

4 The letters referred to are carefully and in some cases vaguely worded; but I have not exaggerated their spirit. Lopez speaks of the occasion as a fitting one for the padres to exhibit their disinterestedness; tells them, if, as he suspects, the bishop wishes them to remain in charge, to consent only after much urging; says that the current visionary schemes will only serve to throw lustre on the missionaries; trusts that so shrewd a man as Payeras will see through the schemes and act discreetly; and is not sparing of ridicule for all that is being attempted in Spain and Mexico. Prefect Payeras simply communicates the guardian's belief that the padres will not be called to leave their missions; alludes to one Tamariz who was fulminating accusations

433

POLICY OF THE FRIARS.

The confidence of the friars was well founded. Sola replied to the prefect that he had received no official news of the matter in question, but that on receipt of such news he "would act with the circum- spection and prudence which so delicate a subject demands." In a private note he expressed his sur- prise, but congratulated Payeras on the possibility of escaping from official cares, and wished he might himself escape so easily from his troubles.5 The bishop in December replied that the secularization had not been enforced anywhere in America; that the California padres might remain in charge of their missions; and that it would be time enough to think of new conversions when the imperial inde- pendence should be firmly established.6

Notwithstanding the apparent readiness of the pre- fect to give up the temporalities in July, only a month before he had addressed to his college a long and earnest protest against Sola's ever-increasing inter- ference in the temporal management. The immediate occasion of this protest was Sola's demand for the original invoices and accounts of all mission trade, with the avowed purpose of adjusting duties,7 but

against them in Mexico; tells them that means for support will not fail even if the temporalities are taken away, 'y que hasta aquí con sebos y sus ad- juntos? Ah!' and exhorts them to have all in readiness, both temporal and spiritual, so as 'to reply with sonorous voice to the first lawful call, whether ecclesiastical or political, Domine ecce adsum.' One of his letters the padres are directed either not to read, or having read to keep secret.

5 July 12th, Sola writes to Guerra about the news of the edict received through Payeras. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 66. Aug. 5th, Estudillo from San Diego doubts that the edict will apply to California. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 291.

6 The correspondence on the subject, some of the originals being in my possession, is as follows: guardian to viceroy Feb. 3d; guardian to Payeras Feb. 7th; Payeras to Sola July 6th, 7th; Payeras to padres July 8th; Sola to Payeras July 10th; Payeras to bishop July 16th; bishop's reply Dec. 20th, in Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 487-8, 491-2, 541-2; Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. i. 65-75, 83; Arch. Sta B., MS., iii. 225-6; viii. 4-11; xi. 45, 338-41. Taylor, Cal. Farmer, March 21, 1862, tells us that Payeras was ordered to deliver the missions to the governor, but was advised by the bishop not to do so! Perhaps the last royal order circulated in California was one re- quiring a quarterly report of each mission and prescribing the form. It was received at San Rafael Oct. 5th. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xxviii. 40.

" The demand was made in a communication of April 26th, in which the padres were required to send the original papers to the habilitados, to be HIST. CAL., VOL. II. 28

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THE LAST YEAR OF SPANISH RULE.

really, as the friar averred, since no such accounts were required from the settlers, to pry into mission affairs, show his authority, and learn what the padres possessed. From the first it was urged Sola had held radical views of missionary subordination to provincial authorities, had regarded the padres as mere adminis- trators of estates, and had even proposed to take some of the best neophytes and form new pueblos, or in- crease the old ones. Hitherto the governor's inquisi- tive schemes had been baffled, chiefly through the old- time decision that the friar stood in loco parentis to the Indians, and had exclusive control of them and their property ; but now, in view of the changes in Spain, Sola proposed to revive his plans, and this demand for papers was doubtless a first step in that direction. The pre- fect points to the progress of the missions from strug- gling poverty to their present position as proof of the padres' successful management. He brings up the fact that the missions had supported the province for ten years, during which the friars had received no salaries; declares that this year, as before, the response to the governor's frequent calls for aid had been liberal and cheerful; denies the charge that the missions had wealth other than what was visible, most having from $100 to $1,000 in money, and a few $3,000 or $4,000, all needed for current expenses; suggests that the mission property, though large in the aggregate, would afford but little to each of its thousands of owners; is willing to correct any faults that may be pointed out; but protests that the friars must not be regarded as

returned after the collection of duties. St. Pap. Sac., MS., xviii. 43-4. Pay- eras would seem to have written a rather sharp reply on May 8th, to which Sola in turn replied on the 19th, regretting to enter into discussions indecorous for the government, but insisting in very plain terms that the padres must pay their duties until the viceroy should decide otherwise, and charging that they were defrauding the revenue in their speculations. The troops were suffering. For 50 years the missions have cost the government millions, and they ought, in these times of necessity, to make some return. The padres, like others, were citizens, and they could have no honorable and legitimate reason for withholding their accounts, especially when the governor, for their convenience, had permitted mission cargoes to be loaded and unloaded at obscure landings, where the officers could not take account of them. Id., xviii. 44-6.

435

GOVERNOR VERSUS PREFECT.

citizens, or managers of estates, or priests merely ; nor must they be required to render to secular authorities accounts which were not demanded even by their own superiors, and which were "diametrically opposed to the blessed simplicity of our holy order."8

Thus argued the missionary chief with an eloquence impossible to render in a résumé, and with an earnest- ness seemingly out of all proportion to the importance of the question raised by Sola's simple and not oppres- sive demand. But such was the feeling and policy of the missionaries, who could manifest a cheerful acquies- cence in a project involving the total secularization of their establishments; partly because they had always been familiar with the ultimate prospect of giving up their ministry, though chiefly because they trusted that entire secularization would be for many years impracticable. Nevertheless they met with unlim- ited argument and protest the slightest proposal of innovation; partly because they were attached to the methods of old in all their details, and partly because they regarded the first innovation as the entering point of a secular wedge which must inevitably break up their power.

Destitution still pressed upon the troops,9 and the

8 Payeras, Representacion del Comisario Prefecto al Padre Guardian, sobre innovaciones del Sr Gobernador, 1821, MS. Dated San Antonio, June 18, 1721. The author closes by announcing his great respect and esteem both personally and officially for Sola. Jan. 23, 1821, Payeras had issued a circu- lar to the padres in which he embodied the views of the guardian expressed in 1820; see chap. xviii. this volume, upon the use of carriages, and added his own exhortation and warning against other luxuries and comforts incom- patible with a Franciscan's vows. He doubted the propriety of even riding on horseback; but surely no padre should ride in any other vehicle than the ordinary cart of the country drawn by oxen or mules, and that only in extra- ordinary cases, as of sickness. Payeras, Circular á los Padres en que prohibe el uso de carruages, 1821, MS. Dated at Soledad Jan. 23d. During this year and the next the prefect issued two other letters on the same subject, in one of which, however, he seems to have modified his views somewhat, declaring that the president need have no scruples in using a cart, and advising the aged to take care of themselves since there was no hope of being relieved from duty. Id., xii. 354-5; Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xxviii. 35.

9 Desertions at Monterey and Sta Bárbara. Some of the militia declare they would rather live as convicts than as soldiers. St. Pap., Sac., MS., xi. 64. Jan. 25th, Argüello from Guadalajara says there is no hope of supplies. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., v. 224. Same date, Sola says the $36,000 sent for the four presidios is but slight relief; has been forced to establish duties;

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THE LAST YEAR OF SPANISH RULE.

only source of relief, as in years past, was the missions. From them were obtained food and other articles for actual consumption, contributions of produce for trade with foreign vessels, laborers for presidio work, cattle for the company ranchos, and even advances of money. Only in one instance did a padre protest, and then under a fictitious name, to his prelate;10 while the pre- fect seemed to vie with the governor in his zeal for collecting supplies. He was ever ready to levy con- tributions, to plead the cause of the soldiers, and to chide the padres for any manifestation of unwilling- ness to give. In one of his cordilleras he argued that the supplying of food and clothing to the soldiers was a more sacred duty even than the support of the neo- phytes, since the latter could, if hard pressed, support themselves in the monte. He did not fail to remind the friars that they had been exempt from tithes and other taxation; that they had never been called upon for gratuitous offerings, supplies being still paid for in habilitados' drafts, and this being no time to consider whether these would ever be cashed; and, above all, that in extreme cases the soldiers could easily take the mission keys and help themselves.

The guardian shared the enthusiasm, real or affected,

understands there is much suffering also in Lower California. St. Pap., Sac., MS., vi. 30. Feb. 26th, Sola to Gervasio Argüello, asking for cloth and ready-made clothing, 'of the latest style ' if possible. Id., vi. 33. Mar. 27th, Sola to Gov. of Lower California. Understands that he has sent an agent with complaints, and he, Sola, may be obliged to do the same. Id., vi. 36-7. June 7th, San Diego in a bad way. Nothing but frijoles, water, and salt in small quantities. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., v. 173. For the padres some promises of payment of annual instalments from the pious fund, with $3,000 a month on account of back stipends; but nothing could be collected. Arch. Sta B., MS., xii. 399.

10 Dec. 10, 1821, one of the padres of Sta Clara, who for some inexplicable reason signs himself ' Fr. Baldiri de las Gallinas,' complained bitterly of the governor's demands and announced to Payeras his resolve to endure no more. He declared that the soldiers were not content with the necessaries of life; often coupled their demands with threats, and, no matter how much the padres exerted themselves, were always grumbling. Evidently the friars were being 'squeezed ' for their desire to hold on to the temporalities. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. i. 81-2. P. Ibarra of San Fernando also mounted his high horse in defence of the rights of his Indians in some matter the nature of which is not clear; but not apparently in connection with the furnishing of supplies, as is implied in his letters to Guerra. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vii. 62-4.

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VIEWS OF THE GUARDIAN.

of Payeras, and declared that never more than now were the friars under sacred obligation to aid the troops, being especially pleased at Sola's acknowledg- ment of such aid, in one instance published in the Mexican official journal.11 That the individual friars generally shared the enthusiasm of the prelates, or that the latter acted from any other motive than policy, may well be doubted; but the line of policy was clear-to keep the Franciscan institution in statu quo until the dawn of a better epoch with the final triumph of Spanish power yet hoped for; to exhibit no opposition to a secularization which was deemed to be for a long time impracticable; to resist to the utmost every innovation on the system, which might obscure the brightness of future prospects; but to avoid, by compliance with all demands for aid, the danger of forcible confiscation of mission property.

11 Dec. 1820, call for $3,000 in coin for the arsenal at Monterey and other military purposes. A sergeant commissioned in Jan. 1821 to collect the money. St. Pap. Sac., MS., xviii. 35-6; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 69. Jan. 8, 1821, Payeras deems the call just and orders each mission to contrib- ute, as they do, each giving from $25 to $200. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. i. 34. Jan. 25th, in connection with an order to furnish blankets, etc., Payeras urges the secularization decree and the duties of Spanish citizens under the constitution as reasons why the padres should contribute freely. Id., iv. i. 42-3. Feb. 26th, Sola to P. Martinez, has received SO horses, SO saddles, and 50 blankets from his neophytes as a donativo for the troops. St. Pap., Sac., MS., xviii. 40. This was noticed in the Gaceta de Mex., xliv. 591-2, and by the guardian in his letter of May 23d. Arch. Sta B., MS. xi. 343. May 18th, call for boat, timber, and 14 workmen for repairs at San Francisco; with order of Payeras of same date. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. i. 59-60. San Francisco gave $1,200 worth of soap this year, having no wheat. Id., iv. i. 77. June 18th, Payeras, in the Representacion already mentioned, alludes to the $3,000 for military purposes, to the furnishing of S00 cattle in May, and to an advance of $6,000 on future dues in June; p. 204-5. July 16th, Payeras, Cordillera sobre suministracion de Viveres 1821, MS., the document referred to in my text. July 30th, Sola calls on the padres to indicate what produce they can sell to the Russians in exchange for a list of goods enclosed, it being understood that half the amount is to be contributed to the troops for treasury drafts! Several padres reply favorably; San Francisco had noth- ing to sell; and others signed the circular without saying what they would do. Id., iv. i. 76-7. In a circular Payeras says: 'Espero de la docilidad de Vs Rs cerraran los ojos, y sin abrir la boca remitieran lo que se manda con la puntualidad que se pueda. Lo contrario seria dar lugar a disgustos y re- clamos.' Id., iv. i. 60-1. In another communication Payeras thinks the neo- phytes may be made useful as troops if too much is not expected of them, and gives his ideas about their organization. Id., iv. i. 83-9. The missions offered to furnish supplies for the troops in Lower California also. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., v. 212-13.

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THE LAST YEAR OF SPANISH RULE.

Should the old regime be fully reestablished the treasury drafts would be redeemed; otherwise all would be lost. The padres lost the battle eventually as we shall see; but later events leave much room for doubt that any wiser plan of campaign could have been adopted.

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History of California, Volume II, Part 44

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 826

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 826