USA > California > History of California, Volume II > Part 47
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18 July 15th, Sola to Payeras. Arch. Sta B., MS., vi. 229-31. Id. to Guerra. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 73. July 20th, Id. to Tapis. August 8th, to Payeras. St. Pap. Sac., MS., xviii. 19, 21; vi. 51. August 9th, the new im- perial flag made its first appearance in California, save in the pattern received by Sola, at Sta Bárbara on the brig San Francisco de Paula, whose master, Manuel García was anxious to know how it was regarded in the province. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vi. 143. Yet as early as July 13th, if there is no error in the date, Capt. Ruiz wrote from San Diego that a new Mexican flag was being made, though both cloth and colors were scarce. Id., vi. 61. August 16th, Santiago Argüello sends to Guerra a model of the new coat-of- arms. Id., vii. 75. August 23d, the same officer understands that Fernandez is coming with much authority both military and ecclesiastic. Id., vi. 62. August 10th, Capt. Ruiz rejoices at the empire and hopes it may be free front storms. Id., vi. 63. August 12th, Torre, the governor's secretary, writes to Guerra that people are insane about the coming of the canónigo as of a mes- siah, some persons having just come from the south who had talked with him. It is said his powers are very great, that the missions are to be turned into towns, etc. 'Some feel themselves already rich, others avenged, others with offices, and still more with ranchos.' The writer doubts the comisionado's authority over either the military or missionaries. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 587-8. Sept. 5th, Sola says that on St Augustine's day he set at liberty a soldier under arrest in honor of the Generalísimo Don Agustin Iturbide. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 41.
19 Yet July Ist a hurried express from Mexico by way of Loreto arrived at Monterey to inquire if the independence had been adopted in California. St. Pup. Sac., MS., xviii. 18.
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A PROVINCE OF THE MEXICAN EMPIRE.
terey in the San Carlos20 the 26th of September. In the peninsula he had doubtless learned that there were no reasons to fear a hostile reception, and that no especial precautions would be required to keep the vessel from falling into the hands of recalcitrant loy- alists.21 That same day before landing he sent his credentials from the regency to Sola, and others from the guardian of San Fernando to Payeras, the receipt of which was acknowledged on the 27th and 30th re- spectively.22 From this point records respecting the comisionado's acts and the acts of the authorities in consequence of his coming are meagre. It is a re- markable fact that neither public nor private archives furnish a single contemporary document on the change of flag; nor is the exact date of that event known, though it doubtless took place with all due ceremony at the four presidios at the end of September or early in October.
All the old Californians of course remember the coming of the canónigo and the change of flag, but in
20 The San Carlos was commanded by José María Narvaez, his son Miguel being alférez de navío, Prieto, contador, and the priest Afanadon, or Afana- dor, chaplain. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vi. 121. Old Californians say that Fernandez had a somewhat numerons suite of attendants, which may be true, though there is nothing in the records on the subject. He was, how- ever, accompanied by a priest known to the Californians as the 'padre chi- quito,' or Padre Borrego, possibly identical with Afanadon.
21 Of the prevalent fears in Mexico on this subject, the existence of which I learned chiefly from the instructions to Narvaez, Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., i., formed the same idea from a conversation he overheard between Borrego and one of the maromeros.
22 Sept. 26th, Fernandez to Payeras, from on board the imperial brig San Carlos. Sept. 30th, Payeras to 'Señor Canónigo Comisionado Dr Don Agus- tin de San Vicente,' announcing that he has circulated a copy of the creden- tials among the padres ' that they may receive with reverent submission such precepts as Vuestra Señoría may have imposed on them.' Arch. Sta B., MS., ix. 112-14. Sept. 26th, Sola to Fernandez, receipt of documents. Sept. 27th, receipt of credentials (from the regency and not the emperor). Same date, letter of thanks for praise. St. Pap., Sac., MS., vi. 52. In the document alluded to as sent by Fernandez to Payeras or possibly another, dated Mexico, April 18th, the guardian wrote that there were rumors in Mexico that the padres were averse to taking the oath; that he, when summoned before a junta, had denied this; and that the comisionado must be received with respect and obedience. Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 512-13; Arch. Sta B., MS., xi. 348-51. Fernandez also brought a letter of recommendation to the padres from Síndico Martiarena of Tepic. Id., xii. 405. Oct. 2d, Narvaez to Guerra, says that Fernandez will not leave California until he has installed the new government, diputacion, and ayuntamientos. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vi. 121.
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CHANGE OF FLAG.
details their statements are confused, since they are inclined to group in this connection all that occurred in the way of politics from the swearing of the liberal constitution in 1820 to that of 1824 as part of the change from the old to the new, from Spanish mon- archy to Mexican republicanism with the empire as a connecting link. No wonder they fail to keep clearly defined the details of the successive phases. At Mon- terey the canónigo took part personally in the cere- monies, making a speech in which, with all the arts of the wily populachero that he was, he showed that the change in government was specially devised to promote the interests of each particular class. Then the old flag was lowered, not, let us hope, without tears from the old soldiers of Spain, and the imperial banner of Mexico was unfolded to the breeze amidst thunders of artillery, noise of drum and fife, and shouts of " Viva la Independencia Mejicana! Viva el Emperador Agustin I .! " The friars thought much and said nothing; young men were inclined to be pleased at the novelty; the Indians are said to have been delighted at the substitution of the eagle for the lion; and if any felt sad at heart when they thought of the old-time glories of the flag of Castile, the races and feastings that followed the church cere- monies, and the grand ball that lasted through the night, went far to efface unpleasant thoughts.23
It may be supposed that a new oath of allegiance to Agustin I. was required from every one in the province; but there is no record to prove that such
23 Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 281-95, and Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 193-206, narrate these affairs more fully than others. Pico, Acontecimientos, MS., 5-6; Avila, Cosas de Cal., MS., 20-2; Végar, Recuerdos, MS., 4; and Larios, Convulsiones, MS., 6, speak more or less fully of the event at Mon- terey. Amador, Memorias, MS., 79-80, 129-31, remembers the change at San Francisco. Mrs Ord, Ocurrencias, MS., 15, says that Guerra was absent from Sta Bárbara when the ceremony took place. Gonzalez, Experiencias, MS., 13-14, was away, but heard that Manuel Cota and another man refused allegiance. Sra Machado, Tiempos Pasados, MS., 9-10, remembers that the flag was raised at San Diego as well as possible without a flagstaff; that the soldiers complained that there was no distribution of money, and that next day all the soldiers had to cut off their queues, to the great disgust of them- selves and of the women.
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A PROVINCE OF THE MEXICAN EMPIRE.
was the case. A decree of the Mexican congress dated April 18th, requiring all to recognize the sov- ereignty of the nation as represented by that body, and to promise obedience to its acts, came through the bishop's hands and was circulated by the presi- dent in November; but the only recorded instance of compliance was at San Rafael on December 8th, and in the oath there was no allusion to the emperor.24 Three other orders were forwarded through the same channels. One was the bishop's order to substitute the name of Agustin for Fernando in the litany of prayers; the second was a call for a solemn mass and te deum in thanksgiving for the installation of con- gress, and three days of prayer for divine aid to that body; the third, an imperial cédula requiring similar prayers for Iturbide's wise and happy rule; while a fourth, arriving too late for obedience in this year, called upon the friars to pray for the successful issue of important business which called the emperor to Vera Cruz, and also for the happy delivery of the empress. 25
The canónigo called upon the padres the 1st of Oc- tober for a full report on each mission, with particular reference to geography, lands, and natural resources. The report was promptly made out and contained a large amount of information, being perhaps the most complete descriptive document extant on the subject; but from the nature of the material it can best be util- ized in connection with the local annals of this decade. 26
24 April 18th, decree of congress, which seems to have been constitucional when the decree left Mexico, and constituyente on its arrival at San Rafael. S. José, Patentes, MS., 165-6. June 7th, bishop to president. Arch. Sta B., MS., vi. 122-3. Nov. 2d, president to padres. Id., xi. 184. Dec. Sth, oath taken at San Rafael. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xxviii.
25 S. José, Patentes, MS., 166-70; Arch. Sta B., MS., vi. 123-30; Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xxxiii. 45.
26 Oct. Ist, Fernandez to the padres. Arch. Sta B., MS., ix. 124-7. The information was sought under 7 different heads or topics, including popula- tion, live-stock, crops, mines, fisheries, geography, and needs for defence, etc. The answer was the document which I call Misiones, Cuaderno de Estados, 1822, MS. The heading in the original is Estado de la Mision de San Diego (other names substituted and rest of title omitted later) en satisfaccion de los puntos que el Sr Prebendado etc., etc. Comisionado por el Supremo Consejo de Re- gencia á las dos Californias, pide á la Prefectura de esta Provincia.
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AN INFORMAL COUNCIL.
Fernandez clearly understood the importance of the mission question.
A meeting was held at the governor's house on the 8th, at which were present Sola, Fernandez, Payeras, Sarria, and Tapis, captains Argüello and Navarrete, lieutenants Estudillo, Estrada, and Gomez, and Al- férez Haro. The meeting was an informal one, of which probably no records were kept, but from letters written the next day27 we learn that four topics re- ceived attention from the assembled Californians and were decided-by the canónigo. The first was the governorship, of which I shall speak a little later. Next came up the establishment of a provincial dipu- tacion, or legislative assembly, under the constitution of 1812. This body ought properly to have been or- ganized long before, but Sola for various reasons set forth at the meeting, chiefly the unfitness of the Cali- fornians for self-government, had neglected to comply with the law. His reasons and arguments were over- thrown by the comisionado, who declared there must be a diputacion if it had to be composed of Indians, and that the art of self-government could best be learned by practice. Thus it was settled. Thirdly, the matter of ayuntamientos, or town councils, at Los Angeles and San José was considered, the perfect or- ganization of these councils having been hitherto neglected, without any sufficient reason as the canó- nigo decided. Finally, the future status of the mis- sions was discussed, and the conclusion was that the neophytes might remain in their present condition, with certain not very radical modifications; that is, secularization was not to be immediately enforced.28
27 Oct. 9th, Sola to Guerra. Two letters. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 78-80. Oct. 9th, Payeras to the padres. Arch. Sta B., MS., ix. 106-11. Oct. 10th, José María Narvaez to Guerra. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vi. 119-20. Sola writes chiefly of the diputacion and ayuntamientos; Payeras of mission matters; and Narvaez of the new governor to be chosen, though all three mention the dif- ferent topics.
28 Those of the Indians best fitted to care for themselves might with the consent of the governor and padres be allowed to go with their share of the property to the pueblo, or to live, under inspection, separately or in any de- cent family. The lash being absolutely abolished, reliance must be placed on
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A PROVINCE OF THE MEXICAN EMPIRE.
The pueblos had always had an ayuntamiento com- posed of an alcalde and one or two regidores. The change now proposed was simply the addition of a síndico, or counsellor, and a secretary at San José and Los Angeles, and the removal of the governor's comisionado who at each pueblo had hitherto been really the highest authority. Though the local records are incomplete, I think there is no doubt that the change was carried into effect this year, in accordance with the governor's orders. 29
The same electors who on May 21st had elected Sola as diputado to the Mexican córtes, were at once sum- moned to Monterey. The canónigo had ordered that these five men had the right not only to choose a diputacion for the province, but to elect themselves as members of that august body. Accordingly they did so elect themselves on November 9th in the following order of seniority : José Aruz, Francisco Ortega, Fran- cisco Castro, and José Palomares. Carlos Castro was substituted as fifth vocal, or member, for Ignacio Lopez; perhaps because the latter could not read or write, and José Antonio Carrillo was added to make up the requi- site number of six. Antonio and José Castro were named as substitutes; the governor was ex officio pre- sident, and Francisco de Haro was made secretary. Thus constituted, this first legislature of California, the members having sworn obedience to the consti- tution and allegiance to the emperor, was installed on the same day with appropriate ceremonies not ni-
a stick applied to the clothed back, or to stocks, shackles, etc., all 'gently' applied. The diputacion would watch over the missions. The padres must make extra efforts to instruct the Indians. The neophytes must be in readi- ness to help resist invasion.
29 In his letter of Oct. 9th, already referred to, Sola ordered that Maitorena be sent at once to Los Angeles to assemble the officers and people, inform them of the addition to be made, leave them to choose new officers, or retain the old ones, and cause the comisionado to retire and join his company. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 78-9. Payeras in his letters stated that Branciforte was in this respect to be added to S. José. Arch. Sta B., MS., ix. 106-10. Nov. 7th, Sola has been informed of the installation of the newly appointed ayun- tamiento of Los Angeles. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 80. The ayuntamiento as a body was to be addressed as ' Ilustre,'or 'Muy Ilustre,' or ' Usía'; the mem- bers as 'Señor Regidor,' etc., or plain 'Vid.' Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 262.
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FIRST LEGISLATURE.
nutely described, but including a discourse by Payeras, a solemn te deum, and salutes of artillery and musketry. The diputacion held a session now and then for the rest of the year, dealing for the most part with minor matters, and doing less harm than is attributed to some of the legislative assemblies of later years. 30
Between the meeting of October 8th and the or- ganization of the diputacion on November 9th the canónigo made a visit to the Russian settlement above Bodega. Payeras went with him and wrote a diary of the trip.31 They left Monterey on October 11th
30 Record of the organization of the diputacion. Leg. Rec., MS., i. 8-11. Capt. Navarrete, Cadet Torre, and Alf. Haro were the witnesses of the formal installation. Other statements of the fact and lists of members. Dept. Rec., MS., i. 119; Arch. Sta B., MS., xi. 183; Dept. St. Pap., Angeles, MS., i. 82; Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., iv. 29. Nov. 27th, the governor issues a procla- mation in the name of the emperor, forbidding, under severe penalties, all undue criticisms of the acts of the diputacion, and all marks of disrespect to the body, or any of its members, and all efforts to divide public opinion, or create ill-feeling or disturbance. Published at San Francisco Dec. Ist. Val- lejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 50. It seems that some of the military officers had talked rather freely about the ignorance, etc., of the new legislators. Dep. Rec., MS., i. 123. Guerra, in a private letter to Argüello, disapproved of the bando as too sweeping, and on an insignificant matter. It was no crime to say that one of the diputados was a tomista, and others ignorant fellows. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 623-4. Nov. 30th, Payeras instructs the padres as to the titles due to the new assembly. As a body, the diputacion was to be addressed as 'Vuestra Excelencia,' a communication to be addressed 'á la Excma. Diputación Provincial de esta Nueva California,' or 'al Sr Presi- dente de la Excma Diputacion.' Each member in the board was to be 'Usía,' or 'Vuestra Señoria;' but out of it 'Sr Vocal,' or ' Vd.' The title of 'gov- ernor ' had been abolished in favor of 'Gefe or Comandante Superior Político y Militar.' Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 262. The only recorded sessions of the diputacion in 1822 were: Nov. 9th, when the body was organized; Nov. 12th, when taxes were levied; Nov. 13th, when a special tax to pay Sola's expenses was imposed; and Nov. 27th, when the matter of habilitado's compensation was settled.
31 Payeras, Noticias sobre Ross. Diario de la Caminata que emprendió ... en union del Sr Comisionado del Imperio ... 1822, MS. The route with names was as follows: Oct. 11th, Monterey to Rancho Nacional, formerly Del Rey, or San Pedro. Oct. 12th, through the Cañada de Natividad N. E. to San Juan Bautista, where Sunday was spent. Oct. 14th, 3 1. N. E. to rancho of M. C. (Castro?); Laguna Seca; San José; Sta Clara. Oct. 15th, to San Francisquito 5 1. N. w .; 31. to Rancho de las Pulgas; 2 1. to San Mateo; 5 1. to El Porte- zuelo; 1 1. to Mission San Francisco. Oct. 16th-18th, rested while horses were crossed over the bay. Oct. 19th, crossed from San Francisco to San Rafael in the lancha by rowing. Oct. 20th, 5 1. N. to Sta Lucía de Olompali (written Onompali, on a former trip Alompa!i); 2 1. N. w. to Arroyo de San Antonio; 6 1. N. w. into the hills and Cañada de San Vicente, with two springs. Oct. 21st, N. w. around two points of the Estero del Americano, over very steep hills, and south 1 1. to shore of Bodega Bay, 11 1. from San Vicente, where were two springs near the beach and two redwood houses built
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A PROVINCE OF THE MEXICAN EMPIRE.
accompanied by eight 'citizens,' half of whom were Indians. The breaking-down of a cart to which the two padres had intrusted themselves deposited them in positions more or less inconsistent with ecclesiastical dignity, inflicted a few bruises, and supplied the only excitement of the journey to San Francisco. Being reinforced by Captain Argüello and Lieutenant Valle, with a few soldiers and servants, the party were rowed on the 19th in the lancha to San Rafael. Three days took them over the hills to Bodega and up the coast to Ross. The distinguishing incident on this part of the trip was the attempt of a refractory mustang to throw the imperial comisionado into a stream. It was not quite successful, but the struggle made the rider sick even to vomiting and the color of the result gave to the stream, now Salmon Creek, the name of Arroyo Verde.
The time spent at Ross was from 11 A. M. on the 22d to the morning of the 24th. The visitors were received with a salute of four guns, and were treated with the most cordial hospitality by the young mana- ger Karl Schmidt and his subordinates, who enter- tained them with fireworks and music, besides showing and explaining everything in and about the settlement. The resulting description as written by Payeras will be utilized elsewhere. Of official diplomatic intercourse between Fernandez and Schmidt there is no record. The comisionado's object was of course to obtain as much information as possible for the government in Mexico. A Russian writer says that he warned the Russians to abandon the settlement within six months or they would be ejected by force.82 Some of the
by the Russians; N. along beach and over several hard hills to Arroyo Verde. Oct. 22d, 2 1. N. to Rio de San Ignacio, so named by Argüello in his expedition of 1821 at a point about 13 1. further up (Russian River of course. See chap. xx. this volume. There is some confusion not easily cleared up; but the 13 1. may be an underestimate); 12 1. to Santa María Arroyo; to Ross, 6} 1. from Arroyo Verde; arriving at 11 A. M. Oct. 24th at 8.30 A. M. sailed for Bodega, where the soldiers and horses wese joined. No new names on the return march. Oct. 31st, they were at San Jose, and Nov. 2d reached San Juan Bautista.
32 Potechin, Selenie Ross, 16.
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SEA-SICK DIGNITARIES.
Californians give credit to a report, which I decm utterly without foundation, that Fernandez devised a scheme to bribe the Indians and treacherously fall upon the Russian garrison at night, thus freeing the imperial domain from its invaders at one blow! The Spanish officers, we are told, refused to take part in any such plot.33
For the return Manager Schmidt offered a bidarka with fifteen oarsmen, to which apparently frail vessel of skins the two priests with a few attendants in- trusted themselves, not without misgivings, for a sea voyage down to Bodega. The sea was not quite tran- quil from a landsman's point of view, and now it was the turn of the venerable comisario prefecto with contorted features to unburden his stomach, while the canónigo, pale as death, looked with as much com- placency as circumstances would permit on his com- panion's discomfiture. Nothing of interest occurred on the return from Bodega to San Rafael, except an- other equestrian performance in which the canónigo was thrown and somewhat bruised, while Payeras looked on, in sorrow-perhaps. The party was at San José the 31st and at San Juan Bautista, where the diary terminates, the 2d of November. At each mis- sion on the route Fernandez was welcomed with the ceremony due to his exalted rank.
Chosen as deputy and engaged in preparations for departure Sola had notified José de la Guerra to be at Monterey by the middle of July to assume the com- mand. As the senior officer in California Guerra was entitled in the natural order of things under the old system to become acting governor until the regular appointment of a successor to Sola; and no other officer was thought of for the position. The change was delayed by the coming of Fernandez; but again
33 Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 212-16; Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 317- 23; Vallejo ( J. J. ), Reminiscencias, MS., 80-1; Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 32-5. None of these seem to know that Argüello was one of the party, or how small the Spanish force really was.
HIST. CAL., VOL. II. 30
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A PROVINCE OF THE MEXICAN EMPIRE.
on October 1st, Sola announced his intention of sail- ing in the San Carlos, and summoned Guerra to the capital. The captain was congratulated by his friends, who expressed the hope that the appointment would be made permanent. 34
When the canónigo heard who was to be intrusted with the temporary rule, he suddenly discovered that his instructions required the acting governor to be chosen by a vote of officers. He knew the growing feeling of bitterness against the Gachupines, or Span- iards, in Mexico, and he did not deem it conducive to his own personal influence and popularity to return to Mexico with a report that he had left a Spaniard in command of California. He had no objections per- sonally to Guerra, does not seem to have expressed openly any opposition to his appointment, and sub- sequently gave as a reason for his real opposition the advice of the padres that Don José was too strict a disciplinarian for the times.35 The wily priest had noted some signs that the younger Californians were imbibing the Mexican prejudice against the Spaniards, had dropped here and there a word calculated to foment the infection, and supposed he could safely trust the officers for the rest.
It is not at all unlikely that this matter was talked over by Fernandez and Luis Argüello during their trip to Bodega. At any rate, soon after his return the canónigo learned that the officers were not likely to vote in accordance with his wishes, perhaps had
34 June 20th, Sola to Guerra. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 97-8. On July 7th, P. Zalvidea congratulated him on his accession. Oct. Ist, Sola to same. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 78. Oct. 6th, 20th, Lieut. Gomez and Sergt. Vallejo to Guerra. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vi. 150, 155. As early as January P. Martinez had conjectured a change of governor and the choice of Guerra. Id., iii. 11.
35 From a letter written soon after his arrival it would seem that Fernan- dez knew Guerra in Mexico. He addresses him as 'my old and esteemed friend,' and hopes to see him come to take possession of the government. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 169. Feb. 10, 1823, Manuel Varela writes from Tepic that the canónigo expressed regret at not having left Guerra in charge, but that he had acted on the advice of the padres who thought in the present condition of the troops it was not best to 'keep the hawser too taut.' Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vi. 135.
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