History of California, Volume II, Part 52

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

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39 Sept. 12th, 30th, Sarria to Argüello, inclosing copy of appointment and instructions for Altimira. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. ii. 69-75.

40 Oct. 4th, 18th, Altimira to Argüello. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. ii. 75-8. Oct. 18th, Sarría to Argüello, has heard reports that the Indians are running away and do not like their missionary. Id., 86.

505

SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO.

sular establishment as Old San Francisco; but this usage became inconvenient, and rather than honor St Francis of Asisi with two missions it was agreed to dedicate the new one to San Francisco Solano, "the great apostle of the Indies." It was largely from this early confusion of names, and also from the in- convenience of adding Asis and Solano to designate the respective saints Francis, that arose the popular usage of calling the two missions Dolores and San Solano, the latter name being replaced ten years later by the original one of Sonoma. 41

Beyond the fact that Buenaventura Fortuni took Altimira's place as minister in September 1826, the only information extant respecting the annals of Solano for the rest of the decade, not of a statistical nature, is to the effect that a mission rancho of Santa Eulalia had been established at Suisun before the end of 1824, that a provisional house for the padre's visits, with a corral for horses, had been built, and that a neophyte alcalde was in charge of the rancho. In March 1824 the mission had a granary, a padres' house, and seven houses for the guard besides the chapel, all of wood. But by the end of the year one large adobe house 30 by 120 feet and seven feet high had been completed, with tiled roof and corridor, and two other structures had been made ready for roofing just in time to be destroyed by the unusually heavy rains. A loom had been set up and a beginning made of weaving. A garden fenced with willows contained from 150 to 300 fruit trees, and in the vineyard from 1,000 to 3,000 vines were growing. Between 1824 and 1830 cattle increased from 1,100 to 2,000; horses from 400 to 725; and sheep remained at 4,000, though as few as 1,500 in 1826. Crops amounted to 1,875 bushels per year on an average, the largest yield being 3,945 in 1826, and the smallest 510 in 1829, when

41 Mar. 29, 1824, Altimira to Argüello, announcing the intention to dedi- cate the church on Passion Sunday, and explaining the progress he had made in other respects. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. ii. 125-8.

506

ARGÜELLO'S RULE-LAST OF THE EMPIRE.

wheat and barley failed completely. At the end of 1824 the mission had 693 neophytes, of whom 322 had come from San Francisco, 153 from San José, 92 from San Rafael, and 96 had been baptized on the spot. By 1830, 650 had been baptized and 375 buried; but the number of neophytes had increased only to 760, leaving a margin of over 100 for runaways even on the supposition that all from San Rafael retired the first year to their old home. Notwithstanding the advantages of the site and Altimira's enthusiasm the mission at Sonoma was not prosperous during its short existence. 42

In September the governor was making preparations for an expedition to explore the country lying between the new mission at Sonoma and the Bodega coast. The rancheria of Huilantuliyami43 was an objective point, and it was thought best to find out what Karl Schmidt was doing in that direction, where it was said the Russians had been seen. It appears that

42 On buildings, etc., see Altimira's letter of March 29th, in Arch. Arzob., .MS., iv. pt. ii. 123-8, by which it also appears that from San Francisco the mission received 20 yoke of oxen, 25 bulls, 50 cows, 60 horses, and 3,000 sheep, besides some implements. etc. See also the padre's annual report on this mission at the end of 1824, in Arch. Sta B., MS., x. 519-26. I have in my collection, S. Francisco Solano, Lib. Mision, MS., the original registers of baptisms and burials with the alphabetical index of neophytes, from the beginning down to 1839, three quaint old leather-bound tomes, types of simi- lar records at all the missions. The first baptism was that of 26 children of both neophyte and gentile parents on April 4, 1824; the next was of 13 adult Petalumas on April 16th; and the 3d of 23 Ululatos. The first burial was that of a gentile woman on Dec. 26, 1823, the only death in the year. The last baptism, Oct. 1, 1839, was numbered 1,494; and the last burial, Oct. 7, 1839, was numbered 875.

The different nations or tribes of Indians which furnished converts as shown by the mission books were as follows: Aloquiomi, Atenomac, Canoma, Carquin, Canijolmano, Caymus, Chemoco, Chichoyomi, Chocuyem, Coyayomi cr Joyayomi, Huiluc, Huymen, Lacatiut, Loaquiomi, Linayto (Libayto?), Loc- noma, Mayacma, Muticolmo, Malaca, Napato, Oleomi, Putto or Putato (Pulto or Pultato or Pultoy-Putah Creek ?), Poluomanoc, Paque, Petaluma, Suisun, Satayomi, Soneto, Tolen, Tlayacma, Tamal, Topayto, Ululato, Za- clom, Utinomanoc.

I have also the original statistical reports for each year from 1825 to 1830 inclusive, together with financial accounts of mission supplies to the escolta, amounting to about $200 per year, in Arch. Misiones, MS., and Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xviii .- xx., xxix .- xxx. passim.

43 Identical very likely with the Libantilayomi of former records, and ap- parently somewhere in the region of the modern Santa Rosa.

507

SONORA AND CALIFORNIA.

the expedition, consisting of twenty-five men under Alférez Santiago Argüello, did start from San Fran- cisco the 7th of October; but respecting the trip and what was accomplished nothing is known.44

Still another expedition may be noticed here as well as elsewhere, though it extended through several years; and briefly, though I have before me no less than seventy-five official communications on the sub- ject. I allude to the expedition of Captain José Ro- mero to California and back by way of the Colorado from Tucson, Sonora. Unfortunately with all the correspondence no diaries are extant. The object was to explore a permanent route of communication between the two provinces, and Romero with a small force of eleven men was accompanied by Padre Félix Caballero, a Dominican friar of Lower California. 45 At the crossing of the Colorado and later the In- dians were hostile and stole all the horses, but after great suffering the party arrived by a southern route at the frontier peninsular missions in July 1823, the report having reached Tucson that all had been killed. The explorers were fed and clothed, and Romero was summoned to Monterey for consultation with the governor as to the best way to get back to Sonora.

Romero left Monterey the 10th of October for San Gabriel to prepare for his return, Argüello having issued orders to officers and padres that every assist- ance was to be afforded. After two months of dili- gent correspondence about men and guns and rations and animals, about forty men under Lieutenant Estu- dillo were equipped as an escolta, and the march began the 15th of December. On account of various mishaps they did not leave San Bernardino until Christmas, and subsequently lost their way and wandered in mountains and deserts without water for their animals

44 St. Pap., Sac., MS., x. 17, 82, 91; xiii. 2; Dept. Rec., MS., i. 41, 65, 68-9. 45 He started from Sta Catalina April 14th, and reached Arizpe in May. Caballero, Estadística de Son. y Sin., 11.

508

ARGÜELLO'S RULE-LAST OF THE EMPIRE.

till the end of January, when they returned to San Gabriel.46 It required about as much paper and ink to announce, explain, and complain of the result as it had to prepare for the start.

Two parties of Indians soon arrived in search of Romero with despatches from Sonora; but an Indian revolt which occurred this spring, and will be described in the next chapter, prevented his return with the messengers. It took a long time to convince Argüello that the danger was past; and in September 1824, when Romero was preparing for another start, the governor received instructions from Sonora to send him back by way of Loreto. Romero was unwilling to go by that route; Argüello would not authorize or help him to go by the other; and the ensuing corre- spondence consumed the time until the late summer of 1825. Then a new general in Sonora, Jose Figue- roa, of whom I shall have much to say in later years, ordered Romero to return by land and complete the exploration; and a new governor ordered the neces- sary guard to be prepared. A new avalanche of official documents in August and September was repeated in November; and finally all was ready, though in the mean time Figueroa had come to the Colorado to meet Romero, and tired of waiting had gone back. Such active and complicated preparations were rarely known in California, every officer in the south being involved. At one time it was proposed to fortify the San Gor- gonio pass, but this plan was given up on account of the deep snow. The last mishap was the running away of the Cocomaricopa guides from San Bernar- dino the 4th of December. The grand total of result was that Alférez Romualdo Pacheco with five soldiers and a party of Indians escorted Romero to the Colo-

46 Rafael Gonzalez, Experiencias, MS., 14-19, accompanied the party and gives some details. He attributes the failure largely to Estudillo's incompe- tence and intemperanee. It would appear, however, that the attempt of Ro- mero to take with him a large drove of mares, and the attempt to follow a new trail pointed out by an Indian, instead of the old route of Anza and others, had much to do with the disaster.

509

ROMERO'S EXPEDITION.

rado in December, and then returned by another and better route to San Diego before February 2, 1826, on which date the governor announced the result to the minister of war in a communication which closes the series. 47

47 Romero, Documentos relativos á la Expedicion del Capitan R. para abrir Camino entre Sonora y California, 1823-6, MS. Being the letters of Romero, Argüello, Echeandía, Urrea, Figueroa, Estudillo, Guerra, Portilla, Pacheco, Sarria, and others. Also Echeandía's final report of Feb. 2, 1826, in St. Pap., Sac., MS., xix. 24-6. It is implied in this report that some point on the southern route had been, or was being, garrisoned with a view to keep open the communication by land. March 30th, Gen. Figueroa to comandante gene- ral of California. Thinks an effort should be made to keep the route open. Distance from Arizpe to Concepcion, 200 leagues; from Concepcion to San Diego, 80 leagues. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ivii. 17-18. There are many minor points of some interest, but no importance, in the correspondence, matters of official etiquette, etc., which I have omitted.

CHAPTER XXIII.

EVENTS OF ARGUELLO'S RULE-INDIAN REVOLT.

1824.

NATIONAL POLITICS-JUNTA AT MONTEREY-PLAN DE GOBIERNO-CALIFOR- NIA'S FIRST CONSTITUTION-SESSIONS OF THE DIPUTACION-BANDOS AGAINST CRIMINALS - COMMUNICATIONS WITH MEXICO - MINON AP- POINTED GOVERNOR-COLONIZATION LAW-THE MISSIONS AND PADRES- QUESTION OF SUPPLIES-STIPENDS PAID-LIST OF VESSELS-COOPER'S VOYAGE TO CHINA-OTTER CONTRACT-COMMERCE AND REVENUE- KOTZEBUE'S VISIT AND IMPRESSIONS-FOREIGN RESIDENTS OLD AND NEW-REVOLT OF NEOPHYTES IN THE SOUTH-MOTIVES-BURNING OF SANTA INÉS-PURÍSIMA TAKEN-FIGHT AND FLIGHT AT SANTA BAR- BARA-ESTRADA'S CAMPAIGN-EXPEDITIONS OF FABREGAT AND POR- TILLA TO THE TULARES-CAPTURE AND EXECUTION OF POMPONIO.

THE federal constitution of October 4, 1824, was not known in California until the next year;1 but there were rumors of federation proclaimed by some of the provinces and not yet approved by others- rumors not well understood, but sufficient to create a vague impression that it was perhaps incumbent on California to do something. Moreover several prov- inces, including Sonora, Jalisco, and Oajaca, had directly invited the Californias to join them; and it was necessary to take some action on these invitations. Accordingly Argüello had summoned a junta as we have seen in the preceding chapter.

The junta met at Monterey on the 7th day of Janu- ary. It was composed of the military officers Guerra, Estrada, Ramirez, and Santiago Argüello, with the deputies, José Castro as substitute taking the place of

1 In the Acta Constitutiva of Jan. 31, 1824, it was declared that California and Colima should be federal territorities, immediately subject to the supreme powers. Supt. Govt. St. Pap., MS., iii. 1. But not even this acta appears to have been known in California.

( 510 )

511

JUNTA AT MONTEREY.

Ortega. For some reason not explained the friars were not represented. The " Political and Military Superior Chief and President of said Most Excellent Diputacion," Don Luis Argüello, in his opening address stated that, in distress at the unhappy condi- tion of our America, disturbed by political differences, he had called the meeting to devise some means of escape from the prevalent contagion, and secure for the province the peace hitherto enjoyed. He invited all to express their views frankly on the following points : 1st. Will it be expedient for this province to declare itself in favor of the federation; and if so will it be advantageous to join some one of the provinces inviting it? 2d. What kind of a government in any case will be best for California? The diputados spoke first; the military men followed; and after sufficient discussion the junta by a unanimous vote resolved :- 1st. That for the present the province should remain aloof and free from any other until the intentions of the national government could be learned with reference to a general federation of all the American provinces; and 2d. That a committee of four should be appointed to report a plan of government for internal affairs. The committee was named and the meeting adjourned.

Next day the junta reassembled to hear the report of the committee, whose members are not named. The report was a 'plan' of preamble, four titles, and twelve articles. It was unanimously adopted after discussion; was officially published in a proclamation by Argüello on January 17th; and was publicly read at each presidio within a few days. Though this plan de gobierno introduced no radical changes; never had properly any legal or political force or authority, and was nominally the law of the land for only one year, yet as California's first constitution or organic law I have deemed it worth preservation in a note, though in a form somewhat abridged.2

2 Plan de Gobierno Provincial resuelto por la Junta General en Monterey, 1824, MS., and incomplete in Leg. Rec., MS., i. 17-19. Read to the troops

512

EVENTS OF ARGÜELLO'S RULE-1824.

Thirteen subsequent meetings of the diputacion are recorded in 1824, several of which were of the junta provided for in the plan, to constitute which Presi- dent Sarría with lieutenants Estudillo and Martinez were called in to take part in the deliberations. Though the matters treated and the decisions reached were for the most part trivial, yet as the methods of treatment were in some cases peculiar and interesting I append the substance of the record.3 During the

at San Francisco on Jan. 20th as certified by Lieut. Martinez on the original record in my collection.

Title I. on Government .- Art. 1. The government of this province shall be civil and military, vested in one person exercising the functions before pre- scribed by the laws. Art. 2. The diputacion shall still subsist, with the same attributes as before under the laws. Art. 3. There shall be a junta general composed of diputacion, two officers, and the prelate of the missions, with the governor as president -- to have cognizance of grave affairs. Art. 4. The governor may judge what matters require the assembling of the junta; but such matters shall include: Ist, extraordinary taxes; 2d, grants of land; 3d, foreign relations; and 4th, control of public funds and accounts. Art. 5. The junta may at any meeting modify, add to, or repeal any of the regula- tions in force.

Title II. on Military Force .- Art. 1. So long as there are means for pay- ment the governor is to receive $2,500; a captain, $1,200; a lieutenant, $550; alférez, $400; sergeant, $262.50; corporal, $225; and private, $217.50 per year. The Monterey presidial company to consist of 80 men including offi- cers, and each of the others of 70 men, the artillery to continue as before. Art. 2. All men from 18 to 50 years should be enlisted to form companics (militia) of infantry or cavalry, and the militia artillery companies should be kept full and in a good state of instruction.

Title III. Expenses and Revenue .- Art. 1. Indispensable expenditures are: the regular and prompt payment of the garrisons; $1 per day to diputados during absence from home; and a salary of $270 to the secretary of the dipu- tacion. Art. 2. Revenues to meet these expenditures are: (1) tonnage on for- eign vessels as per last Mexican tariff; (2) 25% on sales of goods imported on foreign craft, after deducting 12.5% as before(?); (3) 10% on imports by Mexi- can vessels; (4) 6% from foreigners on exports; (5) 12% from sellers on same; (G) the product of the national ranchos; (7) other revenues according to the public exchequer-at present only that of the postoffice; (S) the product of the otter-fishery lately established; (9) 10% on all cattle branded, and on crops including wine and brandy-no importation of foreign liquors being per- mitted. Citizens may pay the tax in kind; but the missions (in moncy?) on cattle at $1.50 per head; wheat, $2 per fanega; corn, $1.50; beans, $2.50; wine $3 per barrel; brandy, $35 per barrel. But all effects for the church or per- sonal use of the padres are exempt. Art. 3. The junta may devise other sources of revenue if needed.

Title IV. on Administration of Justice .- Art. 1. For civil cases in towns there shall be three resorts (instancias). Ist to alcalde; 2d to comandante; and 3d to the governor. Civilians living at the presidios will apply first to the comandante, secondly and finally to the governor. Art. 2. Criminal cases will be tried by a court-inartial, whose sentence will be executed with- out appcal.

3 Legislative record for the year: At the spring session the first recorded meeting after Jan. 7th-Stb was on Jan. 23d, when after fixing a date for

513

SESSIONS OF THE DIPUTACION.

year Argüello issued a series of bandos intended to promote the public welfare, some of them founded on acts of the diputacion, and others having no such re- corded basis. On January 31st he proclaimed the death penalty for all thefts exceeding twenty-five dol- lars, the body to be quartered in cases where force or false keys were used. For thefts of $1.25 to $6.25 ten years of presidio or public works were imposed;

the commencement of the secretary's salary-a matter more important to Torre than to the reader-the subject of revenue was taken up and Lieu- tenant Estrada was appointed administrator general. Next day attention was called to the deplorable condition of the forts at Monterey and San Diego, and a novel expedient was devised for effecting repairs. A competent person was to be appointed in each place to watch for vagabond, lazy, and useless persons, who were to be reported to the governor and set to work on the de- fences, at a cost of six cents a day for rations. Jan. 27th the establishments of a college, or hospicio de estudios, for the education of Californian youth was proposed; but when it came to a vote, Carrillo and Palomares, while admit- ting that such an institution would be convenientísimo, opposed the assump- tion of any obligation to pay a teacher. Sarria, being called in next day for consultation, promised to see what could be done in view of the scarcity of money and friars; and there the matter rested. In the session of the 27th abuses in police regulations were noted, and the governor was authorized to issue a bando making each ayuntamiento responsible for the proper control of its own pueblo. By resolution of the 29th, whalers were required to pay tonnage dues, and all foreign vessels to pay for wood; and on the same day the proposed voyage of the Rover was considered, of which more anon. On this occasion Palomares refused to vote, and Aruz being sick three members went to his house to take his vote, since he had only a bad cold and was in full possession of all his senses.

At the autumn session on Sept. 14th the distribution of lands was consid- ered; Sarría made a speech in behalf of the neophytes as individuals and communities; it was proposed to take for redistribution a part of their lands, from such settlers as had more than they needed; and finally it was resolved to leave the whole matter to be settled in Mexico. On the 16th Sarria, Estu- dillo, and Martinez met with the diputacion forming the junta general pro- vided for in the plan. The revenue accounts for the three preceding years were called for; but Argüello after various excuses declared that as he got no recompense for 'heating his head ' over those accounts, the junta would have to wait until they were ready; whereupon it was voted that if the documents were not forthcoming within fifteen days, the legislators could not perform their duties and the people's money would be wasted. On the 19th it was noted that foreign brandy had been sold in violation of the plan, and some of the members were in favor of fining Arguello $10 per barrel on all liquor sold, for having failed to enforce the laws; but others doubted the power of the diputacion to fine the governor, and it was thought best to refer the matter to the sovereign congress. At the session of Oct. 18th a petition was received from the neophytes of San Buenaventura asking to be relieved from the taxes imposed by the plan; and as the style of the document was not altogether reverential, it being 'adorned with an enormous criticism and threat' by the padres in an appended prologue, it was decided to refer it to a committee of two, who were not to consider the propriety of abating the tax, but the best means of administering a 'prudent rebuke.' At this same session the junta notified the people that the ten per cent tax on products was not to be con- founded with tithes, but was an independent and direct tax. On the 27th LIST. CAL., VOL. II. 33

514

EVENTS OF ARGUELLO'S RULE-1824.

and from $6.25 to $25 there was added a running of the gauntlet six times between lines of two hundred men armed with ramrods. On the same date he de- creed that no person should leave town, presidio, or rancho, without a passport from the civil authority; and again he ordered that all books and papers sus- pected of being seditious against either the govern- ment or the Catholic faith must be delivered for examination by the president of the missions. The 5th of February he forbade the selling or buying of cattle without notice to the administrator of revenues, or the transfer of produce for sale without a permit from the alcalde, under penalty of confiscation and fine. And finally on November 22d he issued an edict against horse-stealing, or rather against the prevalent practice of taking a horse wherever it might be found and leaving it wherever convenience might dictate without reference to the rights of the owner.4

Communication with the Mexican government was very rare and of slight importance. The governor sent in a few complaints of destitution with reminders of back pay due the garrisons, directing his communica- tions to the minister of the treasury or to Don Pablo de Sola. The latter was still regarded as California's diputado in congress, and Argüello declared that if he were not admitted no successor could be sent for want of funds. From Sola we hear nothing, and from the habilitado general in Guadalajara, Gervasio Ar-

comandantes were instructed to facilitate in every possible way the sale of produce offered by settlers. Oct. 30th, the junta repealed from Jan. 1, 1825, the two taxes of 12} per cent and 6 per cent on exports; but imposed a tax of 25 per cent on all coin extracted from the province. Nov. 10th-11th, there was some vaguely recorded action on the proposition of Arus that the 'April session be held in January,' and that the diputacion meet 'in the centre of the province.' Dec. 2d, comandantes were ordered to have the cargo of each vessel appraised for the collection of duties immediately on arrival. Leg. Rec., MS., i. 16-41. It is very likely that the record is not quite complete.

4 Bandos of Jan. 31st and Feb. 5th in Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., iv. 12- 13, 17-18. Bandos on passports and seditious books, in Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 144-6. Bando of Nov. 22d, original document in Coronel, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., 3-4. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 342-5, notes Argüello's attempts to diminisli crime and the severity of his measures. We do not hear, however, of the death penalty being inflicted for stealing.

513

GOVERNOR MIÑON.

güello, nothing officially, though in a private letter he stated that no aid was to be hoped for from the treasury.5 Under date of November 3d the superior powers attempted to use California as a medium for manufacturing favorable public opinion throughout the world and counteracting the malicious reports of Spanish foes by ordering that reports of the prevalent harmony be sent by every English or American vessel to Michelena at London and Obregon at Philadelphia. The minister of war also noticed the past services and present needs of the Californian troops in his report presented to congress the 20th of December.6

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History of California, Volume II, Part 52

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