History of California, Volume III, Part 27

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 824

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mutineers had been overpowered at S. Blas, part of the money recovered, and Rafael Nuñez sent to Guadalajara to be shot. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 58-61. Forbes, Hist. Cal., 139-42, says that the party was well received by the rev- olutionists at S. Blas, and that $3,000 of the funds had been sent back to the friars. Gonzalez in his diary mentions no firing, and I doubt that any oc- curred. Mention of the affair at San Lucas in Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 194-5; Castro, Relacion, MS., 30; Vallejo, Ilist. Cal., MS., ii. 198-9; Robin- son's Life in Cal., 138-9; Ryan's Judges and Criminals, 39.

32 Sept. 24th, F. at La Paz to administrator at Guaymas. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- H., MS., i. 33-5. Oct. 17th, Luis Valle, com. at Guaymas, to F. Will send the aid required.

33 Nov. 12, 1832, F.'s address to his troops. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 58-61. I suspect that the date should be Dec. 12th. There had been some previous negotiations with the captain of the Facio to transport the troops. Id., iii. 62.

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READY FOR A NEW RULER.

toria. The 17th of October he wrote directly to Figue- roa as his 'respected chief,' to express his submission to the national authority, and to explain that love of his country alone had prompted him to take part in the late pronunciamiento.34 The people generally, many of whom knew something of Figueroa by repu- tation, were pleased at the prospect of seeing a regular government established again in the territory. The diputacion, as we have seen, voted at the final session of the year to send to the new gefe político an address of welcome and submission which should also be a de- fence of its own patriotic policy during the past two years. Such a document, if actually prepared, is not extant. Zamorano was doubtless less pleased person- ally than the other parties at the news of Figueroa's approach, on account of the well known political affini- ties of the comandante general; but having been in- volved in no revolutionary acts, he was even more confident of approval than the others. To Captain Antonio Muñoz, who came to relieve Fernandez del Campo in command of the artillery, and who arrived before Figueroa, Zamorano offered to resign his posi- tion of 'comandante general accidental of the north;' but Muñoz declined.35 Evidently, though California was technically in a 'state of anarchy,' the new ruler was to encounter no opposition there.

34 Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 63-5, 73-4. E. takes advantage of the oppor- tunity also to prepare for the defence of his late mission policy by dwelling on the powerful and baneful influence of the missionaries, all of whom with two exceptions are denounced as apologistas of Spain and all that is Spanish. 35 Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 79-82.

CHAPTER IX.

FIGUEROA'S RULE-HÍJAR AND PADRÉS COLONY.

1833-1834.

ARRIVAL OF FIGUEROA-PRIMITIVE PRINTING-IMAGINARY DIFFICULTIES- AMNESTY TO REBELS-ECHEANDÍA AND ZAMORANO-BIOGRAPHY OF ECHEANDÍA-BANDINI ELECTED TO CONGRESS -NO SESSIONS OF THE DIPU- TACION IN 1833-THE NORTHERN FRONTIER-FIGUEROA RESIGNS-A WARNING-MUTINY AT SAN FRANCISCO-THE DIPUTACION IN 1834- ADDRESS BY THE GOVERNOR-LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS-THE FIRST BOOK PRINTED IN CALIFORNIA-REGLAMENTO-PETALUMA AND SANTA ROSA- SANTA ANNA Y FARÍAS-CONSPIRACY OF GUERRA AND DURAN -- NEW ELECTION-EVENTS IN MEXICO-PADRES AND HIS SCHEMES-COLONIZA- TION-HÍJAR AS GEFE POLÍTICO-COLONY ORGANIZED-COMPAÑIA COS- MOPOLITANA-POLITICAL SCHEMES-THE MARCH TO TEPIC-VOYAGE OF THE 'NATALIA' AND 'MORELOS'-RECEPTION OF THE COLONY AT SAN . DIEGO AND MONTEREY-WRECK OF THE 'NATALIA'-AUTHORITIES.

THE new ruler arrived at Monterey by the Cata- lina January 14, 1833, landing and taking possession of his command the next day.1 With him came Cap- tain Francisco Figueroa, his brother, Captain Nicolás Gutierrez, lieutenants Bernardo Navarrete and Rafael Gonzalez-the latter to take charge of the custom- house-Surgeon Manuel Alva, about thirty soldiers, and ten friars from the college of Zacatecas, who came to reënforce the Fernandinos.

On the day of arrival, and apparently before land- ing, Figueroa addressed communications to the va- rious local authorities, announcing his appointment, and intention to devote all his energies to the welfare

1 Figueroa's letter written in March. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 103. Rather strangely, there is in the archives no more definite record of his formal assump- tion of the command on Jan. 15th than this and the announcement mentioned in my next note.

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FIRST PRINTING IN CALIFORNIA.

of the territory. He was naturally not quite sure what would be his reception from the different fac- tions. Before leaving Mexico he had caused to be printed a proclamation, which he now circulated, to- gether with a brief notice of his arrival, also printed, and as it seems at Monterey. This was the first use of type in California.2 I suppose that he brought a small quantity of type with some kind of a hand-press, or stamp, for printing cards and brief notices, more as a curiosity perhaps than for actual use.

2 The notice is as follows: 'El Supremo Gobierno Federal se ha servido con- fiar á mi insuficiencia el mando Político y Militar del Territorio, de cuyos des- tinos he tomado posecion el dia de ayer que desembarqué felizmente en este Puerto; y al tener el honor de comunicarlo á V. desfruto el de ofrecerme á su disposicion, protestandole la mejor voluntad para servirlo y complacerlo, y su- plicandole acepte las seguridades de mi mas distinguido aprecio y considera- cion. Monterrey, 16 de Enero de 1833. José Figucroa.' The name has the gov- ernor's rúbrica on the copy before me-the only one I have seen-Earliest Printing in Cal .- the one sent to M. G. Vallejo at S. Diego. The impression is bad, as if done by hand with imperfect apparatus. The 'a' (with grave accent) shows that the type was not the same used by Zamorano in later years.

The proclamation printed in Mexico was as follows: 'The comandante general, inspector, and gefe político superior of Alta California, to the inhab- itants of the territory. Compatriots; at my arrival on your coasts I consider myself under obligation to address you to announce peace, order, and lib- erty. Boons so precious being assured, you will enjoy the abundant advan- tages with which nature enriched you. The contrary produces nothing but countless evils, misfortunes, and desolation. If a fatal moment of excitement has disturbed your repose, let peace return to occupy her seat in this delicious country, and with intrepid patriotisin let us east discord to barbarians who have no country or rights to respect. Peace is the true happiness of mor- tals; and I restore to you a gift so precious in the name of the supreme fed- cral government, which has seen fit to confide to me the ardnous task. A perpetual forgetfulness will efface the memory of the political errors which gave rise to the startling occurrences of year before last. In the law of April 25th last [printed May, but April substituted in ink], you will find guaranties and security. To me it belongs to carry them into effect, and I promise it shall be done. Fear nothing, fellow-citizens; the government works for your happiness. I, who come to execute its just desires, am re- solved to overthrow whatever obstacles may impede the development of your prosperity. It remains for you, united and faithful, to present to the world a testimony of concord, of respect for authority, and of obedience to law. The laws will be my guide, and never shall an arbitrary policy or disorder deprive you of the just and moderate liberty secured in the compact of our institutions. Fulfill, therefore, your social obligations, and doubt not that your rights will be respected by your fellow-citizen and friend, José Figueroa.' In Bandini, Doc., MS., 25; Vallejo, Doc., MS., i. 288; Dept. St. Pap., An- geles, MS., x. 2-3. Written communications of similar purport issued, Jan. 14th-20th, to ayunt. of Monterey, with invitations to a thanksgiving mass at F.'s house Jan. 19th. Dept. St. Pap., Mont., MS., vi. 20; Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 84-5. To ayunt. of S. José. Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., iv. 113. To ayunt. of Branciforte. Sta. Cruz, Arch., MS., 43. To military coman- dantes, through Zamorano. Vallejo, Doc., MS., ii. 1.

HIST. CAL., VOL. III. 16

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FIGUEROA'S RULE-HÍJAR AND PADRÉS COLONY.

In all Figueroa's communications, from his arrival to his death, there are evidences of his belief that by unremitting effort and the exercise of diplomatic tal- ent he had overcome the difficulties in his way, and had succeeded in rescuing California from anarchy. This view of the matter was partly real and honest, so natural is it to magnify the importance of one's own achievements, and partly a pretence designed for effect in Mexico. The difficulties in this case were for the most part imaginary. There were no dis- orders; the factions vied with each other in their readiness to submit, and nowhere was there the faint- est ripple of opposition. Figueroa is entitled simply to the credit of having been a sensible, industrious, and above all a popular man, who committed no acts of folly to create troubles where none existed. This at the first; for later he overcame certain obstacles of a somewhat more serious nature. Bandini is the only Californian who does not overestimate the impor- tance of Figueroa's services in saving the country for Mexico, and Don Juan, it must be confessed, had a grievance against the governor, the nature of which will shortly appear.8

A Mexican decree granting an amnesty to all con- cerned in the irregularities of 1831-2, on the sole condition of future loyalty, was circulated by Figueroa, together with the announcement of his arrival.4 Zamorano and his adherents affected a freedom from all need of amnesty, since their conspirings had been

3 Bandini, Ilist. Cal., MS., 78, thinks any other man would have succeeded as well, as there was no opposition. Jan. 26th, the ayunt. of Los Angeles formally recognized Figueroa. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. SS. Feb. 2d, Alealde J. A. Carrillo congratulates him. Dept. St. Pap., Ang., MS., i. 104. Feb. 10th, Carrillo will harangue the Indians and tranquillize them. Arch. Arzob., MS., v. pt i. 76. J. A. Menendez at S. Gabriel tells F. that at the missions his eoming is regarded as the 'iris de paz que viene a disipar la espesa nube de las diferencias que tienen agitado el territorio.' Id., v. pt i. 71. 4 S. José, Arch., MS., i. 48; Sta Cruz, Arch., MS., 87. Jan. 19th, F. asks the padres to publish the amnesty and aid in promoting tranquillity. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 85. Notwithstanding the amnesty of April 25, 1832, I find an order to the comisario general dated Ang. 1833, that officers in Sonora and Cal. are to receive no pay until they prove they have had nothing to do with revolutionary plans. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Com. and Treas., MS., ii. 56.

243

SUBMISSION OF ECHEANDÍA AND ZAMORANO.

in support of the government. Figueroa humored this somewhat plausible whim, thanked the legitimists for their loyal services, made Zamorano his secretary, and sent to Mexico a report altogether favorable to the northern faction, according especial praise to the compañia extrangera of Monterey, and also mention- ing Ibarra and Carrillo in terms of approval. If his condemnation of the 'usurpation' of Echeandia's party was more severe, and his praise for the 'loy- alty' of Zamorano's party more flattering than was called for by exact regard for the truth, the reason must be sought in the policy of the administration which this report was intended to please.5

Echeandía was not less cheerful and prompt in his submission to Figueroa, with whom his relations both personal and political had been most friendly in Mexico, than was Zamorano; but he ridiculed his rival's pretensions to be, more than himself, beyond the need of amnesty, and in all his communications he defended his past acts. What he desired was not pardon, but justification, and recognition of the posi- tions he had assumed, and he was annoyed at the tone Figueroa felt himself obliged to adopt on the subject. On the day of his arrival Figueroa sent Echeandía both an official and a private letter, and a friendly correspondence followed.7 Echeandía ren- dered valuable aid to the governor in his preliminary investigations on the subject of missions from Febru- ary to April. Orders brought by Figueroa required him to report at Mexico, and he accordingly left Cal-

5 Figueroa, Informe al Ministro de Guerra sobre los Acontecimientos de 1831 -? , y Parte que tuvo en ellos el Capitan Agustin Zamorano, 1833, MS. Dated March 23d, and accompanied by copies (not given) of 38 documents furnished by Zamorano in support of his policy.

" The govt in Oct. 1833 ordered an investigation of his services, etc., in order to decide whether he should receive pay as governor or as lieut-colonel of engineers. Sup. Govt St. Pup., MS., xxi. S. I do not know what decision was reached.

7 Correspondence from Jan. 14th to Feb. 14th, with references to other letters not extant. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 23-6, 76-8, 83-7, 96-100; Arch. Arzob., MS., v. pt i. 73. Other communications on missions will be noticed in another chapter, the latest from E. being dated March 19th.

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ifornia never to return, sailing from San Diego May 14th, on the Catalina. There is no record that he subsequently appeared in public life; but in 1856 he was practising his profession as engineer in Mexico, and is reported to have died before 1871. With this officer's record during his residence of eight years and more in California, the reader of the preceding chap- ters is acquainted, and it is not necessary to indulge largely in repetitions; nevertheless, I append a bio- graphical résumé.8 Echeandía we have found to be

8 Of José María Echeandía before he came to California nothing is known beyond the fact that he held the rank of lieut-colonel of engineers, and was probably connected with a college of engineers in Mexico. He fairly repre- sented Mexican republicans of the better class. His appointment was in Jan. 1825. He sailed from S. Blas in June, remained at Loreto until Oct., arrived at S. Diego in Oct., and in Nov. received the command from Luis Argiiello. See chap. i., this vol., on his arrival; chap. ii. on his political acts in 1826-30, including his visits to the north, his quarrel with Gonzalez, and his complaints and offers of resignation; chap. iii. on his quarrels with IIerrera; chap. iv. on his mission policy and controversies with the padres; and chap. vii .- viii. on his acts after giving up the command to Victoria on Jan. 31, 1831. Also chap. xi. for additional particulars of his secularization policy. Echeandía was probably under 40 years of age in 1825. In person I:e was tall, slight, and well formed, with fair complexion, hair not quite black, scanty beard-some say his hair and cyes were light, among them Ignacio del Valle-and a pleasing face and expression. His health was very delicate. In his speech he affected the Castilian pronunciation, noticeably in giving the 'Il,' 'c,' and 'z' their proper sounds. The following items from various sources show something of his character. Gonzalez, Experiencias, MS., 27, notes his affability to private soldiers. Valle, Lo Pasado de Cal., MS., 7-8, says he was so absent-minded as sometimes to ask his secretary what his own name was before signing a document. J. J. Vallejo, Reminis- cencias, 103-108, calls him a capricious despot, who would carry out a whim without regard to results. David Spence, Hist. Notes, MS., 15, asserts that he had no energy. Torre, Reminiscencias, MS., 22, speaks of him as popular but over-indulgent and careless. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 46-7, 51, 110- 13, 116-17, and Alvarado, Ilist. Cal., MS., ii. 111, 140, 146-7, 106, are in- clined to praise Echeandía in extravagant terms, mainly on account of his somewhat radical republicanism. Pio Pico, Hist. Cal., MS., 21, pronounces him affable but apathetic. Shea, Cath. Missions, 109, quotes Alfred Robinson as calling him 'the scourge of California, and instigator of vice, who sowed seeds of dishonor not to be extirpated while a mission remains to be robbed.' Tuthill, Ilist. Cal., 130, says 'he was contracted in his views, despotie in the exercise of his powers, and selfish in his relations with foreigners.' Lieut Romualdo Pacheco alludes to him as his worst enemy, but incapable of injur- ing any one. Gale, writing to Cooper, Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxix. 104, calls him a man of undecided character, trying to please everybody.

June 6, 1832, orders for E. to report at Mexico. Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., viii. 40. Oct. 30, 1833, orders to investigate his services in order to reach a decision about his pay. Id., xxi. S. In April 1828 he wrote to Guerra in Mexico to pay his mother $100 without letting his wife know anything of it. March 13, 1833, the comisario general alludes to an allowance of $100 to María Salcedo, Echeandía's wife. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Com. and Treas., MS., il. 65. Sailed from S. Diego, May 14, 1833. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS.,

245

LAST OF ECHEAXDÍA.

a man of considerable talent and good education, affable and kind-hearted, but weak, irresolute, and lacking energy. He was disposed to be upright and faithful, but lacked strength of principle for emergen- cies. In the administration of justice and the en- forcement of military discipline he was notably inef- fective. He has been abused extensively by partisans of the friars, but no man could have escaped such abuse without a complete surrender to the mission monopoly and a reckless disobedience to his instruc- tions. He favored secularization, and his views were sound, but he was not hasty or radical in effecting the change, but rather the contrary. True, at the very end of his rule he was induced by Padrés to do an illegal and unwise act, but that act did not go into effect, and the padres had no good cause of offence. No man in Echeandía's place, and faithfully repre- senting the spirit of Mexican republicanism, could have treated the friars better. His faults lay in an- other direction, as already indicated.

Figueroa's early relations with the diputacion, the last of the powers he had to conciliate, are not clearly recorded, but were doubtless altogether friendly .? Before Figueroa's arrival some steps were taken by the ayuntamientos for holding primary elections, and

Ixxix. 23. Taylor, Odds and Ends, no. 14, says, with his usual inaccuracy, that E. died in 1852. Mrs Ord, who knew him well in California, saw himn frequently in Mexico in 1855-6. He said that the allowance of half his pay as director of the college of military engineers, which he left for his wife, had not been paid while he was in Cal., and that he never succeeded in getting it. He had some oil-mills and other property on which he with difficulty supported himself until in 1835 providence sent an earthquake which so damaged certain convents and dwellings of rich men as to render his profes- sion of engineer very lucrative. In 1855 he was arrested for some opposition to Santa Anna, but soon released. In 1871 Mrs Ord made inquiries for him, and learned that he was dead, as were two step-daughters who had taken care of him in his old age. Ord, Ocurrencias, MS., 42-3.

9 Pico, Ilist. Cal., MS., 46, says that F. sent a special communication to each of the members, announcing the amnesty. Pico replied with a defence of his acts. Vallejo, Hist. C'al., MIS., ii. 200-3, relates that Osio, Alvarado, and himself came at once to Monterey to offer their aid in maintaining order. A long conference took place, and a dinner followed, and cordial relations never ceased between the parties. Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 223, tells us that F. issued orders for an election and hastened the meeting of the diputacion.

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FIGUEROA'S RULE-HÍJAR AND PADRÉS COLONY.

on March 24th the electors met at Monterey and chose four new members for the assembly, also elect- ing Juan Bandini as deputy to congress, with José Antonio Carrillo as substitute. 10 There is no evi- dence that the body as now constituted ever held any session, or that any session was held in 1833 at all. It would seem that the election of March must have been declared illegal, for October 15th Figueroa ordered a new election to be held according to the Mexican plan of Zavaleta. This election was held the 1st and 2d of December, at Monterey, on the first of which days Bandini was again elected to con- gress, and on the second the diputacion was renewed by the election of all seven members.11 They did not meet until May of the following year.

We have seen that a few years earlier orders had come from Mexico to establish a strong garrison in the region north of San Francisco Bay, with a view to protect that frontier from encroachments of for- eigners; but nothing had really been effected beyond a slight correspondence and investigation by Echean- día.12 Figueroa's instructions required him to pay particular attention to the same subject, it being

10 Jan. 3, 1833, ayunt. of Los Angeles resolves to invite others to hold primary elections so that the new gefe may find everything ready. Los Ange- les, Arch., MS., iv. 77-8. March 21st, 24th, meetings of the partido electors at Monterey. The vocales elected were: 4th, J. A. Carrillo, 5th, Manuel Crespo, 6th, José Águila, 7th, Tiburcio Tapia; Suplentes, José Perez, F. J. Alvarado, and J. J. Vallejo. Actas de Elecciones, MS., 12-16; Dept. St. Pap., Ang., MS., xi. 4-5. March 23d, J. J. de la Guerra writes to his father that 'the enlightened '-that is, the clectors-arc living so scandalously -- except his uncle Anastasio Carrillo-that 'even the English' are shocked. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 961. This election left Vallejo, Ortega, and Osio as hold-over vocales in the 1st, 2d, and 3d places; but there was a decision from Mexico-Victoria's work ?- dated May 17, 1832, that Vallejo as a mili- tary officer was not entitled to his seat. Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., v. 9.

11 Actas de Elecciones, MS., 16-19; Leg. Rec., MS., ii. 226-7. The 7 vocales chosen were: I. Carlos Carrillo, 2. Pio Pico, 3. Francisco de Haro, 4. Joaquin Ortega, 5. J. A. Carrillo, 6. J. A. Estudillo, 7. José Castro. Oct. 15th, F.'s order for an election. Dept. St. Pap., Ang., MS., i. 134-6; x. 7- S. Dec. 6th, F. orders surplus municipal funds to be sent in for the dip. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 193. Bandini had left S. Diego for Mexico on the Catalina with Echeandia. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ixxix. 23, 23.

12 Chap. iv. of this volume.

247

NORTHERN FRONTIER.

deemed of the utmost importance that the northern frontier up to latitude 42° be occupied by Mexicans, either as settlers, soldiers, or missionaries, as soon as possible. Accordingly in April the governor announced his purpose to found a presidio. He ordered Alférez Vallejo to make an exploration, select a site, and offer lands to settlers, appealed to the mis- sions for aid, called in the convict laborers from pri- vate ranchos to work on the proposed fortifications, and reported his purposes to the government. The prefect of the northern missions, however, while fully approving the project, declared that no aid could be depended on, and so far as I can learn, nothing was accomplished before the end of the year.13

In March the governor had deemed the country pacified, and good order restored, and so reported; but his health was so impaired by rheumatic and apoplectic attacks that he asked to be relieved of his command.14 His health improved, however, and from July to September he made a tour of the south, occu- pied largely in studying the condition of the missions; but while at San Diego on July 24th he addressed to the minister of relations a confidential letter of warn- ing against a "clique of conceited and ignorant men" who were plotting to separate California from Mex- ico, and as a means to that end would do all in their power through their representative, Bandini, to se- cure a separation of the military and civil commands, and give the office of gefe político to a Californian. He declared himself strongly opposed to any such change, which would be "the germ of eternal discord," as there was not a single Californian even tolerably qualified for the office. His warning has every ap- pearance of being prompted by personal ambition, though he disavowed any desire to retain the office

13 Apr. 10th, 12th, F.'s letters to Garcia Diego, and Apr. 15th, reply of the latter. St. Pap., MMiss, and Colon., MS., ii. 299-308, Apr. 25th. P. Gu- tierrez to F. from Solano. Dept. St. Pap., MS .. iii. 116.

1. March 25th, F. to min. of war. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 103.

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FIGUEROA'S RULE-HÍJAR AND PADRES COLONY.

himself. He knew that the charge of a plan to secede from Mexico was false, and his language was severe and uncomplimentary, in marked contrast with that he was wont to use in California; but there was in Figueroa's character an observable element of policy closely verging on hypocrisy.15

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History of California, Volume III, Part 27

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885-1890 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 824

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 824