History of California, Volume III, Part 31

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

USA > California > History of California, Volume III > Part 31

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Thus the tide of fortune for Padres and his associate had begun to ebb. Instead of finding themselves in- vested with the civil and military authority, they were simply directors of colonization, and their powers even in that capacity were left to the tender mercies of the diputacion. The members of that body, it is true, had been a few years earlier admirers and partisans of Padrés, or at least were largely under the influence of those partisans, such as Bandini, Vallejo, and Osio; but though we may be sure the ayudante inspector exerted all his eloquence and influence to retain the favor of his old friends, his power over them seems to have been lost. Vallejo and Alvarado admit candidly that the chief reason for this defection was the fact that Padres had brought with him twenty-one Mexicans to become administrators of the missions; whereas, under the old plans, the Californians were to have those places. I have no doubt this was, to a certain extent, the true state of the case, though I do not suppose that all the places had been promised to Mexicans. Figueroa's mission policy was substan- tially identical with that of Echeandía and Padres in the past, to which the Californians had committed themselves. He had actually made a beginning of secularization ; all was going well, and the Californians were filling the desirable places. Why should they favor a change in favor of strangers?

Whatever their motives-and they were not alto- gether selfish-the vocales had the soundest of legal

6 Figueroa, Manifiesto, 14-22; St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 209-10.

275

ACTION OF THE DIPUTACION.

reasons for refusing to accede to Híjar's demands. To suppose that the government in depriving him of the office of gefe político had intended to leave intact all the powers given to him in his double capacity was an absurdity; nor was it credible that the whole matter of secularization and disposition of mission property was to be intrusted to a mere director of colonization, decmed unfit for the eivil rule. Doubtless the admin- istration in its haste had been led into carelessness in not specifying what powers if any were to be left to Director Híjar. The diputacion met on the 17th of October, and listened to a speech from Figueroa, ro- ceiving documents illustrating the subject-matter. The matter was referred to the committee on government. It was decided to reserve discussion for secret sessions, and next day Híjar was called upon to show his instructions. At the secret session of the 21st the committee, consisting of José Antonio Carrillo, Pio Pico, and Joaquin Ortega, rendered its report, which was discussed and approved article by article without opposition. On the same day it was published by Figueroa in a ponderous bando.7

In a preamble to their report, Carrillo and his asso- eiates made an able and even eloquent presentment of the case. Considerable attention was paid to national as- pects, for it seems that an effort had been made to show that Santa Anna's revocation of Hijar's commission was in some way a threat to federal institutions, and a warning was uttered against the folly of taking part in the strife that was agitating the republic, so long as the rights of California were not attacked, and especially so long as the territory was under the guidance of so wise and popular a ruler as Figueroa.

" Legis. Rec., MS., ii. 190-6, 20-34; Figueroa, Manifiesto, 22-33. Of the document as finally published I have an original-Figueroa, Bando en que publica la Resolucion de la Diputación Territorial contra las Pretensiones de Don José María Hlijar, Director de Colonizacion, 21 de Oct. de 1834, MS., sheet 12x50 inches. Oct. 19th, Figueroa demands from H. his instructions for the dip. They were sent the same day. St. Pap., Colon. and Miss., MIS., ii. 211. Oct. 21st-22d, F. sends to the alcalde of Los Angeles his address to the dip., and the action of that body. Dept. St. Pap., Ang., MS., xi. 23-6.

276 FIGUEROA, CASTRO, AND GUTIERREZ-THE COLONY.

Orders of the government were for the most part clear, and should be obeyed. The innocent colonists were, however, in no way to blame for the failure of the directors to provide for their welfare, nor for the carelessness of the government in issuing indefinite orders; and for them the territorial authorities should provide in every possible way. The Indians, more- over, ought not to be despoiled of their property- their only reward for a century of slavery-as would be the case if Híjar's original instructions were car- ried out; and on this point the government should be fully informed. The decision of the committee, ap- proved by the diputacion, and published in the gov- ernor's bando, was in substance as in the appended note.8 Figueroa was to remain gefe político; Híjar was to be recognized as director of the colony, but must not interfere with the missions, and all possible aid was to be afforded to the colonists. The course decided upon was an eminently just and proper onc.

Híjar addressed to Figueroa, October 23d, a com- munication, in which he attempted to refute succes- sively all the positions assumed by the diputacion. This letter, with Figueroa's arguments against each point interpolated between its disjointed paragraphs, fills fifty-four pages of print.9 Both disputants dis-

81. The order of July 25th must be obeyed, and Figueroa will continue to act as gefe político. 2. Hijar may fulfil his special commission of director of colonization, subject to the territorial government and the regulations which may be adopted by the diputacion. 3. H. is to have nothing to do with secularization, and is not to receive the mission property. 4. Until the sup. govt may decide, the secularization regulations of the dip. will be carried out, and the Indians will be put in possession of their property. 5. (a) The gov. will cause to be given to the colonists on arrival the tools and other aid called for in the instructions, the same to be taken pro rata from the different missions; (b) he will also furnish necessary food on account of the allowance to cach person; (c) the director will be subject to the gefe, and will report to lim, giving estimates of expenses, etc .; (d) the mission lands belong to the Indians, and no colony shall be established on them. 6. The gefe will retain II.'s instructions, giving him a certified copy if desired. 7. (a) This document is to be reported to the sup. govt, which (b) is to be asked to revoke the instructions so far as they despoil the Indians of their property; to approve the regl. of the dip .; and (c) to separate the political and military command. S. This action of the dip. shall be circulated for the information of the public.

' Figueroa, Manifiesto, 35-89.

277

FAILURE OF THE COLONY.

played ability in their written arguments, besides using some severe language; but they went, much further than was necessary or than I have space to follow them, beyond the real question at issue into the rights of the Indians, the equities of seculariza- tion, and the constitutional powers of national and ter- ritorial authorities. A private conference of leading men was held the 25th, at which Híjar's letter was read, and arguments in support of Figueroa's position were made by the lawyers Luis del Castillo Negrete and Rafael Gomez. Another conference was to be held the next day; but meanwhile Híjar invited Figueroa to breakfast, and tried to bribe him-so says the governor-to deliver the mission property, offer- ing to enrich him, not only with that very property, but with credit and influence in Mexico and $20,000 or more from Jalisco.1º Figueroa does not appear to have deemed that his honor required anything more than a refusal of the offer; and after a long argument, offered not to oppose, if the diputacion would consent, the delivery of the mission property, on condition that no part of it should be disposed of until a deci- sion could be obtained from Mexico. This proposition was not accepted at the conference that followed, at which Híjar and Padres are said to have finally given up the contest, admitted the justice of all that the dipu- tacion had done, and announced their purpose to take the colony to Baja California. All protested against this project as ruinous to the colonists, and begged the directors to remain, which they finally consented to do, some slight modifications in the resolutions of the 21st being agreed upon, which modifications, with Híjar's letter of the 23d, were submitted by Figueroa to the diputacion on the 29th.

The diputacion on November 3d, while administer- ing to Híjar a severe reprimand for his "jumble of er- roncous ideas, unfounded imputations, and gratuitous

10 Figueroa, Manifiesto, 92.

278 FIGUEROA, CASTRO, AND GUTIERREZ-THE COLONY.

criminations," agreed to the changes proposed, and required of the director a written acquiescence; which action was communicated to him on the 4th by Figu- croa.11 Híjar replied two days later with a protest and more arguments instead of the desired agreement; but he announced his purpose, for the welfare of the colonists and the good name of Mexico, to disregard for the present his own wrongs of outraged honor, and remain with the colony wherever it might be sent, earning his living with a spade if necessary. Accordingly preparations were made for the settle- ment of the colonists on the northern frontier. Pa- drés was call upon to decide whether he would assume the duties of ayudante inspector or of sub-director; and he replied by resigning the former position.12 Figueroa addressed to the minister of relations on the 9th two communications in defence of the policy that had been pursued with the directors. On the 20th, and again on December 8th, he wrote to the secretary of war, explaining his course with Padres, who it seems after resigning his military position once had tried unsuccessfully to obtain command of the northern frontier. He declared that Padrés was already plot- ting mischief, and that the territory would never be safe until that officer should be removed. He also offered his own resignation of the comandancia general.13

I have already noticed the arrival of the colony in two divisions at San Diego and Monterey in Septem- ber 1834, the stay of the southern division for a month

11 Figueroa, Manifiesto, 93-106; Leg. Rec., MS., ii. 205-7. The changes were as follows: (1) In art. 2, the words 'laws and regulations on the sub- j. ct' were to be substituted for 'regulations which may be adopted by the dip.' (2) Híjar was to have his original instructions returned. (3) If Hijar would agree in writing to the resolutions as amended, he was to receive lis full salary of $1,000. (4) The gefe político was anthorized to settle any further questions of detail without reference to the dip. Nov. 4th, F. in- forms the min. of rel. that H. is to remain as director, subject to the civil government, and to receive $4,000; but after the colonists are once located under municipal govt, it is thought no director will be needed, and the salary may be saved. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 213. H.'s reply of Nov. 6th is also in Id., ii. 213-17.

12 Nov. 8th, 9th, St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 270, 279, 287-8. 13 St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 283-92; Figueroa, Manifiesto, 48-55.

270

ON THE NORTHERN FRONTIER.

or more at San Luis Rey and San Gabriel, and their gradual progress northward. Immediately after the agreement with Híjar, particularly on November 12th, orders were issued for a pro rata furnishing by the missions of necessary supplies. There are also some fragmentary items of record respecting transportation in November and December;14 but all that can be definitely learned is that during the winter a majority of the whole company, the rest being scattered through- out the territory, were gradually brought together at San Francisco Solano, which mission was already in charge of Mariano G. Vallejo as comisionado for sec- ularization. Padrés was with them, and Híjar made some visits to Solano. The intention was to found a settlement on the northern frontier, perhaps at Santa Rosa, though it does not clearly appear that any of the colony actually went there, or indeed that any had lands assigned them at San Francisco Solano. Early in March 1835 a new correspondence took place between Híjar and Figueroa. Supplies had come in slowly, barely in quantities sufficient to keep the colonists alive. Híjar now desired to make a be- ginning of the new town, and called on the governor to state definitely whether he could furnish the re- quired aid. Figueroa admitted that he could not fur- nish all that was required by the instructions, though he would do, as he had done, all that was in his power.

14 Nov. 5, 1834, Ramirez notifies receptor at S. Francisco that the brig Trammare will bring the colonists' luggage north and may land it on Angel Island. Pinto, Doc., MS., i. 123-6. Nov. Sth-9th, Híjar's estimates of live- stock, tools, supplies, etc., for the colony, amounting to $45,000 for a year. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 274-8, 280. Nov. 12th, miscellaneous orders to missions with some details of supplies to be furnished. Dept. St. Pap., MIS., iii. ISS; St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 279-82; Valljo, Doc., MS., 323-S. Dec. 19th, the gov. says to the comisionado of S. F. that if the colo- nists have not yet gone to the other side, they are to be detained until the rains are over. St. Pap., Miss., MS., ix. Gl. Coronel speaks of the journey in ox- carts or on horseback, of crossing the strait of Carquines in boats managed by S. José neophytes, and of being lodged in such of the mission buildings as were not occupied by Vallejo and his troops. Cosas de Cal., MS., 12. Most Californian writers give no information beyond the bare fact that most of the colonists went to Sonoma. Some state that there was now considera- ble ill feeling between them and the native inhabitants, arising largely from the troubles of the leaders.

FIGUEROA, CASTRO, AND GUTIERREZ-THE COLONY.

He advised, however, that on account of scanty means and the general unfitness of the men for frontier set- tlers, the idea of a new town be abandoned, and the colonists be allowed to select, each for himself, their own residence and employment. Híjar protested against this plan, as opposed to the views of the Mex- ican government; but Figueroa insisted, and issued the corresponding orders. The colony was thus dis- organized, but there are records of aid furnished to families at different points throughout 1835. There is no more to be said of the colonists as a body. Most of them remained in the country to constitute a very respectable element of the population.15

In a defence of his own course, written later, Fi- gueroa, presenting the documents in the case chrono- logically, interspersed among them his own comments. From his remarks it would appear that almost from the day of arrival, in September 1834, to the out- break in March 1835, soon to be noticed, certain members of the colony under the leadership of Padres were engaged in plots to secure the territorial govern- ment by force, Híjar being meanwhile an indifferent spectator, if not an active participant in these in- trigues.16 I suspect that Figueroa's fears at the time were to a considerable extent unfounded, and that his subsequent presentment of them was much exagger- ated in detail to suit his own purposes. The colonists

15 Correspondence of Híjar and Figueroa, March 1-4, 1835, in Figueroa, Manifiesto, 117-28; Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. S-9. Orders and correspondence of March 5th to April, on transfer of the families from Solano to the homes they might select, and on supplies furnished. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iii. 14-16; xxiii. 5; St. Pap., Miss., MS., vii. 72-4; Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS., v. 377-9. Account by Padres April 12th of amounts paid to colonists, aggregating $2,604. Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MIS., v. 371-2; Id., Cust .- II., MS., vii. 662-4. Fragmentary records of supplies furnished to families, June to August. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ixxx. 11; lxxxi. 46; Id., Ben., v. 372-5; Id., Ben. Com. and Treas., iv. 9; St. Pap., Miss., MS., vi. 15; Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxiii. 12.

16 Figueroa, Manifiesto, passim. In Oct., before the action of the dip., they are said to have worked hard to alarm the public with charges of cen- tralismi and oppression. p. 22-3. After that action of Oct. 21st, some in their anger talked loudly and recklessly of their original plans. p. 33-5. About

2SI

REVOLT AT LOS ANGELES.

were of course bitterly disappointed at the failure of the directors to keep their promises, and many of them were disposed to throw the blame on Figueroa and the Californians. It is the nature of disappointed Mexicans to conspire; there were some reckless fel- lows like Araujo who were perfectly willing to make trouble; and it is not likely that Padres, or even Hi- jar perhaps, would have regretted or opposed any revolutionary movement offering chances of success. But such chances, against a popular ruler, the leading Californians, and the friars, were known to be but slight. Therefore I doubt that Híjar and Padres made any definite plans to overthrow the territorial government, and especially that Figueroa, as he claims, was acquainted from the first with the details of such plots.

There was, however, an attempted revolt at Los Angeles March 7, 1835. The night before, about fifty Sonorans, who had lately come to California, and

the time of settlement with Híjar, or in Nov., Araujo instigated two attacks of the C'ahuilla Indians on the S. Bernardino rancho. Verduzco at the same time tried to induce the neophytes of S. Luis Rey to revolt against the escolta; but his plot was discovered and frustrated. Lara on his way north tried to enlist the neophytes of different missions in support of his plots, as was proven by his diary, which fell into Figueroa's hands. p. 106-7. Padres concealed the 200 rifles and ammunition he had brought, advised the colonists to have nothing to do with Figueroa, and daily harangued them at Sonoma on their wrongs at the gefe's hands. p. 108-114 (also F.'s reports to Mex. on Padres already cited). In February two persons from S. Antonio reported a plot; and several members of the colony revealed the revolutionary plans. Hijar meanwhile was intimate with the conspirators, and must have known their schemes. p. 110-11. The desire in March to unite the colony was for the purpose of revolution; and to defeat this movement was F.'s chief reason for allowing it to be scattered. p. 116-17. When the news came of trouble in the south, F. was investigating the matter at Sta Clara and S. Juan. p.128-9. Oct. 15, 1834, Capt. Portilla from S. Luis Rey. Has discovered that Verduze > sought to surprise the guard and seize the arms. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 174-5. Oct. 21st-22d, F. to Gutierrez and to 8 comisionados to investigate the disturbances, arrest the leaders, and assure the Ind. that the charges of the revolutionists were false. Id., iii. 175-6. Araujo, on Sept. 18th, says, ' I have already predisposed the neophytes in our favor,' this being perhaps the pur- port of the ' diary ' referred to by F. Guerra, Doc., MS., vi. 154. Oct. 22d, F. warns alcalde of Angeles to look out for revolutionary movements. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 177; Id., Ang., xi. 28. Oct. 2Stli, Carrillo at Sta Bar- bara has taken steps to prevent Araujo from seducing the neophytes. St. Pap., Miss., MS., ix. 29. Jan. 27, 1835, president has heard of Araujo's plots and orders him to be sent out of the country. Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., xi. I.

282 FIGUEROA, CASTRO, AND GUTIERREZ-THE COLONY.

who were living in the town or the adjoining ranchos, assembled at Los Nietos, and at daybreak entered Los Angeles armed with lances and muskets, under the leadership of Juan Gallardo, a cobbler, and Felipe Castillo, a cigar-maker. They seem to have seized certain weapons at the houses of foreign residents as they came in. Marching to the town hall, and using force to obtain the keys, they took a cannon and a quantity of ammunition stored there temporarily, or in a private house near by, in anticipation of an Indian campaign. Without committing further acts of vio- lence, the Sonorans stationed themselves near the entrance of the hall, while the leaders took steps to summon the alcalde. That official, Francisco J. Alva- rado, at once convened the members of the ayunta- miento by tap of the drum, and the citizens generally left their beds to attend the meeting. Gallardo then submitted, with a respectful letter for the approval of the illustrious corporation, a plan which explained the presence of himself and followers, and by which it was proposed to restore California to the splendid prosper- ity of former times by simply removing Figueroa from the command.17

17 Pronunciamiento de Apalútegui en Los Angeles, contra Don José Figueroa, 7 de Marzo de 1835, in Figueroa, Manifiesto, 131-3; Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 155-9; Bandini, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., 39. 'A multitude of citizens hav- ing assembled to devise means to save California from the evils which she has suffered and is suffering under the administration of Gen. D. José Figueroa, and considering-1. That this chief has not complied with divers orders given him by the sup. govt of the Union to improve the condition of the inhabit- ants of this country; that, abusing their docility, he has exceeded the powers granted him by the laws, by unduly assuming the political and military com- mands against the federal system and against express laws which forbid this union of the commands; that with the law of secularization he has made a scandalous monopoly, reducing the mission products to an exclusive commerce, and treacherously inducing the dip. to regulate a general law according to his whim; that, in infringement of the treasury regulations, he disposes of the soldiers' pay at his own will without the knowledge of the chief of revenue, and without the formalities prescribed by law; 2. That the dip. has no power to regulate or make additions to a general law, as it has done in the case of that on the sceularization; 3. That as the missions are advancing with giant strides to total ruin, through the measures dictated for the shut- ting-out of the natives and the distribution of their property; and, 4. That some commissioners, cither by gross ignorance in the management of this class of business or by their own malicious conduct, have proposed to advance their private wealth by ruining that of the missions, with notable injury to the natives who have acquired that property by their personal toil-have re-

283

APALÁTEGUI'S REVOLT.

The ayuntamiento in session with the citizens dis- cussed the propositions of the plan, referred them to a committee, and finally decided by a plurality of votes that it had no authority to act in such a matter, and that Gallardo must apply elsewhere for support-in fact, according to one record the ayuntamiento went so far as to disapprove the plan, though having no army with which to enforce its disapproval. A committee consisting of Guirado, Osio, and Ossa was sent to com- municate the decision and to request the pronunciados to remove their force across the river. This they de- clined to do, but promised to preserve the peace, and held their position until about four o'clock in the af- ternoon. Pio Pico and Antonio M. Osio, both of whom were in town on this eventful day, assert that the rebels were waiting for money that had been promised but was not forthcoming.18 However this may have been, at about the hour mentioned Gallardo and Cas- tillo respectfully informed the ayuntamiento that as

solved as follows: Art. I. Gen. José Figueroa is declared unworthy of public confidence; and therefore the first alcalde of the capital will take charge provisionally of the political power; and Capt. Pablo de la Portilla of the military command as the ranking officer in accordance with army regulations. Art. 2. The resolutions of the dip. on regulations for the administration of missions are declared null and void. Art. 3. The very rev. missionary fathers will take exclusive charge of the temporalities of their respective missions as they have done until now, and the comisionados will deliver the documents relating to their administration to the friars, who will make the proper observations. Art. 4. By the preceding article the powers of the director of colonization to act according to his instructions from the sup. govt are not interfered with. Art. 5. This plan is in every respect subject to the approval of the gen. govt. Art. 6. The forces that have pronounced will not lay down their arms until they see the preceding articles realized, and they constitute themselves protectors of an upright administration of justice and of the re- speetive authorities.' It nowhere appears who were the signers of the plan, if any, in addition to Gallardo and Castillo. All the copies elose with the note ' here the signatures.' Figueroa devotes p. 134-46 of his Manifiesto to a series of arguments in reply to the successive articles of the plan, exhibiting very much more of skill and satire and anger than the subject deserved.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of California, Volume III, Part 31

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