History of California, Volume III, Part 54

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

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31 Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 243-4, 246-7.

$2 Osio, Ifst. Cal., MS., 348-9, who was of course in the rear guard of the retreating force, describes Pico's wrath. He tells us also that Cabello in- sulted Sepúlveda on account of his agency in making such a treaty. Fire- arms were drawn, but no blood spilt. Osio himself lost his temper and talked of cowards when Requena claimed that the instructions had been misunder- stood. Pico himself, Ilist. Cal., MS., 59-62, pretends to have gone on to S. Fernando, had a long interview with Alvarado, and obtained from him cer- tain concessions which insured peacc, and made it possible for the governor to enter Angeles.

33 Session of Jan. 22d. Los Angeles, Ar.h., MS., iv. 248-32.

501

THE GOVERNOR AT LOS ANGELES.

The result of all these reactionary and defensive measures was-and without any intermediate diplo- macy, so far as the records show-that Alvarado en- tered the city without resistance, probably on the 23d, certainly within two or three days. He was accom- panied by Graham's company and by the Monterey militia, leaving the Santa Bárbara volunteers at San Fernando. Castro, with thirty or forty men, arrived from Monterey on or about the same day.3 Rocha's soldiers were at San Gabriel. The volunteers of the Angeles army had disbanded, but the twenty Die- guinos were still encamped in the city, and aided the northern troops in preserving order.

The ayuntamiento met once more on the 26th. The meeting was attended also by Alvarado, J. J. Pico, and Miguel Ávila of Monterey, by Pio Pico, Ortega, Cabello, and Regidor Alvarado of San Diego, and by A. M. Osio of Los Angeles. No allusion was made to the resolutions adopted at the last session, but the object was to take into consideration the agree- ment made with Alvarado at San Fernando.35 The governor addressed the meeting in defence of the new system, and proposed a plan in six articles on which he thought all might agree, thus avoiding future contro- versy. This plan was referred to a committee of three, Pio Pico, Cabello, and Osio, who reported it back with certain modifications, mainly intended, as it would seem, to obscure its exact meaning and pro- vide for subsequent variations of interpretation.36 The

31 Jan. 9th, Alvarado orders Castro to come south with 20 men by sca. Tallejo, Doc., MIS., iv. 9. Jan. 14th, Castro to Vallejo. Will start in 3 days. Id., iv. 11. Jan, 17th, C. says he will start at 4 r. M. with 50 men by land, as the Clementine is not ready. Id., iv. 12. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MIS., iii. 216, 226-30, says that to raise funds Castro had to pledge his own property to Spence and Malarin. The debt was paid by Alvarado after 1841. The two officers lodged at the house of Abel Stearns. The city was carefully patrolled but no disturbance occurred.

35 It is spoken of as the agreement made by the 2 alcaldes and the S. Diego comisionados with Alvarado, and would seem therefore to have been dietinet from that of Jan. 20th; but there is no record to show its nature. It was perhaps the interview mentioned by Pico. Sce note 32.

3ti The plan was in substance as follows, the portions in parentheses being the committee's additions: 1. Alta California proclaims the federal system

502

ALVARADO'S RULE-TROUBLES IN THE SOUTH.

gist of it was that a new diputacion should assemble at Santa Bárbara on February 25th, to adopt or reject what had been done at Monterey, always supporting federalism, and insisting on a native ruler. It was formally approved by all parties. Then followed speeches of congratulation at the victory achieved over difficulties that had threatened to set Californians at enmity one with another. Pio Pico wished to be put on record as saying that he would support a native ruler to whatever section he might belong. Antonio M. Osio declared that " sooner than submit to another Mexican mandarin, he would retire to the forest and be devoured by wild beasts;" while Alvarado, in a closing speech, promised a faithful fulfilment of the compact.37

of 1824 (since the new system of centralism has not been sworn by the dip., and the system now ruling in the nation is not known). 2. The dip., to be chosen by electors according to Mexican law, will assemble and take into con- sideration what has been decreed in favor of the Monterey system. (The dip. will meet and act in accordance with the laws in force.) 3. All that has been done will remain in force until the dip. meets. 4. The present govt will summon the electors or decree the election. (To meet at Sta. Bárbara on Feb. 25th.) The two copies do not agree. 5. The decree dividing Cal. into 2 cantons is null and void. 6. Until the federal system shall have been restored, no ruler appointed by the Mexican govt shall be admitted. (As soon as possible the sup. govt will be informed by competent authority that order is restored, and asked to appoint an hijo del pais to govern Cal.) In the discussions on art. 6, it was agreed on both sides that no Mexican ruler would be likely to be admitted, but it was urged that Mexico should be allowed to grant a native ruler in answer to a request, rather than be ordered to do so.

37 Ayunt. session of Jan. 23th, in Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 254-62; S. Diego, Arch., MS., 156, 163-4; Bandini, Doc., MS., 45. Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 352-5, gives a different account, saying nothing of the plan adopted and of course nothing about his own speech. He says that Alvarado on reaching Angeles summoned the ayunt. to meet within an hour, caused himself to be recognized as governor, and then thanked the members for their resolution of the 22d, since it relieved him from all his agreements, made only because of his inferior force, especially from his promise not to punish any one for past acts-at which all turned pale! Alvarado, Ilist. Cal., MS., iii. 230-7, and Va- llejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 249-59, narrate events at Angeles substantially in accordance with the records. Botello, Anales del Sur, MS., 28-9, and Pico, Acont., MS., 40-3, though both participants in these events, add nothing to our knowledge of them.

Jan. 30th, Alvarado demanded and received what was left of the money taken from S. Fernando, with which to support his men. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 267-9. J. J. Pico says he went with three men to get the money, about $1,500. Osio says he delivered the money, $1,785, and that Alvarado told him he was a fool not to have taken half the amount for his trouble! Also on Jan. 30th Alvarado complained that several men were plotting mis- chief, and urged the ayunt. to adopt prompt measures. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 267. Vallejo says that 9 men, including Pio Pico, were arrested.

503

PEACE RESTORED.

Having issued on the 1st of February a summons for the electors to meet on the 25th, Alvarado, in let- ters sent northward on the 2d and 3d, narrated briefly what had occurred at Angeles. Officially he stated that the modifications of the original plan, to which he had assented, were not essential, while it had been necessary to make concessions to conciliate public opinion in the south. In a private letter he explained that under the present plan he hoped to reach, though by a roundabout course, his original aim, by managing to secure a majority in the new diputacion. Other- wise it would have been necessary to maintain a mili- tary force permanently in the south, which would have been an intolerable burden to the treasury. 33 Leaving Castro with thirty men to garrison San Ga- briel and preserve order,39 Alvarado left San Fernan- do February 5th, and two days later arrived at Santa Bárbara, where he found the popular enthusiasm un- abated, and where his first act was to send home the Monterey troops and Graham's riflemen. 40

Thus far all had gone well with Alvarado in the south; but there followed during February and March

38 Alvarado, Carta en que relata los Sucesos de Los Angeles, 2 de Feb. 1837, MS., the same letter being sent to different officials. Feb. 3d, Alvarado to Vallejo, private letter, in Vallejo, Doc., MIS., iii. 176. He says that Domin- go Carrillo refused to take the oath, and was removed from the command at Sta Bárbara. Rocha may have to be removed also. At S. Diego under Sala- zar there is really no garrison.

39 Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 273-4.

40 Feb. 9, 1837, Alvarado to Vallejo, Estrada, and alcalde of S. José, in l'a- llejo, Doc., MS., iv. 29; Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 160-1; Id., S. Joss, v. 43. Nidever, Life, MS., 85-8, says the riflemen were paid off at Sta Bárbara. Alvarado tells us that he wished to retain Graham's men, but was advised by Castro that there was danger of not being able to pay them, and that it would be best to discharge them while no dissatisfaction existed. The foreigners were complimented in speeches and departed in good humor.

Some references to printed accounts of the troubles in the south, some of them extending over several years, and all very inaccurate and inextricably confused wherever they are more than a bare mention, are: Mofras, Explor., i. 301-2; Petit-Thouars, Voyage, ii. 92-9; Forbes' Ilist. C'al., 150-1; Wilkes' Nurr., v. 175-9; Robinson's Life in Cal., 173-7; Gleeson's Hist. Cuth. Church, i. 144-9; Ferry, Californie, 20-1. Manuscript statements on the southern campaigns, adding nothing to what has been given, are: Castro, Relacion, MS., 41-4; Marsh's Letter, MS., S; Vallejo, Remin., MS., 123-5; Lugo, Vila, MS., 23-5; Arce, Memoria, MIS., 12-13; Robinson's Statement, MS., 15, 26; Galindo, Apuntes, MS., 33-S.

304

ALVARADO'S RULE-TROUBLES IN THE SOUTH.

a period of inaction which was unfavorable to his com- plete success, even if it did not develop any actual triumph for his opponents. Notwithstanding the con- cessions gained, and their pretended enthusiasm, many influential southerners still chose to regard themselves as vanquished or tricked foes, rather than conciliated friends of the plan as it stood. They withheld that hearty support which alone could have resulted in po- litical harmony. Pio Pico's actions were mysterious, and he was suspected of exerting all his influence se- cretly against the government. Manuel Requena and other recalcitrant Angelinos were sent by Castro to the governor, expecting to be banished to Sonoma, but were released by Alvarado on signing an agreement not to meddle in politics.41 Alvarado's letters to Gen- eral Vallejo at this time show the anxiety which he felt, containing alternate expressions of confidence and discouragement. Early in March the report was cir- culated, with quieting effects, that Vallejo was intend- ing to come south with a hundred men.42

#1 Feb. 11, 1837, Alvarado to Vallejo, in Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 32. Reque- na's companions were Vicente Sanchez, Luis Arenas, Juan Gallardo, Antonio del Valle, J. M. Ramirez, Juan Salazar, Antonio Avila, and others. Rocha was in the number summoned, but ran away. Alvarado allowed him to return, but not to be comandante or administrator. Botello, Anales, MS., 69-70, says that Requena was sent into a kind of exile at Sta Ines, until in 1838 he retired to L. California. Janssens, l'ida, MS., 89-92, describes the adventures of himself, Orozco, Rojas, and others, who fled from Los Angeles and also took refuge in the peninsula.

42 Mar. 4th, ayunt., in answer to a request for quarters and supplies for Vallejo's men, refused to ineur any expense; but resolves that there are plenty of supplies and probably buildings also to be had for money. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 283-6. Feb. 27th, March 13th, 16th, announcement of Valle- jo's coming at S. Diego. Dept. St. Pap., Angeles, MS., xi. 70-2; S. Dieyo, Arch., MS., 173. March 6th, all quiet; but there may be trouble, as some don't wish Cal. to be a state. Governor's course approved by all good men. Robbers being strictly dealt with. Alvarado to Vallejo, in Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 209. March 12th, Carlos Carrillo says to Vallejo that the people of Los Angeles are very well disposed, even more addicted to the new system than the Barbareños. Id., iv. 214. March 9th, the people well disposed. 'If freedom is not secured now, Californians will be slaves forever and forfeit the respect of men.' Civie force at Sta Bárbara, 150 men in good discipline. Arms bought of the Bolivar. Has gained favor by granting lands. The old folks are pleased with the title of 'governor,' as it reminds them of old times. The U. S. consul at Honolulu writes to Dana that 'there is nothing to fear from Mexico, which is not thinking of California. The present rulers of the state have more to fear from their own people, so many of them will want office. Chihuahua, Jalisco, and Zacatecas have pronounced against the central govt.' Alvarado

505

IMPENDING DISASTERS.

Besides disquieting rumors from the north, of which I shall speak later, there was an alarming report that a force of two hundred men-Sonorans, Indians, and Americans-under Lieut-colonel Juan José Tobar, were marching by the Rio Colorado on California, having failed in their revolutionary and mining schemes at Quitovaca. A brother of Captain Por- tilla, and other men who had left California were said to be engaged in this expedition. This was soon dis- covered to be a false alarm; but in consequence of it, Alvarado had made hasty preparations for defence; urged Vallejo to have his force ready to march at a moment's notice; gone in person to Los Angeles, ap- parently causing the re-arrest of some of the malecon- tents there; and had sent Castro and Capt. Villavi- cencio with a force to San Diego. Castro's orders were, in case the rumors should have any apparent founda- tion, to remove or spike all the guns, to leave not a single horse between San Diego and San Gabriel, and to distribute all supplies at the missions in such a man- ner as to prevent them falling into the hands of the enemy.43 To what extent Castro found it necessary to carry out these measures in the south does not ap- pear; neither is there anything in the local politics of San Diego at this time which demands notice, except that on March 18th the ayuntamiento, on receipt of certain communications from Alvarado, refused to rec- ognize him as governor, or Vallejo as general.44

to Vallejo, in Id., iv. 212. March 19th, the cause has yet many foes. Opin- ion in Angeles seems favorable; but no reliance can be placed on that town. 'It should be burned.' Id., iv. 219.

43 March 19, 1837, Alvarado to Vallejo. Official and private letter. N'a. llejo, Doc., MIS., iv. 215, 219. March 26th, Alvarado on coming to Angeles with 50 men found the rumor false. Id., iv. 224. March 25th, the matter presented by Alvarado to the ayunt. Los Angeles, Arch., MIS., iv. 257-9.

4: S. Diego, Arch., MS., 172. The theory advanced was that Alvarado's authority as comandante of the northern forces had ended with the treaty of Jan. 26th. It is to be noted, however, that this acta, though in the secretary's handwriting, has no signatures. March 25th, Alvarado complains that his communications to the S. Diego ayunt. are not answered. That body should be mildly exhorted to rejoin the rest of the state. Los Angeles, .Arch., MIS., iv. 289. Hayes, Emig. Notes, 480, states that the troops which went to Angeles in 1837 disbanded for want of pay, and never returned, the presidio going rapidly to decay. Alvarado, Hist. C'al., MS., and Vallejo, Hist.

506

ALVARADO'S RULE-TROUBLES IN THE SOUTH.

The clection provided for in the plan of Los Angeles took place at Santa Bárbara either February 25th or at least before March 5th, on which date the deputies elected were summoned to meet, also at Santa Barbara, March 25th. 45 The four new members elected seem to have been Pio Pico, Antonio M. Osio, Manuel Jimeno Casarin, and José R. Estrada, one of the last-named two being perhaps a suplente in place of José Castro. 46 The governor's summons, much to his disappointment, was not promptly obeyed, and the diputacion could not be organized in March. Pico and Osio refused to attend at all, a policy that may safely be termed disgraceful in view of their speeches in the Los Angeles meeting of January 26th. Six members assembled April 10th, however, at Santa Bárbara, Juan A. Alvarado, Guerra, Buelna, Jime- no, Estrada, and Francisco J. Alvarado of San Di- ego as a suplente for Pio Pico, with Victor Prudon as secretary.

On the first day of the session the governor pre- sented a manifiesto on the condition and needs of the country. April 11th this document was submitted to a committee consisting of Jimeno, Buelna, and Estra- da, all Monterey men it will be noted, who reported favorably on the views therein expressed, and sub- mitted a series of eight propositions for the approval

Cal., MS., iii. 261-2, connect Castro's visit to S. Diego with a revolution- ary movement at that place.

15 There are no records of the election that I have been able to find. Feb. 19th, Francisco Sanchez at S. F. writes that he has been summoned to Sta B. as an elector. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 38. March 5th, the pres. and sec. of the electoral junta announced the result, which was communicated offi- cially to Pio Pico on March 9th. Original summons in Pico, Doc., MIS., ii. 155. This doc. is also notable as bearing a seal of the 'Gobierno Supremo del L's- tado Libre y Soberano de la Alta California,' neatly and elaborately executed with a pen, the only sample existing, for it was never engraved.

46 It will be remembered that there had been much mystery about the com- position of the diputacion since May 1836, and it is not yet cleared up. It would seem that now the 4 who had acted in Nov. 1836 were regarded as holding over, Castro being prevented from acting by other duties, because Alvarado had said several times before the election that he had four votes sceure when the new dip. shoukl meet. March 25th, Alvarado informed the ayunt. of his inability to assemble the members elect, and his intention to summon the suplentes. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 287-8.

507

PLAN OF SANTA BARBARA.

of the meeting, propositions which confirmed in sub- stance all that had been done by Alvarado's govern- ment, and empowered the diputacion under its new organization to continue as a constituent congress of the state.47 The resolutions were unanimously ap- proved, and thus a new plan was added to the long list. The diputacion acted the same day on certain land grants, but there are no definite records of any subsequent sessions. The result was communicated to the two southern ayuntamientos by Alvarado, who presented it as a faithful fulfilment of the agreement of January 26th, and hoped for a hearty support. He was bitter, however, in his complaints against Pico and Osio. He chided San Diego for its action of March 18th, and declared his purpose now to enforce the system adopted, being "weary of his own lenien- cy," and disgusted at the conduct of those Californians who still "sighed for the tyrant's yoke." Los Ange- les nevertheless on April 18th rejected the action of the congress, as not in accordance with the treaty, which, as the Angelinos chose to regard it, had simply provided that all should be put back in the old condi- tion under a gefe político and territorial diputacion.

47 Plan de Gobierno adoptado por la Diputación en Sta Bárbara, 11 de Abril, 1837, MIS .; mentioned in Dept. St. Pup., Angeles, MS., xi. 75. Art. 1. Cal. pronounces for the system that the majority of the nation has adopted (fed- eralism of course is meant), and therefore the action of the dip. of Nov. 7, 1836, remains in force, except art. 3, which is included in the constitution of 1824. (The article on the catholic religion.) 2. The dip., including the dep- uties appointed by the ayunt. (?), is to continue as a congreso constituyente, to meet, after its adjournment at this place, as soon as convoked by the govt. 3. Decrees 8 and 9 of the congress (those on a division of the state and on foreign commerce) are repealed, not having served the purpose intended; and the Mex. laws on the points involved are restored. 4. The sup. govt will remain invested with the extraordinary powers conferred in order to consoli- date the system in case of difficulty arising. 5. The national govt shall be petitioned, it being understood that Cal. is an integral part of the Mex. re- public, to restore the federal system. 6. Mex. shall also be asked to allow, by means within her power, that Cal. may govern herself as a free and sov- ereign state. 7. Pending the supreme decision desired on these petitions, Cal. will remain under the form of govt expressed in the manifiesto and these propositions. S. A certified copy of this acta shall be sent to the national govt.

April 13th, Alvarado issues the corresponding decree, repealing decrees S and 9 in accordance with art. 3. Vallejo, Doc., Ist. Cal., MIS., iv. 228, in MS., though ordered printed.

503

ALVARADO'S RULE-TROUBLES IN THE SOUTH.

San Diego, on the other hand, expressed on April 27th cordial approval of the plan in general, though still preferring to remain non-committal, and postpon- ing the act of swearing allegiance until some doubts could be cleared away respecting the system alluded to in article 1, fearing, perhaps, it might be central- ism !43

About the same time that Angeles repudiated the plan of April 11th, Pico and Osio made their tardy appearance at Santa Barbara with a plan of their own, for which they sought approval from the congressmen, though it was really a rejection of all that had been done." There was no action by the congress, but Alvarado simply sent the proposition to Castro to be presented to the ayuntamiento, to which body he also addressed a letter filled with indignation at the con- duct of those " unworthy diputados who proposed a return to the tyrant's yoke and perpetual slavery- the very men who had so lately declared their purpose to be devoured by wild beasts rather than submit to a Mexican despot." The congress shared in his indig- nation, the governor said, and the ayuntamiento was expected to share it; yet if the latter body should per-

48 April 16, 1837, Alvarado to ayunt. of Angeles and S. Diego. Dept. St. Pap., MIS., xi. 78-82; Hayes' Doc., MS., 72. Apr. 22d, session of ayunt. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 291-4. Apr. 27th, session of ayunt. S. Diego, Arch., MS., 101. In the acta last alluded to, the signatures of the secretary and síndico of the S. Diego ayunt. did not appear, because those officers 'had been carried off by an armed force for some unknown cause.' This state of things had been announced on April 24th by Alcalde Estudillo, who asked that steps be taken for their restoration, addressing Alvarado as governor of the state, and announcing 'a decided enthusiasm in favor of armor patrio' on the part of the people. It appears that in consequence of the action of March 18th, Alvarado had sent Eugenio Montenegro to arrest the two officers, J. M. Teran and Domingo Amao, who escaped from custody while being taken to S. Gabriel. As late as September, Amao, who had fled to the frontera, had not returned to his post as secretary. S. Diego, Arch., MS., 173, 175, 186.

49 The plan of Pico and Osio was as follows: 1. The territory of Alta Cali- fornia reestablishes the order of things existing before the pronunciamiento of Monterey. 2. The laws of Mexico shall be respected and obeyed, whatever may be the system she has adopted. 3. The treaty of Los Angeles between governor, ayunt., and comisionados shall be observed (?). 4. After the pre- ceding articles shall have been carried out, the officers of the army shall be invited, by the person on whom the office of gefe político may legally devolve, to cooperate in restoring order. 5. The result of action on these propositions is to be communicated to the ayunt. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 290-7.

509

LOS ANGELES SUBMITS.

sist in its folly, he would not use force, but would hold it responsible for results. "The fate of the Califor- nians is in your hands, and it behooves you to reflect carefully on what you will do." 50

At a meeting of the ayuntamiento, May Ist, the governor's letter and Osio's propositions were read, and a long discussion ensued. No one had anything to say in favor of the new propositions. Four mem- bers, Ibarra, Valdés, Herrera, and Alvarado, declared themselves in favor of the resolution of April 22d, in- volving, as they understood it, a full compliance with the convention of January 26th. The other four, Sepúlveda, Lugo, Pantoja, and Lopez, urged a recog- nition of the existing government, and full compliance with all its orders and decrees. Next day the discus- sion was resumed. Sepúlveda made an earnest appeal; Ibarra's party declared itself convinced, and a unani- mous vote was secured in favor of the resolution that "the ayuntamiento of the city of Los Angeles recog- nizes the present system of government, and the orders and decrees emanating therefrom, without prejudice to the laws in force, decreed by the legislation of Mexico." José Castro was present at this meeting, and it is just possible that Alvarado's opponents regarded their votes as the best means for avoiding an involuntary sojourn at Sonoma.51

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History of California, Volume III, Part 54

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