History of California, Volume III, Part 64

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

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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).

There is no reason to question Vallejo's honest de- sire for the welfare of his country. He spent his own money freely to advance his plans of military reform. He believed his former associates were neglecting their duties, and his pride was deeply wounded by their attitude, which seemed to say, "Our need of you ended with the cessation of armed opposition to our rule; attend to your northern frontier; put your force at our disposal when we call for it; and leave us to govern in our own way." When, therefore, the gov- ernor did ask to have the troops of Monterey and San Juan put under his orders to avert dangers in the south, Vallejo refused until the exact nature of the danger should have been explained, declaring that his troops would be always ready to support the law, but not its abuse.37 He attempted, however, to bring about an interview, for some time unsuccessfully.

37 Sept. 9th, V. to A., in answer to demand of Aug. 14th. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 278-80. Sept. 26th, Jimeno says the danger is past, and the force no longer needed! Vallejo, Doe., MS., viii. 179. Aug. 10th, Castro would be glad to meet V., but wishes him to come sonth. V. had ordered him to come to Sonoma. Id., viii. 33, 35. Sept. 4th, J. J. Vallejo, S. José, to the gen. Has not succeeded in having an interview with Alvarado and Castro to avert calamities. A. is controlled by Castro, and things have a suspicions air. Id., viii. 77. Sept. 6th, Prado Mesa writes very bitterly against the 'clique.' It

F93

ALVARADO'S RULE-POLITICAL EVENTS.

About this time the chief, Solano, conceived the project of making a visit to Monterey with an escort of Indian braves. He had been invited by Alvarado in 1836 to pay him a visit, and had promised to do so; but his action at this time was doubtless prompted by Vallejo, who thought it well to frighten the poten- tates of the capital with a hint at his reserve power. Ho of course had no real intention of inflicting on the people of Monterey a large force of Indians; but he perhaps at first exaggerated the number to be sent. 38 In the middle of October, the general announced that Solano had asked and received permission to visit the capital with eighty Indians. I do not know if the visit was made; but if so, it was probably with a smaller number, who formed part of the general's es- cort, as he was at San Francisco October 22d and 23d, en route to Monterey.30

Having arrived at the capital, Vallejo asked for an interview with the acting-governor-it does not appear that he had any communication personally with Al-

is time to bring them to their senses. Id., viii. 78. Sept. Stlı, V. to gov. Desires a conference at Sta Clara. Id., viii. 84. Sept. 24th, Jimeno, being about to turn over the office, cannot grant the interview; besides, a gov. has 10 right to leave the capital. Id., viii. 171. Oct. 9th, J. A. Carrillo to V. The political condition promises nothing but misfortune. Thinks of selling his property and leaving the country. He is always suspected, and even his private letters are not safe. Id., viii. 199.

33 Sept. 3d, Pablo de la Guerra, in the name of his own and other Sta Bárbara families, protests against V.'s proposed sending of Solano with 2,000 Indians. He begs V. not to run such a risk for the sake of frightening Alva- rado. Vallejo, Doc., MS., viii. 73. Oct. 2d, Salv. Vallejo to Guerra. Has urged his brother in vain not to send Solano to Monterey. Hopes to in- fluence Solano, however, not to take more than 1,000 Indians. Id., viii. 192. These letters purport to be copies of originals, and are in the handwriting of a man whom I have often detected in questionable practices. Doubtless the numbers are pure inventions, and the dates are suspicious. Possibly the whole is a forgery, but it is not unlikely that Vallejo may have made a threat and used large figures

39 Oct. 16th, V. to Alvarado, announcing Solano's departure. Vallejo, Doc., JIS., viii. 216. Ochenta in the original is changed clumsily into ochocientos by the same genius mentioned in the last note. Document also in Dept. St. Pap., M.S., iv. 282. Proofs of V.'s trip and presence at S. Francisco on Oct. 22. 3d, and indications that he had 31 men in all. Vallejo, Doc., MIS., viii. 210, 223, 223. Dorotea Valdés, Reminis., MS., 7-8, claims to remember Solano's vi-it at Monterey. Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 96, 101-3, remembers his passing through S. José with hundreds (!) of Indians. He says Solano kept I men in very good order, but both he and V. acted in a very proud, arro- sont manner.

599

VALLEJO AND JIMENO.

varado, who was perhaps absent-and such an inter- view was held on October 30th. Doubtless the comandante was independent and dictatorial in man- ner, and Jimeno stubborn rather than conciliatory. Next day the former wrote a letter, stating that the conference had ended without results; that he had been able to get no satisfaction for Alvarado's inter- ference in military affairs; and that not the slightest attention had been paid to his pleas for reforms in financial and commercial management. He would therefore go home to attend to his duties as best he could without support, and to hope that the 'ruler of na- tions' might save California from the impending ruin.4) He soon resolved, however, to go to the national capital to lay before the president in person California's needs -a project he had had in mind for some months, but which, after ordering all officers to vote for a coman- dante to serve during his absence, he abandoned be- fore December, and decided to send Captain Casta- ñeda instead as his comisionado. The captain, after some trouble in raising funds for his journey, sailed from San Diego late in December. Later there came from Mexico a denial of Vallejo's request for leave of absence.41

40 Oct. 29th, V. to Jimeno, asking for an interview. Dept. St. Pap., MIS., iv. 283. Oct. 30th, J. consents, naming the governor's house, at 4 P. JI. Vallejo, Doc., MS., viii. 236. Oct. 31st, V. to J., complaining, as in the text. I.l., viii. 241. Nov. Ist, J.'s answer. Is surprised that the conference should be deemed at an end, and evades the matters at issue. Thinks there is not much danger, and that V. should have confined the discussion to the mili- tary topic. Id., viii. 247. Nov. 13th (17th), V.'s reply from Sonoma. Inde- pendent and sarcastic. Peace will not last long, and the country is on the road to ruin. Implies that he may have occasion to go to Mexico to explain the true situation and needs of his country. Id., viii. 295; Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 284-5. Nov. 25th, Alvarado to V., in reply to the last. Will sac- ritice his life to preserve the peace that now exists, etc. Id .. viii. 316. Dee. 13th, V. to comandante of S. José. 'There seems to be a determination to lead the country to ruin and exasperate its best citizens.' Id., viii. 373.

# Sept. 4th, 17th, mentions by J. J. Vallejo and Eulogio C'élis of the gen- eral's plan of going to Mexico. Vallejo, Doc., MIS., viii. 77, 158. Nov. 18th, V. announces his intention. Says he has the right to name his successor, but prefers to leave the choice to the officers, who are to send in their votes. Id., viii. 306. Dec. Ist, V. to Pres. Bustamante. Has decided to send Cas- tañeda, but at the same time asks for leave of absence. /d., viii. 3.3. Dec. 3d to Jan. 10th, ten letters with votes, mostly for Capt. Guerra. Id., viii. 326, 344, 351, 378, 393, 396-7; ix. 12. Dec. 7th, trouble with the comisario

600

ALVARADO'S RULE-POLITICAL EVENTS.

The annals of 1840 group themselves naturally about four general topics, Vallejo versus Alvarado, sessions and acts of the junta, alleged conspiracy of Carrillo and Gonzalez in the south, and the Graham affair. The last subject will be presented separately in the next volume; the others demand present atten- tion.

The controversy between governor and coman- dante waxed hotter and hotter throughout the year. Each accused the other of interference in matters beyond his jurisdiction, and each was disposed to re- strict the other's prerogatives to very narrow limits. Vallejo recalled the old Spanish times when the two commands were united in one person, and looked upon himself as invested with all the powers of the old comandante general, while to Alvarado he accorded the petty civil authority of the Spanish gobernador. Alvarado, on the contrary, held that in a republican government the military authority was subordinate to the civil, expecting Vallejo to use his troops as directed, to preserve order and protect the country. Both were independent and assumed superiority. Mu- tual 'friends' were ever ready to widen the breach; the old topics of disagreement still existed, and new ones were added. The respective merits of the par- ties, as usual when a quarrel has once begun, are not worth much consideration; the controversy, however, was as effective an obstacle to all real progress in Cal- ifornia as had been the earlier one of Alvarado against Carrillo.

Alvarado had appointed Hartnell as visitador to carry into effect his regulations for the management

about funds, and Alvarado's passport for Castañeda to go on a military com- mission 'as far as S. Diego.' Id., viii. 358-60. Dec. 20th, Casañeda at S. Diego, has got money from Célis. Id., viii. 384. April 23, 1840, min. of war to V. The pres. would be glad to see him, but the leave of absence cannot be granted, as there is no officer to take his place on the frontier. Id., ix. 116. March 10, 1840, Alvarado to min. of int. All quiet; pay no heed to Casta- ñeda's loud talk and false reports. Dept. Rec., MS., xi. 65-6. April 21st, 24th, letters from Castillero and the min, of war to V., announcing that Castañeda will soon return to Cal. with needed military supplies. Id., ix. 115, 118.

601

CIVIL AND MILITARY AUTHORITY.

of missions, as will be more fully explained elsewhere. Vallejo would not permit Hartnell to take possession of San Rafael in pursuance of his instructions, and even arrested the visitador, and carried him across the bay as a prisoner, for having ventured to interfere in matters concerning the northern frontier without his consent.42 His position was, not only that by vir- tue of his military jurisdiction and office of director of colonization he had exclusive control of Indian affairs north of the bay, but that San Rafael was no longer a mission, the property having once been dis- tributed and only restored partially under his solemn promise of redistribution-a promise for the fufil- ment of which the Indians were clamorous, and which he would fulfil at any cost.

The distribution of the public funds continued of course to be a subject of contention. Vallejo accused Ábrego of not dividing the revenues equally as the law required between civil and military employees. He called often for exact statements of the division; he denied the governor's right to interfere in military accounts, and gave his communications the form of pos- itive orders. Abrego, on the other hand, delighted in the governor's interference against the 'autocrat of Sonoma,' called upon Vallejo to show his commission as comandante general or be content with a captain's pay, and refused to pay the salary of Richardson and

42 May 14, 1840, Hartnell to gov. The Indians objected to the change, and referred to Vallejo's promises. They could not be made to understand that the comandante had nothing to do with missions. The arrest was at S. F. after I.'s return, and he was taken back by V., but released probably next day, after agreeing that V.'s views in this particular case were correct. St. Pup., Miss., MS., xi. 15-17. May 16th, H. left S. José for Monterey yester- day, and the gov. is now satisfied, writes the judge of S. José to Jimeno in an- swer to an order to investigate the arrest. S. José, Arch., MS., iii. 38. Jimeno's inquiry about the arrest. Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., v. 69. The matter was agitated as early as Jan. 22d, when Alvarado complains of V.'s disposi- tion to dictate to him about the distribution at S. Rafael. Vallejo, Doc., MIS., ix. 25. V.'s argument on the matter to H. and A. Id., xiv. 17; ix. 106. April 4th, A. begs V. to let HI. act according to the regulations. Id., ix. 97. April 9th, V. repeats his arguments, but seems to promise compliance. Dept. St. Pup., MIS., v. 3-4. Alvarado, Ilist. C'al., MS., iv. 145-57, narrates tho affair, except the arrest, and says that it displeased some of V.'s friends at Sta Bárbara. Mentioned by Vallejo, Hist. C'al., MES., iv. 202-3.

602

ALVARADO'S RULE-POLITICAL EVENTS.

Guerra appointed port-captains, as was claimed, ille- gally.43 Vallejo's refusal to show his commission was mainly to snub the comisario doubtless; possibly he also wished to conceal the fact that his title in that document was comandante militar, and not general. Meanwhile routine military correspondence was unini- portant, except promises from Mexico of supplies, some of which arrived before the end of the year.44

Alvarado now regarded Vallejo as an enemy, and would not even call on him when he came to Mont- erey.45 45 On April 1st he convoked an extra session of the junta, and declared to that body that 'certain men' were plotting against the lawful authorities, and pro- moting insurrection. He implied clearly that Vallejo was in league with these men; indeed, Vallejo, Pico, and J. A. Carrillo were the only ones named, and it was against the first that his charges were most bitter. He accused the comandante of circulating predictions of impending disaster; of massing his troops at Sonoma, whence they could operate against the government; of refusing aid, both against the Indians at San José and to put down a revolt in the south; of refusing re- cruits and leaving the south defenceless; of sending

43 Correspondence between Vallejo and Ábrego on financial topics, includ- ing some rather sharp sayings on both sides, with Abrego's complaints to the director de rentas. Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS., iii. 140-1, 150-1, 166-7; Id., Ben. Mil., lxxxviii. 31-4; Id., Ben. Com. and Treas., iv. 15-16, 48-9; Vallejo, Doc., MS., ix. 6, 14, 31, 144, 176, 202, 213. Alvarado, ITist. Cal., MS., iv. 193-200, declares that he never authorized any unfair division of the money.

# Jan. Ist, "fuero' of the defensores not under arms ceases. Dept. St. Pup., Mont., MS., iv. 20. April 9th, military stores sent from Sonoma to Monterey. Vallejo, Doc., MS., ix. 101, 104; xiv. 255. April 7th, recruiting, 15 men to be raised. Dept. Rec., MS., xi. 11. Apr. 12th, com. of Sta B. complains. No pay, while the sub-prefect is paid regularly. Vallejo, Doc., Hist. Cal., MS., ix. 112. July 12th, V. sympathizes and hopes for relief from Mexico, not from the departmental authorities. Id., ix. 175. Ang. 20th, a comandancia militar au- thorized on the northern frontier. Id., x. 223. Aug. 21st-22d, relief promised from Mexico. Letters from Castillero and Virmond. Id., ix. 226, 229. The relief included 500 muskets. Nov. 26th, Catalina has brought part of the stores. Id., ix. 327. 50 sabres detained at Mazatlan. Savage, Doc., MS., iv. 324-5. Other routine commun. in Id., iv. 321, 326, 328, including the order for a mil. command. at Sonoma.

45 Jan. 22d, A. to V. Says he is glad to get advice from intelligent men, though he will not bind himself to follow it; he does not care for the opinion of fools and men who act for their own interests. Vallejo, Doc., MIS., ix. 25. March 16th, V. chides him for not calling, and thus making a public display of the dissensions between them. Id., ix. 72.

603

THE CONTROVERSY CONTINUED.

Castañeda to work against the governor in Mexico, with a view of securing both commands for himself; and of being the prospective author of the outbreak he so confidently predicted. Alvarado's motive in calling the meeting was to obtain authority to spend money in supplying the prefects with arms for the protection of the country. The junta accordingly gave him the powers he desired, should Vallejo, who was 'merely comandante militar,' persist in neglecting his duties with sinister views. 46

All that Alvarado appears to have done in consc- quence of this action was to order Castro to form a company of auxiliary troops for the public security, and to retain at Monterey some of the arms and mu- nitions brought by the Catalina. 47 I find no reply of Vallejo to the action of the junta, which perhaps he did not hear of until later, as the session was a secret one. He continued his complaints and arguments, however, and no progress was made toward reconcili- ation.48 Californian prospects had no bright side to the general in those days. His despondency and bit- ter opposition to the administration at Monterey were founded to a considerable extent on wounded pride, and disappointment at not being able to control affairs, yet his motives were honest, his positions were for the most part tenable, and Alvarado had no reason to suspect him of treacherous or revolutionary designs.

46 Session of April 1, 1840. Leg. Rec., MS., iii. 75-8. Pico was to be fined and ('arrillo forced to attend to his duties. This was a committee report, and no final vote appears.

47 Dept. St. Pup., Ben. Com. and Treas., MS., iv. 54; Vallejo, Doc., MIS., ix. 351.

48 April 15th, V. to his brother, in a very despondent tone; can never for- give those who have brought about the coming evils; desires to die, since his efforts have been fruitless; hopes the crisis will come soon to teach a lesson to those who believe a train of civil employees can save the country; will not abandon his post till his resignation is accepte 1; dwells on the continual slights to which he is subjected. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxiii. 57. April 25th, to minister of war. Cannot make his authority respected, and should not be held responsible for results. Id., ix. 124-5. He probably sent in his resi _- nation about this time, as he states in his history. Sept. Ist, argument in a private letter to Alvarado, in answer to the latter's claim that he was trying to enforce the laws. Id., ix. 241.

604

ALVARADO'S RULE-POLITICAL EVENTS.

Indeed, it is probable that such a suspicion was but a pretence.

The junta, or four of its seven members, assem- bled at Monterey February 16th under the presidency of Alvarado, holding regular and extra sessions till the end of May. I append a résumé of the proceed- ings in a note. 49 The prominent matters presented

49 Feb. 16, 1840, Ji neno, Castro, Argiiello, and Gonzalez were present and took the oath. Requena and Carrillo absent on account of sickness. Pico not heard from. The gov. delivered an address on the state of public affairs. under the following heads: police and municipal regulations, agriculture, commerce, education, administration of justice, and ways and means. 'It is for yon as a body to shower the most abundant benefits on the country you represent, reaping as the fruit of your tasks the eternal gratitude of its dearest sons.'

Feb. 18th-22d, a Reglamento para el gobierno interior de la Junta Depaart- mental, 1840 (variations from the former reglamento given in Leg. Rec., MS., iii. 66-9), was formed by a committee and adopted. Regular sessions were to be held from Jan. Ist to June 30th of each year, on Tuesdays and Fridays. The junta was to have a sec. and two subordinates at $800, $300, and $200. The changes in detail from the reglamento of 1834 (p. 252 of this vol. ) were for the most part unimportant. Feb. 18th, Arguello was made temporary sec., and Feb. 22d Pico appeared and took his seat. Feb. 25th, proposi- tion on tribunals of justice. Committees formed: taxes and municipal ad- ministration, Pico; education, agriculture, and industries, Castro and Gon- zalez; commerce and constitutional changes, Argüello. (Feb. 27th, various doc. from Mex. submitted, including Alvarado's appointment as gov. p. 94.) Feb. 29th, excuses of Carrillo and Requena. (Dr Den's certificate of Car- rillo's illness. p. 66.) March 3d, 9th, 10th, 13th, tribunal of justice; land grants; excuses of Carrillo and Requena; suplentes to be summoned; Zenon Fernandez chosen as sec. March 18th, question of the capital. Fernandez sworn. March 21st, Gonzalez asks for leave of absence on account of illness, age, and incapacity. About salary of vocales, $1,500 per year. March 24th, capital. (March 26th, Gonzalez's excuses not accepted. 'Every public functionary is a mark for the shots of scandal.' p. 82.) March 27th, 29th, 31st, lands, capital. (Salaries to date, $725. p. 99.) (April Ist, secret ses- sion to consider acts of Vallejo, Pico, and Carrillo. Gov. authorized to arm the eivil officers, as elsewhere related. p. 63-4, 69-78.) April 3d, land grants. April 4th, 9th, 23d, threatening attitude of foreigners. Graham affair. (April 8th, Jimeno's report on coast and mission lands. p. 90-2.) April 9th, Jimeno's report passed to com. April 28th, prop. to forbid distil- lation and importation of liquors from wheat, corn, and barley, as being in- jurious to Californian farmers. Castro allowed to go home to attend to mat- ters left pending by his son who had gone to Mexico with the prisoners, (Jimeno's land report approved by com., also prohibition of distilled liquors on April 30th. Salaries for month, $500. p. 79, 83, 87, 92, 96.) May Ist, land bill approved. May 5th, liquor bill approved, except the article on importation. Census. May Sth, census. May 12th, eleven land grants referred to com. Census bill. Secretary's salary raised to $1,000. May 15th, census bill. May 19th, land grants. 27 referred and 11 others approved. May 22d, land grants, 14 referred and 27 approved. May 26th, 29th, 30th, 16 grants approved. (May 30th, Alvarado reported perfect tranquillity, obtained per- mission to leave the capital if necessary, and declared the sessions closed. p. 78.) Leg. Rec., MS., iii. 49-65, with additional records of various dates not

605

SESSIONS OF THE JUNTA.

for the consideration of the junta, and requiring fur- ther notice here, were the establishment of a supreme court and a settlement of disputes respecting the capital. The tribunal de justicia, in accordance with the law of May 23, 1837, was to consist of four ministros, or justices, a fiscal, or attorney, and a sec- retary. The places were filled in the session of March 10th by the appointment of Juan Malarin, J. A. Carrillo, J. A. Estudillo, and A. M. Osio, in that order, with Juan Bandini as fiscal and Mariano Bo- nilla as secretary. The last named was the only one who had any legal knowledge, and as a measure of conciliation the south was given a majority of the members.50 The tribunal does not appear to have assumed its duties until May 1842, when Bandini, declining to serve as fiscal, was succeeded by J. M. Castañares, and Bonilla as secretary by Narciso Botello.

March 18th Jimeno introduced a resolution that the junta should propose Monterey as the capital, with the title of city, and that it be regarded so pend- ing a decision. His reasons were the resolutions of the diputacion in 1836; the fact that the decree mak- ing Angeles the capital had not been officially received; and some evidence which appeared in the government journal to the effect that Monterey was regarded as the capital in Mexico. The matter was referred to

in order, but introduced by me under their dates in parentheses so far as they have any importance. Id., p. 66-96. Hartnell was paid $30 per month for the building occupied by the govt. Dept. Rec., MS., xi. G. Items re- ferring to these sessions of 1840, in Dept. St. Pap., Angeles, MS., xii. 43; I.l., Ben. Com. and Treas., iv. 46; Dwinelle's Colon. Ilist. S. Fran., add., 70-2. In Oct .- Nov., Jimeno was again acting as governor on account of Alvarado's illness. Leg. Rec., MS., iii. 95; Dept. Rec., MS., xi. 24, 69; Arch. Arzob., MS .. v. pt ii. 28.

50 Mexico, Arreglo Provisional de la Administracion de Justicia 23 de Mayo, 1837, in Arrillaga, Recop., 1837, p. 399. Chap. iii. on 'Tribunales Supe riores de los Departamentos.' p. 408. Also decree of July 15, 1834, on the same subject, in Id., 1839, p. 175, being the one cited in California at the time of the appointment, as per Dept. Rec., MS., xi. 53; S. Diego, Arch., MS., 252. Action of the junta Feb. 25th to March 10th, in Leg. Rec., iii. 57-8; Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxiii. 38. May 19, 1841, members cited to instal the tribunal. Bandini sent excuses, which were accepted. Narciso Botello appointed seere- tary. Dept. Rec., MS., xii. 44-6.

606

ALVARADO'S RULE-POLITICAL EVENTS.

Argüello as a committee, and he, although a southern man, reported in favor of the resolution, declaring that Monterey from its position should be the capital, and that it had virtually been recognized as such by the supreme government. Pico insisted on obedience to the law of May 1835 making Los Angeles the capital, but Argüello cited the later law of December 30, 1836, authorizing the government to designate the capital provisionally. On March 27th the resolution was adopted, Pico protesting in violent language against this action as illegal and outrageous. Don Pio went so far as to quit the hall in wrath, for which he was officially rebuked and fined by the junta; but the fine was remitted when he apologized and retract- ed his protests.51

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History of California, Volume III, Part 64

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