USA > California > History of California, Volume IV > Part 25
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19 Sutter-Suñol Corresp., MS., 10, where he is spoken of as M. le Comte de Mofras.
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SUTTER'S FORT.
made known to this traveller, included not only the exportation of grain, vegetables, butter, and cheese, but the cultivation on a large scale of rice, cotton, and indigo on the flats, and of grapes, olives, and other fruits on the higher lands. "His intention," writes Mofras, "is to grant rent-free at first some lots of land to colonists who may come to settle near his es- tablishment. Meanwhile, his white workmen, thirty men, Germans, Swiss, Canadians, Americans, Eng- lish, and French, almost all occupied as wood-cutters; smiths, carpenters, or trappers, receive two or there dollars a day besides their board, paid part in money and part in goods. All these men live with Indian or Californian women, and the colony contains not less than two hundred souls .. .. M. Sutter can trade independently of the custom-house or the Mexican authorities; he can receive people or goods either by land from Bodega, or by sending his schooner there. M. Sutter has served in the French army; in Cali- fornia he is considered a Frenchman; he lives in a territory which barely belongs in name to Mexico; he has about him, and is working to bring about him, Canadians and Frenchmen. In a few years New Helvetia will become a considerable establishment, through which will pass caravans coming by land from Canada, from the Columbia, and from the United States. We think," and it may be suspected that the writer does not express his thought quite fully, "that it would be very useful for M. Sutter to realize the desire which he has often expressed to us of having with him some French missionaries to civilize the Indian tribes about him."20
In November a party of over thirty immigrants ar- rived by the overland route, as will be fully related in the next chapter. One of the men, James John, came in advance of the party to the fort, arriving November 3d; and many of his companions soon came from San José and Marsh's rancho, to live and 20 Mofras, Explor., i. 457-66.
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SIMPSON'S OPINION.
work for a time at New Helvetia. All of this party have testified to the kind hospitality of Sutter's re- ception, and his zealous efforts in their behalf. In the only contemporary published narrative, John Bid- well bore the same testimony, but gave no descriptive or historical details about the Sacramento establish- ment.21 Henry A. Peirce, visiting the country late in November, did not go to New Helvetia, and had nothing to say of it or its owner in his journal; but he had occasion to make some inquiries about the man in consequence of a proposition from Sutter to purchase goods on credit, a proposition which was de- clined.22 Sir George Simpson, the only other visitor of 1841-2 whose remarks on this subject require men- tion, did not go to Sutter's place as he had intended to do; and, "besides having thus lost the opportunity of seeing a little of the interior," he writes, "we had reasons of a less romantic character for regretting our disappointment; as Sutter, a man of a speculative turn and good address, had given to the Hudson's Bay Company, in common with many others less able to pay for the compliment, particular grounds for taking an interest in his welfare and prosperity. He had successively tried his fortune in St Louis, among the Shawnee Indians, in the Snake country, on the Columbia River, at the Sandwich Islands, at Sitka, and at San Francisco, uniformly illustrating the proverb of the rolling stone, but yet generally contriving to leave anxious and inquisitive friends behind him. Sutter was now living on a grant of land about sixty miles long and twelve broad, trap- ping, farming, trading, bullying the government, and letting out Indians for hire. If he really has the talent and courage to make the most of his posi-
21 Bidwell's Journey to Cal., 20.
22 Feb. 1, 1842, Peirce to Thos Cummings of Honolulu. 'I think Sutter's prospects are good. Since leaving S. F. I have heard much to the prejudice of his character. Some transactions of his in the U. S. and in New Mexico, if true as related, would prove him to be a man not to be trusted and without honor. I did not see him.' Peirce's Rough Sketch, MS., 78-9, 84.
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SUTTER'S FORT.
tion, he is not unlikely to render California a second Texas. For fostering and maturing Brother Jon- athan's ambitious views, Captain Sutter's establish- ment is admirably situated. Besides lying on the direct route between San Francisco on the one hand and the Missouri and Willamette on the other, it vir- tually excludes the Californians from all the best parts of their own country. Hitherto the Spaniards have confined themselves to the comparatively barren slip of land from ten to forty miles in width, which lies between the ocean and the first range of moun- tains; and beyond this slip they will never penetrate with their present force, if Sutter or any other adven- turer can gather round him a score of such marksmen as won Texas on the field of San Jacinto."23
Thus established on a princely domain in the val- ley of his own choice granted without price by a gen- erous government, clothed with legal authority over the settlers on his estates, successful in converting the savages into laborers, owner of large herds and flocks to be paid for in the future, with a band of trappers at work for him in a region rich in furs, with a distil- lery yielding a profitable product of brandy, and with a constant incoming stream of immigration which was vastly increasing his strength and was sure to give great value to his lands, it would seem that the mag- nate of New Helvetia, looking back to the time less than ten years before when he landed a bankrupt ad- venturer on the shores of the New World, must have contemplated his present position with pride and con- tentment. Yet he had still some petty annoyances which often ruffled the serenity of his temper, and caused him to affect the rôle of a much-abused per- sonage.
The Russian debt gave him but little trouble as yet; but other creditors were at times clamorous for payment, and not always ready to admit the force of his ever ready excuses, or to be satisfied with his
23 Simpson's Narr., i. 325-7.
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THE CAPTAIN'S TROUBLES.
limited instalments of brandy, deer-fat, and beaver- skins.24 Sutter aspired to success as a merchant as well as a hacendado; and he sent John Sinclair to Hon- olulu to obtain consignments of goods on credit, mak- ing a similar application to Captain Peirce, and prob- ably to other visiting traders; but the Hawaiian traders, for reasons doubtless satisfactory to them- selves, refused their cooperation, and Sutter was obliged to curb his ambition in this direction.25 His trapping operations were rendered less profitable by those of the Hudson's Bay Company, and the gov- ernment declined to prohibit the latter so long as they proceeded in accordance with the laws and their licenses. This caused Sutter, as already related,26 to stir up a quarrel between the trappers and the govern- ment; and for his failure and his wrongs in this direc- tion, he threw the blame upon Vallejo, of whose jealousy and efforts to annoy him he did not fail to in- form each visitor to the fort, mentioning also the same subject in his later statements.27
21 It is only in the case of Sunol that anything is known of the details of Sutter's troubles in this direction. In all Sutter's letters of 1841-2, Suñol Corresp., MS., passim, there are few in which he does not promise early settlement; many in which he asks for new favors and credit; and some in which he announces the sending of skins. He continually complains of the men, not named, who are working or talking against him. The letters reveal much of Sutter's real character. 6,000 ft of lumber were among his new pnr- chases. July 24, 1842, he speaks of debts to Suñol's brothers-in-law also. Sept. 8th, hopes that Suñol will not carry out his threat of coming to take away his live-stock hy force. Oct. 7th, offers some cattle in payment. The man who represented him as saying that he only wrote letters to Suñol to pass away the time, and that he would pay when he was ready, is branded as an infamous liar. July 22, 1842, Isabel Sepúlveda at S. Rafael. Complains that Sutter owes her money. Wishes Salvador to go and bring him a pris- ouer to Sonoma. Vallejo, Correspondencia, MS., 95. Aug. 20th, Vioget de- mands an embargo on Sutter's schooner until he shall settle with Celis, but the general declines to meddle in civil affairs. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xi. 249, 251. In his Ilist. Cal., MS., iv. 283-4, Vallejo says he had many such appli- cations, and by his refusals to act caused much offence.
25 In a letter of July 24, 1842, he says the house at the Islands which was to have sent him merchandise had failed, and therehy greatly injured him, much to the delight of his foes. Sutter-Suñol Corresp., MS., 15. Other troubles are shown by the following references: March 6, 1841, juez of S. José to prefect. Sutter proposes to recover stolen horses on shares. S. José, Arch., MS., iii. 44. March 1Sth, Sutter has been seen to sell 40 stolen horses to the Columbia Co. Id., iii. 45.
26 See chap. viii. of this vol.
27 Sutter's Diary, 3; Id., Pers. Remin., MS., 91. He says Vallejo was his
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SUTTER'S FORT.
Vallejo, as the reader is aware, had grounds for dissatisfaction with some of the circumstances under which Alvarado had permitted Sutter to settle on the Sacramento, and outside of political aspects of the matter it is not unlikely that he may have looked with something of personal jealousy on the progress of so powerful a rival; yet there is no evidence be- yond Sutter's vague charges that he indulged in any petty manifestations of jealousy or subjected Sutter to any other annoyance than that of complying to some extent with the laws of the land. Politically, Vallejo had understood from the first the dangers to Mexican rule to be apprehended from such an estab- lishment as that of New Helvetia. A man of his in- telligence could not be blind to a state of things so apparent to every foreign visitor; and in fulfilment of his duties as a Mexican officer, he frankly commu- nicated his views to the government.28 Sutter, on his
enemy and rival, and took every opportunity to annoy him; but his only de- finite charge is that the general demanded passports from his men going over- land to Ross, and required the cattle to be driven through Sonoma for exam- ination. Wilkes' Narr., v. 192, says: 'There was much apprehension on the part of some that the present governor of the district west of New Hel- vetia felt jealous of the power and influence that Capt. Suter was obtaining in the country; and it was thought that had it not been for the force which the latter could bring to oppose any attempt to dislodge him, it would have been tried. In the mean time Capt. Suter is using all his energies to render himself impregnable.' Elsewhere Wilkes doubts, and with much reason, that the feeling between Sutter and Vallejo was as bitter as was pretended. Mo- fras, Explor., i. 464, says: 'Le commandant Vallejo, qui a la prétention de gouverner sans contrôle le pays situé sur la rive droite du fleuve, n'a pas vu sans une vive jalousie l'accroissement de la Nouvelle Helvétie; il a même cher- ché á susciter quelques difficultés á M. Sutter.'
28 Nov. 17, 1841, V. to Alvarado. Vallejo, Doc., MS., x. 349. Jan. - , 1842, Id. to min. of war. Id., xi. 4. He states that Sutter, styling his place the Fort of New Helvetia, and himself governor of that fortress, exercises ar- bitrary and despotic power, wages war on the natives, forces them to work for hin, shoots them without formalities or the approval of the govt; receives foreigners, no matter whence or how they come, not obliging them to present themselves to the authorities and sometimes not even reporting their arrival; and finally he makes seditious threats, as is proven by the enclosed original letter (that to Leese probably, to be noticed presently). Alvarado, however, assures the sup. govt on Jan. 11, 1842, that Vallejo's objections have no legal foundation, as Sutter has only S men, all with proper cartas. Dept. Rec., MS., xiii. 12. Oct. 15, 1842, Vallejo, in a private note to Micheltorena, speaks again of Sutter's foolish attempts to make trouble. Says he has force cnough to oust Sutter, and the H. B. Co. has offered to aid in such a work, but lie has disliked to interfere with a prosperous settlement so much needed in the country. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xi. 273. The 'King's Orphan,' Visit, 11, who was
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SUTTER'S THREATS.
part, doubtless made some pretty loud threats of re- volt against the authorities, and to give his threats weight, talked of support from France, which derived a degree of plausibility from the visit of a French diplomatic officer at this time. Mofras asserts that in November 1841 Sutter wrote to Vallejo that unless his annoyances ceased, he would hoist the French flag and march on Sonoma. Bidwell notes the current report, confirmed by Sutter himself, that he had an- nounced in writing his ability and readiness in case of interference, not only to defend himself, but to chas- tise the Californians. I append quotations from a somewhat remarkable letter addressed by Sutter to Leese. 29
at the fort in 1843, says that Sutter in his trapping operations 'was greatly in- terfered with by the H. B. Co., who sent their hunters upon his grounds. He complained to the proper authorities, but they paid no attention to the matter. His enemies, not content with thus injuring him, informed the sus- picious Mex. govt that he was concocting revolutionary plans, and that he encouraged deserters and other disorderly people to live at his settlement.' Sutter explained that a condition of his grant was to draw settlers, and there- fore he had received the lawless stragglers. 'The govt was not satisfied. Urged on by envious neighbors, it was prompted to send to Sutter a commit- tee of investigation. The captain was so enraged at the idea of such a thing that he treated the committee with great contempt, and said he could defend himself ... Whereupon the govt threatened to send a force, but thought better of the matter when they found out the character of the men and of the Rus- sian armament; but annoyed him with legal suits, and after a great deal of difficulty he was acquitted of any treasonable design against the govt.' This of course all came from Sutter himself.
29 Mofras, Explor., i. 464; Bidwell's Cal. 1841-8, MS., 82-5. Hastings, Emig. Guide, 103, has it that a spy was sent to N. Helvetia, and Sutter, sus- specting his purpose, sent him away, with a message to the effect that if Mcx- ico wished to expel him she was at liberty to try it-whereupon the govt decided to let him alone! Writing to Leese on Nov. 8, 1841, after some pro- posals for buying Leese's part of certain launches-on credit of course-Sut- ter continues: 'Very curious Rapports came to me from helaw; but the poor wretches dont know what they do. I explained now Mr Spence to explain these ignorant people what would be the consequence if they do injure me, the first french fregate who came here will do me justice. The people dont know me yet, but soon they will find out what I am able to do. It is to late now to drive me aut the country, the first step they do against me is that I will make a declaration of Independence and proclaim California for a Repub- lique independent of Mexico. I am strong now, one of my best friends a German gentleman came from the Columbia River with plenty people, an other party is close by from Missouri. . . I am strong enough to hold me till the couriers go to the Waillamet for raise ahout 60 or 70 good men, an other party I would dispatch to the mountains and call the hunters and Shawnecs and Delawares with which I am very well acquainted, the same party have to go to Missouri and raise about 2 or 300 man more. That is my inten- tion, Sir, if they let me not alone. If they will give me satisfaction and pay
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SUTTER'S FORT.
Sutter had no feeling whatever of loyalty to his adopted nation, or to the government that had treated him so generously, and under which he held office; and he would without hesitation have raised the standard of revolt in behalf of France, or any other nation that could advance his personal interests; yet it is not to be supposed that he had at this time any definite plan or intention of political conspiracy. Harassed by his creditors, partially thwarted in some of his schemes for making a fortune, egotistically looking down upon the Californians as inferior beings, and annoyed that he was not allowed to control the whole country as arbitrarily as he did New Helvetia -he indulged in threats that had not much signifi- cance, merely to relieve his mind in moments of de- pression, and, as Sir George Simpson expressed it, to 'bully' the government. In politics as in commercial and industrial enterprises, Sutter always-as the dis- tinguished English traveller might have said but did not-"bit off more than he could chew."
I have had occasion more than once in recording the annals of past years to note the arrival on the coast of scientific exploring expeditions fitted out by different European powers and resulting in published narratives, in which this country and its affairs were more or less fully described. The first expedition of
the expenses what I had to do for my security here, I will be a faithful Mex- ican; but when this Rascle of Castro should come here a very warm and harty welcome is prepared for him. 10 guns have well mounted for protect the fortress and two field-pieces. I have also about 50 faithfull Indians which shot their musquet very quik. The wole day and night we are under arms, and you know that foreigners are very expensive, and for this trouble I will be payed when a french fregate come here. I wish you to tell the com- andante general that I wished to be his friend, and that I am very much oblidged to him for his kindness when my people passed Sonoma. If he would join us in such a case I should like it very much. But all is out question so long they let me alone and trouble me not, but I want security from the gov- ernment for that.' Vallejo, Doc., MS., x. 332. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 168-75, cites this letter mainly to show that Sutter's much-talked-of Ameri- can patriotism was of later date. Dec. 21, 1841, Jan. 24, 1842, Rudesindo Berreyesa to Vallejo, warning him of Sutter's hostile plans. Hopes S. will raise the French flag, in which case Solano and his men will make quick work of him and his grand fort! Vallejo, Doc., MS., xi. 10; Id., Corresp., MIS., GO-1.
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WILKES' VISIT.
this kind under the flag of the United States made its appearance in 1841. As in other similar cases, this ex- pedition requires but few details respecting its organ- ization, operations, and results, except so far as they bear directly upon the subject of this work. A fleet of six vessels under the command of Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, having on board about six hundred men, including over eighty officers and a scientific corps of twelve,50 sailed from Hampton Roads in August 1838. The general route followed in accordance with instructions was: to Brazil; round Cape Horn to Chile; to Oceanica; to the Hawaiian Islands; to the north-west coast of America, and California; and thence homeward round Cape Good Hope. The ar- rival at New York was in June 1842. A narrative of the voyage was written by Wilkes, the commander, who also wrote a volume on meteorology. Of the scientific corps, Dana, Pickering, Hale, Peale, and Brackenridge each produced one or more volumes in his special department. Still other volumes were ed- ited, from observations and collections made by the explorers, by other competent men selected by the Smithsonian Institution. The result was a magnifi- cent set of twenty-eight volumes in quarto and folio, illustrated with fine engravings and colored plates,
30 The vessels with commanders, lieutenants, and scientists at the depart- ure were as follows-there being frequent changes later, and those names marked with a star (") not having reached California: Vincennes, sloop of war, 780 tons; Charles Wilkes, com .; lieutenants, Thos T. Craven, * Overton Carr, Robert E. Johnson, James Alden, and Wm L. Maury; scientific corps, Charles Pickering, naturalist, Jos Drayton, artist, J. D. Brackenridge, asst botanist, John G. Brown, instrument maker, John W. W. Dyes, asst taxider- mist, Jos P. Couthouy, * naturalist. Peacock,* sloop of war, 650 tons, Wm L. Hudson, com .; lieutenants, Samuel P. Lee, * W. M. Walker, Geo. F. Emmons, O. H. Perry; scientists, James D. Dana, mineralogist, T. R. Peale, natural- ist, Horatio Hale, philologist, F. L. Davenport,* interpreter. Porpoise, gun-brig, 230 tons; Cadwalader Ringgold, com .; lieutenants, M. G. L. C'lai- borne, * H. J. Hartstein,* John B. Dale .* Relief," store-ship; A. K. Long, com .; lieutenants, R. F. Pinkney,* A. L. Case, Jos A. Underwood ;* Wm Rich, botanist. Sea-Gull,* tender or pilot-boat; Jas W. E. Reid,* com. Flying-Fish, pilot-boat used as tender; Samuel P. Knox, com. The Peacock and Sea-Gull were wrecked, the Relief sent home, and the Oregon purchased before the arrival in California. In my lists of pioneers and visitors I in- clude only those who were in command of vessels or land parties on the Cal- ifornia coast, a few of the scientists, and such members of the expedition as left it in California.
HIST. CAL., VOL. IV. 16
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U. S. EXPLORING EXPEDITION.
published at the cost of the government. Copies were sent as gifts to the states of the Union, and to some of the European governments and scientific in- stitutions. Of some parts only a limited number of copies was printed, and the plates were destroyed; so that a complete set is now of rare occurrence and of great pecuniary value. From that in my collection, originally one of the presentation copies alluded to, I append a specification of the parts.31
31 United States Exploring Expedition during the years 1838, 1889, 1840, 1841, 1842, etc. Philadelphia, 1844-58, 4°, 20 vol .; fol., 8 vol. Details about the publication of this work do not properly belong here, and if they did, I have found no satisfactory bibliographical description. Those given by Brunet and others do not agree with my set either in number, order, or placc of publication, of the different volumes. The following is a list of the parts as found in my collection:
Vol. i .- v. Narrative by Chas Wilkes, maps, plates, and cuts. An atlas is mentioned on the title-page, but does not seem to have been published. Phil. 1844, 4°. (I have also the edition of Phil. 1845, Svo, 5 vol .; and there was also published an cdition of Phil. 1845, imp. 8vo, 5 vol., with an atlas. Brunet names Svo editions of Phil. 1849; New York, 1852; and New York, 1856; also an abridgment in one vol. of New York, 1851. Jenkins' U. S. Explor. Expeditions, etc. Auburn, 1850, 8vo, one vol., also contains an abridgment. ) That part of the narrative pertaining to California is found in vol. v., p. 160-272, or chap. v .- vi., with some allusions also in vol. iv., 526; v. 127, 142-3, 157.
Vol. vi. Ethnography and Philology, by Horatio Hale. Phil. 1846, 4°. Indians of Cal., p. 199, 221-3; 6 vocabularies, p. 630-4,
Vol. vii. Zoophytes, by James D. Dana. Phil. 1846, 4°; atlas, Phil. 1849, fol., 61 pl. Slight scattered reference to Cal.
Vol. viii. Mammalogy and Ornithology, by Titian R. Peale, Phil. 1848, 4°. Frequent mention of Cal. animals and birds. (This volume seems to have been suppressed, and replaced by another vol. viii.)
Vol. viii. (bis). Mammalogy and Ornithology, by John Cassin. Phil. 1858, 4°; atlas, fol., 53 pl. Contains very many scattered descriptions of Cal. animals and birds.
Vol. ix. The Races of Men and their Geographical Distribution, by Chas Pickering. Phil. 1848, 4°. Map showing Cal. as a Malay region; p. 15-50, slight reference to Cal. in description of the Mongolian race, and N. w. coast; p. 100-12, on the Californians as Malays, with something of narrative; and p. 231, 273, 288, 307-12, allusions to Cal.
Vol. x. Geology, by James D. Dana. Phil. 1849, 4°; atlas, fol., 21 pl. Chap. xviii., p. 611-78, is devoted to the geology of Oregon and northern Cal., with some cuts. Plates of fossils in the atlas seem to contain little or noth- ing from Cal.
Vol. xi. Meterology, by Chas Wilkes. Phil. 1851, 4°. Tables of obser- vations in Cal., chiefly at Sauzalito, p. 570-623, with diagram, pl. xix., and mention in Introd., p. xlvii .- viii.
Vol. xii. Mollusca and Shells, by A. A. Gould. Phil. 1852, 4°; atlas (not published). Slight scattered reference to Cal. shells.
Vol. xiii .- xiv. Crustacea, by James D. Dana. Phil. 1852, 4°, 2 vol .; atlas, Phil. 1855, fol., 96 pl. Scattered references to Cal.
Vol. xv. Botany, pti. Phanerogamia, by Asa Gray. Phil. 1854, 4°; atlas, fol., 100 pl. Descriptions and illustrations of Cal. plants.
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