History of California, Volume IV, Part 7

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 820

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Besides the testimony of writers, native and for- eign, respecting the condition of the missions in 1836- 9, as represented in the preceding paragraphs, I might cite a large number of items more or less confirmatory from the archives-contemporary orders, complaints, accusations, and correspondence of departmental offi- cials, administrators, alcaldes, padres, and even neo- phytes; but for such items, and for some fragmentary statistics that might serve a similar purpose, to avoid needless repetition, I refer the reader to the chapters on local annals of the missions for this period, append- ing here only a few notes of a general rather than a local nature.19

19 1836, representation signed 'Cuatro Yndigenas,' in which the friars are chided for giving up the mission property, and urged to defend the rights of their wards. Arch. Sta B., MS., ix. 215-20. Jan. 8th, P. Moreno to Castro. Cannot understand why officers coming from Mexico, where all have to pay their way, should want everything free in Cal., and treat the Ind. as slaves. St. Pap., Miss., MS., x. 7. March 24th, PP. Duran and Jimeno to gov. Protest that they have no wish to interfere in mission govt. Id., x. 7. March 2Sth, Francisco M. Alvarado argues that Ind. cannot be controlled except by,

MISSION ANNALS AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.

The responsibility and blame for the spoliation of the missions during this period must of course be borne to a certain extent by Alvarado and his asso- ciates in power, though the statement, more or less current since, that the missions were plundered by Alvarado, Vallejo, Castro, and their party, must be accepted with much allowance. Not only is it not in proof that the leaders profited personally by the spo- liation, but the inherent dangers of secularization, and the political difficulties which surrounded those leaders, must be considered. Had Mexican rulers continued in power, or had Alvarado's Californian rivals triumphed over him, there is no reason to be- lieve that mission affairs would have been in any re- spect better managed. The disastrous result was due more to circumstances beyond the control of the gov- ernor than to any lack of wisdom or honesty on his part. Moreover, I have yet to record some earnest if not very successful efforts by Alvarado to check the torrent of disaster.

On the 17th of January, 1839, Alvarado issued a new series of regulations for mission management, not

flogging; that masters have to use the same methods as administrators; and that he ought not to have to pay the fine of $75 imposed on him for whipping his Ind. servant. Hayes' Mission Book, 339. April 16th, Pio Pico claims that the missions are in good condition, except that the Ind. have become bad and will not work. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iii. 192. July 1st, Pico still protests against the current calumnies on the management of missions. St. Pap., Miss., MS., xi. 54-5. July 4th, Alvarado declares the friars still long for temporal power. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iii. 218. 1837, March 9th, Alvarado speaks of the missions as stores of supplies which the govt. may use to buy vessels, and other purposes. Id., iv. 212. March 12th, Carlos Carrillo to Vallejo. The gov. beset with petitions for administrators' positions. To grant all, the missions would have to be extended to Cape Horn. Id., iv. 214. June 26th, Vallejo makes a rule that rancheros must pay half their Ind. laborers' wages, $2 per month, to the missions. Id., iv. 258. 1838, Feb. 19th, young Ind. distributed among private individuals by authority of Carrillo as gov. Ilop- kins' Translations, 8. May Ist, Vallejo writes, 'I believe in order to get rid of the rascally administrators the missions will be given back to the friars; and then that "ronda de cabrones " may go and rob the devil.' Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxii. 131. June, the administrators should be made to render accounts and pay their debts. They do nothing but rob. Id., xiv. 24. Sept. 19th, Alvarado has ordered that half the means of the 3 northern missions be putat Vallejo's disposal for the relief of the army. Id., v. 177. May 11, 1839, Va- Ilcjo to Virmond. Some missions have suffered, others advanced. The friars aim to get back all they had in 1820; but their pretensions will not be listened to. Id., vii. 60.

ALVARADO'S REGLAMENTO.

modifying essentially Figueroa's reglamento, but sup- plementary, and designed to secure a faithful perform- ance of duty by the administrators, so called in the document,20 of which I append the substance in a note.21 It was little more than a restriction of powers which the administrators had assumed, and a requirement that strict accounts be rendered of mission manage- ment in all that affected the disposition of property. To obtain these accounts for past years was a hopeless task, notwithstanding the governor's orders; but there was certainly room for reform in the present and future.

For the position of visitador de misiones, or in- spector, provided for in the reglamento for its own proper enforcement, Alvarado made a very good selec-

20 I know of no legal authority for the use of the term, unless its use in this document may be considered such. In Figueroa's reglamento comision- ados and majordomos only are provided for, and there was no subsequent law. It had become customary, however, to speak of the majordomos as adminis- trators in private, and more rarely in official, correspondence; and now AI- varado's use of the term gave it a sort of legality.

21 Alvarado, Reglamento Provisional para Administradores de Misiones, 17 de Enero, 1839, MIS., in Dept. St. Pap., S. José, v. 52-5; Id., Mont., iii. 69-75; Arch. Sta B., x. 205-12; translation in Halleck's Report, 155-6; Dwinelle's Col. Hist., add., 55-6. In the preamble the gov. speaks of the 'pitiful state' of the mission estates since the so-called secularization, on account of the unlimited powers of the administrators and their ignorance of their true relations to the govt. Art. 1-3. All who are or have been adminis- trators must present their accounts to the govt. at once, down to end of 1838. Art. 4. Admin. are to render also a detailed account of the dehts and credits of each mission. Art. 5-7. They shall not, without the order of the govt, contract or pay any debts, or slaughter any cattle beyond what is necessary for the maintenance of the Indians and ordinary consumption of the house. Art. 8. The traffic of mules and horses for woollen stuff's now practised (the New Mexican trade) is absolutely prohibited; and instead, the looms must be started. Art. 9. A monthly report must be rendered of all produce stored or distributed. Art. 10. Admin. must build during this year, at cost of the establishment, dwellings for themselves so as to vacate their present quarters. Art. 11. No gente de razon must be allowed to set- tle at estab. where the Ind. remain in community. Art. 12. A classificd census of all inhab. to be formed at an early date. Art. 13. S. Carlos, S. Juan Bautista, and Sonoma are not included in the provisions of this regula- tion, except that accounts of past management must be rendered. Art. 14. An account of all salaries paid to employés or padres must be rendered; aud salaries must not be paid in live-stock. Art. 15. Admin. to obey strictly and send the required information within a month. Art. 16. The govt. will issue further regulations on police, etc., as needed. Art. 17. The govt. will ap- point a visitador, with a salary to be paid from the cstates, to superintend the carrying-out of this regulation. Jan. 2Sth, A. complains to Vallejo that certain military officers, who had been administrators, showed no signs of complying with the reglamento by rendering accounts. l'allejo, Doc., MS. vi. 173.

MISSION ANNALS AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.

tion in the person of W. E. P. Hartnell, an old Eng- lish resident and naturalized citizen. He had been at first a merchant and later a teacher; and though now in reduced circumstances, was an intelligent, popular man, with a good reputation for honesty, which he maintained during the two years that he held this office. Hartnell was appointed January 19th; and his salary of $2,000, to be paid pro rata by fifteen mis- sions according to their wealth, was to run from the 25th.22 By his instructions issued on April 24th, he was required to make a tour of inspection, and besides being authorized to systematize the mission adminis- tration in a general way, according to the reglamento, he was empowered to hear complaints and to intro- duce minor reforms according to his judgment.23

The new reglamento, the instructions, and the choice

22 Jan. 19, 1839, appointment. Dept. Rec., MS., x. 2, 8, 11; St. Pap., Miss., MS., vii. 19; Vallejo, Doc., MS., vi. 474. The assignment of the sal- ary, showing the relative wealth of the different establishments, was as fol- lows: S. Buenaventura, Sta Bárbara, Purísima, S. Luis Obispo, S. Miguel, S. Antonio, and S. Rafael, $50 each; S. Francisco, $75; S. Luis Rey and S. Ga- briel, $150; S. Fernando and Sonoma, $200; Sta Ines and Sta Clara, $250; and S. José, $300. Of course, however, past burdens were taken also into consideration, as well as wealth. Mrs Hartnell, Narrativa, MS., 3-4, tells us that her husband accepted the place chiefly to please Alvarado, since it involved much annoyance and little profit. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 144-5, speaks of the opposition to Hartnell from administrators, Zacatecan padres, military officials, and rancheros, rendering his position no sinccure. March 9th, Hartnell's appointment announced to admin., with orders to recognize his authority. Vallejo, Doc., MS., vi. 295.

23 Alvarado, Instrucciones que deberá observar el Sr Visitador D. Guillermo E. Hartnell en la inspeccion de los Establecimientos de las misiones de la Alta California, 24 de Abril, 1839, MS .; Halleck's Report, 156-7; Hayes' Legal Ilist. S. Diego, i. 57, p. 17-19. His duties were in substance as follows: Art. 1. To methodize the matter of accounts and reports, instructing the admin. Art. 2. To make an inventory of property at cach mission. Art. 3. To have an assistant at a reasonable compensation. Art. 4. To show the laws to each admin. and explain the object of his visit, so as to avoid pretexts for not obcying. Art. 5. To remedy actual and urgent necds reported by admin., using mission produce for that purpose. Art. 6. To decide respecting com- plaints of padres and employés against admin., and to promote harmony be- tween all classes. Art. 7. To enjoin upon admin. all possible cconomy so as to promote the increase of the estates. Art. S. To regulate the weekly and annual slaughter of cattle in such a manner that the live-stock may not de- creasc. Art. 9. To recommend to the admin. to treat the Ind. kindly, inflict but moderate punishments, and sce that they attend faithfully to their reli- gious dutics. Art. 10. To report to the govt any failure of the admin. to perform their duties, and even to suspend them temporarily from office if necessary. Art. 11. To he diligent, to collect all kinds of information, and to make suggestions for the formation of police regulations.

HARTNELL'S TOUR.

of a visitador all seem to have been wisely planned, even if the reader may decide in advance that these measures were not likely to reform all existing abuses. President Duran approved them, though in a tone sug- gestive of doubts respecting success.24 In May the visitador went south to begin his tour of inspection. Thence proceeding northward, he visited one after another every mission from San Diego to Sonoma, though in several of them, as we have seen, he was not authorized to interfere officially. His original diaries and blotters of correspondence for this tour and another made the next year are in my possession-a most val- uable historical record, contributed to my collection by Doña María Teresa de la Guerra de Hartnell, widow of the writer. 25 By the end of June the inspection had been completed as far north as San Buenaventura; in July the missions from Santa Bárbara to San Luis Obispo were inspected; August saw the work done at San José, and the promulgation of an order forbidding the hiring-out of Indians away from the community, except with special license from the government;26

24 May 13, 1839, Duran to Alvarado, thanking him for the instructions to Hartnell. Of late has heard few complaints against the admin., which fact leads him to suppose the Ind. to be very long-suffering or the admin. very con- siderate. Regrets that H. was not definitely instructed to insist on the pa- dre's power of coercion over the Ind. in the matter of prayers and other re- ligious obligations. Some admin. had gone so far as to threaten to remove the clappers from the bells to prevent summoning the Ind. to recite the rosario. Arch., Misiones, MS., ii. SSI.

25 Hartnell, Diario y Borradores de las dos visitas que en 1839-40 hizo el Vis- itador Gen. de Misiones en Alta California, MS., 100 p. This manuscript, which unfortunately is not quite complete, contains a daily journal or diary of the two visitas; blotters of letters addressed by H. to other persons in his official capacity; indices of commun. received, with mention of their purport; and the general report of the first tour in 1839. A few leaves are missing in each of the 4 parts; but the losses are so scattered as not to impair greatly the historical value of the record. Besides these documents, there is much cor- respondence respecting H.'s tours scattered in different archives, particularly in Arch. Miss., MS., tom. ii .; Dept. St. Pap., Miss., MS., tom. vii .- xi .; and Pico, Pap. de Miss., MS. More particular references may be found in local annals given in later chapters.

26 Aug. 22, 1839, Acting Gov. Jimeno to H. Vallejo, Doc., MS., viii. 62. This is a copy, and possibly a forgery. J. J. Vallejo on Sept. 4th, however, seems to allude to a circular, forbidding the admin. to use the Indians for their own work. Id., viii. 77. Alvarado, Ilist. Cal., MS., iv. 126-7, mentions as the reason for issuing the order that an old Indian of S. Juan Capistrano, let out to a ranchero, stole a horse and came to Monterey to complain of ill

MISSION ANNALS AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.

September sufficed to conclude the visita; and by Octo- ber 12th Hartnell's report was completed, though at his office in Monterey he continued to attend to the duties of his position during the rest of the year. The records of this inspection, to which I have already alluded, though voluminous, are almost exclusively devoted to local matters, none of them of sufficient importance to require attention here. Hartnell's observations, in the aggregate, tend to confirm in most respects, and to re- fute in none, the conclusions expressed earlier in this chapter. Everywhere complaints were heard, which in most instances proved well founded. There is no reason to doubt that much good was effected, though it is to be feared that the reforms introduced were not very thorough or permanent, to say nothing of the fact that they were for the most part but a put- ting-up of the bars after the cattle had escaped. At most establishments Don Guillermo left the discordant elements temporarily somewhat more tranquil than before; but he was an easy-going man, not disposed to quarrel when controversy could be avoided. In his report he simply presented the state of affairs at each mission; but made no general suggestions for reform. I shall have occasion to refer a little later to his sta- tistics. 27

In consequence doubtless of Hartnell's reports, written and verbal, Alvarado, on March 1, 1840, is- sued a new reglamento for mission management, by virtue of which the administrators were replaced by majordomos at reduced salaries. Additional restric- tions were placed upon their actions; the authority

treatment, and to ask either to be shet or to be released from his service-he did not care which.

27 On June 24, 1839, H. made a special report on the missions from S. Diego to S. Fernando. St. Pap., Miss., MS., xi. 23-30. Probably other partial re- ports were also made. There are also extant several sets of instructions given by him to administrators. Id., vii. 40-2; viii. 31-2, 17-20; x. 13-14. They are chiefly of a local nature, when not in direet fulfilment of the reglamento; but articles were generally added requiring kind treatment of the Ind., and fully maintaining the padres' power to insist on a strict performance of re- ligious duties. Statements of the dehts of different missions in 1839-40, in Pico, Pap. de Miss., MS., 47-51; Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxii. 274; xxxiii. 12.

NEW REGULATIONS.

of the friars was increased in some respects, and the visitador was continued in office with a larger salary and augmented powers. As of the earlier regula- tions, I give its substance in a note.28 Before this

28 Alvarado, Reglamento de Ex-Misiones, 1º de Marzo, 1840. Printed doc- ument on one large sheet, with rubric signatures, in Earliest Printing; origi- nal MS. in Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxiii. 30; translation in Halleck's Report, 157-60; Dwinelle's Col. Hist., add., 57-60. It was issued as a bando with- out any title. Experience having shown great losses and abuses in the missions; the reglamento of 1839 not having sufficed to reform the evils, on account especially of excessive salaries; and it being desirable to promote economy and a strict administration until the supreme govt may decide what is best-the following is published:

Art. 1-3. Majordomos to take the place of admin. at salaries from $180 to $600 at different missions (specified), though the former admin. may be selected for the new positions. Art. 4. The office of visitador to continue, with a salary of $3,000.

Duties of majordomos. Art. 5. To watch over the advancement of prop- erty, consulting the padres in difficult cases. Art. 6. To make the Indians work for the community, and chastise them moderately for faults. Art. 7. To enforce morality and attendance on religious duties among the Ind., the padres intervening as provided by the visitador's instructions. Art. 8-9. To render to the vis. a monthly account of produce stored, and a yearly one of all prod- ucts and cattle branded, said reports to be certified by the padres. Art. 10. To see that the padres lack nothing needed for their personal subsistence and service. Art. 11-12. To provide every assistance, and show every attention to the prelates on their visits or at their fixed residence. Art. 13. To furnish the friars all necessary aid for worship, but to invest no considerable sum for this purpose without permission from the govt. Art. 14. To attend to the proper distribution of goods among the Ind., the padres approving the lists. Art. 15. To obey all orders and pay all drafts coming from the govt through the visitador's office. Art. 16. To furnish every three months a list of articles most needed. Art. 17. To furnish transportation and food to persons travel- ling on public service, and also aid demanded by comandantes of stations, sending a monthly account to the vis., that he may recover the amount from the comisaría. Art. 18. To aid private travellers, charging for food and horses according to their means. Art. 19. To enforce morality among ser- vants and others residing or visiting at the missions; and in urgent cases to adopt such measures as are best adapted to preserve order. Art. 20. To use mission produce for the support of themselves and families without cost. Art. 21. To employ such servants as may be necessary for community work, but only natives of the establishment. Art. 22. To ask only for a clerk to carry on correspondcuce with the vis. Art. 23. To obtain from the govt, after a year of good conduct, etc., permission to employ such Ind. as may be willing on their own private work. Art. 24. To make no sale or pur- chase, and to dispose of no Ind. for the service of private persons, without special authority; and to slaughter no cattle except regularly as ordered by the vis.

Duties of the visitador. Art. 25. To make all kinds of mercantile con- tracts for the benefit of the missions. Art. 26. To supply to those estab. needed articles, according to the majordomos' lists and the property on hand. Art. 27. To draw bills in payment of debts. Art. 28. To be the medium of communication between the govt and all persons in matters relating to mis- sions. Art. 29. To pay salaries of employés, watch over their performance of duties, and acting in concert with the padres to propose the men best fitted for majordomos. Art. 30. To determine the number of cattle to bo killed in the weekly, annual, and extra slaughters at each mission. Art. 31.

MISSION ANNALS AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.

document was published it seems to have been sub- mitted to the missionary presidents for approval or criticism, and was probably changed slightly in some respects to suit the friars. At any rate, Padre Duran expressed his views, and those not very favorable, on the subject in a letter of January 7th to Hartnell. Alluding to the purely financial phases of the matter, he admitted that the reglamento would "close the doors to fraud and robbery, but also to all improve- ment; that the doctor was prevented from killing the patient, but had no power to cure him." He thought a trade for the benefit of a mission ought not to be delayed by reference to a visitador hundreds of miles away; and he complained that under the new rules-changed apparently in this respect-a padre could obtain nothing except articles produced by the mission or other articles purchased with the little left of the sínodo from the pious fund "after it had been passed through successive sieves by the dis- interested hands of the traders." Yet he and his friars would submit until the coming of a bishop should allow them to leave "these Californian laby- rinths." 29

To form a regulation for his office, and propose such assistants as he deemed necessary.

General orders. Art. 32. Merchants and others having claims against the missions must present them with the proper vouchers to the vis., that the govt may determine what is best and possible in the way of settlement. Art. 33. As to S. Carlos, S. Juan Bautista, Sta Cruz, Soledad, and Solano, the govt will continue to regulate them according to circumstances. Art. 34. All employees and judges are free to report abuses to the govt. Art. 33. The govt, having consulted the padres, will regulate all that relates to the support of worship and of the friars, either assigning a fixed sum for both purposes, or making such other arrangement as may be best. Art. 36. All previous regulations and orders contrary to this are anulled; and in cases of doubt the govt will decide. Art. 37. In default or temporary absence of a majordomo, the padre will take charge ad interim.

"? Jan. 7, 1840, Duran to Hartnell. Arch. Miss., MS., ii. 997-1000. Feb. 13th, he writes again, expressing the opinion that the majordomos should not be the creatures of the padres, declaring his purpose to limit the powers of his friars, especially 2 or 3 of them, as closely as the govt had that of the majordomos, regretting that the northern padres had manifested opposition, and asking that the aid due to a prelate on his visits should be definitely ex- pressed. Id., ii. 1017. March 5th, he opposes any setting-apart of estates for the support of the ministry, as it would lead to troubles. Food aud means of travel, with the $400 allowed by Mexico, will suffice. Id., ii. 993. March

THE VISITADOR'S SECOND TOUR.

In March Alvarado issued an order to administra- tors to turn over their missions to the visitador, and a set of instructions to that officer for his second annual visita, which was to begin immediately at Mission San José.30 The inspection of the northern establishments, possibly down to Santa Inés,31 and the operation of setting the new machinery in motion there was com- pleted before the end of June; but we have no details except of Hartnell's troubles at San Rafael in April, leading to his arrest by Vallejo, who succeeded in preventing the exercise of the visitador's authority at that mission.32 Early in July he was in the far south at San Luis Rey, where he had no end of trouble with Pio Pico and others, and where the transfer to the majordomo was not effected until August. Similar annoyances at other missions so disgusted him that finally, on September 7th, from Santa Bárbara, he sent in his resignation, which was accepted after his arri- val at Monterey. By a circular of October 6th ma- jordomos were ordered to communicate directly with

24th, Prefect Gonzalez, of the Zacatecanos, proffers voluntary submission and cooperation, but prefers not to select majordomos. The padres will exercise the powers granted them only when they deem it best. Id., ii. 1037-40; St. Pap., Miss., MS., xi. 18-22. April 17th, J. A. Aguirre writes to Hartnell, re- futing the charge of J. J. Vallejo, that the new reglamento was instigated by himself, Noriega, and Hartnell with a view to monopolize the mission trade. Vallejo, Doc., MS., ix. 114. April 20th, Duran's circular directing friars to suggest proper persons for majordomos, and to present any complaints they may have through him. Arch. Sta. B., MS., xi. 189-90. Aug. 20th, J. Tem- ple to Hartnell, insisting on the payment of old debts due him from the southern missions. Vallejo, Doc., MS., ix. 225.

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History of California, Volume IV, Part 7

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 820

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 820