USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 12
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Captain Fremont, in company with Thomas O. Larkin, United States Consul, then called upon General Castro and stated the cause of his journey : he was in want of provisions, and requested that his party might pass unmo- lested through the country. The request was granted verbally, but when asked for the necessary passport in writing, the General excused himself on the plea of being ailing, but hinted that no further assurance was needed than his word. A visit of a like nature was then made to the Prefeet of the district, Don Manuel Castro, and the same statement made, which he too verbally declared all right. He then received funds and provisions from the Consul and made all haste to San José, where he was joined by his band, safely led from the San Joaquin by Kit Carson, but not finding here such stores as were needed by him he determined to retrace his steps to Monterey, and after some fifteen or twenty days, camped in the Santa Clara valley, on the rancho of Captain William Fisher, known as the Laguna Seco.
While here a Mexican made his appearance and laid claim to certain of his horses on the bold plea that they had been stolen ; now observe how from a little great things spring: On February 20th, Captain Fremont received a summons to appear before the Alcalde of San José, to answer to a charge of horse-stealing, an action which brought forth, the next day, the following communication from the gallant Captain :-
" CAMP NEAR ROAD TO SANTA CRUZ, February 21, 1846.
" Sir : I received your communication of the 20th, informing me that a complaint had been lodged against me in your office for refusing to deliver up certain animals of my band, which are claimed as having been stolen from this vicinity about two months since, and that the plaintiff further complains of having been insulted in my camp. It can be proven on oath by thirty men here present that the animals pointed out by the plaintiff have been brought in my band from the United States of North America. The insult of which he complains, and which was authorized by myself, consisted in his being driven or ordered to immediately leave the camp. After having been detected in endeavoring to obtain animals under false pretenses, he should have been well satisfied to escape without a severe horsewhipping. There are four animals in my band which were bartered from the Tulare Indians by a division of my party which descended the San Joaquin valley. I was not then present, and if any more legal owners present themselves, these shall be immediately given or delivered upon proving property. It may save you trouble to inform you
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that, with this exception, all the animals in my band have been purchased and paid for. You will readily understand that my duties will not permit me to appear before the magistrates in your towns on the complaint of every straggling vagabond who may chance to visit my camp. You inform me that unless satisfaction be immediately made by the delivery of the animals in question, the complaint will be forwarded to the Governor. I beg you will at the same time inclose to his Excellency a copy of this note.
"I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant.
" J. C. FREMONT, U. S. Army. " To Sr. Don Dolores Pacheco, Alcalde of San José."
Hence the intrepid Pathfinder moved, by easy marches, in the direction of the Santa Cruz mountains, which he crossed about ten miles from San Jose, at the gap where the Los Gatos creek enters the plains; he then made his way towards the coast, and on March Ist, encamped on the rancho of Edward Petty Hartnell. While here he received, late in the afternoon of the 5th, at the hands of a Mexican officer protected by an armed escort, a dispatch from Don Manuel Castro, Prefect of the District, charging him (Fremont) with having entered the towns and villages under his (the Prefect's) jurisdic- tion, in contempt of the laws of the Mexican Government, and ordering him out of the country, else compulsory measures would be taken to compel him to do so. On the receipt of this Fremont did not display much hesi- tancy in arriving at a conclusion. That evening he struck his camp, and ascending " Hawks Peak," a rough looking mountain on the Salinas range, about thirty miles from Monterey, and two thousand feet above the sea level, commenced the construction of a rude fort, protected by felled trees, and stripping one of its branches nailed the "stars and stripes " to its highest point, full forty feet above their heads, and the morning of the 6th March found him awaiting further developments.
Let us now take a glance at the movements of the Mexican General. On the day that Fremont had fairly established himself on "Hawks Peak " Castro communicated the accompanying letter to the Minister of Marine in Mexico :--
" In my communication of the 5th ultimo, I announced to you the arrival of a Captain, at the head of fifty men, who came, as he said, by order of the Government of the United States, to survey the limits of Oregon. This person presented himself at my headquarters some days ago, accompanied by two individuals (Thos. O. Larkin, Consul, and Captain William A. Leidesdorff, Vice Consul), with the object of asking permission to procure provisions for his men that he had left in the mountains, which was given to him, but two days ago, March 4th, I was much surprised at being informed that this person was only two days' journey from this place (Monterey). In consequence, I immediately sent him a communication, ordering him, on the
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instant of its receipt, to put himself on the march and leave the Department, but I have not received an answer, and in order to make him obey, in case of resistance, I sent out a force to observe their operations, and to-day, the 6th, I march in person to join it and to see that the object is attained. The hurry with which I undertake my march does not permit me to be more diffuse, and I beg that you will inform his Excellency, the President, assuring him that not only shall the national integrity of this party be defended with the enthusiasm of good Mexicans, but those who attempt to violate it will find an impregnable barrier in the valor and patriotism of every one of the Californians. Receive the assurance of my respect, etc. God and Liberty."
We left Captain Fremont in his hastily constructed fort, every avenue to which was commanded by the trusty rifles of his men, calmly awaiting the speedy vengeance promised in the communication of the Prefect. To carry it out Don José had summoned a force of two hundred men to the field, strengthened by one or two cannon of small calibre, but nothing beyond a demonstration was attained. In the language of the late General Revere (then Lieutenant) "Don José was rather in the humor of that renowned King of France, who, with twenty thousand men, marched up the hill and then marched down again." Castro's next move was the concocting of an epistle to Fremont, desiring a cessation of hostilities, and making the propo- sition that they should join forces, declare the country independent, and with their allied armies march against Governor Pio Pico, at that time at Los Ange- les. To John Gilroy, an old Scotch settler, was intrusted the delivery of this exquisite piece of treachery. He reached " Hawks Peak " on the night of the 10th, but found the fort untenanted. Fremont had wearied, after three days' waiting for General Castro's attack, which, not being made, he struck his camp, threw away all useless articles that might impede a forced march, and the morning of the 11th found him in the valley of the San Joaquin. Gilroy, on his return, related his story of the camp-fires still alight, the discarded pack-saddles and no Fremont, which so elated the brave Castro that he at once resolved on attacking the fort, which he was the first to enter, after performing prodigies of valor, and sacking the inclosure, he sat down on one of Fremont's left-off pack-saddles, and penned a dispatch to Monterey, descriptive of the glorious victory he had gained, and that his return need not be looked for until his promise, long ago given, should be fulfilled.
And so matters for a time rested. The American settlers began to feel far from safe, and should the necessity for defense arise, no time should be lost in preparing for the emergency. Rumors were rife. The Governor, Pio Pico, looked upon them with deep hatred; their arrival and settlement was to him a source of poignant jealousy, while his feeling inclined him, in case the country should ever change hands, towards England rather than
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the United States. At a convention held at the San Juan Mission, to decide which one of the two nations, Great Britain or America, should guarantee protection to California against all others, for certain privileges and considerations, Governor Pico is reported to have spoken in these terms :-
" Excellent Sirs: To what a deplorable condition is our country reduced ! Mexico, professing to be our mother and our protectress, has given us neither arms nor money, nor the material of war for our defense. She is not likely to do anything in our behalf, although she is quite willing to afflict us with her extortionate minions, who come hither in the guise of soldiers and civil officers, to harass and oppress our people. We possess a glorious country, capable of attaining a physical and moral greatness corresponding with the grandeur and beauty which an Almighty hand has stamped on the face of our beloved California. But although nature has been prodigal, it cannot be denied that we are not in a position to avail ourselves of her bounty
"Our population is not large, and it is sparsely scattered over valley and mountain, covering an immense area of virgin soil, destitute of roads, and traversed with difficulty; hence it is hardly possible to collect an army of any considerable force. Our people are poor, as well as few, and cannot well govern themselves and maintain a decent show of sovereign power. Although we live in the midst of plenty, we lay up nothing; but, tilling the earth in an imperfect manner, all our time is required to provide subsistence for ourselves and our families. Thus circumstanced, we find ourselves sud- denly threatened by hordes of Yankee emigrants, who have already begun to flock into our country, and whose progress we cannot arrest. Already have the wagons of that perfidious people scaled the almost inaccessible summits of the Sierra Nevada, crossed the entire continent, and penetrated the fruitful valley of the Sacramento. What that astonishing people will next undertake I cannot say; but in whatever enterprise they embark they will be sure to prove successful. Already are these adventurous land-voyagers spreading themselves far and wide over a country which seems suited to their tastes. They are cultivating farms, establishing vineyards, erecting mills, sawing up lumber, building workshops, and doing a thousand other things which seem natural to them, but which Californians neglect or despise. What then are we to do? Shall we remain supine while these daring strangers are overrun- ning our fertile plains and gradually outnumbering and displacing us? Shall these incursions go on unchecked, until we shall become strangers in our own land ? We cannot successfully oppose them by our own unaided power; and the swelling tide of immigration renders the odds against us more formidable every day. We cannot stand alone against them, nor can we creditably maintain our independence even against Mexico; but there is something we can do which will elevate our country, strengthen her at all
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points, and yet enable us to preserve our identity and remain masters of our own soil. Perhaps what I am about to suggest may seem to some faint- hearted and dishonorable. But to me it does not seem so. It is the last hope of a feeble people, struggling against a tyrannical government which claims their submission at home, and threatened by bands of avaricious strangers from without, voluntarily to connect themselves with a power able and willing to defend and preserve them. It is the right and the duty of the weak to demand support from the strong, provided the demand be made upon terms just to both parties. I see no dishonor in this last refuge of the oppressed and powerless, and I boldly avow that such is the step that I would have California take. There are two great powers in Europe, which seem destined to divide between them the unappropriated countries of the world. They have large fleets and armies not unpracticed in the art of war. Is it not better to connect ourselves with one of those powerful nations, than to struggle on without hope, as we are doing now ? Is it not better that one of them should be invited to send a fleet and an army to defend and protect California, rather than that we should fall an easy prey to the lawless adventurers who are overrunning our beautiful country ? I pronounce for annexation to France or England, and the people of California will never regret having taken my advice. They will no longer be subjected to the trouble and grievous expense of governing them- selves; and their beef and their grain, which they produce in such abun- dance, would find a ready market among the new-comers. But I hear some one say: 'No monarchy!' But is not monarchy better than anarchy? Is not existence in some shape, better than annihilation? No monarch ! and what is there so terrible in a monarchy? Have not we all lived under a monarchy far more despotic than that of France or England, and were not our people happy under it? Have not the leading men among our agricul- turists been bred beneath the royal rule of Spain, and have they been hap- pier since the mock republic of Mexico has supplied its place? Nay, does not every man abhor the miserable abortion christened the republic of Mex- ico, and look back with regret to the golden days of the Spanish monarchy? Let us restore that glorious era. Then may our people go quietly to their ranchos, and live there, as of yore, leading a thoughtless and merry life, untroubled by politics or cares of State, sure of what is their own, and safe from the incursions of the Yankees, who would soon be forced to retreat into their own country."
It was a happy thing for California, and, as the sequel proved, for the views of the Government of the United States, a man was found at this juncture whose ideas were more enlightened and consonant with the times than those of the rulers of his country, both civil and military. Patriotism was half his soul; he therefore could not silently witness the land of his
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birth sold to any monarchy, however old; and he rightly judged that although foreign protection might postpone, it could not avert that assu mp- tion of power which was beginning to make itself felt. Possessed at the time of no political power, and having had few early advantages, still his position was so exalted, and his character so highly respected by both the foreign and native population, that he had been invited to participate in the deliberations of the Junta. This man was Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. Born in California, he commenced his career in the army as an ulferes, or ensign, and in this humble grade, he volunteered, at the suggestion of the Mexican Government, with a command of fifty soldiers, to establish a colony on the north side of the Bay of San Francisco for the protection of the fron- tier. He effectually subdued the hostile Indians inhabiting that then remote region, and laid the foundation of a reputation for integrity, judgment, and ability, unequalled by any of his countrymen. Although quite a young man, he had already filled the highest offices in the province, and had at this time retired to private life, near his estates in the vicinity of the town of Sonoma. He did not hesitate to oppose with all his strength the views advanced by Pico and Castro. He spoke nearly as follows :-
"I cannot, gentlemen, coincide in opinion with the military and civil func- tionaries who have advocated the cession of our country to France or Eng- land. It is most true, that to rely any longer upon Mexico to govern and defend us, would be idle and absurd. To this extent I fully agree with my distinguished colleagues. It is also true that we possess a noble country, every way calculated from position and resources to become great and pow- erful. For that very reason I would not have her a mere dependency upon a foreign monarchy, naturally alien, or at least indifferent, to our interests and our welfare. It is not to be denied that feeble nations have in former times thrown themselves upon the protection of their powerful neighbors. The Britons invoked the aid of the warlike Saxons, and fell an easy prey to their protectors, who seized their lands, and treated them like slaves. Long before that time, feeble and distracted provinces had appealed for aid to the all-conquering arms of imperial Rome; and they were at the same time pro- tected and subjugated by their grasping ally. Even could we tolerate the idea of dependence, ought we to go to distant Europe for a master? What pos- sible sympathy could exist between us and a nation separated from us by two vast oceans? But waiving this insuperable objection, how could we endure to come under the dominion of a monarchy ? For, although others speak lightly of a form of government, as a freeman, I cannot do so. We are republicans-badly governed and badly situated as we are-still, we are all, in sentiment, republicans. So far as we are governed at all, we at least profess to be self-governed. Who, then, that possesses true patriotism will consent to subject himself and his children to the caprices of a foreign
Gray
L, PARY
ATT IAX AND TIL @ T& FI AT VS.
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king and his official minions ? But it is asked, if we do not throw ourselves upon the protection of France or England, what shall we do? I do not come here to support the existing order of things, but I come prepared to propose instant and effective action to extricate our country from her present forlorn condition. My opinion is made up that we must persevere in throwing off the galling yoke of Mexico, and proclaim our independence of her forever. We have endured her official cormorants and her villainous soldiery until we can endure no longer. All will probably agree with me that we ought at once to rid ourselves of what may remain of Mexican domination. But some profess to doubt our ability to maintain our position. To my mind there comes no doubt. Look at Texas, and see how long she withstood the power of united Mexico. The resources of Texas were not to be compared with ours, and she was much nearer to her enemy than we are. Our position is so remote, either by land or sea, that we are in no danger from Mexican inva- sion. Why, then, should we hesitate still to assert our independence? We have indeed taken the first step, by electing our own Governor, but another remains to be taken. I will mention it plainly and distinctly-it is annex- ation to the United States. In contemplating this consummation of our destiny, I feel nothing but pleasure, and I ask you to share it. Discard old prejudices, disregard old customs, and prepare for the glorious change which awaits our country. Why should we shrink from incorporating ourselves with the happiest and freest nation in the world, destined soon to be the most wealthy and powerful? Why should we go abroad for protection when this great nation is our adjoining neighbor? When we join our fortunes to hers, we shall not become subjects, but fellow-citizens, possessing all the rights of the people of the United States, and choosing our own federal and local rulers. We shall have a stable government and just laws. California will grow strong and flourish, and her people will be prosperous, happy and free. Look not, therefore, with jealousy upon the hardy pioneers, who scale our mountains and cultivate our unoccupied plains; but rather welcome them as brothers, who come to share with us a common destiny."
Such was the substance of General Vallejo's observations; those who listened to him, however, were far behind in general knowledge and intelli- gence. His arguments failed to carry conviction to the greater number of his auditors, but the bold position taken by him was the cause of an imme- diate adjournment of the Junta, no result having been arrived at concerning the weighty affairs on which they had met to deliberate. On his retiring from the Junta he embo lied the views he had expressed in a letter to Don Pio Pico, and reiterated his refusal to participate in any action having for its end the adoption of any protection other than that of the United States. In this communication he also declared that he would never serve under any Government which was prepared to surrender California to an Euro-
S
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pean power; he then returned to his estates, there to await the issue of events.
In the meantime circumstances tended to keep General Castro moving. The Americans, finding themselves numerically too weak to contend against the bitter feelings engendered by such speeches as that of Pio Pico in the Junta and such actions as those of Castro against Fremont, but relying upon the certain accession to their strength which would arrive in the Spring with more emigrants, and a full conviction of their own courage and endur- ance, determined to declare California independent and free, and raise a flag of their own, which they did. The famous " Bear flag," was given to the breeze June 14, 1846, in Sonoma, on the pole where before had floated the Mexican standard, and after the capture of the town, with its commanding officer, General Vallejo, Lieutenant Colonel Victor Prudon, Captain Don Salvador Vallejo and Mr. Jacob P. Leese, an American, and brother-in-law to the General. The intelligence of the declaration and establishment of the California Republic spread like wild-fire; both parties labored arduously and incessantly for the conflict, and while the Bear Flag party guided their affairs from the citadel of Sonoma, General Castro established his head-quar- ters at the Santa Clara Mission, whence, June 17th, after learning of the success at Sonoma, he issued the following proclamations :-
" The citizen José Castro, Lieutenant-Colonel of cavalry in the Mexican army, and acting General Commander of the Department of California- Fellow-citizens: The contemptible policy of the agents of the United States of North America, in this Department, has induced a portion of adven- turers, who, regardless of the rights of men, have daringly commenced an invasion, possessing themselves of the town of Sonoma, taking by surprise all that place, the military commander of that border, Colonel Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, Lieutenant-Colonel Don Victor Prudon, Captain Sal- vador Vallejo and Mr. Jacob P. Leese. Fellow-countrymen: the defense. of our liberty, the true religion which our Fathers possessed, and our inde- pendence, call upon us to sacrifice ourselves rather than lose these inesti- mable blessings; banish from your hearts all petty resentments, turn you and behold yourselves, these families, these innocent little ones which have unfortunately fallen into the hands of our enemies, dragged from the bosoms of their fathers, who are prisoners among foreigners, and are call- ing upon us to succor them. There is still time for us to rise en masse, as irresistible as retributive. You need not doubt that Divine Provi- dence will direct us in the way to glory. You should not vacillate because of the smallness of the garrison of the general head-quarters, for he who will first sacrifice himself, will be your friend and fellow-citizen.
JOSÉ CASTRO.
" Head-quarters, Santa Clara, June 17, 1846."
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"Citizen Jose Castro Lieutenant-Colonel of artillery in the Mexican army, and acting General Commander of the Department-All foreigners residing among us, occupied with their business, may rest assured of the protection of all the authorities of the Department whilst they refrain entirely from all revolutionary movements. The General Commandancia under my charge will never proceed with vigor against any persons, neither will its authority result in mere words wanting proof to support it; declaration shall be taken, proofs executed, and the liberty and rights of the laborious, which are ever commendable, shall be protected. Let the fortune of war take its chance with those ungrateful men, who, with arms in their hands, have attacked the country, without recollecting they were treated by the undersigned with all the indulgence of which he is so characteristic. The inhabitants of the Department are witnesses to the truth of this. I have nothing to fear, my duty leads me to death or to victory. I am a Mexican soldier, and I will be free and independent, or I will gladly die for these inestimable blessings.
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