USA > California > Misrepresentations of early California history corrected > Part 3
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).
This indictment -- if we may so term it-is divided into seven counts, each one of which is made up of a group of specific charges, each of which charges your Committee proceeded to carefully and patiently investigate by reference to, and com- parison with, the several volumes of "Bancroft's Histories," at the several pages therein specifically referred to. As the
30
result of such investigation and comparison, your Committee find as follows:
First-The charges, set forth in the first count of said " indictment," touching Mr. Bancroft's treatment of the names of Fremont, Stockton, Sutter and the men of the " Bear Flag Party," and which are covered by the preamble and resolutions introduced by Mr. Farwell and adopted by the Society, as hereinbefore set forth, your Committee find, are fully sustained.
Second-The charges, grouped in the second count of the indictment, and which consist of instances of unjust and cruel attacks upon the names and memories of early Pioneers, who were among the originators and early members of this Society, and none of whom are now living, your Committee also find, fully sustained.
Third-The charges, of misrepresentation of the facts of history and of maligning the memories of those Americans and others who were unjustly arrested and expatriated to Mexico in 1840, under circumstances of extreme cruelty and injustice, and of abuse and vilification of T. J. Farnham who was an eye witness of the affair, and who wrote an account of the same in his book, (published in 1852) entitled "Life, Adventures and Travels in California,"your Committee find are fully sustained, and comprise in themselves an act unworthy of any fair-minded historian, and abhorrent to every unprejudiced and patriotic American citizen.
Fourth-The extraordinary charge, of having in his. first edition of Volume 2, of the "History of Oregon, " published an account of a trial of certain Cayuse Indian murderers, held many years ago before a judge who was then, and up to the time of his death remained a member in good standing of this Society, in which the said judge was made the subject of attack in terms, which, if they had been true, would have con- signed his name and memory to lasting infamy; and of striking all this out and publishing in the second edition of the same
IBR_ Of THE RY
31
volume, an exactly opposite statement of eulogy and praise, as shown in the fourth count of said indictment, your Committee not only find fully sustained, but regard it as a shameful act, sufficient in itself to render the works of any so-called " histo- rian " unworthy of credence.
Fifth-The apparently malignant, and certainly cruel and unjust, attack upon the name and memory of General Grant, who, while living, was an honored, as well as an " Honorary Member " of this Society, as set forth in the fifth count of this indictment, your Committee find fully sustained, and cannot refrain from expressing the opinion, that to retain the name of General Grant in its list of "Honorary Members, " together with that of his maligner, Hubert Howe Bancroft, would be an act of inconsistency unworthy of the name and fame of the "Society of California Pioneers."
Sixth-The group of charges comprised in the sixth count of this indictment, wherein contradictory statements, in regard to early Pioneers, appear in the different editions of the same volumes, and the pusillanimous treatment of the late Judge Terry's conflict with the " Vigilance Committee " of 1856, as related and exposed, we find fully sustained.
Seventh-The closing, or seventh count of this already more than severe indictment, wherein it is shown that Mr. Bancroft's methods of writing history are, to assert certain conclusions of his own, in regard to the men and events of the period of which he has written and to denounce all who differ with him as "liars," no matter what part they may have played in these events, how much better may have been their opportunities of knowing the true facts of history, how upright may have been their lives, or how unsullied their reputations while living, we find fully sustained.
Finally, the case, as presented against Mr. Bancroft, as a whole, constitutes, in the opinion of your Special Committee, valid reasons why the name of Hubert Howe Bancroft should
32
no longer be permitted to remain upon the roll of this Society as an " Honorary Member." The indifference, not to say the contempt, with which he has treated the Society, in not appearing before your Committee or making any reply to its communications, renders it unnecessary for us to give the matter any further consideration, than to report back the reso- lution and recommend its adoption.
We may be permitted to add, that, in vindication of the truth of early California history, and of the real facts relating to the conquest and acquisition of the country by the United States, as well as in vindication of the memories of the many early Pioneers who have been maligned and misrepresented in these so-called "Bancroft's Histories," your Committee recom- mend that the "Board of Directors " be requested to have all the proceedings heretofore had, as well as those which may be had, upon the subject matter here under consideration, com- piled and printed in proper form for general distribution among the Public Libraries of the United States and elsewhere, as may be deemed desirable and proper.
(Signed)
WILLIAM SIMPSON, R. THOMPSON, S. W. HOLLADAY, A. S. HALL.
Committee.
The following resolution was offered by Dr. Wm. Simpson in regard to the Bear Flag Revolt :
Resolved, That since Bancroft in his " History of California," while dealing with the Bear Flag Revolt, has misrepresented the purposes and aims of that uprising, mistaken the condi- tions which brought it about, and has made it the opportunity of many severe attacks upon pioneer characters, we therefore offer the following brief review of that episode, in the interest of truth, and in justice to the memories of the men engaged in it.
·
33
It will be found that at the time of this event, there were about 1000 Americans (in a population, including Indians, of 16,000) residing in California, every one of whom had enjoyed the blessings and advantages of our system of government, and who hoped and expected at some future time to see our flag waving over the territory upon which their new homes were built. This wish was intensified by the unhappy condi- tion of things surrrounding them, and which were gradually growing worse, as their numbers increased, by the aroused jealousy and suspicion of the Mexican and California officials. It was not only the weakness and instability of the government to which they were obliged to submit, or the insecurity of property, and discouragements to industry which the Mexican system imposed, that caused the few Americans living here at that time to wish ardently for a change. A greater and far more serious interruption in the ordinary pursuits of life was impending, and growing more threatening from day to day. Texas had recently been annexed against the remonstrance of Mexico. The mission of Mr. Slidel to that country had been without a peaceful result, and had only produced new animos- ity. A large American force had been ordered near the Mexican border, and by these signs, as well as others, the coming war was easily predicted. It required no more than ordinary intelligence to foresee, in the expected hostilities, the loss of California to Mexico, and its probable conquest by either the United States or England. A peaceful cession to the latter country had been discussed by the California authorities, and was growing more popular among the native Californians as the rumors of war increased, and as their animosities against the Americans became excited by the critical condition of their mother country. While it remains to this day a matter of conjecture how far England was willing to proceed in securing to herself this territory, its peaceful surrender to her by the California authorities was not likely to be refused, and the whole American colony was in suspense and excitement in dread of such an occurrence. Their fortunes were not only
34
dangerously involved in the outcome, but, during the period of expected hostilities between the United States and Mexico, 1 they could easily anticipate the great danger and distress awaiting them. American residents within the seaports and vicinities were assured of protection by their country's war- ships, of which a number were already on the coast, but those of the interior had no other treatment to expect, in the event of war, than the well known Mexican methods of retaliation and punishment, and among these one quite likely to . be invoked, and actually attempted later on, was the setting upon them of the Indians, who had not yet lost their sense of obedience to the California officials, so lately holding them in authority by the influence of the Missions. The necessity of an organization among the Americans living in the interior was apparent, and while [considering! it an event occurred, which greatly aggravated the situation, and led to an imme- diate coming together of a number of settlers, not for defense only, but with the further purpose of assisting to secure the territory to the United States. The event spoken of was the accidental arrival within the borders of California, of Fremont with his band of explorers. Fremont's difficulty with Castro, the details of which are too well known to require mention here, aroused that Mexican military commander to immediately . issue proclamations of a warlike character, and to begin the organization of a military force.
There were a number of threatening rumors afloat besides, which, even admitting the extravagance of some of them, we know to have been generally believed. Bancroft himself furnishes evidence of this in the publication of the testimony, in a foot note, of no less than seventeen persons living at thé time. These witnesses, among whom are a committee of citi- zens, in a report published in 1847-W. B. Ide, H. L. Ford, Wm. Hargrave, Benj. Dowell, Marshal, Semple, Hensley, Owens, Loker, Sutter and Fremont-all of whom agreed and believed that the Mexican government had determined upon
.35
the expulsion of the Americans from the country, and that Castro was inciting the Indians against them, and threatening to burn their crops, and that they would have to leave the country or fight for their homes. Although this strong array of evidence was set forth by Bancroft for the purpose of dis- proval, and, as we believe, to lay the foundation of a bitter attack upon a famous Pioneer, its impeachment, under his examination, can have no effect whatever to impugn the motives of the settlers in organizing the "Bear Flag Revolt," since it cannot be denied they believed the rumors and were sincerely acting under the impressions they created.
The Bear insurrection was essentially a movement of defense, The grand possibilities of the country under a better adminis- tration, which time has so fully verified, were apparent to its movers, and furnished an additional motive to assist, either by direct or remote methods, to bring the territory under the dominion of the United States. The threatened misfortune of being placed under English, instead of Americen rule, had its effect also to promote and excuse that severity and promptness of action, so necessary to success in such an undertaking.
In the condemnation of the " Bear Flag Revolt, " Bancroft lays great stress on what he terms its embarassment to a peace- ful conquest of the country. Some later events ought to have proved to his mind that a ready submission, by the mere raising of American flags in the seaports, was not likely to have taken place. Whoever has reckoned on such a result, has made too low an estimate of the patriotism and bravery of the people with whom we had to deal. It is reasonable to conclude that their early submission was as much due to Fremont's ever-ready opposing force at hand, interrupting the progress of their concentration and unity of action, as it was to any measured hopelessness of their situation. We have a taste of what may have occurred, in the bloody engagements of San Pasquale, Natividad and elsewhere. An invitation of departure to the Americans must have come in due time under
36
the usages of war, and by an early successful skirmish or two, unopposed by a thoroughly organized American force, arousing thus the hopes of the natives, and stimulating their patriotism to the bitter extremity perhaps of enlisting the Indians in their behalf; the comparatively small amount of bloodshed, of which Bancroft makes such virtuous complaint, would have been but as a drop in the bucket compared with that likely to have been spilt.
The intermediary stage of independence proposed by the " Bear Revolt " was a forced extremity, owing to the position, and suggested by the then recent example of Texas. At the time of its organization, there was no way at hand to place it under the authority of the United States, and no military offi- cer within a thousand miles to muster it into service. Its proclamation of independence cuts but a small figure in its history, because of the willing abandonment of its flag, and the substitution of the " Stars and Stripes " within less than a month of its independent organization. Its ready mergence into the California Battalion, under the flag of the United States, and the heartfelt and genuine enthusiasm expressed by its members on the raising of the American flags at San Francisco, Monterey, Los Angeles and elsewhere, leaves no doubt of their loyalty and patriotism. Their individual careers, down to the present time, exhibit more than an average of usefulness and prominence in society.
We are therefore of the opinion that Bancroft has neither fairly nor truthfully set forth the motives and character of the " Bear Flag Revolt," in his "History of California," and his allusion to it as the " criminal outbreak of vagabond settlers " is flagrantly and maliciously untrue.
(Signed) WILLIAM SIMPSON.
37
PIONEER HALL, San Francisco.
At the regular monthly meeting of the members of "The Society of California Pioneers," held at Pioneer Hall on Monday, February 5th, 1894,-there being eighty members present per register-the Special Committee appointed to investigate the charges made by Dr. Washington Ayer against Hubert Howe Bancroft, submitted their final report, which was read by the Secretary; and also the resolution offered by Dr. Wm. Simpson, in relation to the "Bear Flag Party."
The following action was then taken by the Society:
Dr. Wm. Simpson moved the adoption of the report of the Committee. On being duly seconded the question was called, and on being put to a vote the Chair declared it carried unanimously, and the report of the Committee adopted.
W. B. Farwell moved that the resolution offered by Dr. Washington Ayer, proposing that the name of Hubert Howe Bancroft be stricken from the roll of Honorary Membership in this Society, be formally adopted. On being duly seconded, the question was called, and on being put to a vote the Chair declared it carried unanimously, and that Hubert Howe Ban- croft was no longer an Honorary Member of this "The Society of California Pioneers."
Dr. Wm. Simpson, after the reading of his resolution, in relation to the "Bear Flag Party," moved its adoption. On being duly seconded the Chair declared it carried unanimously.
(Signed) C. V. S. GIBBS, President.
[SEAL.]
JOHN I. SPEAR, Secretary.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.