and searched by Alcalde Carrillo of Los Angeles, on suspicion of complicity in smuggling. Sanchez was indignant at what he deemed an insult, and demanded his passport; but Echeandía, by declaring the suspicions unfounded, and by conciliatory methods, succeeded in calming the worthy president's wrath.[1]
The law of 1827 on the expulsion of Spaniards from Mexican territory,[2] reaching California in 1828, had no other effect on the status of the missionaries than to give them another safe opportunity to demand their passports, as many of them did, some perhaps really desiring to depart. There was no disposition to enforce the decree, for reasons known to the reader.[3] Meanwhile the Spanish friars had been actually expelled from Mexico, and a most disheartening report came respecting the state of affairs at the college of San Fernando.[4]
There would seem to have been some complaint against Echeandía for not having enforced the law of 1827, for in June 1829, apparently before the arrival of the law of March 20th, he sent to Mexico a list of
- ↑ June 3, 1828, Lawlor to Sanchez. Arch. Arzob., MS., v. pt i. 63-4. June 8th, Sanchez to E. Id., 65-6. Aug. 21st, 29th, E. to S. and to the alcalde. Dept. Rec., MS., vi. 84-5, 90.
- ↑ See chap. ii. of this volume.
- ↑ Oct. 20, 1828, Echeandía to min. of war. The padres are violent at the law for their expulsion, and are clamoring for passports and complaining of detention by force. St. Pap., Sac., MS., x. 39-40. Dec. 6th, E. says that most of the 27 padres have agreed long before the date of the law to take the oath as was reported to Mexico on Dec. 6, 1826. (This report is not extant, but it is certainly not true that most had made such a promise.) If passports were issued as several have asked, the missions would be left without government and the territory without spiritual care. Dept. Rec., MS., vi. 50. Duhaut-Cilly says he offered to carry the padres over to Manila; but he got a letter from Sarría, in which he said he was resolved not to abandon the flock intrusted to him by heaven until forced to do so, and he advised his companions to the same effect. The same writer notes the arrival of 3 Franciscans – they could not have been from California – at the Sandwich Islands on the French ship Comète. Viaggio, ii. 200-1, 219-20.
- ↑ March 26, 1828, P. Arreguin to Sarría. It had been at first proposed to dissolve the college; but finally the guardian and discretorio had decided to choose a vicario de casa, and had chosen the writer. He asks for Sarría's views about the policy of keeping up the college, where there were now Arreguin and 3 other priests, 2 sick Spaniards unable to depart, and 6 or 10 servants of different grades. Arch. Sta B., MS., ix. 90-4.
