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98

ECHEANDÍA AND THE PADRES.

tongue. Generally the prevalent rumors of treason could be traced to nothing reliable.^[1]

Of all the padres, Martinez of San Luis Obispo was the most outspoken and independent in political matters, besides being well known for his smuggling propensities. Echeandía deemed his absence desirable for the quiet of the territory, and had issued a passport which had not been used. It was thought best on general principles to make an example; it was particularly desirable to give a political significance to the Solis revolt, and Padre Martinez was banished on a charge of complicity in that revolt in the interest of Spain. The evidence against him was not very strong;^[2] but there was little risk, since as a Spaniard the accused night at any time be legally exiled. He was arrested early in February 1830, and confined in a room of the comandancia at Santa Bárbara. In his testimony he denied all the allegations against him, except that of giving food to the soldiers, as others had also done and as it was customary for the missionaries to do, whoever their guests might be. He claimed to have tried to dissuade Solis from his foolish scheme of raising the Spanish flag. In a long and eloquent communication addressed to Echeandía,

↑ Sept. 9, 1829, gov. to comandantes. Has heard that some padre burns daily two tapers before a portrait of Fernando VII.; and that another predicts from his pulpit the coming of the Spanish king. Find out secretly who do these things, and forward the result. St. Pap., Sac., MS., x. 25, 48; Dept. Rec., MS., vii. 44. The guilty parties were not found.
↑ The evidence, some of the items resting on the statement of a single soldier, was, so far as it is on record, as follows: That he had freely supplied the rebels with food, had been very intimate with Solis and his leaders at San Luis, had shown anger at certain soldiers when they said 'viva la república,' had spoken mysteriously of his 'amo Francisquito,' in Spain or Mexico, had shown a paper with 'viva Fernando VII.' written on it, had derided independence and liberty, and had lodged Alf. Fernandez del Campo in a room which bore the inscription 'V. F. 7' on the ceiling. Solis, Proceso, etc., MS.; Fernandez to Echeandía in St. Pap., Sac., MS., X. 26-7. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 93-105, tells us that there were documents proving conclusively that Martinez was plotting against the republic and carrying on a secret correspondence with the rebels in Mexico; but nothing of this kind was shown in the recorded evidence, and the same may be said of a letter of encouragement from Martinez found on the person of Solis at his capture, mentioned by Alvarado. Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 155.

[1] Sept. 9, 1829, gov. to comandantes. Has heard that some padre burns daily two tapers before a portrait of Fernando VII.; and that another predicts from his pulpit the coming of the Spanish king. Find out secretly who do these things, and forward the result. St. Pap., Sac., MS., x. 25, 48; Dept. Rec., MS., vii. 44. The guilty parties were not found.

[2] The evidence, some of the items resting on the statement of a single soldier, was, so far as it is on record, as follows: That he had freely supplied the rebels with food, had been very intimate with Solis and his leaders at San Luis, had shown anger at certain soldiers when they said 'viva la república,' had spoken mysteriously of his 'amo Francisquito,' in Spain or Mexico, had shown a paper with 'viva Fernando VII.' written on it, had derided independence and liberty, and had lodged Alf. Fernandez del Campo in a room which bore the inscription 'V. F. 7' on the ceiling. Solis, Proceso, etc., MS.; Fernandez to Echeandía in St. Pap., Sac., MS., X. 26-7. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 93-105, tells us that there were documents proving conclusively that Martinez was plotting against the republic and carrying on a secret correspondence with the rebels in Mexico; but nothing of this kind was shown in the recorded evidence, and the same may be said of a letter of encouragement from Martinez found on the person of Solis at his capture, mentioned by Alvarado. Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 155.

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