like other Mexican citizens, their names being erased from the mission registers. The cases of absentees were to be investigated by the comandantes at once, and those not entitled to the license were to be restored to their respective missions. At the same time the padres were to be restricted in the matter of punishments to the 'mere correction' allowed to natural fathers in the case of their children; unmarried males of minor age only could be flogged, with a limit of fifteen blows per week; and faults requiring more severe penalties must be referred to the military authorities.[1] The provisions of this order applied only to the districts of San Diego, Santa Bárbara, and Monterey; though in 1828 it was extended to that of San Francisco, excepting the frontier missions of San Rafael and San Francisco Solano.[2]
This order of 1826 was the only secularization measure which Echeandía attempted to put in actual operation before the end of 1830. It does not appear that the missionaries made any special opposition, and the reasons of their concurrence are obvious. First, very few neophytes could comply with the conditions, especially that requiring visible means of support. Second, the decree required fugitives not entitled to license to be returned to their missions by the military, a duty that of late years had been much neglected. And third, and chiefly, experimental or partial secularization was deemed by the friars to be in their own interest, since they had no fears that the neophytes would prove themselves capable of self-
- ↑ July 25, 1826, Echeandía, Decreto de Emancipacion á favor de Neófitos, 1826, MS. Received at S. Rafael Aug. 23d. Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 297. Forwarded by Lieut Estudillo to padre of S. Antonio. Arch. Arzob., MS., v. pt ii. 114-17. Sergt Anastasio Carrillo sent by Capt. Guerra to proclaim the new order in the missions of the Sta Bárbara district, as he did at S. Fernando on Sept. 26th and at S. Buenaventura on Sept. 29th. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 789-92. Here the Indian was authorized, should the cabo de escolta and padre refuse to act in presenting his application for license, to leave the mission without permission and apply in person to the comandante. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 22, quotes the order of July 25th.
- ↑ June 20, 1828, gov. to comandantes and prefect. Dept. Rec., MS., vi, 57.
