body desired him to come to Los Angeles. Each declined to yield, and the controversy may have been more bitter than is indicated in the records. At last, after waiting fifteen days, it was decided that the presence of the gefe provisional could be dispensed with, and on the 27th the oath of office was taken by Pico. Echeandía made no open opposition, but neglected to proclaim the change; and later, when the ayuntamiento of Los Angeles, doubtless at his instigation, refused on February 12th to recognize any gefe but Echeandía, the latter openly declared Pico incompetent, his election illegal, and the action of the diputacion a wrong to himself. Rather than resort to force, however, he proposed on the 16th to surrender the gefatura, holding the diputacion responsible for all disorders that might ensue. Echeandía's course can hardly be regarded otherwise than as contemptible and treacherous. Led by motives of personal ambition and personal resentment, he made use of his military power against the cause he had pretended to support. He may have been technically right in declaring the action of the diputacion illegal; for it is doubtful if in a frontier territory like California the civil and military power could be even temporarily separated by the people, but he knew this perfectly when he signed the plan, which was the only law under which the revolutionists could pretend to act.
Pico and his associates acted in a moderate and dignified manner at this juncture. The former de-
ment, also in Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 42-3. Feb. 17th, Vallejo and Argüello presented their expediente against Victoria, a long presentment of all the charges, with copies of many documents on the subject, all of which has been utilized in the preceding chapter. Some slight routine business was transacted, and then the dip. adjourned for the reasons stated in the session of Feb. 16th. (p. 209-11, 298-350.) On this subject I may note here that on Feb. 6th, E. had sent to Mexico a full statement of the charges against Victoria and the causes of the revolt. Alaman, Sucesos de Cal. en 1831, MS., p. 23-9. Feb. 24th, at S. Diego the members of the dip., in forwarding to Mexico the expediente above alluded to, prefaced that document with a long statement of their late sessions at Los Angeles, of their efforts in behalf of their country, and of Echeandía's unexpected opposition and ambitious schemes to retain his political power. Their case as presented was a very strong one. (p. 233-18.) Leg. Rec., MS., i. 173-355.
