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AN INTERREGNUM — ECHEANDÍA AND ZAMORANO.
opposed it with all his might.[1] The choice finally fell on Brevet Brigadier-general José Figueroa, an able and prominent man in Mexican affairs since 1820, comandante general of Sonora and Sinaloa for five or six years, and by reason of that position, more or less acquainted with Californian affairs. Politically he was not in sympathy with Bustamante's administration, having been a supporter and intimate personal friend of Guerrero; and it is believed that his appointment was a measure dictated less by a consideration of his interests or those of California than by a desire to get rid of a troublesome foe.[2]
- ↑ Carrillo, Cartas, MS., 235-6. He says that Mexico was swarming with claimants for command in the distant territories, impecunious nobodies at the national capital, but ready to put on the airs of viceroys in Cal. Id., p. 241-5.
- ↑ The first mention I find of Figueroa in contemporary records is in a private letter of Iturbide to Guerrero, dated Jan. 10, 1821, in which he urges the patriot chieftain to put himself on the side of Spain, and asks him to send a man of his entire confidence to treat with him on the subject, naming Figueroa among several other 'individuos mas adictos á Vd.' Mexico, Cartas de Iturbide y Guerrero, p. 2. Antonio Ruiz de la Mota, one of Guerrero's men in the war of independence, a man to whom F. rendered many favors in Cal., said that F. as Guerrero's secretary took a prominent part in the negotiations by which the two leaders were united and success insured; though at one time Guerrero suspected his friend of treachery and proposed to have him shot. Torre, Remin., MS., 51-3. In 1824 F. was appointed comandante general of Sonora, and specially commissioned to organize an expedition at Arizpe to explore and secure the regions obstructed by savages; to inspect the mines, especially the famous 'planchas de plata;' and to facilitate communication by land with Cal. In pursuance of these instructions, he marched in person to the junction of the Colorado and Gila in 1825; but had to go back in haste to put down the great Yaqui revolt, which lasted several years. Retes, Portentosas Riquezas Minerales. His efforts to open communication between Son. and Cal. are mentioned in the account I have given of Romero's expedition of 1823-6 in chap. xxii. vol. ii.; and several of his letters are included in Romero, Documentos, MS, Elsewhere in my work in connection with the annals of Sonora I have said something respecting this part of Figueroa's career; for particular allusions to him, see Pinart, Col. Doc. Son., MS., nos. 43, 52-3; print, nos. 107, 110, 180-2; Sonora, Actas del Primer Congreso Constitucional i. 74-5; Figueroa, Observaciones de un Ciuadadano, MS., 1-7; Opinion Pública de Occidente, July 30, 1829. On Sept. 5, 1828, the name of Alzar was officially changed to Villa de Figueroa, and the general was formally declared a citizen of Sonora. Though of unquestioned bravery, he earned the cognomen of 'El Pacífico y Calmoso;' always used his influence against local revolutions; and was sometimes blamed for his indulgence to conquered Indian foes. He left Sonora in 1829, starting for the eastern coast to aid in repelling Spanish invasion, but not arriving apparently in time for that service. On Dec. 20, 1829, he issued at Durango a proclamation calling upon the people to follow him in support of Guerrero and the federal government against the rebels of Campeche and Jalapa. Atleta, Jan. 7, 1830, p. 75. In March 1830 he was arrested with several others by orders of Gen. Bachiller in Mexico on charge of conspiracy, Id., Mar. 23, Apr. 2, 23, 1833, p. 383, 416, 597; but as he was too popular a man to be shot and too dangerous to be allowed to remain in Mex-
