this plan in California, trusting rather to efforts in Mexico, and especially to the change in national administration, which was to furnish for the territory a new governor and a new policy.
There had been no avowed intention on the part of governor or diputacion to carry into practical effect the provisions of the plan without the consent of the superior authorities, and in forming the plan Echeandía had but obeyed after long delay his instructions from Mexico. It became, however, more and more probable as the months passed by that a new governor would arrive in advance of the desired ratification; hence a strong temptation to act without that ratification.[1] In a letter written in 1833 Echeandía defended his action substantially as follows. "At the beginning of 1831 I found myself," by reason of improved organization of territorial and municipal government, the aid of an asesor and ayudante inspector, the separation of Baja California, and other favorable circumstances, "in a condition to attend to mission reforms. Knowing that Guadalupan missionaries were coming, and that it was as important to prevent their succession to the temporal administration as to secure their succession to the spiritual; considering that on account of continual wars in Mexico my plans could not have received attention, and had perhaps been lost on the way; having the presidial companies
- ↑ The plan was favorably reported to congress by the minister. Mexico, Mem. Relaciones, 1831, p. 33; Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., vii. 1; and it was only Echeandía's later action that was disapproved.
institutions of asylum, correction, and instruction, deemed necessary. 19. The curates will continue to receive, as the missionaries do now, $400 from the pious fund; which will be increased to $700, $800, $900, or $1,000, according to the size of the pueblo, from the product of the funds in charge of the administrator. If these funds be insufficient, the sum may be made up by a pro-rata tax on the funds of other pueblos; or in extreme cases by a contribution in the interested pueblo. 20. The ter. govt, with approval of the gen. govt, will provide in detail for whatever may seem best for the progress and well-being of each pueblo, acting provisionally as circumstances may demand. 21. The missionaries may remain in charge of the spiritual administration, receiving the allowance of art. 19; or they may go to form new missions in the ranchos not to be converted into pueblos, or at any other points in the interior. Leg. Rec., MS., i. 134-58; Guerra, Doc., MS., i. 5-14; Dept. Rec., MS., viii. 79.
