José María Padrés in supposed furtherance of his own interests or radical theories, and those of a few friends. I have already had something to say of this golpe de estado.[1] Had it been accomplished some months earlier, there might have been a plausible hope on the part of Padrés and his party for success; but now when Victoria was already in California, it was a most absurd and aimless scheme, unless indeed it was intended to have the effect it did have; that is, to drive Victoria to the commission of arbitrary acts and thus lay the foundation for a revolution. The results politically have been related.
The decree of January 6, 1831, was for the most part in accordance with the plan of 1830. From the original in my possession I form the appended résumé.[2] San Carlos and San Gabriel were to be organ-
- ↑ See chap. vii., this vol. The views of Padrés in this connection, already well known to the reader, are given at some length in Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 155-64; Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 254-62; Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 160-1; Guerra, in Carrillo (J.), Doc., MS., 31-2; Robinson's Life in Cal., 97; Figueroa, Manifiesto, 2-3.
- ↑
6 Echeandía, Decreto de Secularizacion de Misiones, 6 de Enero, 1831, MS. Also in Dept. Rec., MS., ix. 65-77; Arch. Sta B., MS., ix. 435-70. The document is signed at Monterey on Jan. 6th, by E. and, in the secretary's absence, by José María Padrés.
Preamble. — Whereas, 1. All Mexicans enjoy the rights granted by the organic law except the mission Indians; 2. The law of Sept. 13, 1813, expressly provides that the missions be formed into towns; 3. Grave evils will result from the continued granting of licenses as heretofore; 4. The dip. — being convinced that the neophytes live in a state of discontent, that most of the friars have declared themselves opposed to independence and the national govt, and that the decay of the missions must follow — decreed in August last in accord with my propositions the manner of distributing lands and property; therefore I have deemed it proper to decree for the present as follows: 1. S. Gabriel and S. Cárlos are to be organized as towns, the latter retaining the name of Carmelo. 2. At S. Gabriel 4 comisarios to be elected, dependent on the ayunt. of Los Angeles until the population be determined, and to be elected under the direction of a trustworthy person selected by that ayunt. 3. Same at S. Cárlos, dependent on ayunt. of Monterey. Elections to take place on 3d and 4th Sundays of Jan.; officers to enter upon the discharge of their duties on Feb. 1st. 4. The ranchos of each mission to continue subject to it, and to have a sub-comisario if the number of inhabitants be considerable. 5, 6. Identical with art. 5, 6, of the plan of 1830. 7. All inhab. of the two missions 25 years old, or 18 years if married, are entitled to grants of land in fee simple; but the lands cannot be subjected to entail or mortmain. 8, 9, 10. Correspond with 8, 7, 12, of the plan. 11. Unmarried neophytes of 25 years or more to have only half the house lot granted by art. 6; and to have a smaller share of live-stock, tools, etc., than the others. 12-17. Correspond in substance to art. 10, 14, 11-13, 16, 17, 18, of the plan. 18. An administrator is to be appointed for each town; and for this purpose
