the old system.[1] On account of Victoria's arrival the matter went no further than the election of comisarios; nor is there any record that it went so far in the districts of San José and San Francisco.
For the rest of 1831, during the exciting epoch of the revolt against Victoria, there is little to be said of mission history, and the project of secularization was at a stand-still. There is a notable absence in the archives of missionary correspondence for the year; and the padres have thus evaded — whether to any extent voluntarily or through accidental loss of papers I am not quite sure — a definite record of their attitude in the quarrel that distracted the territory; though there can be no doubt that their sympathies were strongly in Victoria's favor. The bishop replied in March, by stating briefly that he had no curates at his disposal, and by requesting information upon all that concerned the welfare of California.[2] It would seem that even Victoria had some instructions not altogether opposed to secularization, for in August President Duran issued a circular, in which he asked of the padres, apparently by the governor's order, their opinions of a scheme for emancipating the neophytes and distributing the estates on a basis including the maintenance of religious service, the support of the padres, and the retention of community property
- ↑ Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 3-5; Dept. Rec., MS., ix. 85. The Indians said they respected the government and the decree, but by reason of their poverty and ignorance they desired no change. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 6-7, narrates his efforts at S. Miguel, where from a cart in the mission courtyard he vividly pictured the advantages of freedom to the Indians; then requested those who wished to remain under the padre to stand on the left and those preferring freedom on the right. Nearly all went to the left at first, where they were soon joined by the small minority who had not the courage of their convictions. Alvarado says the Indians of S. Luis and S. Antonio expressed the same views. Jan. 21st, E. to alcalde of Monterey. The election of comisarios at S. Cárlos was illegal and void; and a new one must be held. Dept. Rec., MS., ix. 84. Jan. 25th, alcalde of Monterey to Sebastian Rodriguez. Will introduce the new system (at Sta Cruz) after Feb. 1st. Monterey, Arch., MS., xvi. 9.
- ↑ March 22, 1831, bishop at Fuerte to gov. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 58. Echeandía interpreted this as an acceptance of the change, but says that later, when he heard of Victoria's acts, the bishop began to throw obstacles in the way. Id., ii. 53.
