substituted another more adapted to the interests of the territory, the influence of the missionaries may be lessened until they retain only the spiritual administration, and thus in fact the missions may be secularized. Yet for all this, it is necessary to act with prudence and tact, so as to cause no discontent among the missionaries, with whom care is to be taken to preserve the greatest harmony; and to that end are enclosed private letters written by the vice-president to some of the most influential friars."[1]
Before Figueroa's arrival in the middle of January 1833, I find no record that Echeandía had taken any steps to carry into effect his regulations beyond the appointment of comisionados;[2] but on January 29th, possibly before he knew of Figueroa's arrival, he issued a new regulation for officers of justice and police in the missions of San Diego district. The order dealt chiefly with the penalties for various minor offences and the routine duties of the local officers who were to inflict them. It was probably never enforced, and requires only a mention, with the remark that it was intended to relieve the Indians from arbitrary and excessive punishments.[3] Echeandía informed Figueroa that he had been about to commence the distribution of lands at San Diego, but had suspended operations on hearing of the new governor's arrival. In the same communication he denounced the policy and acts of the friars, and urged Figueroa to adopt
- ↑ Figueroa, Instrucciones Generales, MS., p. 33-4. In art. 5, Indian youths are required to be selected and sent to Mexico for education, with a view to make ministers of them later.
- ↑ These were Capt. Portilla at S. Luis Rey, Alf. Ramirez at S. Diego, Alf. Rocha at S. Juan Capistrano, and Alf. Valle at S. Gabriel. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 87, 89. Feb. 10th, the comandante of S. Luis calls for reënforcements to check disorders among the Indians arising from the distribution of lands. Id., Ben. Pref. y Juzg., v. 76.
- ↑ Echeandía, Reglamento para los encargados de justicia y policía en las misiones del departamento de S. Diego, 1833, MS. An annexed note says: 'This regulation was ordered to be observed to restrain the arbitrary way in which missionaries, majordomos, and corporals of escolta caused the neophytes to be flogged, imprisoned, and outraged in other ways for any fault in the community labors or in other precepts which they were tyranically forced to observe. Echeandía.'
