must be noticed that Figueroa had reported in favor of expelling Padres Duran and Sarría from the territory. Their conduct in private and religious matters was praiseworthy; but politically they were opposed to the national interests, and they had not scrupled to use their official position, influence, and wealth to spread their opinions, opposing the distribution of lands, freedom of the press, and popular sovereignty, and desiring the reëstablishment of the inquisition.[1]
Figueroa's advice, whatever might otherwise have been its effect, came too late. The national congress, without waiting for the governor's report, and largely through the influence of the Híjar and Padrés party, as we have seen, had not only discussed a bill for secularization, but had passed it on the 17th of August.[2] This law simply provided that the missions
- ↑ Aug. 17, 1833, F. to sup. govt, in answer to an order referring to him Echeandía's complaints against the friars and Victoria's defense of their conduct. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 139-40.
- ↑ Decreto del Congreso Mejicano secularizando los Misiones, 17 de Agosto de 1833. In Arrillaga, Recopilacion, 1833, p. 19-21; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., ii. 548, iii. 96; Vallejo, Doc., MS., ii. 165; Halleck's Report, 125, 148-9; Dwinelle's Colon. Hist., add., 26-7; Jones' Report, 59; I. Rockwell, 455; Wheeler's Land Titles, 9-10; Bandini, Doc., MS., 36; Hayes' Mission Book, i. 218; Lassepas, Baja Cal., 206-7; Muhlenpfordt, Mejico, ii. 450. Art. 1. The govt will proceed to secularize the missions of Upper and Lower California. 2. In each mission shall be established a parish under a priest of the secular clergy, with a salary of from $2,000 to $2,500, as the govt may determine. 3. These curates can collect no fee for marriages, baptisms, burials, or any other service. As to fees of pomp, they may receive such as may be expressly allowed in the tariff to be formed with the least possible delay for that purpose by the bishop of the diocese and approved by the sup. govt. 4. To the parishes are given the churches of each mission, with the sacred vessels, vestments, and other appurtenances now possessed by each; and also such rooms adjoining the church as in the judgment of the govt may be deemed necessary for the most fitting service of the parish. 5. For each parish the govt will provide a burial-ground outside the settlement. 6. $500 per year are assigned as an endowment for public worship and for servitors in each parish. 7. Of the buildings belonging to each mission, there shall be assigned the most appropriate as a dwelling for the curate, with land not exceeding 200 varas square; and the other buildings shall be used as an ayuntamiento-house, primary schools, public establishments, and work-shops. 8. In order to provide promptly and effectually for the spiritual needs of the Californias, there is to be established a vicar-generalship at the capital of Alta Cal., with jurisdiction over both territories; and the diocesan will confer the corresponding powers, as complete as possible. 9. As an endowment of this vicarship $3,000 are assigned, from which all expenses of the office must be paid, no fees being allowed on any pretext. 10. If for any reason the curate of the capital or of any other parish shall hold the vicarship, he will receive $1,500 in addition to his allowance as curate. 11. No custom can be introduced oblig-
