suggested it first himself, but in August, after reflection, changed his opinion, basing his opposition on the governor's lack of authority to make such an innovation on the Mexican laws against the foundation of any obras piadosas whatever, on the animosity that would be felt against the padres so long as they administered any property, on the insufficiency of the means proposed, and on the injustice of freeing the gente de razon from all responsibility for the support of religion.[1] On account of this opposition or of Figueroa's early death, the scheme was carried no further. From the Fernandinos we hear nothing; and their silence may indicate that in the south secularization was proving more or less satisfactory. In the north, however there were complaints of demoralization among the Indians, and of other difficulties, which prompted Prefect García Diego to suggest certain modifications of the rules, not adopted so far as can be known.[2]
- ↑ May 29, Aug. 3, 1835, G. D. to F. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 333, 336-9. June 15th, guardian of the col. at Zacatecas wrote to prefect that the missions must not be considered nor called parishes, nor the missionaries curates, since no legal and formal transfer had been effected. And the transfer could be made lawfully to only priests able to show all their papers in due form. Corresp. de Misiones, MS., 45-7. Aug. 15th, G. D. to the padres. The guardian requires statistical information about the missions. S. José, Patentes, MS., 211-12.
- ↑ García Diego, Reglas que propone el P. Prefecto para gobierno interior de las ex-misiones, 1835, MS. His suggestions were: 1. Total separation of the quarters chosen by the padre for himself and servants and those of the comisionado and majordomo. 2. That the Ind. be compelled to render personal service to the padre, whose servants should not only be supported by him, but controlled and corrected in a parental way, independently of all interference from the com. 3. That in view of disorders that have resulted among the single women since they were set free, they should be returned to the padre's exclusive control, aided by an alcalde of his own choice. 4. That the allowance of $500 per year for expenses of religious worship should be paid to the padre at the beginning of the year, he to keep a book of accounts which was to be inspected by his prelate. 5. That the padres should be authorized to enforce attendance on religious duties by the same means used in the case of children. 6. That com. be instructed to aid the prelate with animals and vaqueros when travelling, or the friars travelling by order of their prelate. 7. The com. and majordomos also to furnish carriers of correspondence between the prelate and friars.
Dana, Two Years before the Mast, 199, speaks of the prevalent immorality among the Indian women in 1835-6. May 21st, F. orders com. not to make loans of mission effects which may prejudice the establishment. St. Pap., Miss., MS., ix. 27. Oct. 12th, Vallejo to F., expressing the opinion that not all the neophytes are fit to be intrusted with the management of their own property; and advising that a part be made to live in community, the property being
