1st, and was received by Gutierrez and the citizens with the usual ceremonial welcome.[1] On the 2d and 3d the offices of comandante general and gefe político were formally turned over by Gutierrez to Chico, which event — celebrated at night by a grand fiesta and ball — was duly communicated to local authorities the same days,[2] when he also issued a printed address announcing his appointment, arrival, and patriotic intentions, together with the death of President Barragan, learned while en route.[3]
He issued another proclamation on the 20th, lauding centralism extravagantly, denouncing federalism, and congratulating the Californians with flattering words on their glorious future under the new régime. "The constitution of 1824," wrote Don Mariano, "child of inexperience and haste, was an abortion of blunders fruitful in disorders, which you endured for eleven years; it was your idol while worthy; but the oracle once proven false, and your forbearance wearied, you decided with your brethren of the interior to melt that false idol, though respecting still its relics until the substitution of the new image which is being prepared to serve you as a deity." "The olive of peace
- ↑ Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 50-2, and Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 80-3, tell us that officers and citizens marched out to meet the gov., all except the presidio officers wearing federal badges expressive of their political sentiments; and that when Chico made the remark that he was glad to meet so many good people, Alvarado replied that they had not come out to welcome him, but Domingo Carrillo, whom he had arrested at Sta Bárbara for his political opinions and had brought along as a prisoner. I have no reason to believe that Carrillo had been arrested at all, that any such badges were worn, or that any such insult was offered by Alvarado to the new governor. The exact date of Chico's arrival is given in Gomez, Diario de Cosas Notables en Monterey, 1836, MS. A brief but important original narrative by D. Rafael Gomez.
- ↑ The comandancia was transferred on May 2d, a day before the gefatura, as appears from a communication of Chico to the com. at Sonoma. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iii. 199; and Gomez, Diario, MS. May 3, 1836, Chico and Gutierrez to different ayunt. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 108; Id., Mont., vi. 37; Id., S. José, v. 8; Id., Angeles, xi. 53; S. Diego, Arch., MS., 102; Id., Index, 25. Chico recognized at Los Angeles May 10th. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 193-4. At S. Diego May 12th, being congratulated on the 14th by Alcalde Argüello. S. Diego, Arch., MS., 99. May 28th, congratulated by J. M. Estudillo at S. Francisco. Arch. Arzob., MS., v. pt ii. 15.
- ↑ The only copy of this original print that I know of is preserved in the Mercantile Library of S. F., in Taylor's Specimens of the Press, no. 5.
