The doings of the junta defensora, or vigilance committee, at Los Angeles in April, were the current topic of public attention when Chico landed at Santa Bárbara. These "scandalous events — a tumultuous meeting of citizens who allowed themselves to be seduced by four malicious and wayward men, putting themselves above authority and law in despite of sound morals" — seemed to the new ruler matters of the greatest moment and fraught with terrible peril to California. He saw a political significance in the movement, believing that the alleged cause was not the real one, but that "a resolution meditated by occult anarchical spirits to overthrow the government inspired in the incautious Angelinos the fatal idea of revolt under a pretext apparently sound, in order that
fierce, brutal, hypocritical, insolent, centralist governor,' who had arrested Carrillo at Sta Bárbara and many of the leading men at Monterey. Vallejo went back to Sonoma and started again with a force of 22 soldiers, 10 citizen volunteers, and 14 Indians. At S. José Juan Alvires was told to be ready for action if needed. One day was spent at Pájaro at the rancho of J. J. Vallejo, who was rearly to render aid against the centralist. At 11 A. M. on May 26th, having been admitted to the presidio by the corporal of the guard, Don Guadalupe formed his men in a line before the governor's house and knocked at the door. It was opened by an old man in a morning gown, green cap, and slippers, who said, 'I am the man you have come to see; are you not Alférez Vallejo, who commands on the Sonoma frontier?' 'Yes, and I want to see Comandante General Chico,' was the reply, whereupon he went and put on his uniform, and returned, saying, 'Señor Alférez, here is the general of California. A long interview ensued, minutely described. Chico complained of Vallejo's delay in coming, but after a long discussion, the latter, by the aid of a map drawn on the spot, succeeded in convincing Chico that the trip from Sonoma could not have been made quicker! Then Chico questioned his visitor closely about the northern frontier and his Indian policy. The Indians were also called in and questioned. Finally the governor expressed great satisfaction and praised the young officer's conduct; asked him to take a glass of wine brought by Doña Cruz, whose bright eyes almost caused the alférez to forget the charms of his own young wife; and accompanied him to the door, telling him to stay at Monterey as long as he liked. Vallejo then went out to meet his friends, who had gathered to defend him in case of need, and were much surprised to know that 'Guadalupe had tamed the bear. It was their opinion and the narrator's that Chico had intended to arrest Vallejo, but had been frightened by his resolute acts and by his military escort. (The interview, according to Vallejo's own version, would indicate rather that Chico was a quiet, gentlemanly officer, who had no hostility against the alférez, and was pleased by his independence and bluff manners.) It was then that the plan of revolution was formed, to be carried out if Chico should continue his arbitrary conduct, and a written agreement was made, of which each of the conspirators kept a copy. Alcalde Estrada so far assented to the plan as to agree not to endure from Chico any direct infringement of the written laws.
