Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/49

CHAPTER II.

ECHEANDÍA'S RULE—POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

1826-1830.

National Measures, 1826—Junta de Fomento—Echeandía at San Diego—Guerra for Congress, 1827–8—Colonization Regulations of 1828—Territorial Diputacion, 1827—Proposed Change of Name—Echeandía in the North—Disputacion, 1828–30—Election—Maitorena Sent to Congress, 1829–30—Acts of the Supreme Government—Padrés as Audante Inspector—Gomez as Asesor—California as a Penal Colony—Arrival of 130 Convicts—Carrillo Elected to Congress for 1831–2—Expulsion of Spaniards, 1827–30—List of Spanish Residents—Echeandía's Appeals for Aid—His Resignation—Appointment of Antonio García—The Californias Separated—Manuel Victoria Appointed Governor.

For the last half of the decade under consideration, the course of events adapts itself more conveniently to a grouping in topics than to strict chronological treatment, since the epoch, with the exception of the Solis revolt, was not one of radical changes and startling events, but rather of gradual progress toward the Mexican ideal of republicanism and the secularization of the missions. There was chronic and ever-increasing destitution among the troops, resulting in open mutiny, constant scheming to make both ends meet, with no little rascality on the part of the territorial financiers, and growing commercial industry under the auspices mainly of foreigners. Of the topics to be separately treated, usage, as well as convenience in this instance, gives the first place to politics, and to matters more or less closely connected with territorial and national government.

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