Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/495

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AFFAIRS IN THE NORTH.

477

In the south a strong opposition developed itself, to be treated fully in the following chapter. Alvarado determined to visit the south in person. He obtained from the congress a concession of extraordinary powers,^[1] gave his civil authority as far as possible to General Vallejo, whom all local authorities were ordered to obey,^[2] and started southward on Christmas, with some fifty soldiers and Graham's riflemen, a part of the force being sent by water on the Clementine, which had returned from Cape San Lúcas. Vallejo at about the same time was called away to Sonoma to settle some trouble with the Indians, and Lieut-colonel Castro was left in command. There is nothing more to be said of affairs at the north in 1836, except that Angel Ramirez, having been removed from the administration of the revenues, and having been unable to control Alvarado as he had hoped to do, was perhaps already engaged in plotting future mischief.^[3] There is no indication that north of Santa Bárbara there was any disaffection among Californians, though some of the more timid looked forward with anxiety to the result of the governor's campaign in the south, and still more anxiously to the time when their revolt should be known in Mexico.

↑ Castro, Decretos, no. 10, Dec. 20, 1836; Petit-Thouars, Voyage, iv. 21. This, the final order of the series, is issued by 'The citizen Juan B. Alvarado, colonel of the civic militia, superior gefe político of the first canton, and governor of the free and sovereign state of Alta California.' Countersigned by Secretary Peña.
↑ Dec. 23, 1836, Alvarado to civil authorities and private persons. In Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 45. Vallejo in return conceded his military authority to Alvarado so far as the south was concerned. His order to comandantes of the south is dated Dec. 17th. Id., iv. 43.
↑ Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 190-4, and Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 241-3, tell us that the former on his way south found evidence that Ramirez and P. Mercado were plotting at S. Antonio, and sent a note of warning to Vallejo. Alvarado thought of arresting Ramirez, but had some hope that he would conspire with the south and thus drive Juan Bandini over to the governor's side.

[1] Castro, Decretos, no. 10, Dec. 20, 1836; Petit-Thouars, Voyage, iv. 21. This, the final order of the series, is issued by 'The citizen Juan B. Alvarado, colonel of the civic militia, superior gefe político of the first canton, and governor of the free and sovereign state of Alta California.' Countersigned by Secretary Peña.

[2] Dec. 23, 1836, Alvarado to civil authorities and private persons. In Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 45. Vallejo in return conceded his military authority to Alvarado so far as the south was concerned. His order to comandantes of the south is dated Dec. 17th. Id., iv. 43.

[3] Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 190-4, and Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 241-3, tell us that the former on his way south found evidence that Ramirez and P. Mercado were plotting at S. Antonio, and sent a note of warning to Vallejo. Alvarado thought of arresting Ramirez, but had some hope that he would conspire with the south and thus drive Juan Bandini over to the governor's side.

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