Alvarado's letter of the 16th was read at an ayuntamiento meeting of the 17th. The allusion in it to his large resources for war seemed to the Angelinos a very forcible point of his argument, and they were convinced by a careful study of the document that the policy of Don Juan Bautista was not so oppressive or unpatriotic perhaps as had been feared. Another letter from Antonio M. Osio was read, in which the writer solicited powers to form an arrangement with Alvarado on an equitable basis, providing that the ruler should be a Californian. After a long discussion, it was resolved to send Sepúlveda and Osio as comisionados, with authority to effect a settlement in accordance with the following resolutions: 1. The ayuntamiento is anxious to avoid bloodshed, even at the cost of some sacrifice not involving disrespect to laws and oaths. 2. The plan of independence from Mexico cannot be accepted, though there is no objection to a declaration in favor of the federal system. 3. The Roman catholic religion must be the only one permitted, and persons publicly holding other views must be prosecuted as hitherto. 4. No officer or citizen is to be molested for opinions respecting this revolution upheld by him prior to the ratification of this treaty. 5. The state of things decided upon is to be binding upon both parties until the supreme government shall decide, with the understanding that Los Angeles is not to be held responsible for the
tions for defence, in which he himself was the leading man and Sepúlveda's counsellor. He aroused great indignation against the Monterey plan by assuring the women that under it protestant priests were to be tolerated who would marry any girl that desired it to any foreigner, whatever his religion! The women were terrified, and exhorted their husbands and sons to fight for their daughters and sweethearts and the catholic faith. Their conduct is praised as heroic. Osio gives the force as over 300 in 4 companies. He says that Sepúlveda and Manuel Dominguez went to S. Buenaventura to have an interview with Alvarado, to persuade him to retire and be content with ruling the north until the sup. govt should decide, and above all to ascertain the military strength of the enemy. They were kindly received, but the succeeding particulars are not intelligibly expressed by Osio, though the spies learned that Alvarado's force was far inferior to their own. All expected blood to flow, and the privilege of shooting Alvarado had been awarded by common consent to Sepúlveda.
