San Diego, on the other hand, expressed on April 27th cordial approval of the plan in general, though still preferring to remain non-committal, and postponing the act of swearing allegiance until some doubts could be cleared away respecting the system alluded to in article 1, fearing, perhaps, it might be centralism![1]
About the same time that Angeles repudiated the plan of April 11th, Pico and Osio made their tardy appearance at Santa Bárbara with a plan of their own, for which they sought approval from the congressmen, though it was really a rejection of all that had been done.[2] There was no action by the congress, but Alvarado simply sent the proposition to Castro to be presented to the ayuntamiento, to which body he also addressed a letter filled with indignation at the conduct of those "unworthy diputados who proposed a return to the tyrant's yoke and perpetual slavery — the very men who had so lately declared their purpose to be devoured by wild beasts rather than submit to a Mexican despot." The congress shared in his indignation, the governor said, and the ayuntamiento was expected to share it; yet if the latter body should per-
- ↑ April 16, 1837, Alvarado to ayunt. of Angeles and S. Diego. Dept. St. Pap., MS., xi. 78-82; Hayes' Doc., MS., 72. Apr. 22d, session of ayunt. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 291-4. Apr. 27th, session of ayunt. S. Diego, Arch., MS., 101. In the acta last alluded to, the signatures of the secretary and síndico of the S. Diego ayunt. did not appear, because those officers 'had been carried off by an armed force for some unknown cause.' This state of things had been announced on April 24th by Alcalde Estudillo, who asked that steps be taken for their restoration, addressing Alvarado as governor of the state, and announcing 'a decided enthusiasm in favor of armor patrio' on the part of the people. It appears that in consequence of the action of March 18th, Alvarado had sent Eugenio Montenegro to arrest the two officers, J. M. Teran and Domingo Amao, who escaped from custody while being taken to S. Gabriel. As late as September, Amao, who had fled to the frontera, had not returned to his post as secretary. S. Diego, Arch., MS., 173, 175, 186.
- ↑ The plan of Pico and Osio was as follows: 1. The territory of Alta California reëstablishes the order of things existing before the pronunciamiento of Monterey. 2. The laws of Mexico shall be respected and obeyed, whatever may be the system she has adopted. 3. The treaty of Los Angeles between governor, ayunt., and comisionados shall be observed (?). 4. After the preceding articles shall have been carried out, the officers of the army shall be invited, by the person on whom the office of gefe político may legally devolve, to coöperate in restoring order. 5. The result of action on these propositions is to be communicated to the ayunt. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 296-7.
