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ALVARADO'S RULE — TROUBLES IN THE SOUTH.

men; that despite the few backward steps he had been obliged to take in order to 'economize blood,' all had been regained by the action of the Santa Bárbara congress, as approved now throughout the south; that there was now but one opinion in California, and nothing to fear except from abroad — to meet which latter danger the people were exhorted to stand firm and united, worthy of their grand achievements and destinies.[1] The governor now despatched a messenger by land to Mexico to communicate to the government the final action at Santa Bárbara, bearing also despatches in which Sonora was urged to join California and make a stand for federalism.[2] Castro, perhaps without Alvarado's orders, withdrew his force from San Gabriel to Santa Bárbara. Flattery and some more substantial rewards in the shape of office or lands were distributed among southern friends of the cause. For instance, Alcalde Sepúlveda was made a captain of the civic militia. Thanks were publicly rendered to Padre Duran, and the cattle of the presidial rancho of San Julian were distributed among the soldiers, the rancho itself being given to José de la Guerra.[3] Finally, Alvarado and Castro started for


  1. Alvarado [Manifiesto del] Gobernador Interino del Estado Libre y Soberano de la Alta California, á sus habitantes. Monterrey, Mayo 10 de 1837. Imprenta del Supremo Gobierno á Cargo del C. Santiago Aguilar. Folio, 2 leaves, in Earliest Printing; Estudillo, Doc., MS., i. 248; Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxii. 85; Dept. St. Pap., Angeles, MS., x. 19-20; and with French translation in Petit-Thouars, Voyage, iv. 24-33. Despite the imprint, it was issued at Sta Bárbara on May 10th, and printed at Monterey later. With all its vapid and high-sounding Mexicanisms, the document contains also many eloquent expressions of patriotic good sense. A peculiar freak of the printer is to be noted in the printing of the word aristocrata wrong side up — evidently not an accident, since the same thing occurs in the proclamation of Nov. 6, 1836. May 9th, Alvarado tells Vallejo that all troubles are at an end. The opponents from Angeles and S. Diego came to Sta Bárbara to promise solemnly not to disturb the peace. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 237. May 10th, he thanks and congratulates the ayunt. of Los Angeles. Dept. St. Pap., Angeles, MS., xi. 86.
  2. Alvarado, Manifiesto. He offers all California's resources to aid Sonora in overthrowing the central system in the republic. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 209, thinks this was a somewhat rash offer under the circumstances.
  3. Jan. 4, 1837, order for distribution of the movable property. Guerra, Doc., MS., vi. 28. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 260-1, thinks the grant of the rancho was an unwise and illegal act, being also an interference with his own rights as general.