national allegiance, the diputacion would naturally resume its powers, and Alvarado would become governor ad interim as senior vocal of that body. There was left no pretext for southern opposition. The army of the supreme government must be disbanded, the elaborate plan of San Diego had melted into thin air, and there were no temporary offices to be filled, not even that of treasurer. Centralism was triumphant, for which the abajeños cared nothing. Mexico was victorious, which gave them very little joy, but the arribeños still controlled California, and southern patriotic intrigues would go for naught in the final settlement. No wonder Bandini deemed his party 'vilely deceived' by its pretended friend Castillero; yet what more could the Mexican comisionado insist on than submission to the national authority?
On the other hand, Alvarado as an advocate of federalism and Californian independence suffered a defeat, somewhat humiliating in view of the recent proclamation of his purpose to make the Californians free in spite of themselves. He has written nothing, then or since, which throws much real light on his motives;[1] yet it is not difficult to conjecture with approximate accuracy the arguments by which Castillero induced him to triumph in defeat. Experience had now proven that the south could not be depended upon to support the governor in the position he had assumed, but would seize upon every pretext to revolt in order to gain sectional advantages or gratify personal prejudices. Even in the north there were signs of disaffection at San José, growing out of a local quarrel; while the Mexican residents had gone so far as to rise in arms and seize the capital. United effort, by which alone
- ↑ In a letter of July 12th to Vallejo he refers to a previous communication narrating all that had occurred since their last interview; but unfortunately that document is not extant. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 282. In a letter of Sept. 1st, however, A. says he was strong enough to defeat the conspirators of both north and south. The plan of S. Diego was simply to seize the offices. When the Dieguinos saw Alvarado's force they put themselves hypocritically under the constitution, abandoned their position, and acted disgracefully. Id., iv. 307.
