at the same time advancing the interests of his own family and sparing his country the threatened infliction of cholo soldiers. He persuaded the government that California was not really disloyal or hostile to Mexico; but had been driven to her present rebellious attitude by the arbitrary acts of Mexican rulers. Instead of sending an army at great expense, it would be sufficient merely to appoint a native ruler — his brother Don Cárlos for example, well known in Mexico and popular at home — whom California would gladly recognize and thus return to her allegiance. The administration was glad to be persuaded, and willing to try the experiment. The appointment was issued in a hurry by the minister of state on June 6th; Don José Antonio left Mexico two days later, and from La Paz en route sent the papers ahead in August.[1]
Los Angeles of course was delighted with Carrillo's appointment. True, Don Cárlos was not in sympathy with the abajeños, and had been a partisan of the other side throughout the late controversies, but "anything to beat Alvarado and the pronunciados del norte" was the Angelinos' motto, and they made such haste that Carrillo to the letter announcing his appointment had to attach his thanks for their acknowledgment, their congratulations, and for a grand illu-
- ↑ June 6, 1837, Minister Peña y Peña to Cárlos Carrillo, announcing his appointment by the president, with power to fix the capital provisionally wherever circumstances might require. Copy from the original in the possession of the Carrillo family, in Carrillo, Doc., MS., i. Also in Dept. St. Pap., Angeles, MS., xi. 92-3; and translation in Hopkins' Translations, 6. July 21st, Antonio M. Ercilla announces the news from Tepic, where J. A. Carrillo then was, to Guerra, Guerra, Doc., MS., vi. 145; but it does not appear when this was received — possibly a little earlier than by the other route. Aug. 20th, J. A. Carrillo at La Paz to Alvarado, with certified copies. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 165-6. Oct. 20th, Castillo Negrete's despatch from Baja California with similar copies read before ayunt. of Los Angeles. Cárlos Carrillo's letter of Oct. 24th received on Nov. 4th. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 326-30. Oct. 25th, Cárlos Carrillo to Alvarado, with news. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 169-70. Oct. 25th, same to Vallejo. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 337. Oct. 31st, Alvarado's proclamation of the news, which came 'by yesterday's mail.' Dept. St. Pap., Angeles, MS., x. 20-1; S. José, Arch., MS., vi. 5; Hopkins' Translations, 6-7. Petit-Thouars, Voyage, ii. 100, who was at Monterey at the time, says the news came on Nov. 1st.
