One act of this diputacion merits further notice, which may as well be presented in the words of the original record: "The committee presented the proposition made by his excellency the president at the session of the 7th — this being July 13th — namely, that there be proposed to the supreme government a change in the name of the territory, and also in that of the Pueblo de Los Angeles, in order to distinguish the latter from the city of Puebla de Los Angeles, capital of the state of Puebla, which after close examination the committee reported for discussion, with the suggestions that the territory be named Moctezuma, and that to the pueblo be given the name of Villa Victoria de la Reina de Los Angeles; also that there should be proposed to the supreme government as a coat of arms for the territory 'an Indian with plume, bow, and quiver, in the act of crossing a strait, all within an oval having on the outside an olive and an oak,' in memory of the first peopling of these Americas, which according to the most common opinion was by the strait of Anian; all of which, after sufficient discussion, was approved." So far as the records show, no attention was paid to this proposition in Mexico, and fortunately California escaped the burden of a new and inappropriate name, founded on one of the least reliable traditions of American antiquity.[1]
Echeandía did not extend his tour northward to San Francisco, perhaps not beyond Monterey; and I have not been able to find the general report on the
- ↑ Leg. Rec., MS., i. 62-3. On Nov. 31, Echeandía forwarded this act to the secretary of relations, Dept St. Pap., MS., ii. 44, and he included with it the proposition to make Los Angeles the capital as well as a villa, though the legislative record does not show the diputacion to have approved Bandini's motion to that effect. Taylor mentioned this proposed change of name in a newspaper article, and from him apparently it was taken by Tuthill. Hist. Cal., 123.
Viaggio, i. 282, who attended some of the meetings, tells us the diputados were mere puppets in the governor's hands. Echeandía would make a proposition supported by specious pretences and prosy arguments; sometimes by previous agreement one or two trusted ones would offer some weak objection for the president to overthrow; if any other dared to oppose, he was interrupted with a reprimand; did any one wince at the last moment, a look controlled his vote. This, of course, though amusing, is grossly exaggerated.
