with public opinion and for the country's good. No action was taken, because the petition was not written on stamped paper, but next day when that irregularity had been corrected, the people were summoned and the subject discussed on its merits. Eight citizens took part in the discussion, and of twenty-eight whose names were not on the petition twenty-two voted for what was asked in that document, while only one, Sérbulo Varela, voted in favor of Carrillo. The matter was finally referred to a committee, which reported that while the ayuntamiento had no right to criticise the acts of Carrillo, yet a clearly defined public opinion demanded the recognition of Alvarado as governor pending the decision of the government. This was approved by a plurality of votes, the result being formally communicated to the people and to Carrillo, who was still addressed as governor. Thus did the versatile city of the Angels accomplish another political somersault.[1]
Of course the two Carrillos and their supporters were not disposed to accept the position in which the ayuntamiento had placed them. Some of the number, like Requena, Portilla, and Trujillo, had crossed the frontier with Tobar; while others, as Pico, Bandini, Ibarra, and Botello, were left to continue the agitation. Before they had time, however, to carry into execution their new plan, whatever it may have been, the leaders were arrested on or about May 20th. Alvarado, promptly informed of the troubles that were brewing in the city, had sent Villavicencio with twenty-five men from Santa Bárbara to nip the conspiracy
- ↑ Sessions of ayunt., May 14-15, 1838. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., v. 8-23. The citizens taking part in the discussion were Tiburcio Tapia, Vicente Sanchez, Abel Stearns, Antonio Ign. Ávila, José Sepúlveda, Felipe Carrillo, Ignacio Machado, and Francisco J. Alvarado. The committee was composed of Vicente de la Osa, Sanchez, Castillo, Sepúlveda, Stearns, and Tapia. In the lists of about 90 citizens, only one foreigner appears besides Stearns, and that was Miguel Blanco, or Michael White. In Dept. St. Pap., Angeles, MS., ii. 112, is an incomplete blotter-copy of the acta of the committee, of which Stearns was made pres. and Castillo sec. According to the Los Angeles Ayunt. Rec., MS., 24, there would seem to have been also an earlier petition on the subject signed by 28 citizens.
