second, though the latter was not approved in Mexico.[1] The prefects may be regarded as a kind of petty governors, their functions being executive rather than judicial; further explanation of the system is deferred, and the somewhat complicated record of successive changes in the incumbents of the prefectura will be cleared up in local annals. The same law of March 20, 1837, which defined the powers of prefects, made provisions also respecting ayuntamientos, which deprived California of those bodies except at the capital, justices of the peace taking their place. This provision was put in force by the dissolution of the ayuntamientos at the end of 1839.[2] It may be noted here that an attempt was made in the peninsula to oppose the union with Alta California, there being a preference for union to Sinaloa – at least in the mind of Gefe Político Castillo Negrete, who had no fondness for the position of prefect under his old foe Alvarado.[3]
The attention of the people was occupied in March to a slight extent with the elections, but in April and May there were several more exciting topics of popular interest. Angel Ramirez was accused of new plots to rouse the Indians, being supported by Padre Mercado, and by certain persons who were dissatisfied with the terna for governor. Ramirez had been arrested for complicity in the revolt of July 1837, and for much of the time since that date had been compelled to live at certain missions under surveillance. Whether he was yet entirely free does not appear;
- ↑ I have not found any regular appointments of prefects, but Alvarado named Castro and Peña in his letter of Feb. 28th to Vallejo, Vallejo, Doc., MS., vi. 277, and it is evident from many documents that the appointments were issued on that date or on the 27th. The approval of the division and of Castro's appointment by the sup. gov. was on Aug. 7th. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 131, 280; Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., xv. 10, 12; Estudillo, Doc., MS., i. 262. Before the news reached Cal. in Sept., Peña had already resigned and had been succeeded by Tiburcio Tapia.
- ↑ Nov. 7, 1839, gov. to prefect, ordering dissolution of ayunt. Dept. St. Pap., Angeles, MS., xii. 19. Details in local annals.
- ↑ July 16, 1839, Luis Castillo Negrete to some clergyman. No attention is to be paid to orders from Alta California till the change now pending in the senate shall have been decided. Castro, Doc., MS., i. 37.
