re-christened by Don Cosme at this time. Peña was naturally not popular, especially among the class that had so bitterly opposed Alvarado in the past, and there were occasional manifestations of the feeling against him. One ground of displeasure was that he had established his office at the house of Abel Stearns, in front of which he had raised the flag of the prefecture and planted a cannon. It was said that Stearns had used the flag-staff as a post to which cattle were tied for slaughter, thus insulting the dignity of the Angelinos. On Sunday, May 19th, while Peña was absent at San Pedro, some fifteen young men, armed and mounted, had assembled to pull down the flag, and perhaps to sacrifice a calf in burlesque before it. On his return the prefect caused the arrest of the ringleaders, Varela, Sepúlveda, and Yorba, to be tried for sedition, and obtained a guard of ten soldiers from Santa Bárbara. Next, the citizens sent protests to the ayuntamiento, which body asked Peña to remove the flag to the public buildings, where it would be respected. Peña in anger surrendered the prefecture to Alcalde Tapia, and both reported to the government at Monterey. The reply was to impose a fine of five dollars on each signer of the memorial, which had also been sent by twenty citizens to the governor, and one of ten dollars on each member of the ayuntamiento. Peña was, however, ordered to Monterey, and Tapia left in charge of the office. Quiet was restored by the middle of June.[1]
The primary elections had taken place in March, and on May 1st the seven partido electors met at
- ↑ General accounts, Peña to Vallejo, on June 8th. Vallejo, Doc., MS., vii. 191. Peña to Alcalde. Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS., iv. 39-41. May 22d-25th, action of ayunt. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., v. 87-8; Dept. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 15-16. May 25th, Tapia to Alvarado. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Pref. y Juzg., MS., v. 2-3. May 25th, com. of Sta Bárbara to Vallejo. Has sent a force under Lieut Pardo. Vallejo, Doc., MS., vii. 142. June 1st, Tapia announces that all is quiet. S. Diego, Arch., MS., 227. June 3d, gov. to Pref. Tapia, imposing fines. Dept. St. Pap., Angeles, MS., xi. 114-17. June 12th-17th, action at Angeles on the fines, which there was a willingness to pay, though Tapia was exempted in July. Id., v. 22, 38, 43, 57; Los Angeles, Arch., MS., v. 94-5.
