ber of congress to take the place of Gervasio Argüello for the term of 1829-30; and on Sunday, October 5th, Lieutenant José Joaquin Maitorena of Santa Bárbara was chosen for the place, with Santiago Argüello as substitute. This was a most extraordinary choice; for Maitorena, though honest enough and good-natured, was unreservedly given up to drunkenness, and had retained his place in the Santa Bárbara company only because he had when sober some skill as an accountant. There were times, generally following illness and confinement in the calabozo, when, like Rip van Winkle, he 'swore off'; perhaps it was in one of these sober intervals that he was elected to congress. But the honor was too much for the poor fellow. He was very drunk at Tepic, where he was the object of much ridicule; he seems not to have been in a condition to take his seat as diputado, and he died in Mexico about the time his term of office expired.[1]
- ↑ José Joaquin Maitorena entered the military service as a soldado distinguido, his father having been an officer in 1800; came to Cal. in 1801 as cadet in the Sta Bárbara company; was made alférez in 1806; and after several recommendations from governor and comandante he was finally promoted to be lieutenant of the company in 1827. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 58; Dept. Rec., MS., v. 39, 121-2; Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 655-6. 1816-21, corresp. of Sola and Guerra, with frequent mention of Maitorena's drunkenness, and the resulting troubles to his family as well as to the public service. Guerra, Doc., MS., iii. 95-6, 101, 113; iv. 4, 16-19, and passim; Prov. St. Pap.. MS., xx. 110. From 1822 to 1827 little is said on the subject, and it is probable that Don Joaquin behaved himself better than before. His actions at Tepic, where he stayed two months on his way to Mexico, are described in a letter of Manuel Varela, dated Tepic, Aug. 1, 1829. Guerra, Doc., MS., vi. 135-7. He was constantly intoxicated; attracted the attention of everybody by his foolish actions and remarks; was initiated into a mock lodge of masons; and had a ludicrous quarrel with the treasurer to whom he applied for money on account of his viáticos. Cárlos Carrillo, in a letter from Tepic of April 2, 1831, gives the remaining details of Maitorena’s life as learned from Navarro, the member from Lower Cal. In Mexico he was rarely in his right mind, and was not deemed in a fit condition to take his seat, though his credentials were admitted, and part of his salary was paid. He died probably late in 1830 of apoplexy caused by his dissipation. Guerra, Doc., MS., iv. 199-200. The vagaries of this congressman are
Maitorena by 3 votes and Argüello by 4 is recorded, as also in St. Pap., Sac., MS., xix. 48; Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., iv. 74; and Leg. Rec., MS., i. 130 Echeandía's bando is also found in Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., iv. 55-71. Aug. 1st, E. orders comandantes and alcaldes to publish the bando. Dept. Rec., MS., vi. 74. Nov. 1828, Jan. 1829. E. orders Maitorena to start for Mexico. Id., vii. 70; vi. 128. June 25, 1829, Echeandía explains to minister of justice the arrangement of election districts, S. Gabriel and S. Fernando being joined to Los Angeles, and Sta Clara and Sta Cruz to S. José. Id., vii. 23.
