Thus California was not represented in the congress of 1829-30, for there is no evidence that Santiago Argüello went to the national capital at all; yet the territory received some slight notice from the Mexican authorities. The minister of the treasury department included in his report some information respecting Californian finances,[1] which, so far as it is intelligible, will be utilized elsewhere. The military establishment was also honored with brief mention, and an ayudante inspector, an officer unknown in California since the time of Captain Soler, was sent to aid General Echeandía, in the person of Lieutenant-colonel José María Padrés, who came up from Loreto in the summer of 1830.[2] To supply another urgent need of the territory, where there were as yet no lawyers, the licenciado Rafael Gomez was sent to California as asesor, or legal adviser. He arrived about the same time as Padrés, and took the oath of office at San Diego on August 18, 1830.[3] The political struggles, revolu-
- ↑ Mexico, Mem. Hacienda, 1830, annexes 24, 33, 37, 41, 43, 44, 52, 56, 57, 64. Aug. 17, 1829, law imposing a forced loan on California with other territories, and discounting salaries. Sept. 15th, decrees creating a fund for the war against Spain; but exempting the troops of California from the discount on pay, on account of their position on an Indian frontier. Arrillaga, Recopilacion de Leyes, 1829, p. 214-23; 1831, 24-36, 48.
- ↑ In Mexico, Mem. Guerra, 1830, annex. 1-3, the force in the Californias is given as 422 cavalry, supported at a cost of $131,440. Feb. 11, 1830, order to merge the S. Blas company into the regular presidal companies. Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., vi. 2. Arrival of Padrés at S. Diego on the Leonor on July 1, 1830. Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., vi. 9; Carrillo (J.), Doc., MS., 27-8; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxii. 21.
- ↑ Gomez's taking posession of the office. Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., iv. 91; Id., Mont., vi. 6; Id., Ben. Mil., lxxii. 21, 42; Dept. Rec., MS., viii. 92. He had a salary of $3,000. The law creating the office seems to have been dated July or Aug. 29, 1829. In his report of Jan. 1831 the sec. of justice recommended that the asesor be made judge as well, with appeal to the nearest circuit court instead of Mexico, on account of the great distance. Mexico, Mem. Justicia, 1831, p. 7, annex 4. Mexico, Mem. Hacienda, 1832, annex N. Oct. 12, 1829, Virmond from Mexico announces the appointment of the following officers for California: Rafael Gonzalez, administrator of customs at Monterey; Manuel Jimeno Casarin, contador of custom-house; Francisco Perez
also noticed in Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 122-6; Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 35-7; Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 18-24. Alvarado attributes to him many good qualities, although admitting his faults. Maitorena left some kind of a quarrel with Capt. Miguel Gonzalez, which both Gov. Victoria and Gov. Figueroa were ordered to investigate; but finally in 1834 Capt. Zamorano suggested that, Maitorena being dead, the matter might as well be dropped. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxiv.
